July 29, 2025
#516
Gentle reader,
First some background. I began writing this blog, in December of 2008. I did so just as something new to try. I had NO idea that anyone would be interested in what I had to say or any interest in my subject matter and photos of said subjects.
I could not have been more wrong! Readership grew slowly at first, frankly, I did not even know HOW to look at that statistic. I just kept taking photos and writing. For YEARS. To my amazement, almost to the day of my posting the 500th article, the 500,000th reader read one of my blogs!
Of those readers some have befriended me via my via Facebook and two of them, have become actual real-life friends with. One is local, he lives in Washington, D.C. and his Dad lives in Springfield, Virginia. Not far from here. We got together a few times and have spoken by phone or texted and/or e-mailed each other for many years now.
He and I were THIS close to each other way back in August, 2002 when I attended the Inaugural Cadillac Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. It turns out that Bruce was WORKING at the races as one of the Marshals which monitor the racers and does far more than that to keep everyone safe and the racing enjoyable. That was six years prior to my beginning writing this blog.
The other, Bob, lives in Mesa, Arizona. As does my Aunt Bev. We also talked and texted and e-mailed. Last September, Nancy and I took our first Amtrak Vacation to see the Grand Canyon. We set it up so that we would have time in Mesa to meet Bob and his wife and see my Aunt and meet her husband. Of course, Nancy was meeting all four of them for the first time. Bob and Joseph hit it right off. I was able to finally see Bob's Dynaco Museum and all of the other things he has been up to.
Well, it turns out that Bob has "Ideas" and likes to share those ideas with Bruce and I and even buys us things from time to time. The latest was the item you see above.
At first, I thought, "What in the world am I supposed to do with this?" I called Bob to talk about it and mentioned, "Nancy and I can build it together." "Yeah, good luck with that!", Bob replied. He was right. This little project is truly a one-person thing to build.
It came in this black fabric bag. The Chinese are VERY good at packaging.
I'm not sure who came up with the idea, it's built in China, as so many things in our lives have been. But, whomever did design it, is bordering on genius! It's truly unique and once I got it all unpacked and took a close look at the design and DETAILS of all the little things which I was going to have to remove and put together, I got excited!It's part of a series of FOUR as of the date of manufacture and writing of this story.
Here is a closer look at the back of the box and some of the objects one puts together.
For Chinese companies to sell things via Amazon, they MUST have a name in English letters registered with whatever U.S. Government organization runs such things. DIY BOOK NOOK is at least three actual English words, unlike so many of the made up ones other Chinese companies have chosen.This is the front page of the instructions booklet. Each page is shown below.
It comes with a 2: AAA battery pack, a LED light and amazing switch.
EACH tiny thing you have to assemble is PRECISION designed and made.
Some of them are just downright amazingly clever!
Some of them made no sense to me, but they knew EXACTLY what they were doing!
The piano made into a shelf for example made no sense. Until it was installed!
Just a few things need a tiny bit of Elmer's Glue to keep them in place.
You will see below when I reveal the completed Shop why it needs a light source.
I cannot emphasize enough JUST how clever and PLEASING this little shop turned out to be. Nancy's mind was also blown when I showed it to her. "Window Shopping" takes on a whole new meaning with this little creation.The "glass" for the three windows need to be glued in place. It's flat in real life.
Now, you see why it has a light! I will try and show you as much detail as I can, below.
Yes, the door opens and the hinges are simple yet clever.
IF the keyboard was where it is supposed to be, one could not SEE it from the front windows. Clever!
Look! A violin and a saxophone! Records, plants books and SO much more!
Even though I built it, I still enjoy looking all around at all the things inside!
An electric guitar on the left. Speakers on the wall, plants and even a cat!
Whomever did the English words for the shop and instructions is very good.
The latch for the battery door and door itself is brilliant!
I mentioned the "amazing" light switch before. One uses Elmer's glue to glue it right at the location of the ribbon with a star at the right on the inside of the roof. And when you put your finger on that star (this is the roof) the light comes on or goes off! It's WOOD and yet it senses your touch! Yes, I know there are many devices that do that in the world. I just never built one before!
Now, for the "fine print". I do not SELL anything, anywhere! I gave up selling via eBay when Uncle Sam (the U.S. Government) figured out a way to collect Income Taxes from U.S. eBay sellers. I'm almost 69 years old as of the this writing and am retired. I share what I have been up to with you out of the sheer enjoyment doing so gives me. Therefore, I receive NOTHING from any seller you might chose to buy one or more of these kits from to build yourself. That being said, go ahead and buy one and build it!
Scott Robb
July 29, 2025
#516
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