Actually I'm the opposite of @patp79 on this. For me, seeing the real, physical result (like a finished deck) beats any photo. The pictures never really show the whole story anyway.

Sounds like a full-time job just to get some quiet!

Yikes, my friend's cheap shelf crumbled like @gavin_thomas52 warned!

My theater costume days totally changed how I sew now. I had to reinforce a bunch of flannel shirts for a show and used corset techniques on the inside seams. It kept them from stretching out weirdly on stage. That trick is now my go-to for making loose linen shirts actually hold their shape without being stiff.