feature

Mending in the New Year @ the Octagon

Nearly every 4th Thursday of the month, I’ve been co-hosting a monthly mending group called A Place to Mend at The Octagon Center for the Arts here in Ames, Iowa. This January kicks off our third year and we are excited to add in a bit of intentional instruction each

Read More
Crafty Business

Ep 14: Annual Review in an Hour

Before making a plan for the next year, (Ep 01 of Craft Leftovers), let’s take an hour to consider this past year. What went well? What could have been better? What just totally missed the boat? Do you try again next year or let it go? I’m taking you through

Read More
embroidery

Recycled Peace Ornaments

I have never really been a fan of decorating for holidays though, so I wanted something that could be used for a season. Winter Season. I like decorating for the season instead of the holiday. I guess I feel like it allows me to enjoy what I’ve done a little longer.

This project calls for felt and just about any will work great, but I really like using recycled sweaters and hence the name. I have a stash of old felted sweaters and this just seemed to call for soft white and red cabled felt.

Read More
little woods homestead

First Harvest!

There is nothing better than cucumbers and radishes fresh from the garden with Tarragon Apple Cider Vinegar! Hooray to first harvests! (SO good in fact that I chowed down the whole bowl before remembering to take a pictures). I grew my cucumbers and radishes using this picture over on Inside Urban

Read More
destash

De-Stash: Attempt 3405

Okay, so maybe not my three thousand, four hundred and fifth time attempting to de-stash, but it sure does feel like it! I swear, a few times a year I really get fired up about it, then fall a little short of where I had hoped on the de-stashing success

Read More
journal

Oh Baby!

A baby. My baby. Oh baby! I’m 6 months pregnant! I meant to tell you all like 2 months ago and just keep getting side-tracked. So, quicky post it is. I just wanted to let you know what’s up, why I’ve been absent from the blog, and share the good

Read More
journal, wips

Weaving in the Winter

Winter is always the season of weaving for me. With my overly large floor room, it’s the only time of year that I’m okay being tucked into my basement studio for hours shuttling back and forth. I turn on the space heater, bring down a pot of tea and put

Read More
journal

Update on the Art Center

Hi all! I hope you are having as happy of a holiday season as I am! I’m up to my eye balls in all sorts of fun stuff, but it’s all top secret crafting for friends and family! I decided that this week I’d give you an update on how

Read More
journal, wips

Origami Ornament Day

The weekend was ripe with potential. And then I got laid out flat with some kind of cold/sinus/fall muck. So I decided to spend Saturday and Sunday playing around with paper and trying to figure out which origami ornament would be the one I make for all my friends and

Read More
round up

Spices to Make and Give!

I know we are a good two and a half months away from Christmas, but I really want to avoid the last minute crazy of the idyllic *handmade* christmas. I’m going to make gift baskets again for our friends and family. In each one I want to have mix of handmade crafts

Read More
journal

Vacation Fini!

We did our vacation in 5 phases. It was an awesome good time AND exhausting. Oktoberfest Triathlon. A few days in Galveston, Texas swimming in the ocean, eating candy, and eating amazing food. 5 Days with friends outside of Dallas. Backpacking in the Ozarks — the White Rock to Shores

Read More
journal

Vacation!!!!! Check it.

Jason and I have been having a huge blast being on vacation this week. Vacation 2012 phase 1 was doing the Oktoberfest Triathlon (my first repeat race! Last year it was the first Tri I did). We ate a ton of pre-race amazing food.

Read More
View More