how to create beautiful garlands | christmas decorating
I remember buying my first Christmas garland for my college apartment. It was the kind that was a single strand with thin plastic needles. It was an unnatural shade of green and looked nothing like real evergreens. But, I wrapped it with lights and hung it up around my apartment, proud of my efforts. After […]
mini advent stockings | Christmas decorating
Several years ago, I purchased runners, pillow covers, and other handmade linens from Ann of On Sutton Place to sell in my retail spaces. I had learned that despite my most determined DIY efforts, I couldn’t make everything I sold. I just couldn’t keep up and I needed to find things I could hire out and […]
lino printed wrapping paper project | christmas crafts
Over the Thanksgiving break, I worked on cutting out a lino block for printing wrapping paper and cards. The project turned out even better than I expected and, as I shared peeks of the process on Instagram, many people asked if I would share a tutorial. So, this post is it! Here is a lino […]
customizing a vintage ceramic christmas tree
You know when you’ve owned something for so long that you’re just sort of seeing past it? You no longer see the potential in it, but just what it is and what it’s always been. Such was the case with this vintage ceramic Christmas tree. We’ve had one in our house for as long as […]
the ring mold advent wreath is back | christmas decorating
Back in 2014, I had the idea to make an advent wreath out of an antique ironstone ring mold I found at an antique store. It was one of my favorite unconventional Christmas decorating ideas and is still one of my favorites to this day. You can find the original post about the ring mold […]
a few favorite affordable fountain pens
As I’ve been sharing some of my fountain pens on Instagram and here on the blog, I’ve received some messages asking for recommendations for affordable fountain pens for fountain-pen-beginners or for those who don’t want to spend a lot on a pen. When I bought my first “real” fountain pen a few years ago with […]
how to make a 3d cardboard & glitter star | christmas crafts
I remember seeing one of these 3d stars made years ago by Wendy Addison and I’ve always wanted to make one! This year was finally the year that I cut up a cardboard cereal box, folded the 3d star, and finished it off with some German glass glitter. Here is how to make this 3d […]
small business saturday | small shops & big sales
I’ve never been a big Black Friday shopper. I went out to do some Black Friday shopping one year just to experience it and I waited in a line that wrapped around the store to buy a Playdough set. When I got to the checkout, the woman ringing it up asked me, “Is this it?” […]