Man Made DIY

Many of my earliest creative memories are sitting on that awful burnt orange rug in our basement floor, listening to LPs on my brown plastic Fisher Price record player, and putting together [seemingly] elaborate edifices with construction toys. Honestly, though the specifics have been slightly updated, it's basically how I spent last evening - in the basement, listening to music, and putting stuff together.

See, both my parents were science teachers, and I always had many more engineering-style toys than action figures, and while many kids love their LEGOs, I was always into the (sadly discontinued) Construx and Ramagons, and that kinetic masterpiece, the Erector… read more

Whether you're going for a few extra style points, or just trying to keep your pants legs off the ground and prevent yourself from stepping on them, there are plenty of times you need to roll your pant legs. So, do it… read more

When designer Fiona Richards needed to expand her studio space to include a dedicated table to pack and ship her work, she and her husband Doug hit the hardware store to scope out parts. They decided to build one from plumbing parts and a solid wood top, and hopped online to find plans... and found nothing.

So, they did what most DIYers would do and designed their own, and are happily sharing their original plans with all of us for… read more

This time of year, footwear choices can be a gamble. Overthink it, and you're stuck in snow or hiking boots all day. Under prepare, and your socks and feet stay wet, cold, and covered in  road salt. The answer, of course, is to opt for the middle, and choose a natural weather-resistant material that's stylish no matter what the season:… read more

Even in the era of smartphones and digital address books, I still maintain a classy business card is a must for every guy. If you don't currently have a job where you need one, here's hoping you have passions or a lifestyle that needs communicated...and remembered. Especially when you meet somebody new, and pull it from a pad of stacked cards like a complete… read more

My buddy Andrew was recently searching a site selling vintage, "masculine" art, when he stumbled across this captivating photo of all-around man Ernest Hemingway, shirtless and holding a shotgun. With a bit of clever searching, Andrew discovered the picture is… read more

"For something that has almost unlimited potential," argues "The Minimalist" Mark Bittman, "the sandwich has become staid and unimaginative...mostly because we’ve allowed sandwich-making to become something that is either done by someone else or a task to be squeezed in between breakfast and taking the kids to the… read more

Candida introduces this inspired/totally crazy how-to thusly, and I couldn't say it better myself. "Bacon Pixie Stix are the perfect combination of insanely awesome, and totally wrong.  They are, as advertised, pixie sticks - with bacon.  Make these award-winning treats for your next social occasion, and surprise your friends with a sweet, tart, bacon-flavored boot to the head."… read more

If you're interested in purchasing one or two long-lasting quality style pieces instead of a closet full of single-seasons, you've probably heard some of the myths about selvedge denim. Like, that you should never wash it (ever), wear it in the bathtub or roll around in the ocean and sand with it, or clean your jeans by putting them in the… read more

Each Wednesday, I post some of my favorite can't-miss links, images, and otherwise mindblowing goodies from across the web.

Illustrator and designer Jeannie Huang is giving away this free download-and-print calendar for… read more

Last month, my nephew turned one, and he's suffering the pains of little ones everywhere - new teeth and very sore gums. He's sticking anything he can in his mouth to try to relieve the pain, so my sweetheart asked me if we could make up some dedicated teething toys, made from natural materials, for his birthday gift. And since his parents are both hilarious and always up for a laugh, we decided to go all out and avoid the monkeys and giraffes common in infant toys, and make them in humorous, tongue-in-cheek "manly"… read more

It's seriously cold outside...nearing zero degrees with the wind chill, and the air is full of that ice blastiness that's bouncing off the fourteen or so inches of snow that's covering everything, and has no plans to disappear.It's that sort of day when you look around your home for what you need, cause there's no way you're going outside. Hit up your pantry for stuff to make for dinner, watch that DVD you bought six years ago and still haven't unwrapped, and check your supply stash for materials to make a rainy...err snowy day project.

Like this clever torn paper typography. Inspired by a piece by designer Konstatin Datz,… read more

I've never had a sugarplum, and I'm still not totally sure what figgy pudding actually is, but of one traditional holiday treat I'm convinced: roasted chestnuts are amazing. And not like in that quaint, old timey "I could see why people thought these were tasty before we figured out how to make more delicious things" (like hard candy or [in my case] jelly beans), but in a "this things are awesome no matter what century it is."

Got an open fire? Go for it. But since most of us aren't quite used to heat control with a giant blazing inferno, roasting chestnuts in the oven is more than an okay way to go. If you've never had one, the… read more

As far as hot chocolate fans go, I'm among the biggest. Especially during December. I like it all kinds of ways - thick Mexican drinking chocolates with a churro, the powdered milk-cocoa mix from the stand at the holiday light show at the zoo, and the fancy versions from my local coffee shop. And marshmallows? I'm for 'em.   

Especially if they're homemade. Like lots of food crafts, the difference between a who-knows-how-old factory made 'shmallow and the pillowy complexity of a homemade version are simply incomparable. And while I like storebought marshmallows just fine, I love a homemade one. Especially when it's infused… read more

The cooler months bring boots, jackets, and best of all: sweaters. Worn well, they echo the classic men of yesterday. Investing in one or two quality pieces made from 100% wool is preferable than several from acrylics or blended fabric, as they'll stick around for many falls and winters to come, and look better in the process. (Not to mention keep you warmer.) If you take care of them well, they'll last until your beard goes gray, and you can pull off the weathered fisherman with a warm heart look of Mr. Hemingway here.

1. Don't dryclean or machine wash.  Not only does hand washing keep your wool clean, it'll actually make your sweater… read more

If you love the idea of the Whiskey Advent Calendar, but can't quite justify the (fair but not inexpensive) $240 price tag, why not try a DIY version with something you can easily procure single samples of: beer. Cause there are few things better than candy, and winter ale is definitely one of them.… read more

This season, I was excited to team up with DIY Network to create a series of original how-to projects with the theme of "Christmas at The Jetsons." The rest of… read more

U.K.-based designer Regan Appleton came up with this brilliant idea while a student at the Royal College of Art.  

This easy wreath project is festive and inexpensive, with warm woodtones… read more

As a kid, I loved making those paper ring garlands to help count down the days to Christmas. They weren't much, just strips of red and green construction paper, one looped inside another and held together with a swipe of glue stick, but, buddy, I loved the ritual of ripping those suckers off as soon as I woke up every morning.

So, for this holiday season, I wanted to embrace the idea of a countdown craft, but update it to something a bit more adult, a bit more masculine, and reusable season after… read more