Kid Crafts, Home Learning, Cleaning Hacks, and Knitting While Cocooning

March 30, 2020 // No Comments

We are on day 19 of being at home with our two sons, Optimus 8 and Bumblebee 3, so I feel I can reasonable post with some ideas on keeping kids engaged during this period of cocooning. These ideas are... Continue reading →

Irish Souvenirs, makers, and artisans based in Ireland

March 17, 2020 // No Comments

If you read my blog regularly, you know I’ve posted quite a few times before about Irish crafts, hand-dyed yarn, and more, so it won’t be a surprise to read this post. I spent many MANY hours combing Instagram and the internet looking... Continue reading →

Ultraviolet Knits: Twelve knitting patterns featuring UV-reactive hand-dyed wool

March 7, 2020 // No Comments

I’m thrilled to announce the release of my latest book, Ultraviolet Knits: Twelve knitting patterns featuring UV-reactive hand-dyed wool (Anchor and Bee, 2020). This collection features 12 original accessory knitting patterns designed with black light-reactive hand-dyed wool-based yarns.   Inspiration This book... Continue reading →

6 Scenic Drives in Ireland

March 5, 2020 // No Comments

While it may seem like an eternity before your next sun holiday, why not explore the Irish landscape to satisfy the wanderlust in you! Experience our glorious heritage by visiting historical attractions and admiring our unrivalled coastal scenery. I’ve teamed... Continue reading →

How to handle raising boys

February 21, 2020 // No Comments

Raising children is a blessing, but it’s also a huge responsibility. And whilst there is plenty of crossover in terms of handling the development of genders, there are differences too, and we’re going to look at how to handle boys.... Continue reading →

How to keep the house clean with kids

February 7, 2020 // No Comments

It’s all well and good knowing how to clean a mirror, or which products work best for bringing the sparkle back to your chrome sink. However, trying to balance the cleaning that needs doing with everything else life as a... Continue reading →

History of Chutney and Original Recipe for Christmas

December 19, 2019 // No Comments

There’s nothing quite like a tasty chutney. Sweet, savoury, or a combination of both, they’re so versatile and truly delicious to eat. On top of that, chutneys are particularly great at Christmas, and make really good presents too. But where... Continue reading →

A Few of My Kids’ Favorite Robot, STEM, Dinosaurs, Bedtime, and On-the-go Books

December 17, 2019 // No Comments

Every so often, I’m struck by the continued love and loyalty my sons feel toward a certain book or toy (or theme) and I thought I’d share some of their favourite books (with a couple toys) within certain themes because... Continue reading →

My All-Time Favorite Gifts Given & Received

December 13, 2019 // No Comments

It’s my birthday, so I’m sharing a list of all my favourite gifts that I’ve ever received or given. As always, Amazon.co.uk links are affiliate links. I made £26 in 2019 from this and I used that money to buy... Continue reading →

Best pet toys you can make with kids at home easily

December 12, 2019 // No Comments

My sons LOVE their canine aunt and have such fun playing with her, but also know their toys need to be different. Buying toys for pets can get expensive, but you can create your own at home that are so... Continue reading →

Your Guide to American Thanksgiving History, Recipes, and Crafts

November 25, 2019 // No Comments

As an American living in Ireland, I have had to adapt to Thanksgiving Thursday being just another day. I shared my thoughts on this several years ago in an article in The Irish Examiner. Today, I’m not reflecting on my... Continue reading →

How to Clean Your Stroller/Buggy

November 21, 2019 // No Comments

Picture it, Brussels 2012. We took our then 10-month-old Optimus for a trip. I packed just the chest carrier and left the big jogging stroller (or buggy as it’s called in Ireland/UK) at home. As a tiny baby, it was... Continue reading →

Sewing a Fleece Jacket for a Puppy

September 19, 2019 // No Comments

When a friend was fostering a puppy, she turned to me for ideas on how to convert baby clothes to a puppy coat to help keep the little one warmer in Ireland’s brisk Autumn weather (who are we kidding, it’s... Continue reading →

Sewing a Project Bag from a Canvas Bread Basket

September 12, 2019 // No Comments

When I’m knitting at home, I don’t have a yarn bowl but wanted something that would hold my supplies and knitting without breaking when it’s inevitably knocked on the floor by my kids. That’s when I decided to adapt a... Continue reading →

Interview with Mad Scientist Yarns, Hand-dyer

September 10, 2019 // No Comments

I first learned of Mad Scientist Yarns when I saw their 2018 Advent Calendar. It was fun and vibrant, while being its own style. Michelle & Scott agreed to let me interview them for my blog, so like the other interviews... Continue reading →

Don’t Fear Hemming a Dress

September 5, 2019 // No Comments

I’m afraid of plenty of things from zombie clowns from outer space to mean girl bullies, but one thing I do not fear is making a mistake or doing something wrong. Mistakes, for the most part, can be fixed and... Continue reading →

Interview with Alice of WildWoolE17, Hand-dyer

September 3, 2019 // No Comments

When I saw the cheerful colors dyed by Alice of WildWoolE17, I was reminded of candy! The vibrant hues are rich and happy. So when I had the chance to interview her, I was delighted. As with my other interviews,... Continue reading →

Patterns to Use with Mini Skeins & Yarn Advent Calendar Sets

August 29, 2019 // No Comments

This post includes a list of knitting patterns ideally suited for mini skein sets, whether they’re stash busting homemade sets of Advent calendars or fades. These patterns work with any mini skein combination or set, including Hanukkah calendar sets (like this... Continue reading →

Interview with Martin’s Lab, Hand-dyer

August 27, 2019 // No Comments

When I saw Martin’s Lab‘s bright vibrant colorways at Edinburgh Yarn Festival, it was love at first sight. I mean, we’ve all been there with a skin of yarn, right? I chose the one that made my heart sing and... Continue reading →

My Lunchbox Approach: Containers, Contents, and Labels

August 22, 2019 // No Comments

We’re well and truly starting the school year and I thought I’d share my lunchbox approach, from containers to contents to labels. Who knows, maybe something in here will help you. If not, at least I have this documented so I don’t forget.... Continue reading →