https://www.craftandbond.com/ Adventures, foibles, and the art of bringing craft everywhere: homes, kitchens, and a slightly over-packed suitcase. Told in pictures, mostly. en-us https://www.craftandbond.com/post/thanksgiving-table-ideas https://www.craftandbond.com/post/thanksgiving-table-ideas Home Wed, 30 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT It's not really about how awesome my tablescapes are. It's more about how holidays are about family and connections and friends that we call family, and traditions. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/glass-jar-terrarium https://www.craftandbond.com/post/glass-jar-terrarium Crafts Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Clay flowers and a mossy base in a recycled jar, with fireflies hanging from the lid. Nineteen photographed steps, each one captioned on the picture itself. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/wooden-bug-cage https://www.craftandbond.com/post/wooden-bug-cage Crafts Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT A branch, leaves, rocks, a caterpillar, fireflies and one pale blue bird, all built from clay and assembled inside a wooden mesh cage. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/clay-flower-vases https://www.craftandbond.com/post/clay-flower-vases Crafts Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT A round one, a coil one, and a U. Three vase shapes and one set of flower moves, laid out on two picture cards. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/barcelona-street-art https://www.craftandbond.com/post/barcelona-street-art Crafts Tue, 08 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT The best art in Barcelona is painted on roll-down shop security shutters, which means you only see it during siesta or after dark. A walking photo essay from the Gothic Quarter. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/barcelona-just-walk https://www.craftandbond.com/post/barcelona-just-walk Travel Tue, 08 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Working abroad in a small apartment with your whole family, the only reliable reset is to walk out the door with no destination. What that actually looks like in 100 degree heat. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/turkey-brine-and-method https://www.craftandbond.com/post/turkey-brine-and-method Recipes Fri, 04 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT A 24-hour citrus brine and a low, slow smoke do most of the work. Here's the whole method, brine to thermometer. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/shrinky-dink-wine-charms https://www.craftandbond.com/post/shrinky-dink-wine-charms Crafts Thu, 03 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Shrink film, paint pens, and three minutes in the toaster oven. The cheap, easy charms our guests genuinely fight over, plus video of the shrinking magic. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/thanksgiving-table-crafts-for-kids https://www.craftandbond.com/post/thanksgiving-table-crafts-for-kids Crafts Thu, 03 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT The sweetest job at our Thanksgiving table belongs to the kids: the place cards. Names optional, art required, seating strategy encouraged. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/gratitude-advent-wall https://www.craftandbond.com/post/gratitude-advent-wall Family Thu, 03 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Twenty four numbered envelopes, one small card in each, and every card is somebody in the family saying something nice about somebody else. Written at Thanksgiving, opened through December. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/yarn-pumpkins https://www.craftandbond.com/post/yarn-pumpkins Crafts Tue, 25 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT Each toilet paper tube makes two or three pumpkins, the whole project costs under twenty dollars, and one takes about a minute. Here is how to make them, plus the slightly manipulative thing I do to get my kids to sit down and do it with me. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/glow-in-the-dark-slime https://www.craftandbond.com/post/glow-in-the-dark-slime Crafts Tue, 25 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT Three ingredients, one bowl, and a slime that charges in sunlight and glows in the dark. Plus the giant fluffy version, and the household rule I made after finding a five week old slime in my daughter's room. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/clay-cactus https://www.craftandbond.com/post/clay-cactus Crafts Tue, 25 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT A tiny air-dry clay cactus in a little yellow pot, made in six visual steps. Watch the video, follow the picture card, no reading required. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/rainbow-rice https://www.craftandbond.com/post/rainbow-rice Crafts Tue, 25 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT One bag of rice, food coloring, and ten minutes makes the sensory bin every age plays with. Cheap, eco-friendly, and oddly entrancing. Plus the drying trick and the storage rule that keep it going for months. