Author Archives: Jessica

white soap

I wanted to make this batch of soap as close to the archetype as possible: bright white, dense, and extremely cleansing. Most of the soap I’ve made has largely been comprised of liquid oils, which makes for a soft, silky … Continue reading

Posted on by Jessica in Experiments, Soap | 1 Comment

recent developments

        In the fall, my mom gifted me several pots of strawberry plants, and because they do okay with little to no intervention, I have managed to keep them alive. They have started to produce tiny white … Continue reading

Posted on by Jessica in Food, Home, Life | 2 Comments

spoon butter

I’ve amassed a decent collection of wooden kitchen implements– spoons, cutting boards, and a bowl or two– and as you can imagine, they receive a lot of use. When I’m in cooking mode, I’m not always mindful of how I … Continue reading

Posted on by Jessica in Home, Links | Leave a comment

hand bags

Last month, I gave my mom and sisters some hand bags. I was only thinking about how much I like hand motifs when I decided to make these, and the pun was a bonus. They’re identical in construction to the … Continue reading

Posted on by Jessica in Crafts, Sewing | 1 Comment

shaving soap

This year, all the dudes in my life got some shaving soap for Christmas. I’d run across a few different recipes in my research, but what really clinched the deal was finding a fragrance oil that smelled like shaving cream … Continue reading

Posted on by Jessica in Soap | 2 Comments

things lately

          After I finally finished weaving, serging, and hemming those dishtowels, I realized I forgot to account for how much the non-mercerized cotton would shrink in the wash. As soon as I took them out of … Continue reading

Posted on by Jessica in Crafts, Food, Home, Links, Soap, Weaving | Leave a comment

finally, a loom

This loom has actually been folded-up in the corner of the dining room for a little while, waiting for a warping board. It’s a second-hand Leclerc, and I find myself describing it with feminine pronouns and wondering if I should … Continue reading

Posted on by Jessica in Links, Weaving | Leave a comment

six years

This year’s anniversary post is a little late because it required Nick’s input. Traditionally, year six calls for an iron present, but I decided to be less literal about it. This gift is totally non-ferrous, but it’s technically an iron, … Continue reading

Posted on by Jessica in Life | 3 Comments

red, white, and blue macarons

I made these macarons for a friend’s baby shower a few days ago, and it just so happened that the nautical-themed colors coincided perfectly with the July fourth holiday. Vanilla bean and red velvet are two flavors I’ve baked before, … Continue reading

Posted on by Jessica in Food | 2 Comments

honeysuckle jelly

There are few things in the world that I love as much as the scent of honeysuckle. One whiff and I am seven years old, barefoot in the backyard with my brothers, pulling apart the wispy blossoms to find the … Continue reading

Posted on by Jessica in Food | 4 Comments