Last year I converted a long and narrow sunroom to a bright and sunny studio for art, journaling, reading, and other creative pursuits. I loved the new look, but found myself at a loss for how to use the long open wall space above the sofa. After completing a set of foam drawer dividers I…
5 Uses for Old or Broken Horse Halters
Even if you’ve checked out my articles on repairing broken horse halters, sometimes a halter is just beyond repair. Whether it’s terminally broken or just too worn to be safely used, below I’ve collected a few great ideas on how to reuse, repurpose, and recycle horse halters. These re-purposing projects are a great excuse to…
Itinerary for an Off-the-Beaten-Track Route 66 Adventure in Joplin, MO
Joplin isn’t a popular travel destination, but plenty of people, both travelers and locals, look for fun ways to spend a day in the area. Typical stops are the museums in Joplin, the civil war sites in Carthage, or the casinos a few miles across the border in Oklahoma, but after living in Joplin for…
Bullet Journaling and my New Project
I think the most exciting thing about graduate school has been the experience of being a “fish out of water”. Moving from a rural midwest life as a business owner to being a 30-something grad student downtown in a major city has made me feel often out of place, and often challenged. In the challenge,…
Making Handcarved Cooking Spoons from a Fallen Tree
Last Updated: When my second-favorite century oak fell at Hawk Hill this spring I was devastated. I’m not exaggerating to say that I grieved it as I would the loss of a pet- that tree was special and so characteristic of Hawk Hill. While I am slowly adjusting to sunshine in a space that was…
What to Pack for a Day at Pike Place Market in Seattle
In many ways, packing for a day at Pike Place is just like packing for a day at most tourist spots, with a few pretty important exceptions that I’ve explained below. I call the neighborhood around Pike Place market home. Despite being in the top 30 tourist spots in the world, Pike Place is actually…
DIY: My Method for Creating an Antique Gold Patina Finish on Frames
Instructions for creating antiqued finishes abound on the internet- and in my quest for a really authentic antiqued/patinaed finish, I tried a bunch of them. Through trial and error using other tutorials, plus some old secrets from the copper-smith shop where I grew up, I developed this method for antiquing that creates a metallic…
How to Wrap a Bouquet So it Doesn’t Wilt – Pike Place Flower Market Tip
The flower market at Pike Place Market in Seattle, WA is a treat. Flower vendors stand behind countless buckets of blossoms, creating bouquets with art and whimsy. Since my current lodging is close to the market, I get to enjoy the flower market as a part of my weekly routine. Quickly, I noticed how uniquely…
Pike Place Market’s Secret Garden
One of my favorite free things to do at Pike Place Market is missed by 99% of market visitors- it’s the rooftop urban garden, hidden around a few corners, just a few steps from Pike’s iconic entrance sign. It made the list of my Local’s Guide to Pike Place Market, but directions to find it…