Never Assume

That Your Helper Understands Your Instructions

If you're lucky enough to have a helper to assist you in bringing your rustic art projects to fruition, treat them well.

Be sure to explain your thoughts fully, and make sure they comprehend exactly what you envision.  Otherwise, this is what you'll get;

Just being absolutely clear in your instructions will prevent the kind of ooops that you see above.  The plan was to cut off only one end of the baluster, so the legs could be easily used on a potting bench. 

Somehow, the artisan (me) missed the all important instruction to only cut off one end of each baluster, not both.  My bad.

So after the cursing and apologizing was over, the poor helper spent an hour gluing the cut off pieces back on, with dowels to hold them firmly in place. 

It remains to be seen if this will be an acceptable fix. 

Good thing all my projects are rustic!