Man Made DIY

Cheap styrofoam toy-store boomerangs have given generations of Americans, children or otherwise, the mistaken impression that building and throwing boomerangs is very difficult. This flies in the face of reason: Using less-than-ideal materials, human beings have been building, throwing, and catching boomerangs for more than 11,600 years. Boomerangs are absurdly easy to make--this is an ideal project to keep kids busy in a pinch. Learning to throw one is just a little tricky, but most of the trick is in properly tuning the boomerang.  … read more

I’ve been doing a lot of canning this summer because I really like the combined elements of food and craft. Plus, there’s something to be said about looking at a cupboard full of preserved fruits and vegetables in your kitchen during the middle of some future snow storm. There’s no better feeling. But what about your lonely fridge that’s craving some of-the-moment produce right now? That's what fridge pickling is for. No bulky canning tools, worrying about acidity levels, or boiling water necessary. Instead, you replace those with the satisfaction of getting to eat your produce the next day by following a few simple steps

Some people like to pickle cucumbers, but to me there is nothing better than a crunchy pickled green bean. Add some Asian flavors, and you won't be able to keep your hands out of… read more

I know, I know...this is a little email forward-y. But, I've made a lot of mistakes when DIYing and making stuff, and have had to start over from silly errors, or being underly cautious. I guess it makes me feel better to know that at least I didn't do this:

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I love bacon. No surprises there. It’s amazing and it goes with everything—eggs, brussel sprouts, waffles, relish; the list goes on and on...



The truth is: everyone loves bacon. And with good reason. It's salty, smoky, fatty, crispy...and straight delicious So, why not merge it with something equally awesome, like popcorn? That’s right. It's happening, and it's really effing awesome. So, loosen your belt a few notches and get ready to dig… read more

I've been scheming a DIY hammock for months. There's a set of trees in the green space near my building that's perfect for one, and I've been thinking through how to go about it? Sew a panel from outdoor fabric? Weave rope into a grid of knots? Then there's the supports? Wood? Does it need to be curved? Can't you just buy a kit somewhere?