After making my own dresses for two years, I have started creating a pattern to make my own jumpsuits. I plan to end up with two jumpsuits to start – a blue one and a fuschia one using the fabric here.  Or, I could make one that is blue and one side and fuschia on … More Making my own jumpsuits

It’s always nice to be appreciated. As a photographer, I am pleased that folks are giving my photography greeting cards favorable reviews on Etsy.     Gratifying!

I used to have occasion to spend part of each summer at a very rural cabin (on a lake).  The cabin dated back in the 1950’s. Part of the rustic charm of the cabin – which helped offset the lack of plumbing and running water – was the two or three handmade braided rugs at … More Handmade braided rug, completed.

I’m stitching together the fabric I braided for my first braided rug. I now know how much time and effort goes into making a braided rug! Will be glad to have another handcrafted item at home, woo hoo!  #sew #sewing #artisan #crafting #handmade #handmadegifts

A friend was struck a few months ago when he found out that I still put photos in photo albums.   “Wow, nobody does photo albums anymore,” he said.   “I do,” I told him. Several years ago, I took all of my photographs I’d saved over the years – from my great grandparents’ wedding photo to … More Photo albums – chronicling one’s life

As I continue learning “country skills” in the city, I am currently making braided rugs. As with many common braids (hair braids, etc.), I am working with three strands for each rug. I spoke recently with a friend whose grandmother used to make braided rugs.  He said his grandmother would work on her rugs for … More New project: braided rugs

St. Patrick’s Day is only two weeks away.  Are you ready to “cheer up” your friends and relatives with St. Patrick’s Day cards?  Consider sending them my photography greeting cards! I’m offering my “Celtic Cross” cards in packages of 10, 20, or 50.  Order a package of greeting cards to send your friends, relatives, co-workers! … More My greeting cards: St. Patrick’s Day

I recently finished making myself a new satin coat. Woo hoo – I am happy with it. Background: When I was a college student, one of my college friends was an exchange student from Japan. She graduated before I did. She’d bought a bunch of North American items she wanted to take back to Japan, but … More New handcrafted satin coat!

Being a “city dweller learning country skills” has come to mean, so far: Starting the morning with homemade soap in the shower.  Energizing! During the day, having people come up to me to compliment the homemade dresses and coat that I wear.  Sewing is great! Sending people homemade cards made with my photographs. Eating and … More Woo hoo! Skills acquired by a “city dweller learning country skills”

I’ve been sewing so many of my own new clothes that I’ve decided to use the excess fabric to make braided rugs. I’ve extra fabrics of two differing thicknesses, so I started two rugs last night.  Woo hoo!  #fabrics #sewing #sew

Good health is dependent upon a number of factors, one of which is good nutrition.  We city dwellers don’t always consider one particular requirement for quality food: good soil.  The nutrients in food, in fact, are dependent upon it.   Growing some food at home can be done, even in the city.  Self reliance, independence…. … More City dweller, country skills: composting

A recent news article in The Guardian takes a hard look at how consumer products generate so much packaging that we can’t reduce the environmental impact of packaging by recycling alone.  That article can be read here. In addition to our need to reduce product packaging, we consumers have gotten away from re-purposing the packaging that … More City dweller, country skills: re-purposing used packaging

I believe we should all know the skills needed to meet our daily needs if retail shopping disappeared – how to grow food, make our clothes, etc. – so I’ve been going about learning those skills.  Not that retail stores are going away., just a “what if…”  In a previous post, I wrote about learning … More City dweller, country skills: making homemade soap

  I’ve grown tired of trying to find dresses I like in stores.  It’s so hit-or-miss…..and time consuming.   So, I’m using some left over quilting fabric to figure out several patterns for making my own. I’ve got my first dress pattern “mostly right.”  Now, I just need to tweak it a bit (center the collar … More City dweller, country skills: learning to make my own dresses

  Two problems consumers lament regarding plastic waste and environmental damage: Excessive plastic packaging Plastic waste ending up in the oceans where fish, birds, etc end up eating the plastic I’ve been brainstorming for a couple years about a way for individuals to creatively recycle and re-purpose plastic packaging when we’re done with it.  I … More City Dweller, Country Skills: Re-purposing our individual plastic waste

My “city dweller learning and sharing country skills” experience is moving in multiple directions. Sewing is one of the skills I decided to learn as an adult.  Sure, there are city dwellers who learn this skill growing up; I didn’t.  Fortunately, I was given a hand-me-down sewing machine several years ago.  My first efforts to … More City dweller, country skills: joy of crafting patchwork comforters