Mother In Law's Recipe Book Case

My mother in law asked me to build a book case for her recipe books. I’m a bit new to woodworking, so I had to really think this out. I started the project out with pine 1×10 for the sides and shelves. (I’m a poor woodworker, and lust for the day when I can use the exotic stuff.) I dado’ed the slots for the shelves. It was a challenge for me as I don’t have dado blades for my table saw. I got an idea for locating the exact depth for the dados from watching Woodsmith Shop. They did it using a table saw/fence. I loved that idea because it insured that I’d have my slots perfect from each other. I then cleaned out the dadoes using my radial arm saw. I assembled the box and shelves and then I got an idea to put facing material on the boxes (from an episode of Woodsmith Shop again). I bought some poplar from the local big blue box and ripped it down on my Grizzly table saw. I put the facing on the side verticals, base. and shelves. I got a “carved” design and applied it to the bottom apron. I made a little moulding to go beneath the top by taking a router and routing the edge of a 1×6 then ripping the width of the moulding on my table saw. I really love how that turned out. The poplar is absolutely beautiful. I’d love to stain the project, but my mother in law wants it painted.

It’s not as nice as the other stuff that’s posted on here, but I’m really proud of it.