I’m Back | A Little Winter Life Update

A cozy winter catch-up from my home on the Maine coast — creative projects, antique finds, a Minnesota trip, snowy outings, and life lately.

Hello! It’s February — and I’m back.

January was a month, wasn’t it?

While I didn’t accomplish all the grand plans I had for my little hiatus from this blog, I did keep busy. But I also did something I’m not always very good at: I rested.

It was generally cold and snowy here on the coast. I got out regularly on my snowshoes. There was plenty of cozy time at home too — cooking, working on a few creative projects, reading, binge-watching shows, riding my Peloton bike to nowhere, and just enjoying the icy harbor views out my windows.

Winter here is mostly about nesting, but I did venture out to hunt for a few antique finds, pick up houseplants to carry me through the long stretch of gray, and gather supplies for a new hobby. And of course, there was my annual January trip to Minnesota for my grandson Jamie’s third birthday.

Also, do things look a little different around here? I gave the blog a bit of a style refresh. It felt like time.

Come on — let’s catch up.

Creative Projects

While the snow and wind blow outside, I like to hunker down and focus on indoor creative projects. I pulled out my sewing machine for a few of those and also started something new that brings me close to my mom.

And winter isn’t over yet, so I have materials lined up for a few more projects too.

Living Room Pillow covers

My favorite way to update the living room is to swap out pillow covers, and I was definitely in the mood for something new for 2026.

Last year I taught myself how to sew an invisible zipper, so I felt ready to make these covers myself. Sewing my own covers saves money and lets me choose any fabric I want.

For this project, I turned to Spoonflower, an online platform where independent artists sell their designs as custom-printed fabric, wallpaper, and home goods. With over one million unique patterns, it’s an incredible source for one-of-a-kind fabrics. I chose four mixed patterns in complementary shades of tan and bright and light blues.

I prewashed the fabrics and then got to work sewing six pillow covers. This is the YouTube tutorial I used for the zippers. Once I got going, the process moved along quickly. The zipper might not be truly “invisible”, but it’s tidy and discreet. I’m so pleased with how they turned out. They brighten my winter living room and I love how the blue gives a nod to the dramatic walls in the adjacent snug.

I also ordered fabric from Spoonflower for throw pillow covers in my daughter Zoë’s bedroom and for two projects in the mudroom. Stay tuned!

Birthday Crown

Can you believe my eldest grandchild, James, turned three in January? How time flies.

Of course I marked the occasion with another fabric birthday crown. This year his party theme was books (oh how I love that!), and I found the cutest fabric — again on Spoonflower.

You can read a tutorial on how I sew these crowns in my blog post How to Sew a Personalized Child’s Fabric Birthday Crown.

A needlepoint Canvas

My mom was a skilled needlepointer. She stitched many pillow cushions, a full set of dining chair seat covers, and even a throw rug. As you know well, she was also an avid collector of antique blue-and-white transferware.

So when I saw a willowware-inspired bird needlepoint canvas by my talented friend Alison Sheffield, it landed right on my heart. I ordered the canvas through a local needlepoint shop, picked out the yarn, and couldn’t wait to begin. I had done a bit of needlepoint when I was young, so I just needed a quick refresher on how to start.

My eyes aren’t quite what they were when I was a kid, though. Even with a good light and my readers, I couldn’t see the tiny 18-count canvas holes. After consulting a friend, I ordered a stylish (not!) LED head magnifier. I look like a crazy woman in it, but it’s a game changer. I also have one of those magnifiers that hangs around the neck on order.

We’ll see which works better, but I can already tell I’m going to love “stitching with my mom.”

You can check out The Sheffield Collection on Instagram @the.sheffield.collection.

A Few Antique Finds

I don’t tend to venture off the peninsula as much in winter — in fact, at the moment I haven’t left it since last weekend. Yikes. But I’m always game for an antiquing outing, no matter the season.

Back in January, I went with friends to the monthly Bath antiques show and then to a favorite multi-dealer shop in Brunswick, Cabot Mill. As is often the case, I wasn’t looking for anything in particular — just whatever spoke to my eye.

I came home with two pieces that feel very special: a seaweed mocha yellowware mug and a darling shellwork dog house. The mug was very reasonably priced, so I couldn’t pass it up. And I had never seen anything like the dog house — made from cardboard, with tiny shells covering the roof and a sweet ceramic dog standing in the doorway. How could I resist?

