If you'd rather skip my write-up and go straight for the good stuff, scroll down. We mostly just want to see the pictures, right? Also, I'm still not certain about the past tense of the word "knit" and at this point, I'm too afraid to ask. As I mentioned in my last blog post several … Continue reading One year of knitting: my pandemic panacea
Author: Jay
How I learned to love slow knitting
When I first started knitting and crocheting, and for many years afterward, quick projects were delicious to me. I enjoyed the feeling of satisfaction and relief when I completed a project. I like finishing things. I don't like putting them down, or waiting, or being patient. And I most certainly do not like boredom. But … Continue reading How I learned to love slow knitting
My library fan art
Throughout the pandemic, I've been doing little art and craft projects here and there, usually while my son is napping. It's relaxing, gives me something productive and fun to focus on, and prevents me from doing too many physically strenuous things that make my CFS worse. I've always been a dabbler in drawing and painting. … Continue reading My library fan art
This is not the greatest finger paint recipe in the world—this is just a tribute
If you were excited about the prospect of this entire post being a craft-related parallel to Tenacious D's "Tribute," then I'm sorry to disappoint you. So, finger paint. I've found a lot of finger paint recipes online, most of which instruct you to mix cornstarch and water. Some are just cornstarch mixed with water and … Continue reading This is not the greatest finger paint recipe in the world—this is just a tribute
Life during the pandemic, plus local resources
Here I am, back into blogging. All it took was a global pandemic, having a child, and a reduction in my free time. Not in that exact order. Pardon the typos and less-than-refined writing---these posts will be unedited and unplanned (and uncensored...*gasp*). Right now, I could be doing the dishes that my toddler won't let … Continue reading Life during the pandemic, plus local resources
Buying second-hand in the Pioneer Valley: a review of local shops
I'd like to say that my love of thrift shopping stems entirely from eco-friendly, frugal, and charitable intentions, but I have to admit: it's also just really fun to hunt for treasures in places where every individual piece feels one-of-a-kind. My home region, the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, is rich with thrift shops, antique … Continue reading Buying second-hand in the Pioneer Valley: a review of local shops
Two years of using the “Bullet Journal”: my favorite thing about a trend that actually worked for me
I've always loved little notebooks. I used to love buying just the "right" one and filling the first five pages with whatever that notebook was supposed to hold---to-do lists, journal entries, craft patterns, or doodles. I did not, however, love my embarrassing stash of pretty, abandoned notebooks that didn't serve their intended purpose for very long. … Continue reading Two years of using the “Bullet Journal”: my favorite thing about a trend that actually worked for me
How to educate your unborn child about climate change
Are you expecting a new baby, and hoping to jump-start her learning when it comes to relevant social issues like climate change? It’s never too early to start acquainting your child with the garbage fire of a planet that her parents’ and grandparents’ generations have left for her—you just have to use gentle, age-appropriate methods. … Continue reading How to educate your unborn child about climate change
The “wanton-eyed” crocheter: from Irish lace to pussy hats
To those familiar with the craft—and those who can at least spot a doily on grandma’s loveseat—crochet doesn’t typically evoke visions of immodesty, subversion, or the struggles of women in the workplace. There was a time in history, however, when the act of crocheting became bound up with the entrepreneurial dreams of impoverished women, as … Continue reading The “wanton-eyed” crocheter: from Irish lace to pussy hats
Why we need the “clean slate” rituals of the New Year
It’s mid-morning on the first day of the new year. I’m sitting in my living room, which is still scattered with gift wrapping, almost-stale cookies, and boxes of holiday decorations. My life hasn’t changed much since yesterday, aside from the vaguely shameful memory of going to bed at 10:30 after a night of card games … Continue reading Why we need the “clean slate” rituals of the New Year