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/clay-erasers-food https://www.craftandbond.com/post/clay-erasers-food Crafts Tue, 25 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT Eraser clay handles like polymer clay, bakes into a real working eraser, and this food set is the easiest entry point: a fried egg, three popsicles, and a smiling milk carton. Little hands shape, a grown-up bakes. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/clay-erasers-animals https://www.craftandbond.com/post/clay-erasers-animals Crafts Tue, 25 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT Same eraser clay, more personality: a bear, a duck, and a giraffe with spots and ossicones. A few steps per animal, one grown-up bake, and real working erasers that get guarded in pencil cases. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/pebble-mosaics https://www.craftandbond.com/post/pebble-mosaics Crafts Tue, 25 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT I will probably never do anything permanent with the pebbles I carried home in my carry-on from the Mediterranean. That was never the point. On sorting rituals, half-born inspiration, and the case for art that never has to become a thing. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/paper-gondola-lanterns https://www.craftandbond.com/post/paper-gondola-lanterns Crafts Tue, 25 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT A paper gondola cut file, folded in a hotel room on a ski trip, with a flameless candle tucked inside and one side left untaped for light duty. Low mess, whole-afternoon engagement, and the result is so cute it earned ornament status. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/clay-sushi https://www.craftandbond.com/post/clay-sushi Crafts Mon, 24 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT Salmon, tamago, and tuna sushi in air-dry clay, from one tutorial. The most satisfying of our clay food projects, and the one that teaches the most technique. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/clay-donut https://www.craftandbond.com/post/clay-donut Crafts Mon, 24 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT One batch of air-dry clay, six donut flavors: strawberry, pineapple, blueberry, grape, chocolate frosted, and chocolate sprinkle. The best first clay food project. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/clay-cupcake https://www.craftandbond.com/post/clay-cupcake Crafts Mon, 24 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT Chocolate and vanilla clay cupcakes, strawberry and blueberry frostings, a clay cherry, and the powder-dusting trick at the end that makes them look absurdly real. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/clay-cookie https://www.craftandbond.com/post/clay-cookie Crafts Mon, 24 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT Five steps, four colors, zero ways to fail. The clay project to hand a kid who has never touched clay, and the gateway to the whole clay food series. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/clay-macaron https://www.craftandbond.com/post/clay-macaron Crafts Mon, 24 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT Pastel clay macarons with a piped cream filling, in three steps. Sometimes spelled macaroon, but these are the French kind, and we make the case for why. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/clay-burger https://www.craftandbond.com/post/clay-burger Crafts Mon, 24 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT A stacked clay cheeseburger with sesame seeds, lettuce, and tomato, in ten steps. The best group build in the clay kitchen, because everyone owns a layer. https://www.craftandbond.com/stories/mammoth-kitchen-before-and-after https://www.craftandbond.com/stories/mammoth-kitchen-before-and-after Home Thu, 20 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT The 1980s Mammoth ski house kitchen and what it became: before and after sliders you drag yourself. Same windows, same walls, two years apart. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/the-mammoth-kitchen https://www.craftandbond.com/post/the-mammoth-kitchen Home Thu, 20 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT The refrigerator was in the middle of the U. Here is how we rebuilt a 1980s Mammoth ski house kitchen around four working walls, every material and every source, and the expensive thing I got completely wrong. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/week-one-of-our-summer-abroad-or-the-art-of-self-sabotage https://www.craftandbond.com/post/week-one-of-our-summer-abroad-or-the-art-of-self-sabotage Travel Mon, 13 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT I planned this trip within an inch of its life. I measured distances. I built in buffers. I confirmed reservations twice. In my own mind, I was a logistics genius. And then Europe, a heat wave, and my own nervous system took turns reminding me that a plan is just a story you tell yourself before the actual day happens. Forty days, six bags, one wedding, one ferry, and one very public moment involving a sweater. Here is everything that went sideways, and exactly how I would dodge it next time.... https://www.craftandbond.com/post/two-bags-forty-days https://www.craftandbond.com/post/two-bags-forty-days Travel Sun, 21 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT I started packing a month early, and that week of distance taught me the difference between the wardrobe I fantasize about and the one I actually live in. Here's how I edited down to a real capsule for 40 days abroad, California-casual meets Euro-stylish. