hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat... a pair of 2nd graders got on the bus this morning, then (hey presto!) this afternoon they returned home as 3rd graders! and in true Ohio weather form, there was a mist of rain mere moments before the bus arrived, causing the crepe paper streamers to nearly go bust all over the place. just like last year. i suppose that's Mother Nature's way of being part of the tradition, like the bus full of cheering kids + sweet driver honking the horn. that's right, my friends, school is out... Continue reading

i love that my kids love and appreciate their handmade clothes. hearing things like "they fit me so well!" is music to my ears. and i love love love that they are becoming more and more interested in the design + making process. talk about motivation to create more clothes for them, um yes. not to be ignored in this love fest is the value factor. for example, these bermudas were made using materials from around the house and in my stash = free. as the weather gets warmer, i foresee more of these being made + worn very soon.... Continue reading

a few years ago, Jennifer at CraftSanity contacted me to see if i would design a knitting pattern for an upcoming issue of their print magazine. it was early summer when i started, although we were looking ahead to the autumn issue. Fall is my favorite season of all (if one can truly have a favorite season, they are all so uniquely beautiful here in Ohio). i closed my eyes and thought ahead to the textures and hues of Fall. the lovely people at Briar Rose Fibers offered to contribute my choice of wool for this project, and their rich... Continue reading

the last-minute dinner-making scramble happens to the best of us. especially when there are activites, lessons, sports, and not to mention a sunny day when everyone (including the cook) would rather be outside. enter the simple supper. i have a few go-to entrees that i rely on for when time is tight, leftovers are plentiful, or i just don't want to do so many dishes. Dinner Pie is a favorite. now you may be saying, "hey jennifer, that's just a quiche." au contraire, mes amis. perhaps some may call it quiche, but if you are looking to sway a skeptical... Continue reading

the devastating passing of Kathreen Ricketson and her husband Rob Shugg has weighed heavily on my heart all day. Kath was a truly inspiring creative force with whom i have had the honor and pleasure of working with over the years, as have so many of you. her legacy will live on in the inspiring community she pioneered all those many years ago. and she will be missed dearly. xoxo. Continue reading

fact: there are scraps of vintage fabrics strewn about the house. i can never seem to part with even the tiniest bit. fact: for months, the light switches in our sunroom has been without a cover. it was misplaced during the renovations and had yet to be replaced. one thing led to another... eeep! patchwork switch plate LOVE! want to make one? or more? (me too!) WHAT YOU NEED: fabric scraps, a switchplate (they are stock items at most hardware stores; this one cost < $2), Mod Podge (i used Fabric Mod Podge, but regular Mod Podge would also work... Continue reading

oh, hello there. my goodness, how time flies - or drags or slips away from you, depending on how you look at it - when you are busy. life since my last post many weeks back has been full and rewarding in so many ways. you see, i have been working on something near and dear to me. something big. last summer, after many long discussions with my husband and friends about directions in life, i came to the realization that in my heart of hearts, i am both a maker and a teacher. i love to make things by... Continue reading

the girls are on Spring Break this week, yippee! work necessitates blocking out a few hours each morning for them to hang out in their pjs and play while i work on my manuscript (due very soon, oh my). but come late morning, work will be set aside in favor of swim lessons, libraries + museums, roller skating + bowling, hiking + biking (on new bikes as per Santa's instructions), cooking + baking, treasure hunting, and hopefully a bit more cross-country skiing. and most definitely there will be crafting, because as the girls would be the first to tell you,... Continue reading

a bit of magic happened last week. i looped through neighboring towns to visit a few resale shops in search of vintage bed linens for a project i am working on. and when i opened the door of the final thrift store of the day, there it was. a piano. "oh, HELLO." i said, as my pulse quickened. it was old. it was white, oh my! it appeared to be well-loved, or in the very least dusty and well-used. i instagrammed. i casually asked how long it had been there (a month). hmmm. i looked over my shoulder to see... Continue reading

watercolors : sunshine on a cloudy day. happy monday! xoxo Continue reading

while i can't quite discuss what is in the making, i do like to connect and share with you guys during the whole making process via instragram. be sure to say hi! xoxo Continue reading

with life being full of so many wonderful things that tug us to and fro, it is so very nice (and important!) to make time and come together for extra special planned family nights. i like to think of it as date night for the whole family. having seen this flyer on Pinterest, the idea of a suprise movie night took on a life of its own once PLC and i began whispering plans for a movie night complete with a themed dinner of Shepherd's Pie (his idea...perfect, right?!). the invitation was casually lying around when the girls went to... Continue reading

