My mom taught me how to tie the perfect bow years ago. It is easy to tie, and even easier to untie (a must when it comes time to unwrap). I though on this, the final day of holiday crafts, I’d share the technique with…
Today is two for one day at Dwell Well! Is anyone else behind on his or her Christmas prep? Geesh. This is a great project to do with your kids (or someone else’s, but if you borrow a child, be sure to have parental permission.…
I’ll admit it. I like coasters. And I likely have too many already, but I can’t help it: these coasters are fun and easy to make. (I whipped up the ones pictured in just half an hour—really). You will need (for each coaster): two 5-6”…
This is another simple garland that looks just as good hanging on a tree as is does simply placed among decorations on the mantle. It is very simple to make and recycles paper scraps from other projects!You will need:a variety of paper scraps¾” circle paper…
A simply wrapped package with a handmade tag can be quite beautiful. For this tag, make a stocking template from the photo, or a simple cookie cutter. You will need:cardstock scrapspaper and pen for making a templatescissorsglue1/8” hole punch1/8” eyelet (if desired)stringTrace the stocking from…
I never seem to make the time to craft my own holiday cards (even though cards are my thing...sigh), but this card is easy to put together and uses up scraps. Maybe if I start now, I’ll have them made for next year?You will need:…
This project is a bit more complicated than the last few crafts, but is completely worth the extra time. Continuing the theme of repurposing and sustainable crafting, today's craft turns an old wool sweater into a pair of mittens! So. Fun. If you don’t have…
My favorite ornaments to use for this wreath have cracked glaze, flaking color, are faded and falling apart. It may be the Charlie Brown in me, but I love giving new life to things that would otherwise be forgotten. You will need:a grapevine wreath formglass…
I have some catching up to do! My day job got away with me this week (finals week for an English instructor produces many stacks of essays to grade). But never fear, Dwell Well readers, I would often much rather create craft projects than grade…
This might be my favorite new project: it is super easy and only looks expensive! Etching a simple snowflake design onto glasses or stemware (found at thrift stores!) will give them a whole new life. You will need: clean, dry glasses or stemwareself-adhesive contact papera…
The 2nd Day of Holiday Crafts brings natural decorating with pinecones and rosehips. This garland is simple to make and provides plenty of interest and texture to your decorating.You will need:pineconesrosehips (cranberries would be a good substitute)clear monofilament or fishing linea needleThread the needle with…
Welcome to the first day of this year's 12 Days of Holiday Crafts on Dwell Well! Throughout the next couple of weeks, I will post instructions and tutorials for twelve craft projects. I hope you follow along and let me know what you're making this…
Every year I try to make many of the gifts I give for Christmas. Some years, I am better at accomplishing this goal than others, and I will admit that I am behind this year. Just a few weeks until Christmas and my knitting basket…
Tomorrow is the last First Friday of the year. Galleries, restaurants, wineries, and gift shops all over Spokane are open into the evening (most until 9 p.m.). I plan on counteracting the cold and drizzle by ducking into galleries, shopping local businesses for gifts, and…
My dad has a small piece of land on which he raises chickens (pets that lay eggs and have names) and a few dozen heritage-breed turkeys (birds that become dinner and remain UNnamed). (Many of dad’s turkeys are actually hatched and raised by his Bantam…
This week I’ve had to hold my tongue a bit as I’ve heard people mention the dread of promised snow in Spokane. I (not so secretly anymore) love snow, especially the first honest-to-goodness snow of the season. Big snowflakes falling from the sky make me…
I recently scoured parks for fallen acorns and renewed the lives of decorative pumpkins leftover from Halloween to create place card decorations for Thanksgiving. This is a very easy project that can even be done with kids!If you don't need place cards on your table,…
My calendar is full of notes about upcoming craft events in Spokane. It’s time to make lists of people to shop for and to support local artists. This weekend I walked through the Shadle Park Arts & Crafts Sale and was happy to see a…
Craft show season is upon us, and it is perhaps my favorite time of the year. I make the effort to attend several shows before the holidays, armed with gift-buying lists and a little extra money to spend on something for myself (that really just…
We probably should have posted this update sooner, but Megan Cooley is no longer writing Dwell WellNW. Yes, we miss her too! At the very end of last month, she was offered a super opportunity to return to the classroom, this time teaching kindergarten at…
Here's another don't-miss-it event for your calendar: The Mad Hatter Vintage Flea Market, which will be held Friday and Saturday.The event is organized by mother-daughter team Gladys and Celia Hanning, of Junebug Furniture & Design, who are regulars in Spokane's creative-vintage scene. They sell their…
If you're still feeling the vintage vibe (I'm pretty sure, for those of us afflicted, it never goes away), there are sales coming up you don't want to miss.The first happens tomorrow (Saturday), and it's called the Angel's Attic Vintage Sale. It's a collaboration between…
With the start of the school year, I've been struggling to keep up in the kitchen. Meal planning has gone out the window. Frozen waffles are my new best friends.I'm considering buying into one of those meal-planning services, where they send you a list of…
Being as we live in an agricultural part of the country, I think it's safe to assume that residents here have a greater chance of one day owning a barn than, say, folks in Seattle or Portland.Chalk that up as reason No. 1,082 to love…
Did anyone make it to the Funky Junk Antique Show in Sandpoint this weekend? I'm bummed that I didn't get up there, but it sounds like it was a great success based on some happy comments on the Funky Junk Facebook wall.Don't fret if you…
Artist and crafter Maggie Wolcott writes about craft events in and around Spokane, as well as her own adventures in creating and repurposing. Her DwellWellNW posts include project and decorating ideas, recipes, reviews of events, and interviews with local artists. Maggie spends her days as an English professor, and when she’s not grading papers, she can generally be found with a paintbrush or scissors in hand. She can be reached at mebullock@gmail.com.
