(NOTE: I'm diverging a bit from my usual blog topics to share what I've actually been working on these days. My life is increasingly oriented toward education—on a small scale—and the home, occasionally peppered with the opportunity to make things by hand.) I've worked with children in different capacities for many years (nannying, teaching, tutoring,… Continue reading Adaptive Activities for the “Rainbow Fish” Book
I have a lot of clothes. I wouldn't call myself a clothes horse, but when I tally up the items in my wardrobe, I'm sure it's a lot more than most individuals owned throughout human history. Globally, the average person owns about 148 items of clothing. And that average doesn't represent disparities between—and within—countries when… Continue reading Exploring Compostable Clothing
Winter is a good time for me to stew in my own ideas, after the holidays are over and the cold weather really sets in. Well, sort of. This year it's been a mish-mash of cold and warm, with not much snow and lots of ice and rain. But still, the ideas were bubbling. I'm… Continue reading Join Me in a Challenge: The Climate Artivism Cycle
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
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
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
Upcycling is fun, en vogue, and arguably a good practice for the planet. The popularity of this form of creative reuse has exploded over the past decade, even making its way into luxury brands. It's got a little problem, though—we can't seem to agree on what it actually is, and which items qualify as "upcycled"… Continue reading Upcycling vs. creative reuse: what’s the difference?
Every year, I see a new way of turning simple seasonal decor from something that looks beautiful on its own—and could be composted—into something that will end up in the trash by November and won't break down for a really long time. Metallic painted pumpkins come to mind: Yes, they look pretty fab, and I… Continue reading 13 Natural Autumn Decor Ideas
Sometimes, the simplest things end up being so satisfying. I've crocheted complicated garments before and felt pleased with the results. It's always been simple, classic designs, however, that make me happiest and produce clothes that I wear over and over again. The added bonus? They are easy to make, easy to modify, and even beginners… Continue reading Cedar Top Crochet Pattern
This year I am phasing out my stash of acrylic yarn, and here's why: our oceans are becoming polluted with tiny synthetic microfibers, and it's bad news for marine life. I don't enjoy being a Debbie Downer, so I promise you that I will end this on a positive note. Here's the gist of the problem,… Continue reading What can knitters and crocheters do about synthetic fiber pollution?
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