Changed my mind...took it back in the middle of the night!!!
 

I find it hard to wrap my mind around the fact that I had not considered re-purposing the computer desk.

Here's the story. The desk was no longer being used as we had disposed of the tower, monitor, etc. Without built in storage space, we were eager to put this unit out at the curb for "free." During the night, the concept of using the desk in the sewing room broke through the haze. I got out of bed, dressed, and went out to the curb to drag the desk back to the garage!

This computer desk is especially sturdy so I have a wonderful area for cutting and trimming. We took down a 6 foot folding table I had not enjoyed using for cutting because the surface area dipped downward from the pressure of rotary cutter. Now the desk is up on bed risers and it the perfect height for my work. The waste basket fits nicely in the space formerly used for the tower. Thank goodness, no one had come along to take the desk away! :-)

Smart thinking! Now that you mention it, the lower surface of many computer desks would be just the right height for a sewing machine. I may have to keep my eye out for one. Thanks!

I have done the same thing, had something sitting on the curb then went to retrieve it in the middle of the night. When I got back into the house DH met me at the door with a gun. I was being followed by 2 coyotes. Couple lucky gals we are! Don't you have bears in your neck of the woods?

In the middle of the night! That is too funny. Glad you made it in time. Enjoy your new (recycled) work space.

I love repurposed things.... I recently deconstructed an entertainment center and used the boards for shelving in my closet....and just this past weekend I found a section of laminate countertop at menards for $10 that I attached to the top of an old microwave cart...now I have a cutting table in my sewing room (previously used the top of my dryer)....creativity is wonderful and cheap!

I have a computer desk that is made from gorgeous Oak. I am downsizing to a smaller box but still will use my computer desk. You were luck to have grabbed it in the middle of the night because just before dawn are when the people who search for repurposing items come out searching for discarded items.

Cool! I repurposed a kid table my husband made for our boys when they were little and now use it behind the sewing machine to support my quilts during machine quilting.

Tessagin, we don't have bears in our neighborhood, but the bears are around just a couple of miles down the road. The Department of Natural Resources suggests taking down the bird feeders.

We do have deer (who love some of my flowers), a fox, lots of bunnies, beautiful eagles!

I had to laugh at this! I'm glad you're ok, but the mental picture of your husband meeting you at the door with a gun...reminds me of when we lived in Montana.

I was raised by a depression era parents. They taught me NEVER throw anything away. It would gone to the garage in the first place.

My first reaction: Your husband was THAT angry that you were retrieving stuff from the curb?

Glad he was in protective mode.


Kay - glad you were able to retrieve it in time.

Sometimes genius is slow in showing up but when it does:D it is brilliant and bright! enjoy your new cutting table.
peace

sap, the desk had been re-purposed briefly in another room, but that didn't fill the bill. So, the desk ended up in the garage and we had no qualms about donating it or putting it at the curb.

My kind father graduated from high school in 1933. Somehow, he saved so much stuff that the items controlled him emotionally and physically. My dear daughter is a minimalist and I find de-cluttering empowering. I don't want to leave my children or husband in a bind trying to sort through a house filled to the brim with "stuff." Mom graduated with Dad at the same time, but was able to pass things along to someone who could use them. Different personalities and outlooks for each of us. :-)

I find that my subconscious is always smarter than when I am fully awake. I always have my best thoughts in the middle of the night! Good job!

I am woman, hear me roar!!! We are well known for changing our minds, huh?!! Thanks for the laugh to start out my day!! I too took a little desk apart (it had 3 drawers on each side, with sitting area in middle) & glued them together, put on a top & covered it with wood-looking sticky paper…. just perfect for my tv in "my cave"….

I love it! I'm glad I have company when doing "crazy" things during the night! :)

Kay, it's great that you got there in time to retrieve your desk. It's funny how our minds work. My epiphanies usually occur in the shower.