I grouped the two pieces together on top of a stack of old books on a side table in the living room. They bring me joy every time I look at them.

Wondering what seaweed mocha yellowware is? I wrote about in my post: October Charm | Antiques, Pumpkins, & a Cozy Cottage Update.

Recently, Alexander Widener, owner of Widener Company in Wiscasset, held a small online sale of antique blue-and-white pieces. When I saw the Toby jug with a willow pattern on the sides and back, I immediately hit “add to cart.” I knew he would be the perfect addition to the blue-and-white transferware in my winter hutch.

Once again, I felt my mom’s presence beside me as I styled him with a few faux snowdrops — which are blooming all over England right now.

You can find Alexander on Instagram @alexander_widener or on the Widener Company website.

Winter Greens

Every winter I lean heavily into houseplants. Their summery green brings life and energy when the world outside my windows can feel overwhelmingly gray and white.

Some of my plants, though, were barely hanging on, and in early January I decided it was time for a refresh. So I googled “best plant store in Maine,” hopped in the car with Maddie and Cisco, and made the trek to Longfellow’s Greenhouses in Manchester.

Oh my — even in the dead of winter, this place did not disappoint. I can only imagine what it must be like in summer.

I upgraded my Jack-and-the-Beanstalk fiddle leaf fig to one with multiple branches and a more tree-like shape. (Don’t worry — the original has been trimmed and relocated to the dining area for rehab.)

It was also time to say goodbye to my ailing schefflera. I had done my best in a fierce battle with brown scale, but eventually I had to concede defeat. In its place, I brought home a lovely lemon-lime dracaena — blissfully free of scale.

The coffee table now holds a small Chinese money plant, tucked into a blue-and-white planter.

The bedroom also received a few new additions, replacing some begonias that had been limping along for a while. Sometimes you just need to let plants go.

I wrote a blog post about some of my favorite houseplants: Easy-Care Houseplants Add Life and Color to your Home. Maybe it needs to be updated now…

Learn all about Longfellow’s Greenhouses here.

Minnesota — Joy and Sobering Moments

It wouldn’t be a January without my annual visit to Minnesota — because everyone plans a cold-weather getaway in midwinter, right?

Of course, I’m really there to bask in the warmth of family and to celebrate Jamie’s birthday. So while the temperatures were below zero throughout my stay, we were cozy in our cocoon of everyday joys — toddler energy, 9-month-old curiosity, and time spent in the kitchen with my daughter Leah.

It was hard to ignore the reality going on outside our little bubble, though. My daughter and her young family live in St. Paul, and the morning of Jamie’s birthday party, Alex Pretti was shot and killed just miles away. The proximity of that kind of violence while we were celebrating something so innocent was jolting in a way that’s hard to put into words — and even harder to process.

Life is layered — joy and sadness occupying the same morning. I share this not to debate or take sides, but simply to acknowledge the heartbreak and disbelief that many of us feel in these complicated times. I hope, for my grandkids’ sake and all of ours, that we can find a way forward that feels kinder and more compassionate.

Nursery Design for the New Grandbaby

Speaking of future generations, I’ve been helping Zoë design the nursery for Poppy’s baby sister, arriving in May. Poppy’s nursery was all neutrals with a safari theme, and I loved it. But this time, Zoë — somewhat uncharacteristically — is embracing little-girl pink.

I was immediately all in and promptly fell down a late-night Pinterest rabbit hole of pink nursery ideas. They were either too sweet or just plain boring — until I stumbled upon a crib sheet at West Elm covered in playful bugs. And that was all the inspiration I needed.

So PJ (Poppy Junior), as she’s currently known, will have a pink-and-green room, with florals for sweetness and bugs for fun. The perfect mix, in my opinion.

January Into February

Thank you for the kind messages after my last post. I shared something difficult, and you showed up for me in a way I will not forget.

For those of you who shared your own stories — I’m holding you in my heart. May you find the peace you need to move forward.

As I had hoped, January was, for me, a quiet reset. Nothing dramatic. Just a subtle shift in perspective and a move toward action.

As part of that, I was ready for a fresh look for the blog too — cleaner lines, a simpler layout, and new photos of me to go with it. Thank you to my talented friend @_jessicazimmer for capturing me so beautifully.

While I’m definitely not feeling spring just yet, there has been a shift. The light is changing, and the days are getting noticeably longer. I made a few small late-winter tweaks at home that I can’t wait to share next week.

It feels good to say that again.

But enough about me — what have you been up to?