Several years ago I made a 50th anniversary scrapbook for my parents. At the time my Mom was in the final stages of a terminal blood disorder. She was confined to their home 24/7, and that meant Dad was also confined. He is a very active 80+ year old man and wanted something he could do, but still be there for Mom. The next thing I knew he was into scrapbooking. First, he scrapbooked his pictures from the Korean War, then his entire 30 year military career, and the high school. You get the picture -- it just goes on and on. Currently, he is working on two projects, a series of albums chronicling the history of his church's choir, which Mom was a part of and a history of the church in general.
He had been using the dining room table as it was closest to where Mom's hospital bed had been set up in the family room. But recently on a visit to a consignment/flea market store, he discovered an old entertainment center. We talked about it and the more we talked, I could tell he was buying and refurbishing it into a scrapbook center. He did a really neat job, and I'd love to share it with you.
The cabinet when closed
Top shelf -- he placed this shelf so it could hold all his albums. Only one is the one I made for him and Mom, the rest he has made himself. He wanted them up and protect, and I think he has achieved that.
He added the whole section at the back to hold his scissors (he owns more now than I do), his markers, and his adhesives. He has also installed a light on the bottom of the top shelves to light his work space. The entertainment center has the pull out TV tray which he uses as one of his working surfaces.
The scissors rack is actually a door that opens up to house all his punches. Once again he now has more than I do.
The bottom cabinet shelves hold his papers, refill protector sheets, and a boxes of pictures yet to be used.
Carpentry has been a hobby with my Dad for as long as I can remember. I remember being sad for him one Christmas when all he got was a table saw. How boring!
But this little project allowed him to play with his power tools and create a great workspace for his newest hobby.
I am so thankful that at nearly 82 (Dad and Mickey were both born in 1928) that he is still this active and truly excited about life. He is my hero!