Oh My Tessagin! Glad that you didn't get hurt! When I first read that your DH met you at the door with a gun, I thought it was like a joke, that he didn't want you bringing back whatever you had retrieved from the curb. LOL

Once a month our state surplus building has a sale. I got a nice desk for 35.00 and my husband cut a hole for my machine to fit down into. Works perfect!!!!!

I didn't think he was angry, I thought he was trying to protect from a prowler, or whoever was outside in the middle of the night. He was scared.

Good save! I like re-purposing!

THANKS! You just gave me an idea for an entertainment center my niece is getting rid of!

The "tower" area of my computer desk is just right for the 3-drawer plastic units you can buy at Walmart. I had a
movable shelf, so now have six drawers. Would be good for sewing stuff if they fit.

I started laughing as I read since I can relate so well to the idea of re-purposing and the ideas that come to me in the night.

I have a computer desk that legs fold up so I can put it away when I need the space for puppy playpen in my little room. I have another one left here by a tenant and a friend who is renting the place (very cheap rent as she is on disability) is using it as I had no room now anyway. Very sturdy tables and you can put machine if not super heavy where key board goes. Glad you went and saved yours. And I can see your DH standing there with a gun. If our dogs raise a big stink at night either in house or kennel, I always take a 38 out with me on gold cart and flashlight for varmints, 2 or 4 legged to scare them. I have been shooting since I was 5 (almost 68) so am a very good shot and cool head and premit. And we live on 5 acres so room for someone to be out here prowling around.

Glad you could rescue your computer desk before someone took it away. Sometimes we just need to think outside the box to repurpose items.

Good save!

I'm big on buying good stuff and then using and using it. I had a small antique oak desk when my husband and I got married. I was using it for a vanity at the time. It didn't really fit in our townhouse bedroom so I used it in the tiny breakfast area to sew on. Then when we bought a house, I got one of the big tables we use at the office for my machine and the desk went back to being a vanity. Later, we bought a larger house that had a sit down vanity with a knee hole in the master bath so now that desk is back to being and small desk. I love doing that :)

BTW, I also have 2 chairs from the study in the first house that are in the bedroom and living room in this one. And the bookshelves from that study are now in one of my sewing rooms for my sewing books and magazines. :)

Good save! I usually have the great ideas AFTER it is too late.

Love your story! Glad you had your flash of brilliance before it got hauled off!!

Glad you saved it! When we put anything at the curb, someone picks it up immediately--once even before we got back in the house! :)

Kay that is to funny-I thought I was the only who gets crazy urges in the middle of the night. Because I get tired of the same decor I re-purpose alot, then I don't feel so bad when I get tired of a piece. My whole sewing is re-purposed with the exception of my cutting table.

What a great idea! Glad you made it to the curb before anyone else got your treasure!

Since we live way out in the country and can't leave stuff at the curb for "free" pickup, all my "stuff" goes to our barn out back. My kids are the only ones allowed out there to plunder, so I can make sure it goes out to someone I love and want to have it. But, like you, Kay, some of my best ideas come to me in the middle of the night--I just won first place on a quilt at the county fair that I spent many a night pondering what to do, and how, in the making of it.

Smart Move.. I probably wouldn't have bothered dressing... lol. Just thrown on a coat and ran out the door. I try hard to repurpose anything I have. Right now an older oak wall unit is book/mag/stuff storage. Beats buying another industrial unit for $80 bucks.

I doubt I would have taken the time to get dressed. LOL I'd probably go out in my nightie to fetch it back.

We had one of those heavy oak bed walls with the mirror on the back and cabinets on both sides. When we moved and I no longer wanted it for a bed we took the mirror out of the middle, put a clothes rod between the two cabinets and put it in the closet. It's wonderful storage because it has three shelves in the top cabinets and three drawer below that. It fit so nicely in there it looks like it was made for it. Love repurposing.

I have solved many problems in the middle of the night. Its just wonderful to wake up in the night and out of no where this idea pops up. And you know its the answer to your problem. It always amazes me how God has given me such a amazing mind that works like that.