My writing buddy Joyce Long invited me to join her for a new adventure two months ago, so Tuesday evening we met up, laid down our usual writing tools and picked up the top-of-the line DeWalt Drills for another Franklin Heritage Workshop.
(And yes, I did attend one last month, but she’s the one who got me hooked on the addicting smell of freshly-drilled pine sawdust.) As Danny Causey, the director of Madison Street Salvage, started to instruct the workshop, Joyce and I were whisper-giggling about how we should get a photo holding our drills like the iconic Charlie’s Angels pose.
Joyce and I have been making friend-memories for nearly a quarter of a century — I’ve got photos of her laughing while riding an elephant in India, laughing while dancing at a bonfire after a women’s conference and laughing while she got custom-fitted for a Sari by a tailor in Damoh.
Joyce and I did get serious when we went to our respective tables to begin work. As Danny coached me along, master craftsman and volunteer Dennis Norman coached Joyce. Characteristically, because I’ve heard and seen her befriend perfect strangers on an airplane, I could hear Joyce asking Dennis about his life.
Simultaneously, I attempted to not ruin Danny’s personal three-speed DeWalt drill with the LED work light by running the screw too far into the pine lumber.
In less than three hours, seven upcycled window tables were created.
Andrew and Tiffany Ankney from Trafalgar worked like a well-oiled machine together. Tiffany noted she first saw the eight-pane window coffee table on Pinterest, so when the Franklin Heritage Workshop advertised the class at Madison Avenue Salvage, they instantly signed up.
Andrew said that they are both comfortable with tools but Franklin Heritage does a great job.
“I can’t look for the window or door, purchase, cut and prepare the wood for what they charge — it’s the added value.”
The Ankneys also participated in the hands-on class that made a hall tree from a door.
“She (his wife Tiffany) wanted a hall tree for many years and I just never found time to make it, until this class,” Andrew said.
“We enjoy making things together.”
“So it’s kind of like your date night,” I asked?
They laughed and nodded.
Tiffany and Andrew will be using their hinged window table as it was intended — as a coffee table.
Zach and Aubrey Kinser, a young Franklin couple, found themselves taking the class they didn’t even sign up for. Aubrey’s parents initially signed up to take the class, but couldn’t attend, so they asked them to go in their place.
When I asked what they had in mind for their table, Aubrey answered: “I have no idea what I’ll be doing with the table — Zach is pretty creative so he’ll figure something out.”
Joyce worked it out with Dennis to attach longer legs on her table which will eventually be used on her newly enlarged patio as a garden item display and double as an outdoor buffet table. She has a perfect pair of “wild red and yellow garden gloves” to be viewed through the 8-pane window.
I’m a little bit like Aubrey, I’m not sure what I‘m doing with my table. Except I do envision an overflowing eclectic crop of succulents displayed with the window slightly hinged open — and Joyce will come over and we will share some tea and laughter.
Janet Hommel Mangas grew up on the east side of Greenwood. The Center Grove area resident and her husband are the parents of three daughters. Send comments to [email protected].
