Hey Maker Friends, Ready for a Fun Year? 2026 is almost here and what better way to kick it off than with a creative adventure? The Make Nine Sewing Challenge is back, and it’s all about making nine pieces that bring you joy. Think of it as your sewing bucket list for the year—nine projects that reflect your style, spark your creativity, and maybe even teach you a new trick or two. What’s the Make Nine Challenge All About? It’s…
First Day Hike—Start the Year on the Right Foot—One Trail at a Time! There’s something magical about starting the year on a trail. Crisp winter air, the crunch of leaves underfoot, and the promise of new adventures ahead. For me, that magic began in 2018 at Shenandoah River State Park. It was my first First Day Hike, and little did I know it would spark a tradition that has shaped my New Year’s celebrations ever since. Why First Day Hikes…
When life gets busy, we all crave a meal that feels indulgent but doesn’t demand hours in the kitchen. Enter the pan-seared pork chop with garlic butter—a dish that’s simple, flavorful, and guaranteed to impress. Whether you’re cooking for a weeknight dinner, a cozy weekend lunch, or planning a creative leftover sandwich, this recipe is your new go-to. Why This Pork Chop Recipe Works Every Time Pork chops often get overlooked in favor of chicken or beef, but they deserve…
The holidays are here—lights twinkling, cocoa steaming, and calendars filling up fast. But in the middle of all that hustle, there’s a little tradition that helps you slow down and soak up the magic: December Daily. If you’ve never heard of it or have and wondered about it, December Daily is a beloved project created by Ali Edwards that encourages documenting the stories of December. Think of December Daily as your personal holiday storybook. It’s a memory-keeping project started by…
Solo & Serene – Because being alone doesn’t mean being lonely—it means being free. Hi! My name is Dee and I am alone. Sounds like the start of a “Something Anonymous” meeting, right? Those meetings are about breaking habits, and they often bring mixed emotions—pride for taking control and embarrassment for needing help. Funny thing is, being alone can stir up those same feelings. There’s pride in holding out for the right person, refusing to settle just because you’re lonely….
Set it, forget it, and bless your taste buds! Let me tell you about a little slice of tropical heaven that’s been simmerin’ in my kitchen lately. It’s called Slow-Cooked Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken, and it’s got all the makings of a weeknight winner: easy prep, bold flavor, and that sweet Southern satisfaction of a meal that practically cooks itself. Now I know we all love a good crockpot recipe—especially the kind that doesn’t ask us to babysit it like a…
Welcome back, friends! If you’ve been following along, you already know that the 52 Weeks of Creative Memory Keeping series is all about sparking creativity and finding joy in preserving the everyday moments that matter most. Each weekly challenge is designed to encourage you to think outside the box, try new techniques, and redefine the way you document your story. This week our 52 Weeks of Creative Memory Keeping – Challenge 18 is Scraplift a Page Design—a creative way to…
Hey friends! It’s that awesome time of year, and I’m stoked to share my cute Halloween BOO sign project! It’s got metallic paints that shimmer, a charming ghost, and is affordable to make. You’ll love crafting it and showing it off this Halloween season. Let’s get those creative juices flowing!
Welcome to my Week 5 reflections for the 30 Minutes a Day Sewing Challenge! Week 5 was extremely brief—just two days in total. I wasn’t able to complete my jacket for The Lined Jacket Contest without dedicating additional sewing time. But that’s on me! I really should have planned my project timeline better! In this reflection, I’ll share my daily progress, challenges faced, and how this time constraint actually helped me develop a more balanced approach to sewing. While I…
As I begin the Week 4 of the 30 Minutes a Day Sewing Challenge, I’m reflecting on how this structured approach has transformed my sewing practice. Week 4 continues my work on the elegant Chanel-inspired jacket (Project #3), which has proven to be both challenging and rewarding. This week’s journey illustrates how even complex projects can be tackled in small, manageable increments when approached with patience and consistency. The 30-minute time frame has been particularly valuable with this intricate project,…