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/i-went-to-pack-for-europe-and-came-out-with-a-stripped-down-closet https://www.craftandbond.com/post/i-went-to-pack-for-europe-and-came-out-with-a-stripped-down-closet Travel Fri, 12 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT paring down my packing list and my closet at the same time. I love fashion, clothing and looking good, but I don't want to pay for extra checked bags. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/the-10-minute-appetizer-that-looks-like-you-tried https://www.craftandbond.com/post/the-10-minute-appetizer-that-looks-like-you-tried Recipes Mon, 08 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT A 10-minute whipped feta that looks like you fussed for an hour. Lemony, silky, topped with sweet peppers - make it ahead, chill it overnight, and watch it be the first thing gone. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/the-passport-mistake-that-left-my-son-behind https://www.craftandbond.com/post/the-passport-mistake-that-left-my-son-behind Travel Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT ....And How to Renew Your Minor Child's Passport So You Never Live It The pile on the ottoman, the forms and hoops ahead of me, just trying to keep it all together. Literally and figuratively. We were 2 weeks out from a last-minute work trip to London. Tickets booked, the hotel covered because this was a work trip. This was the kind of trip where a mom and her kid could truly enjoy one-on-one time in Harry Potter land. Venice had just read the books, so he was over the moon. Then a passport... https://www.craftandbond.com/post/eight-years-of-white-walls-then-i-found-my-nerve https://www.craftandbond.com/post/eight-years-of-white-walls-then-i-found-my-nerve Home Thu, 28 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT Two dark walls, a chevron wallpaper accent, a gallery built from Facebook Marketplace frames, and a sectional we never want to leave. The full living room transformation, and every product and price that got us here. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/the-counter-that-screamed-pile-things-here-is-now-our-stylish-little-coffee-nook https://www.craftandbond.com/post/the-counter-that-screamed-pile-things-here-is-now-our-stylish-little-coffee-nook Home Thu, 28 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT It's a funny little place, our rental. It has low ceilings, it's dark, and you can feel the early 1980's seeping into you as you walk though it. It needed a vibe switch. The little dining nook off the kitchen was a blank slate when we arrived. A sideboard with Corian countertops - that white plastic molded material that was avant-garde circa '83 - white walls, and a whole lot of nothing happening. For years, the best thing in that room was my kids and dogs, and maybe the giant chalkboard we'd... https://www.craftandbond.com/post/citrus-herb-grilled-chicken-with-gremolata-drizzle https://www.craftandbond.com/post/citrus-herb-grilled-chicken-with-gremolata-drizzle Recipes Fri, 22 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT Eight summers ago we showed up to our annual camping trip with a cooler full of marinated chicken and a vague plan. I was delighted when everyone raved about it. Since then, this chicken has become the thing people request. It's our version of a standing tradition - the meal that says we made it another year.The marinade is simple: orange juice, fresh herbs, olive oil, shallot, and garlic. Bright without being aggressive. Herby without being fussy. The gremolata drizzle at the end? Perfection! https://www.craftandbond.com/post/a-literal-glow-up-how-layered-lighting-transformed-my-patio-into-a-nighttime-sanctuary https://www.craftandbond.com/post/a-literal-glow-up-how-layered-lighting-transformed-my-patio-into-a-nighttime-sanctuary Home Fri, 22 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT How I lit my entire rental backyard: pool deck, gazebo, steps, and pool, with zero hardwiring, all solar and battery-powered lighting. Every product linked, including one honest "don't buy this" review. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/i-thought-one-egg-chair-would-be-enough https://www.craftandbond.com/post/i-thought-one-egg-chair-would-be-enough Home Tue, 19 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT At first I just dated the egg chairs. Four egg chairs and two homes later, I have fully embraced my egg chair era: here's how it happened and everything you need to shop every version, from $67 to over a thousand dollars. