We ask expert Stephen Philbrick, the co-author (with his son Frank) of The Backyard Lumberjack, how to heat with wood.
Living
Photo/Art by Scott & Zoe/Botanical/Getty Images If the holidays mean leaving your houseplant collection alone while you visit your family in far places, water each plant well, move it out of direct sun, encase it loosely in a clear plastic bag with a few air holes punched in it, turn the thermostat down to 60 […]
Design
Some to Grow On
A few of our favorite makers of locally crafted toys around New England … Jim Jefferson (Knockabout Toys) Searsmont, ME. 207-975-1452; knockabouttoys.com. Specializing in wooden trucks and tractors; custom designs, too. Tom Seal (Bearded Seal Woodcrafts) Cranston, RI. 401-648-6945; beardedsealwoodcrafts.com. Signature toy is the “Thoroughbred Rocking Horse.” Brad Kelley (Wallingford Toy Works) Wallingford, VT. woodenpuzzle.com. […]
Add a special touch to your holiday gifts by decorating them yourself using these felt ornament patterns and instructions. Materials for Felt Mitten Ornaments: wool felt assorted ribbon, trim, and yarn glue and hot-glue gun needle and embroidery thread two yarn pom-poms Instructions for Felt Mitten Ornaments Print the accompanying ornament pattern. Pin or trace […]
How To
Mod Podge Pumpkins
Halloween is just around the corner, so it is only fitting that this week, we focus on pumpkins. I absolutely love the many shapes, colors and sizes of pumpkins and gourds that I usually come across at our local farmers market, but this year, I wanted to take them to a whole new color level.With […]
Gardens
Garden and Potting Shed Styles
Garden and potting sheds are as diverse as the people who own and use them. Charming and intriguing, these simple structures seem to beckon us to approach, peek inside and let our imaginations run wild. These small outdoor buildings also serve as a back drop for artists and artists at heart to express their own […]
How To
Personalized Place Cards
Continuing with my theme of handmade celebrations, I would love to share with you a craft that I made to help decorate for my husband’s 40th surprise birthday party. It was a small celebration, with just a few friends gathering for pizza, beer and ping-pong. But I pulled off the surprise (both the party, and […]
More often than not, when I meet a longtime Yankee reader and tell him or her that I work for the magazine, the first question is: “Did you know Earl Proulx?” I always get the feeling that I’m letting them down when I tell them that I didn’t, although his presence is certainly still felt […]
Gardens
Birdhouses in the Garden
“Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come.” ~Chinese proverb~ Birds and birdhouses have always been a part of the gardening experience (examples of early bird houses in museums date as far back as the mid 1600’s) and can be enjoyed throughout the seasons in New England. The presence […]
When choosing the finish for your wood floor, you’ll need to select one of two basic types: penetrating or surface. Penetrating finishes, which include oils, permeate the wood grain. They are easily renewed, but they do require special care in waxing and polishing to keep floors strong and clean. Old-house owners with softwood (pine) floors […]
We have been busy celebrating these past few months- birthdays, anniversaries, potlucks and parties. I try to add handmade touches to every celebration, and I would love to share a few of my favorite ideas with you. This week, I will show you how to make super easy party garland. For a back-to-school kick-off party […]
Don’t throw out that old dresser just because it’s seen better days. Breathe new life into it with our tips on refinishing wood furniture. If you want to extend the life of a dreary-looking piece of wooden furniture and you’re sure it needs more than just cleaning, your next step should be to refinish […]