Valerean

The Summer 2026 issue of GreenCraft magazine just came out, and it's just as amazing as every other issue for ideas on how to upcycle, repurpose and reuse things that might otherwise end up in the trash. Amy Camuglia's wearable art project is right up my alley -- I have so many fabric scraps they fill a bin, and a smaller stitch project is better for me these days. She turns her pieces into unique pendants and brooches. I've also been feeling the itch to make some assemblage jewelry, and Jenny Youg's Beauty in the Lost & Found details how to add antique objects as well as unusual chains to create memorable pieces. The one project I am absolutely going to try is Christen Hammons' A New Spin on an Old Bag , for which I can use some of the eleven drawstring bags I still have on hand (I had to buy a dozen to make my nephew's bag of money housewarming gift.) The issue also has a neat article on how to dye using natural botanicals, which I...

This was the last pic I took of our old kitchen before we had the counters replaced and installed new tile for the walls. I've been cooking in this room for 19 years, and I was not sorry to see the shiny white bathroom tile counters and backsplash that we inherited from the previous owners finally go. Here's the new kitchen. We started the renovation on December 7th and finished it on January 14th. My guy did all the tile work himself. It was really tough to live without my kitchen for five weeks, but definitely worth it. I chose the quartz for the counters and the natural stone for the tiles because the colors reminded me of the beach sand where I grew up, and showcase our beautiful wood cabinets. My guy and I have waited a long time for this, and we're very happy with the results. I've uploaded a few more photos to an album here if you want to see the process from start to finish. I'm unplugging for a week to spend time with my kid, who is visi...

I'm going to stay unplugged for a few more days to spend time with Kat before she leaves.

She's a bit older now. :) See you tomorrow.