A Little Lace, a Little History, and a Family Legacy
There is something rather wonderful about holding a piece of family history in your hands.
These delicate crocheted gloves belonged to my great-grandmother McWillis. She made them herself, stitch by tiny stitch, and wore them with hands much smaller than mine.
Years later, my mother carried those same gloves on her wedding day. They were too small for her to wear, but that didn’t make them any less precious.
Today, they remind me that the things we make, use, and care for can become part of a much larger story.
That’s a little of what On Pens & Needles is about: finding inspiration in the skills and traditions of the past and making room for them in our very modern lives.
I’m so glad you’re here.
The Sunday Edition
A Letter from My Home to Yours
Every Sunday, I send a little letter to my Kindred Friends, sharing the everyday moments, historical inspirations, and small adventures that make life interesting.
Sometimes we’re talking about sewing or something delicious coming out of the oven. Other times, it’s a story, a memory, or simply a reminder that creating a welcoming home doesn’t require a perfect one.
I’d love for you to join us.
Explore the Journal
The Kitchen
From homemade bread to family recipes and preserving the harvest, this is where we explore the comforting traditions that bring us together.
The Sewing Room
Where old-fashioned skills meet everyday life. Join me for historical sewing projects, treadle machines, mending, and the pleasure of making things by hand.
The Journal
A collection of everyday adventures, unexpected discoveries, and little stories from a life inspired by the past but very much lived in the present.
A Little More to the Story
If you’ve found your way here from my YouTube channel, Historically Inspired Adventures, welcome! I’m so glad you’ve come for a visit.
You know how sometimes there’s more to a story than you can fit into a conversation? That’s what this little corner of the internet is for.
Here you’ll find the extra photographs, recipes, sewing patterns, historical discoveries, and bits and pieces that don’t always make it into my videos. Sometimes I’ll share a little more about a project, and other times we’ll wander off on an entirely different adventure.
Think of the videos as our visits together and this journal as the place where I can leave a few more things on the table for you to explore.
Put the kettle on, make yourself comfortable, and have a look around.