Journal

Notes from around the house

Practical ideas and small jobs, done well.
Hands guiding the cordless rotary scissors along a pencil line on cardboard
A cordless rotary cutter, explained
What a rotary cutter is, how it differs from scissors, and the jobs it's best at. Read more...
Hands carefully lifting the flap of a parcel whose tape has been slit cleanly along the seam
How to open a parcel without wrecking what's inside
Two minutes of care at the box can save a damaged order and a trip to the post office. Read more...
Drawing a straight pencil line along a ruler on kraft paper on a cutting mat
How to cut a straight line, every time
Why the cut drifts, and how to stop it, whatever you're cutting. Read more...
Flattened cardboard boxes tied with twine in a tidy hallway by the front door
What to do with all that cardboard after Christmas
A calm way to deal with the pile by the door. Read more...
A wall rail holding a few tools neatly above a shelf with two kraft storage boxes
A tidy way to keep the tools you only use twice a year
Sort by job, not by tool, and you'll find things when you need them. Read more...