I’m making up for missing the boat on Friday’s Project last week with an extra cool project this weekend. I’ve wanted to make canning jar juice boxes for a while now, but didn’t think I had the time. It turns out it only took me…
This year marks Coeur d’Alene’s 43rd Art on the Green event! There will be over 135 artists selling their wares at this year’s fair. Look for glass, pottery, metalwork, paper art, and more. I plan on shopping for early Christmas gifts. (Don't forget to bring…
Three months later after starting vinegar, I have a batch with a good healthy mother (that large blob at the top--it doesn't look pretty, but it's doing its work) that is starting to taste less like watery wine, and more like tangy vinegar. In fact,…
I finally designed a garland that I love for the wedding! It met my criteria of being simple, pretty, and quick to make. This week a few friends came over to help my fiancé and me make nearly 35 feet of garland (that should be…
It’s not too late to enjoy Mozart on a Summer’s Eve in Manito Park! Tonight is the last night for the concert, but if you have a free evening, I highly recommend the event. I attended last night with a picnic dinner and it was…
Infused vinegars seem to be all the rage right now, and for good reason. They are super easy to make and add flavor and punch to recipes. My vinegar collection seems to keep growing as I try new flavors. A month or so ago I…
Strawberry jam is one of my favorites—there is not much that tastes more like summer in the middle of winter. With last week’s strawberries, I made three batches of strawberry-vanilla jam and one larger batch of good, plain strawberry jam. Strawberry preserves are next on…
The season of picking fruit at Greenbluff is just beginning, which is good news for all of us. It seems like there is no end to the wealth of berries and fruit available just miles from town. I have a weakness for strawberries and have…
I love polka dots and simple, thoughtful gift presentation. A fun gift tag with a simple ribbon or string spruces up almost anything. I like to whip up a dozen or two at a time so I always have them on hand. You will need:…
One of the best ways to learn more and (to be more adventurous with) canning is to pick up a few books. There are hundreds of canning books out there; here are some of my recommendations: Jam it, Pickle it, Cure it by Karen Solomon.…
This is an easy project that is fun to make with kids—and who doesn’t like a pinwheel? The fun of the pinwheel lies in your options for paper. Just remember, the sky is the limit. I made red and blue pinwheels in the spirit of…
First Friday is tonight! Visit galleries to see great, local art and even meet some of the artists. I love summertime First Friday events--it stays light later and the evenings cool off enough to make a stroll around town quite pleasant. Forth of July celebration…
As I said last week, I am trying to be more adventurous in my canning projects, while also trying to be more conscious about preserving locally grown produce (some of which will be harvested from my own garden). The first canning fruit of the season…
I have been remiss in my blogging and crafting this last week. I apologize, dear readers, please stick with me. I actually have been crafting like mad for the wedding, and am getting ready to start posting more of the projects that are making it…
The canning and preserving bug has officially hit me. Over the last several summers, I’ve been canning more and more; this year, I’m already surpassing past canning efforts. I even thought of making jars of jam for wedding favors, but vetoed the idea simply based…
A couple of comments I’ve had on the blog and in conversation inspired today’s project. In my quest to reduce my use of plastic, I have been doing my best (which admittedly could often be better… darn my forgetful brain!) to take reusable bags or…
I’m about to air my dirty pantry on the Internet for the world to see--and it's a little scary. Friday’s Project today is not quite a craft, but it is certainly a Dwell Well (or at least better) project. When I get busy (which is…
I made it to the very end of the Farm Chicks show on Sunday (benefit: at the end of a show, many of the vendors are willing to cut down their price a bit so they don’t have to pack the merchandise back up). The…
I am on a mission to make more of the condiments and ingredients I use regularly in the kitchen. It is a project that, to me, seems to fit the mission of DwellWell. My first condiment experiment, homemade mustard, was a resounding success. (Soon I’ll…
Two of my favorite creative events are taking place in Spokane this weekend. If you plan your weekend well, you’ll be able to hit both! I’ve been attending ArtFest every year since I moved into my first Spokane apartment. It is, hands down, my favorite…
Years ago I bought a candle in a coffee mug at a local craft fair. There is something about candles that have been poured in unexpected containers that makes me smile. A candle in a canning jar or a teacup? Yes, please! This weekend some…
This is a project I’ve had bookmarked for well over a year and have been itching to make (it actually may happen in the next few weeks now that I’m on a summer schedule—yay!). I’m posting these links before I have made the gift bags…
It must be the start of summer; I’ve seen approximately 52,000 garage, yard, and estate sale signs this week. In the spirit of repurposing, I am making an effort this summer to tour used-item sales rather than buying new. Take a walk in your neighborhood…
Like many of you, I am getting my garden beds ready to plant. I have about 60 seedlings in my living room windows that will soon need real growing space. This year I’m going to try growing pumpkins and cucumbers vertically to make more space…
This Saturday marks the opening of the summer season for the Spokane Farmer’s Market and I Can’t Wait. The farmer’s market will be running on Saturdays, starting on May 14th from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Beginning June 8th, you’ll also be able to shop…
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.
