Reuse plastic bread tags to create a strong, weatherproof roof for a wooden bird house. The overlapping tiles made by the bread tags repel rain, just like the tiled roof on your own house, shielding the underlying wood from damage.
Continue reading →There is a unique, grounding magic in sticking your hands into the earth and realizing that, with a little patience and water, you can grow something life-sustaining. Whether you are inspired by the recent trend of swapping thirsty lawns for native plants or simply want the crunch of a homegrown snap pea, starting a garden is one of the most rewarding projects you can undertake.
In a world that feels increasingly digital, ephemeral, and—let’s face it—a little bit loud, there is a profound, grounding magic in the act of making something with your hands. Whether you are clicking knitting needles together, smoothing out a piece of clay, or meticulously aligning a digital layout for a boutique shop, crafting is an antidote to the “scroll-and-consume” culture.
Continue reading →Scrapbooks are not meant just for photos. I tend to often date myself. When I was in elementary school, I had a scrapbook. Of course back then I used paper that is now yellow and I used glue. However, what?s important is I remember the contents of that scrapbook.
Continue reading →Playing cards were probably invented in China during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE) though they were rather different to the ones that we are familiar with today. There is a reference to something called the ‘leaf game’ being played by Princess Tongchang in 868 CE but it is unclear exactly what these leaves were. We know that this game often involved drinking – it was reported that the Emperor Muzong went on a 25-day drinking spree in the year 969 and on New Year’s Eve (26th February) “he played the game of leaves with his ministers”. This game would have been yezi ge (Rules of Leaves) but as long ago as 1067 CE it was recorded that there was no one alive who remembered how to play the game.