This kit-based night-light lampshade is my go-to project for the tween crowd. I’ve taught this project at local public schools as a visiting artist and have found that it is most appropriate for eleven- to-thirteen-year-olds. A basic night-light kit (available at craft and lampshade stores or online) includes the half-round-shaped frame, the lightbulb and switch, […]
Yankee Classic from June 1992 “I hate to tell you,” Suzy Verrier said, pausing sympathetically, “but your roses are wimps.” “Come again?” I wasn’t sure I had heard her correctly. “Wimps,” she repeated. “They’re wimpy commercial roses that are packaged and sold like canned tuna.” Another pause. “They’re fine, I suppose, if you like canned […]
More about Martha’s Vineyard: Martha’s Vineyard, MA: Gardens and Markets Weekend in Martha’s Vineyard Would you believe there are around 750 properties for sale on Martha’s Vineyard this year? Real estate activity is still slow out there. That’s why we called a friend of ours, Jon Hartzband, who specializes in affordable island properties. By “affordable,” […]
1. Toting goodies in a handcrafted wooden bike basket (from $33) leaves your hands free to signal and steer. Peterboro Basket Company, Peterborough, NH. 603-924-3861; peterborobasket.com 2. The 070 ($79.99), New Balance’s first eco-friendly shoe, features recycled materials and reduced-waste design. New Balance, Boston, MA. 617-783-4000; newbalance.com 3. Cruise in style on a vintage–or vintage-looking–bicycle […]
The May basket — let’s bring back a small gesture of caring and celebration of this season,” says Jayne Ward, who has enjoyed a lifelong career in the antiques and gift business. This, her third shop, Homeward Designs’ Cottage Style, in Rindge, New Hampshire (603-899-9545), is co-owned with her daughter, Melissa Ward Messer, formerly a […]
Maine native Tom Seymour is an expert on foraging for edible wild plants. [slideshow post_id=”96094″] Eating wild doesn’t always require venturing far. “A vacant lot in town may have more to find than the Allagash Wilderness,” says Tom Seymour. A few years ago in Maine’s Moosehead Lake region, Seymour led a plant seminar whose participants […]
This decorating idea for your Easter table uses new or vintage materials and your choice of eggs, the symbol of spring. Suggestions include quail eggs, foil-wrapped chocolate eggs, or even egg-shaped soaps. 1. Place a tartlet mold of your choosing (either new or vintage) on each plate. Add a fabric doily or a coaster beneath […]
We arrived in South Sudbury, Massachusetts, about an hour before our appointment with Bill and Dottie Schirmer, current owners of the Hager House, as it’s known historically, on what was once part of Henry Ford’s huge (2,900 acres at one time) Wayside Inn estate. So, we thought to ourselves, why not have lunch at that […]
1, 2. Stash umbrellas near the door in Ameico’s “Ivy” stand ($240); pens, pencils, and other implements are at home in a quirky “Pen Pen” pen and pencil holder ($23). Ameico, New Milford, CT 888-350-8765; ameico.com 3. Hang coats and bags on a pretty pine Shaker pegboard ($27.50-$65 assembled and finished; DIY and finished cherry […]
Need some new ideas for Easter table settings? Here’s how to create simple yet elegant place settings and centerpieces for your Easter table. Spring at last! And in the spirit of the season, I love decorating my dining room table for Easter with fresh and unusual designs. Several great ideas came to me as I […]
In search of affordable oceanfront New England properties, we’ve found eight for $300,000 or less in New England’s most beautiful coastal area. Read more about Maine: Down East Stories Can you imagine a county in New England more than twice the size of Rhode Island–with only two traffic lights? Well, the town of Lubec and […]
1. Lay your head on super-healthy organic pillows (standard size $55-$114; European $50-$132; shams and cases $30-$38). HEART OF VERMONT, Barre, VT . 800-639-4123; heartofvermont.com 2. Undyed, unbleached flannel sheets and pillowcases ($28-$58) are toasty on cold nights; a cashmere throw ($248) adds a layer of luxury. GARNET HILL, Franconia, NH. 800-870-3513; garnethill.com 3. This […]
