I burst out onto the Southern California scene in 1975. A lot happened between then and when I started blogging in 2005 with Stix On The Beach: Tales From The Happiest Hooker on Earth! For twelve years, the popular blog – with its humorous, double-entendre-infused anecdotes – combined my love for knitting, crocheting, Orange County coastal living, and Disneyland. Along with its engaging fans, it was the perfect antidote during my early debilitating days of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue.
The idea for a lifestyle blog for creative homebodies began floating around in my mind in the summer of 2018. My daughter, Emilia (born twenty-five years after the birth of my daughter, Marissa – go ahead, let that sink in) was entering the toddler stage and we were about to embark on a life-changing out-of-state move. So I brainstormed on it for a couple more years. As we rang in 2020, the planets appeared aligned and I was prepared to be launched back into the blogosphere. Then the global pandemic struck – and the gravity of the situation grounded my mission.
“The heart of the message is in blogs.”
This short love story has echoed throughout the pandemic by makers, bibliophiles, homeschoolers, and everyone else who has missed the more intimate storytelling that’s often missing on Instagram (where its algorithm determines our audience based on ridiculous antics). And I’ve realized there’s no better time to return to the blogosphere than now.
One crafty mother blogger.
And oh, how I’ve missed putting together content for a post! Ever since being a part of the first generation of craft bloggers, I’ve had a passion for sharing surprising places to find inspiration and creativity on the cheap! I now carry this enthusiasm into finding affordable and entertaining activities in our secular homeschooling. With Emilia as my partner in many of these endeavors, we hope to appeal to all ages, although viewer discretion is advised because, well, it’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me.
This blog is a safe space where you can feel seen and welcomed.
Our family continues to take common-sense precautions and practice community care the same as we did at the beginning of 2020. The disregard for COVID-19 in some like-minded demographics has me cultivating new friendships with allies who seek to stay connected while remaining protected. And our protective nature does not end there.
There was a tradition back in the day where folks placed a burning candle in their window as a signal to weary travelers that they could come to chat it up over a slice of black pepper cake, pass the pipe around, merrily eat more cake, then crash on the bearskin rug for the night. Blogs are our beacons in the dark, but instead of candles in the window, we put paint brushes, tarot cards, rainbow flags, junk journals, watermelons, or whatever sacred oddities we hope will attract kindred spirits. Let’s be good neighbors and help one another light the way.
Take care,
Jill & Emilia
January 14th, 2023
Corvallis, Oregon
Updated March 20th, 2024
