Man Made DIY

Ahh...salsas. From quick and fresh to spicy and smoky, they're packed with lots of flavor and I love every version. Whether you want to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with traditional Mexican flavors, or just want to up the ante on a weeknight meal, we've create five go-to recipes that can work for all kinds of occasions.  So grab your chiles, and a knife,  and join us in the… read more

So...you have a huge blank space on your wall staring at you everyday. You don't know what to do with it, but know that buying an original piece that size is way out of your budget. What do you do? Of course, you make your… read more

Comedian Louis C.K. is known for his form-breaking television show, his inventive audience-to-artist direct payment release method, and for his consistent, tireless stage performances. One of the constant, overarching themes to his jokes is not mere observation, but a philosophical edict towards morality: he's trying to figure out what it takes to be a good… read more

Whether you make handmade goods to sell online, want to take great images of your creations to pitch to publishers and media, or just want to document your own creative life online, you simply can't get away with crummy photos anymore. In the age of visual-driven social bookmarking and publishing, artists and creatives must not only be comfortable with their own materials and media, but develop basic photography skills to capture their good work to share with the… read more

Why anyone would pay for a bottle of vinegar and oil-based salad dressing is beyond me. Homemade vinaigrettes should be a staple in every kitchen, and they're super easy to make. It's simply a matter of memorizing one easy recipe, then adding and adjusting seasoning to fit any meal.

So, the anatomy of a vinaigrette... and some other nerdy facts that will leave you feeling like a… read more

There comes a time in every man's life when, offering a rum and coke to your guests simply doesn't cut it. You may be able to fake your bar knowledge with a few recipes from Google, but that can only last so long. Like a scout needs a map to wander the world , a true modern connoisseur needs some solid cocktail books to guide his journey.

This roundup will take your bar skills to a whole 'notha level. Let's get… read more

For any DIY enthusiast, the clearance bin at the DIY store is a regular stop. This project, the Oddstock Floored Wardrobe was designed and built to take advantage of that bin. Brazilian teak prefinished hardwood flooring was found on clearance for an irresistible price. The box had apparently been returned from a large flooring job.

To make use of all the boards, they were cut to short, mitered pieces and arranged in a chevron pattern. Metal tile flooring dividers were used to hide the board edges, trimming out the doors. A simple box deep enough to house clothes on hangers was placed on Queen Anne legs for a romantic look. After many searches for the right door handles, utilitarian garage door handles were chosen because of their large size and casual appearance. A coat hook and mirror were added to the inside of the door for accessories.

You can change the look to be more modern by using straight legs instead. Fill the bottom with shoes or boxes and add shelves if you like, or try other types of wood flooring and experiment with… read more

I got married a few months ago, err...sorta. You can read the full story here, but the point is: my life has changed quite a bit since starting ManMade, and I'm steadily evolving into what - when I look back on it in a few years - will be remembered as the beginning of a new chapter. And in this new season, we're having some very serious discussions about going on an adventure and moving to a totally new… read more

The awesomeness of the grilled cheese sandwich is not only confirmed internationally, as nearly every culture that eats bread and cheese has a version in their tradition, but also scientifically. University of Wisconsin food science professor Scott Rankin… read more

Some anthropologists argue that just one dominant feature separates humans from the rest of the animal kingdom: we use fire and heat to cook our food. Like salt, smoking has long been a means of preserving food, and over time, we've learned that it also tastes pretty awesome as well. Those flavors are why we're still willing to use the grill and light fires when we have access to electric heating elements: the taste just can't be matched.

Many drinks and spirits come with smoky qualities - lots of teas, coffee, beer, and whiskeys. But you can also smoke entire cocktails or mixed drinks to add a whole other level of flavor and complexity. As my friend Mike remarked after trying one of my smoked Old Fashioneds, "I don't know if I can ever drink a regular one… read more

The Konkret lamp by Danish designer Jonas Edvard has some serious potential to add that missing cool/Scandinavian factor to your… read more

I love spring as much as the next guy, but I'm trying to write this post without sneezing my brains out. Are you too popping antihistamines as we speak? Don't worry - I feel ya. Spring might be your friends' favorite season to stop and smell the roses, but for some of us, spring means a whole lotta pain. And… read more

Last summer, I shared this cool photo from Sonoma winery Medlock Ames, which featured an old picnic table, into which a recess had been cut to accept a cooler to keep drinks cold. A great idea, but know what's even cooler? 

Building the table from scratch without a bunch of fancy woodworking tools, and incorporating the built-in cooler from the… read more

There's a new blog by Ben Uyeda called "Homemade Modern," that's making quite a stir in the DIY-o-sphere. Ben and company are setting out to create modern and contemporary style furniture by hand,… read more

Recently, I was invited by DIY and creative lifestyle site Brit + Co to create an introduction post for those who were interested in learning more about tasting and enjoying whiskey, but never quite knew where to start. Since Brit + Co has a largely female readership, I wrote it in the style of "a woman's introduction to whiskey" (hence the lipstick), but it works equally well for any novice who'd like to have a little more… read more

There are about 960 usable minutes in everyday, provided you get enough sleep, and a new study suggests there's a much better way to spend it. And the number one item on the list? If you wanna be happier, you should be having more… read more

Chances are, if you own an iPad or tablet, it's already spent plenty of time in the kitchen. A source for checking recipes and directions, watching your favorite series on Netflix while chopping broccoli, or just for listening to music or the news while cleaning up and washing… read more

I chat with lots of ManMakers who would love to get started with bigger, more in-depth projects, but lack a dedicated place to work on them and the storage space for all the tools they'd love to acquire. So, here's a perfect project for them: a small-footprint workbench that's sturdy enough to do real work, and includes lots of built-in storage and plenty of… read more

I love this peak inside the studio and process of Ray Gascoigne, a 60-year veteran and master   craftsman of ships in bottles.

He's worked as a shipwright and a merchant sailor, and now designs, carves, and creates his stunning pieces completely from scratch, with just a few tools. Oh, and he looks like… read more

Sure, there are lots of these sorts of "everything you need to know about buying suits," or "X number of rules of men's style," posts all over men's blogosphere. They'll tell you that fit is everything, that gray is the most versatile color, and to never button your bottom… read more