2013 was spent building our new home while we hunkered down in a small rental that my son Jack referred to as “the cozy house.”  The challenge of building a house during a recession is that the home we sold had lost 25 percent of […]

Over the past few years, Debra and I have organized several bake sales.  Along the way, we’ve discovered a few tips that help boost profit and make the sale run more smoothly.  This past Saturday, our local MOPS (Mother’s of Preschoolers) group hosted a community […]

I recently used Miss Mustard Seed’s milk paint to give my kitchen counter stools a makeover.  In my old kitchen the black stools contrasted nicely with the all white cabinetry. But 12 years and 3 kids later, my stools were showing a lot of wear. […]

My mom made this crocheted coverlet in the 70’s. Over time, parts of it have started to disintegrate but I hated to throw it out  – just too much sentimental value! Rather than having it just sit in my closet, I decided to cut out […]

As the weekend approaches, my thoughts turn towards hospitality.  It’s easy for me to make excuses to not have people over:  too tired, too busy, house too messy,   too limited with resources, etc. etc. etc.  But, I know that pushing through those excuses is […]

We had a great time at the Tuscarora women’s retreat this past weekend.  We did a couple of craft workshops, showing the women how to make these fabulous flower pins using old sweaters. For the zinnia type flower, any sweater will work ….wool, cotton, polyester, […]

I love to decorate with items that evoke memories and maps are a great way to commemorate a favorite location or special place.  With GPS now built right into our smart phones, paper maps seem to be becoming a thing of the past. Before throwing […]

Don’t throw out those Candy Canes just yet! Here’s an easy way to upcycle them for Valentine’s Day. Don’t have any? Head out now, where stores are selling boxes of Candy Canes for 75 – 90% off. They’re not expensive to start with so we’re […]

We spent the day in Hope, NJ, setting up for the two-day craft show that starts tomorrow.  We still have some tweaking to do in the morning but here are a few shots of of our display: Hope to see you in Hope!

The 36th Annual Hope Christmas Craft Market is only one week away and Debra and I are busy preparing all kinds of homemade items for this special weekend.  We love the way this town does Christmas!  Besides over 200 local artisans, there’s also food, carolers, […]