Music Monday with PLC is a weekly feature written by my husband, Pat. Find out the back story + check out the full archives HERE . The Men : New Moon [photo by jennifer; review by pat] : I am not sure exactly how it got to be such a pink and blue world. For whatever reason, it was just passed down through the ages that pink is for a girl and blue is for a boy. Sometimes things are truly different, and sometimes the only variation is merely the color. As any desperate husband has discovered when he is... Continue reading

happy weekend! xoxo Continue reading

crushing on tiny pops of neon here + there around the house, leaving simple messages for my favorite people. it needn't cost a penny, either - this is simply a scrap of cardboard + paint + sharpie. and love, of course. xoxo Continue reading

who knew online shopping for eyeglasses frames could be so simple? when i'm shopping (which is not that often), i want a no-nonsense transaction. no muss, no fuss, no hoops to jump through, no BS. i appreciate businesses with great customer service that mean what they say and follow through on their promises. that's just how it went down when i shopped for new eyeglasses frames with Warby Parker. here's the run down of their free at-home try-on, which i think is quite brilliant - you browse their site choose five frames promise to return them in five days watch... Continue reading

Music Monday with PLC is a weekly feature written by my husband, Pat. Find out the back story + check out the full archives HERE . Local Natives : Hummingbird [photo by jennifer; review by pat] : All hail the mustache. This seemingly simple bit of facial hair is a true game-changer in the world of popular culture. It says, “I’m a dude. I got a stache. Deal with it.” And in this world of scruffy beards and goatees, it makes a real statement which sets that man apart. Local Natives have just put out their second album Hummingbird on... Continue reading

this may be the very best breakfast on a cold late winter's morning: berries from the freezer melting into warm steel cut oatmeal with just a pinch of raw sugar. a nice respite from housecleaning which hopefully won't take the entire day. bon weekend! xoxo Continue reading

a thorough scrubbing with dish soap and a toothbrush*, some paint (neon pink + white) and a fresh mounting (duck tape + cardboard). a pretty thing, indeed! xoxo *heather told me on instagram that soaking stained linens in a bucket of water with denture cleaning tablets works wonders, too. will definitely try that next time! Continue reading

just so you know... i read your blogs. i am one of your stats. for nearly eight years i have read your stories, felt your anguish and celebrated your milestones. i have knit and sewn and crafted along with you. so many of your family recipes are now in our recipe box. you are awesome. really. i am inspired by you. THANK YOU FOR SHARING. : the community we create by blogging is fluid and continues to evolve before our eyes. the introduction of faster/slicker/easier ways to communicate and connect with others has changed the landscape, for sure. there are... Continue reading

seriously, these are the best. as in years past, i'm bringing in heart shaped last-minute beanbags for a class party this afternoon. we're going to be using them in a few different relay races, but the possibilities for imaginary play and home-made games are endless, so sending each kiddo home with one to keep seems like a perfect extra little valentine. what's that, you say. you want to make some for your special people? but, of course. my last-minute beanbag how-to is right here and it couldn't be simpler. you can easily whip up enough for a class in an... Continue reading

> 044 of 365 : vintage quilt block digitally colored w/ digital typography, 2013 lyrics from I Love You by Derek Holt for Climax Blues Band, 1980 This is one part of my project "I bet you think this song is about you." + find out how it all started + view the full album + see the annotated archives Continue reading

> 041 of 365 : digital typography, 2013 lyrics from Off the Wall by Rod Temperton for Michael Jackson, 1980 This is one part of my project "I bet you think this song is about you." + find out how it all started + view the full album + see the annotated archives Continue reading

> 043 of 365 : original photograph w/ digital typography, 2013 lyrics from Kiss Them for Me by Siouxsie and the Banshees, 1991 This is one part of my project "I bet you think this song is about you." + find out how it all started + view the full album + see the annotated archives Continue reading

> 042 of 365 : mixed media collage w/ digital typography, 2013 lyrics from Promised You a Miracle by Simple Minds, 1982 This is one part of my project "I bet you think this song is about you." + find out how it all started + view the full album + see the annotated archives Continue reading