The Jewelry of Mia Bella Soul
Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting two very special women who have combined their love for antiquing, their friendship, and their passion for creating beautiful accessories in their handmade jewelry company, Mia Bella Soul. Like many friends, Lisa Gagen and Zoe Kinney admit to having their differences- they differ in both styles [...]
Everlasting Paper Snowflakes Handmade in PA
We had fun making big 3 dimensional paper snowflakes with our grandsons and grandnephews last week. They are so easy to make. All you need is paper, tape and staples (see tutorial link at bottom of post). I learned how to make these several years ago after stopping by an elementary school classroom to marvel [...]
Bill Evans, Santa Carver
Bill Evans, of Brownsville, turns old Christmas tree trunks into Santa carvings. Reclaiming and reusing a piece of wood that would otherwise be discarded, Evans then cuts off the limbs and whittles down the trunk. That’s when he begins creating his popular Santa carvings. For some back story, check out this video from WQED (Pittsburgh) discussing [...]
Vintage toy tin jewelry by Jackie ter Kuile
Jackie ter Kuile, of Harleysville, is reclaiming vintage toy tins and creating jewelry under the business name JtK14 Artisan Jewelry. Here’s the before pictures: And the after pictures: You can find JtK14 Artisan Jewelry on etsy.
Interview: Tanna Paradis
Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful break. For my first HiP post of 2011, I talked to Tanna Paradis of LoveHonorUpcycle, a wonderful Etsy shop selling upcycled vintage jewelry for weddings and special occasions. Tanna and her husband T.J. are both from Colorado and now reside in Center City, PA with [...]
Chicken Coop by Horizon Structures
We are lucky here in Pennsylvania to have so many farmers. Especially this time of year. Yowsa! Farmstands that dot the countryside are overflowing with delicious fruits and vegetables. It’s a great time of year for eating. Aside from what these farmers put on our table- their operations support a tremendous network of services and [...]








