My sweet little (or not so little) cousin just got married. A perfect small wedding, no white dress, no registry…just a very happy young couple. I’m sad I couldn’t be there, but thought it was silly to send fancy dishes or napkins, as that is just not the life they live, in a little cottage …

‘Twas the night after Christmas, when all through the tube, the weathermen were promising us lots of snow. The children were jumping all up in their beds, while visions of snowballs danced in their heads…. That’s where the story ends and reality hit—I had forgotten my mittens at the office and hate the cold enough …

What came first, the chicken or the quilted potholder?! Well, for the cover of the January issue of Martha Stewart Living it may have been the chicken…but take a look at the potholder in the story: The two have quite a bit in common—both are basic and traditional and easy. Yet both slightly intimidate at …

Usually I give food gifts to teachers, since I never feel like I know them well enough to make something more personal. This year, however, my son told me that his teacher collects sea horses and he wanted to give her something to add to her collection. Athena made me aware of this craft punch, …

Last year I shared with you that I’ve been making advent calendars for my mom’s birthday for many years. Her birthday is November 25, so it’s the perfect present, as it is so close to Christmas. Every day she gets to open an envelope with photos of her grandkids . . . it’s just a …

People ask me all the time  how we come up with new ideas for stories month after month. Well, often one project inspires the next. I had tried to dye pom-poms for my dipping story in our August issue. The pom-poms didn’t take the dye in an even way, which didn’t quite work with the …

Since hanging the home office wall I shared with you a while ago, I’ve gathered many more things I love to look at. Strangely, they’re all dark. Must be the time of year?! Halloween all around me?! Not that any of it is spooky—again it’s a collection of presents from friends from their travels (Shane from …

During a recent shopping (window shopping that is) trip on Madison Avenue, I stumbled upon the new Camper store. I was fascinated by the wicker installation I could see through the window. But inside it became even more amazing, as the wicker was molded all around the store, going beyond corners, shaped into seats and incorporating …