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/how-to-make-a-diy-cardboard-dog-house-three-ways-zero-dollars-seven-years-strong https://www.craftandbond.com/post/how-to-make-a-diy-cardboard-dog-house-three-ways-zero-dollars-seven-years-strong Crafts Sat, 16 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT It's easy to make your own dog house from found materials and shipping boxes. Turn your next delivery into your pet's dream home https://www.craftandbond.com/post/four-kids-one-hippie-bus-and-zero-regrets https://www.craftandbond.com/post/four-kids-one-hippie-bus-and-zero-regrets Home Sat, 16 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT This dreamy project saw me take an old beat-up VW van and turn it into a mobile dream office/ beach day hauler / hippy love family car. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/we-rebuilt-a-1980s-mammoth-ski-house-from-the-studs-up-here-s-what-we-made https://www.craftandbond.com/post/we-rebuilt-a-1980s-mammoth-ski-house-from-the-studs-up-here-s-what-we-made Home Wed, 13 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT In June 2025, the New York Times featured 490 Hillside Drive in their ["What $3 Million Buys You in California"](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/02/realestate/2-million-dollar-homes-in-california.html ) column. One sentence in a real estate roundup. A photo. A listing price. What the Times didn't have room to tell was the story behind it: the 1980s ski chalet we gutted to the studs, the once-in-a-century storm that pushed our walls out of alignment mid-construction, the self-taught female... https://www.craftandbond.com/post/how-i-transformed-a-cluttered-side-yard-into-a-1-773-outdoor-sanctuary-and-why-i-listed-a-free-pla https://www.craftandbond.com/post/how-i-transformed-a-cluttered-side-yard-into-a-1-773-outdoor-sanctuary-and-why-i-listed-a-free-pla Home Fri, 08 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT Every good transformation starts with a problem to solve. Mine was a beloved, weathered play structure sitting in the middle of a narrow Santa Monica side yard, and absolutely nowhere to go from there until it was gone. This structure had history. Years earlier, my family had sanded it, painted it, and reassembled it together, my boys working alongside their dad and grandfather, all of it done for their little sister who just wanted something to play on in the backyard. It had traveled... https://www.craftandbond.com/post/a-love-letter-to-the-la-flower-market https://www.craftandbond.com/post/a-love-letter-to-the-la-flower-market Travel Wed, 09 Apr 2025 12:00:00 GMT I love the LA Flower Market. God, I love it. LA Flower Market In all its messy, beautiful chaos, Downtown LA holds this fragrant, living gem within it. The moment you enter the market, you're hit with a symphony of smells, every kind of flower you’ve ever known. It’s glorious. And yet, because this is LA, there’s always something unexpected in the mix. The scent of tacos sizzling from nearby food trucks. The city’s grit. The unmistakable aroma of downtown life. Is that someone freebasing on... https://www.craftandbond.com/post/diy-cardboard-dog-house-a-cozy-retreat-for-your-pup https://www.craftandbond.com/post/diy-cardboard-dog-house-a-cozy-retreat-for-your-pup Crafts Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:00:00 GMT Do you love to celebrate Christmas with your pet? This cardboard gingerbread house is a cute and inexpensive way to include your pet in the festivities! https://www.craftandbond.com/post/creating-meaningful-moments-thoughtfully-crafted-date-ideas-to-keep-the-spark-alive https://www.craftandbond.com/post/creating-meaningful-moments-thoughtfully-crafted-date-ideas-to-keep-the-spark-alive Family Mon, 09 Dec 2024 12:00:00 GMT If I had an unlimited budget, I’d be crafting epic date nights regularly. We’d be jetting off to Santorini, savoring the best sushi in LA by the beach, or snagging tickets to see our favorite artists live. But the reality is, budgets exist, and not every date can be a grand adventure. After 25 years together, I’ve realized that while it’s wonderful to have those occasional, unforgettable nights, what really sustains a relationship is finding joy in the “regular” dates. These small,... https://www.craftandbond.com/post/my-favorite-travel-tools-must-haves-for-every-traveler https://www.craftandbond.com/post/my-favorite-travel-tools-must-haves-for-every-traveler Travel Mon, 09 Dec 2024 12:00:00 GMT If you’re a traveler, you likely know the benefits of popular sites like Airbnb , Expedia , and TripAdvisor for finding accommodations... https://www.craftandbond.com/post/who-s-your-favorite-child-a-parent-s-perspective-on-the-concept-of-favorites https://www.craftandbond.com/post/who-s-your-favorite-child-a-parent-s-perspective-on-the-concept-of-favorites Family Mon, 09 Dec 2024 12:00:00 GMT The other day, someone asked me, “Who’s your favorite child?” It wasn’t the first time I’d heard this question, but for some reason, it really stuck with me. I found myself ruminating on it, trying to understand the concept. Why do people even have a “favorite child”? So, instead of letting it bounce around in my head, I thought it might be healthier to get it down on paper and share it with you all. I’d love to hear your perspective, especially