My Mom’s Recipe Repertoire

October 22, 2020 // No Comments

Most of these recipes were ones she learned from friends who were born or have strong family ties to a certain country or region. I think, for my mom, cooking her friends’ recipes was a way of keeping them close... Continue reading →

Top tips for new cyclists – Guest post by Catherine Bedford, Dashel

October 20, 2020 // No Comments

I’m thrilled to be able to share this guest post today by Catherine Bedford of Dashel. She has some valuable expertise and insight into getting a bicycle, cycling safety, and all the relevant matters to consider. As a family who... Continue reading →

Collaborating on the Planetary Sisters Countdown Calendar

October 15, 2020 // No Comments

One of the unexpected silver linings of a semi-lockdown existence this year has been collaborating with creators virtually. Sometimes, even when you’re local it offers the chance to focus with clarity on your own value. I think 2020 gave me a... Continue reading →

Should I become an expat? 5 Unexpected benefits of expat life

October 13, 2020 // No Comments

Although you may have dreamed of living and working abroad for many years, there is still a lot to consider before you make the decision to become an expat. I’ve teamed up with Allianz Care to discuss some of the... Continue reading →

French Toast with Raspberry-Maple Syrup

October 6, 2020 // No Comments

French toast is easy and forgiving. This is my go-to recipes since I was a kid, but I play with the syrup any chance I get. This raspberry-maple combination is popular with my family, but sometimes I use a blend... Continue reading →

Breastfeeding: Latching On and Letting Go

October 1, 2020 // No Comments

This is a different post than my usual because it is very personal. Heck, it includes a photo of me breastfeeding so this is clearly not a post about how I made blackberry waffles with Siracha-maple syrup. Here, today, I... Continue reading →

How to get the best from the last 3 months of a challenging 2020

September 29, 2020 // No Comments

Today, I’m sharing an insightful guest post by Sid Madge, author of the ‘Meee in a minute’ series of books    2020 is a year that everyone is going to remember.   Since late March you’ve probably been worried about... Continue reading →

I’m on LoveCrafts. All My Knitwear Designs Listed with Photos, Description, and Download Options

September 24, 2020 // 2 Comments

After a summer of Thursday blog posts sharing details about my knitwear designs, I thought this post would be useful to give an overview of ALL my designs. I’ll organise them by type, describe them, and suggest yarn options. This blog... Continue reading →

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

September 23, 2020 // No Comments

As of today, all 12 patterns from Ultraviolet Knits: Twelve knitting patterns featuring UV-reactive hand-dyed wool (Anchor and Bee, 2020) are available for individual purchase on LoveCrafts. This collection features 12 original accessory knitting patterns designed with black light-reactive hand-dyed wool-based yarns. for individual patterns for... Continue reading →

Kindness, Sharing, and Emma Rattray’s The Rug Bear

September 22, 2020 // No Comments

It was a fun surprise when I was gifted a copy of Emma Rattray’s book The Rug Bear. We are really into bedtime reading (and afternoon reading) in our home, so new books quickly become favourites being toted from room-to-room... Continue reading →

School Gate Shawlette Knitting Pattern & ECIYC Back2School Campaign

September 19, 2020 // No Comments

Introducing the School Gate Shawlette. It was inspired by the ironwork openings and lattice textures of my son’s school gate. This pattern is being released as part of a fundraiser for Every Child Is Your Child Ireland’s Back2School GoFundMe. All proceeds from this... Continue reading →

Marking Down Memories in My Creativity Book

September 17, 2020 // No Comments

When My Creativity Book came out, I saw it posted on @FitziesFood Instagram and fell in love with the bright illustrations and brilliant concept. Naturally, being a bibliophile, I had to have a copy for Optimus (8), but then he... Continue reading →

Interview with Michael Harrigan, author of Travel-inspired Knits

September 15, 2020 // No Comments

If you’re an avid knitter, you may have already Michael Harrigan’s designs (Ravelry link) or eyed one with a plan to knit it. Completely understandable, I have felt that way too! I met Michael through the online knitting community and was... Continue reading →

Mushrooms – Good Things Come In Small Packages

September 8, 2020 // No Comments

Mushrooms can so easily be overlooked in the grocery market. Not only are they small, but also a pale khaki color. At first glance, it makes you wonder who first thought of picking a mushroom from the dirt in a... Continue reading →

Beefy Comfort Food: Meatloaf, Burgers, and Shepherd’s Pie

September 1, 2020 // No Comments

Nothing warms up a house like a hot oven and these three recipes are sure to do just that. Each recipe uses two pounds of ground beef in a different and delicious way. Of course, you can substitute ground turkey... Continue reading →

I Want to Knit

August 27, 2020 // No Comments

I have made several I Want To Knit lists before and it seems like each time it gets longer and longer. So many beautiful patterns and inspiring yarns and colorways…and only so much time to knit. This year’s list will repeat... Continue reading →

Interview with DesignsBySinéad

August 25, 2020 // No Comments

Handcrafted can mean so many different things and represent a variety of methods and crafts, so I love when I encounter a combination of crafts in one talented maker. In this case, I’m talking about Sinéad O’Toole of DesignsBySinéad. You may... Continue reading →

Brilliant Things: Almost Everything We’ve Bought in 2020

August 22, 2020 // No Comments

We bought a few new things this year and are loving them, so I thought I’d share a list of what we spent our money on in 2020, since you know it wasn’t travel or dining out. Really, this list... Continue reading →

Reflecting on the Reality of the 1918 Flu

August 21, 2020 // No Comments

This pandemic experience has brought my grandmother to my mind a lot. She lost her youngest brother to the 1918 flu, which was devastating. He was just a little older than my younger son is now. I now wonder what kind... Continue reading →

Ultraviolet Knits – Wreath Nebula Mitts

August 20, 2020 // 1 Comment

Wreath Nebula Mitts There is something so satisfying about quick knits that are also soft and cosy. Using two colors of DK yarn, these mitts are knit flat, top down, and seamed up the side, leaving an opening for the... Continue reading →