New England artisans craft beautiful (and durable) baby and toddler gear. 1. Designer Mary-Alice Dalton applies couture-quality details to her “Victoria Rose” dress ($145 and up) and coordinating “Shaped Brim” hat ($48). For more on Mary-Alice Dalton, see “Artisan Spotlight,” opposite. Children’s Couture, Belmont, NH. 603-524-8801; madcouture.com 2. “Natural ABC Blocks” ($98 for a set […]
Living
Gardens
Soil Enhancement: Composting
Learn about the difference between “hot” and “cold” methods of composting. Composting is a method of recycling naturally decomposing matter. Ingredients, size of the pile, local weather conditions, and your maintenance habits will affect the outcome. Note that shredded leaves, chipped wood, and chopped food scraps generally decompose more quickly than whole or large pieces. […]
Let’s begin with the kitchen. No, it’s not the biggest we’ve been in, not even close. But how many kitchens have massive oriel windows that extend up two stories on three sides? When you stand there, you’re surrounded by granite counters with old-fashioned tiles depicting English nursery rhymes, placed randomly along the sides. There are […]
Here’s a way to keep oceanside memories close even when you’re landlocked: Make a seashell planter using a terra-cotta garden pot. The materials are simple: just the pot, some sanded grout (available at craft stores such as Michaels and A.C. Moore) and hot glue, and the shells. For that last item, you can scour beaches […]
What’s unique about an old house is its history: who owned it, how they lived, the spirit they left behind. By the time Jilly and Alex Walsh came to live in the northeast corner of Connecticut, this Federal-style house, built in 1780, had already sheltered many lives. There was once a law office here, and […]
For more than 25 years, Tim Matson of Strafford, Vermont, has designed ponds for clients around northern New England. Tim Matson got his start designing ponds by building one for himself. That was 33 years ago. Since then, it has served him well. “It’s done just about everything,” says Matson, who’s authored four books (the […]
I recently watched my friend* work some serious magic on her rental kitchen…and I just had to know her secret. The before picture (below) highlights all that is wrong with the space: dingy yellow counters and cheap, wood cabinets. The after picture (below) is from another part of the kitchen, but you can see it […]
The rest of the best – Christine Chitnis gives honorable mentions to the following New England Farmers’ Markets. For accurate and up-to-date information, always check market Web sites before planning a visit. SUMMER MARKETS Burlington Farmers’ Market City Hall Park, Burlington, VT Saturday 8:30am-2pm, May-October www.burlingtonfarmersmarket.org Portsmouth Farmers’ Market City Hall, 1 Junkins Ave., Portsmouth, […]
I constantly get stopped on the street and asked the same question, “Where did you get your camera strap?” I have to laugh, because it is probably the easiest project that I have ever made, yet it has attracted the most attention! With a bit of colorful fabric and very basic sewing skills, you too […]
Gardens
What The Heck Is A Garden Hod?
An unusual-looking contraption with an equally odd-sounding name, the origins of the word “hod” are uncertain; however, I think it’s a translation for the term “workhorse.” Not necessarily a prize-winning beauty, but it reliably gets the job done day in, day out. (I have to admit, upon unpacking my first shipment of garden hods it […]
Porches have a timeless appeal that captures the imagination of our Yankee audience. Enjoy this user-submitted slide show depicting the best of front-porch, back deck, patio, and veranda living in New England.
Want to add an interesting focal point to your garden area? Consider installing a backyard water garden. I installed my miniature backyard pond in one day with the help of a friend. Though we were both rookies at the time, we must have done something right, because eight years later my water sanctuary is not […]