Product Reviews

Pattern Review: #101 Catalina Sling by Pink Sand Beach Designs

The Catalina Sling is one of my favorite patterns. It would make a great pattern for a beginner because of the simplicity of the design and yet, it doesn't look like one of those boring "easy pattern" bags. It is fairly quick to assemble and always results in a bag that looks great. The hardest thing I… Continue reading Pattern Review: #101 Catalina Sling by Pink Sand Beach Designs

Product Reviews

Pattern Review: McCall’s M6094 Quilted Tote Bags by Whistlepig Creek

Everyone expects patterns to be perfect. After all, they are made by big companies like McCall's or Simplicity. They should know what they're doing; they've been making patterns for years. They have tested their designs over and over again, right? As a maker of handmade handbags, I have tried lots of patterns. The biggest thing I've… Continue reading Pattern Review: McCall’s M6094 Quilted Tote Bags by Whistlepig Creek

House and Home, Organize It!, Staycation Vacation

Clear the clutter…and make a few dollars at the same time.

If you've been following my "Staycation-Vacation" posts you know that since quitting my job last fall, I have been going through my home room by room, making changes to transform my house into a more comfortable place — a place that feels like a favorite vacation rental where stones and seashells become collectibles and the outdoor spaces are as important as indoor rooms. As… Continue reading Clear the clutter…and make a few dollars at the same time.

cookies, Recipes: Family Favorites

Coconut Washboard Cookies: an Adaptation of an Old-Time Recipe

Coconut Washboards are an old fashioned cookie that has been around since my great grandmother's day. When I came across a few original recipes I was reluctant to try any of them because the reviews weren't very good. But with half a bag of  coconut in my fridge that I wanted to use up I made some adaptations to fix the problems that… Continue reading Coconut Washboard Cookies: an Adaptation of an Old-Time Recipe

Home Decor

The Dressing Room: Making a Staycation-Vacation Retreat at Home

One of the reasons I love a vacation house is because it doesn't have a lot of clutter. When I decided to create my own "staycation-vacation retreat" and remake my home into something that feels more vacation-home-like, I knew I would have one huge challenge. To live in clutter-free spaces, I must face the problem of organizing and storing all of the… Continue reading The Dressing Room: Making a Staycation-Vacation Retreat at Home

Staycation Vacation

The Laid Back Living Room: Making a Staycation – Vacation Retreat at Home

I love those vacation rentals that are a little tattered around the edges but also wonderfully warm and informal. The sort of place where the curtains are beginning to fade from the sunlight and where you feel perfectly okay putting your feet up on the coffee table, shoes and all. I want to live in a… Continue reading The Laid Back Living Room: Making a Staycation – Vacation Retreat at Home

Home Decor, Organize It!, Staycation Vacation

The Comfortable Cottage Kitchen: Making a Staycation – Vacation Retreat at Home

My goal of late has been to create a more relaxing atmosphere inside my home. I love laid back vacation rentals and it seems to me that I should be able to live in one year-round. I mean, why not? What is a vacation rental except a house that has been designed with comfort in mind?