if you’ve had similar experiences or thoughts.... https://www.craftandbond.com/post/okvall-de-nuria-cremallera https://www.craftandbond.com/post/okvall-de-nuria-cremallera Travel Mon, 18 Nov 2024 12:00:00 GMT Sustainable Tourism Vall de Núria is truly a hidden gem, nestled in the heart of the Pyrenees in Catalonia, Spain. Accessible only by a... https://www.craftandbond.com/post/tossa-de-mar https://www.craftandbond.com/post/tossa-de-mar Travel Mon, 18 Nov 2024 12:00:00 GMT Tossa de Mar, a picturesque Mediterranean town with a history spanning over 2,000 years, continues to captivate visitors with its... https://www.craftandbond.com/post/jurmala-a-gem-on-the-baltic-sea-latvia https://www.craftandbond.com/post/jurmala-a-gem-on-the-baltic-sea-latvia Travel Mon, 18 Nov 2024 12:00:00 GMT What makes Jurmala truly unique is the harmonious blend of natural beauty, historical charm, and a relaxing seaside atmosphere, all just... https://www.craftandbond.com/post/gouda-cheese-market https://www.craftandbond.com/post/gouda-cheese-market Travel Mon, 18 Nov 2024 12:00:00 GMT Gouda, a charming Dutch town renowned for its iconic cheese, invites visitors to explore its vibrant market square, where the air is... https://www.craftandbond.com/post/transforming-my-bedroom-with-a-rebel-wallpaper-mural-a-step-by-step-journey https://www.craftandbond.com/post/transforming-my-bedroom-with-a-rebel-wallpaper-mural-a-step-by-step-journey Home Thu, 14 Nov 2024 12:00:00 GMT When it comes to home decor, I love how a well-chosen wallpaper mural can instantly elevate a space. I recently decided to refresh my... https://www.craftandbond.com/post/15-creative-activities-to-do-while-traveling https://www.craftandbond.com/post/15-creative-activities-to-do-while-traveling Travel Mon, 04 Nov 2024 12:00:00 GMT Traveling isn’t just about sightseeing, it’s about making memories and experiencing new places in unique ways. Whether you’re with family... https://www.craftandbond.com/post/busting-myths-the-sustainable-affordable-beauty-of-modern-fake-flowers https://www.craftandbond.com/post/busting-myths-the-sustainable-affordable-beauty-of-modern-fake-flowers Home Mon, 04 Nov 2024 12:00:00 GMT Intro In the realm of home decor and design, the tides are shifting. The outdated perceptions of synthetic flora are being challenged, as... https://www.craftandbond.com/post/family-ski-trip-packing-list-with-kids https://www.craftandbond.com/post/family-ski-trip-packing-list-with-kids Travel Mon, 04 Nov 2024 12:00:00 GMT Ski & Snow Gear: Skis/Snowboard (if you own them, otherwise plan to rent) Ski Poles Ski Boots Ski/Snowboard Helmets (bring your own for... https://www.craftandbond.com/post/family-ski-trip-packing-tips-must-haves-for-slope-side-sanity https://www.craftandbond.com/post/family-ski-trip-packing-tips-must-haves-for-slope-side-sanity Travel Mon, 04 Nov 2024 12:00:00 GMT After more than 26 years of taking my kids and extended family on ski trips, I’ve become a seasoned expert in packing for every possible... https://www.craftandbond.com/post/unlocking-the-secrets-to-travel-like-a-local https://www.craftandbond.com/post/unlocking-the-secrets-to-travel-like-a-local Travel Mon, 04 Nov 2024 12:00:00 GMT Travel fuels my soul like nothing else. From the moment I click "purchase" on my ticket to the bittersweet moment I pack my bags to head... https://www.craftandbond.com/post/the-challenges-and-surprises-of-building-in-a-mountain-town https://www.craftandbond.com/post/the-challenges-and-surprises-of-building-in-a-mountain-town Home Mon, 04 Nov 2024 12:00:00 GMT Building or remodeling a home in a mountain town is an adventure. From battling extreme weather to dealing with local logistics, the... https://www.craftandbond.com/post/take-your-travel-planning-to-the-next-level-with-these-5-travel-tools https://www.craftandbond.com/post/take-your-travel-planning-to-the-next-level-with-these-5-travel-tools Travel Mon, 04 Nov 2024 12:00:00 GMT If you’re a traveler, you likely know the benefits of popular sites like Airbnb , Expedia , and TripAdvisor for finding accommodations... https://www.craftandbond.com/post/simple-hacks-for-making-airport-travel-easier https://www.craftandbond.com/post/simple-hacks-for-making-airport-travel-easier Travel Mon, 04 Nov 2024 12:00:00 GMT I dream of becoming one of those platinum, diamond-status travelers who breeze through airports with VIP perks, but until then, I’m... https://www.craftandbond.com/post/how-arts-crafts-can-benefit-your-child-s-development https://www.craftandbond.com/post/how-arts-crafts-can-benefit-your-child-s-development Family Mon, 04 Nov 2024 12:00:00 GMT Children are like wet cement, as Haim Ginott said. What the research says about playing and making things with your kids, and how to keep it fun. https://www.craftandbond.com/post/about-me https://www.craftandbond.com/post/about-me About Mon, 04 Nov 2024 12:00:00 GMT My grandparents were the original trash-to-treasure people. They refinished antiques, folded old magazines into Christmas trees, and quilted from whatever scraps they had on hand. They foraged, gardened, and built their own home. They never had much, but everything they touched became something.