Chances are good that at some point during the holiday season, you’ll welcome guests into your home. Whether you lease or own your home, creating a cozy, festive setting for holiday gatherings can actually be quite simple, especially if you take on the … read more

After months of deliberation and dozens of drive-by trips, a young couple decided to follow their hearts. They stopped the car and fastened a note to the mailbox of the old farmhouse. “We’re looking for a place to raise a family,” the note … read more

Paulette Hoflin is a sculptor known for the uncommon material she chooses. This material can be less than an eighth of an inch in size, but when gathered en masse by multiple stitches of fine thread, the beads can take on the three-dimensional … read more

How did codes of the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet inspire the name of a pair of globally sourced fair-trade shops operating on Port Gamble and Winslow’s main drags? According to Tracy Zhu, owner of the two Tango Zulu shops, it was her search … read more

At Molly Ward Gardens, reservations are recommended, but when you call, don’t expect to talk to Molly. You might get Lynn Ward — proprietress, co-founder, head gardener and creative force behind the eclectic Poulsbo restaurant and event destination — but Molly is not … read more

Show your host or hostess how much you appreciate the invitation with a unique gift — use your imagination to provide a thoughtful and creative gift from a local shop. Tell your host “thank you” with a flourish. … read more

The Bainbridge Performing Arts lobby will host a sourdough starter making demo and book-signing with Cynthia Lair, author of “Sourdough on the Rise — How to Confidently Make Whole Grain Sourdough Breads at Home,” from 5 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2. Learn … read more

Downsizing a garden to a manageable area does not mean you give up on charm. In fact, small plots are often more creative in utilizing space. The garden of Suzanne O’Clair and David Shelley is one of those places. Though the property may … read more

Linda McWhirter’s art rocks. Literally. McWhirter paints lovely images — some whimsical, some very detailed and realistic — on small, smooth stones she finds here and there. She’s been doing her little rock paintings since she retired from 20-plus years of teaching — … read more