#engineerlife

Thank you all for your support and kind words (especially @emmathefanficgal @lucifers-legions @theshakespearetrash @erathena @lady-of-ithilien @konartiste ) — you seriously give me so much energy to keep going, not give up, and keep sharing!(Tumblr, please don’t ban me, I’m just building a box 😭)

Yesterday I went on a bit of a shopping spree and ordered all the decorative extras for my Middle-earth masterpiece:

a latch,

hinges,

antique-style feet and corner protectors,

dark oak wood stain,

vintage-style tacks (to hide outer joints and give it that old-world charm).

Also, my velvet and jute still haven’t arrived — and honestly, I have no idea how well jute and “vintage” are going to get along.

Also grabbed some basics — PVA glue, dowels, and… looks like I’ll need to buy 4 more wooden beams.

This time I’m dragging my husband with me — one solo trip was more than enough. I am not a cargo elf.

I also brought clamps from the garage. Things are getting serious.

(My husband is slightly panicking about not being able to come up with a worthy gift in return —

“I don’t know what to get you, you do SO much to me…”

Silly man. He’s already the best gift I have.)

I finally sketched a new cutting plan.

And I had an idea — I’m adding a hidden compartment! That’s where I’ll place a secret gift and a letter.

It won’t have velvet, just some straw filler for that rustic vibe. I’ll seal it with a plywood panel — either woodburn a design on it or cover it with fabric. The horn will go in the main top compartment — dramatic reveal style.

Today’s plan:

Check which beams I can use right away

Maybe head to the market for the rest

If there’s time, start cutting and assembling!

P.S.

It’s worth noting that I’m picking up the main part of the gifts — the ones that determine the size of the box — on Saturday and Sunday. (And of course it would make sense to wait and not cut the wood just yet… but where’s the fun in that???)

Of course, it wasn’t without adventure.

The place I ordered it from turned out to be a historical workshop in the middle of an industrial zone — only accessible by car. So I had to ask my husband to drive me.

I wasn’t too worried about him seeing the shop name and ruining the surprise, but!

He insisted on walking me there (which I appreciated, because I have zero sense of direction), and while we were checking the map, this happened:

🐻 Whoa, this place is histo— clearly realizing something 🦊 WHAT?! internally panicking and cursing my luck 🐻 Nah it’s just some shop here. shows me the screen 🦊 Oh wow acting mode activated I thought you were gonna say it’s some kind of historical landmark or whatever — looks like a dump. 🐻 Yeah, just garages.

Whew. Crisis averted.

Then began the quest to actually find the store — which is tiny, hidden, and up a steep vertical ladder, through a workshop… and I was in a dress. Of course.

Inside, I was greeted by two literal warriors — I mean it. They looked like they’d stepped out of a reenactment camp.

They immediately asked why I needed a horn and if I knew how to blow it. Then one of them started demonstratinghow it’s done — and I panicked, because my husband was waiting right outside.

(He’d parked in the furthest possible spot, which turned out to be… directly under the shop’s only window 😬)

So as the guy raised the horn to his lips, I blurted out:

“Oh please don’t! The person it’s for is downstairs, it’s a surprise!”

He looked disappointed, but just gave a gentle little “fiiiiiit” sound and handed it to me.

Close call.

Then as I was leaving, one of the guys offered me a ride — and honestly, I didn’t know whether to feel flattered, scared, or just deeply amused.

Picture it: bearded, broad-shouldered man with a side-sword says,

“My lady, may I offer you a ride somewhere?”

Meanwhile, I’m gripping a bag where the horn is very much sticking out the top,

and watching my completely unaware husband scrolling memes in the distance.

To keep the legend intact, I told him I barely found the workshop, and had no clue there was a historical store —

but I did meet a local “inhabitant.” He laughed. Legend survived (for now).

Back at home, I managed to do a little… which still felt like a lot:

More drilling & screwing (timelapse incoming!)

Dry-fitted the side panels

Realized I messed up the size and need to trim them down —luckily, I’d planned some wiggle room.

Tomorrow I’ll probably skip the updates since I’ll be out all day — picking up the second part of the gift!

Think smarter. Wear smarter. Logic unlocks limitless potential. 🧠⚡

Circuit breaker: How Limor Fried wired Brooklyn’s woman-owned tech movement with biz Adafruit 🔧💡👩‍💻

Article from Brooklyn Paper, by, Naisha Roy - Limor Fried's journey in founding Adafruit, a Brooklyn-based, woman-owned electronics company. Limor started the business during her MIT studies, creating open-source hardware projects. Adafruit has since grown, focused on inspiring creators through STEM education and DIY electronics kits. Brooklyn Paper is a local publication covering news, business, and cultural stories in Brooklyn, focusing on community-driven content - thanks Naisha!

It is going to be finished 🚀‍🚀