Safety goggles

Carve a Stone Bowl

Carve a Stone Bowl

Ever thought about trying to make something to last? Itโ€™s a hard problem: moths, rust, fire, thieves, and time versus the works of the mighty. Take a walk through an old cemetery. The Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Mass., is one of my favorites. Acid rain is dissolving some of the marble and limestone headstones […]

Making Bar Soap

Making Bar Soap

Just where and when humans first observed the chemical reaction between oil and potash is unknown. One legend says it was at โ€œMount Sapoโ€ in ancient Rome, where a creek flowed over a deposit of wood ash and animal fats created by sacrificial fires for the gods. Thereโ€™s evidence that the ancient Babylonians, Egyptians, and […]

The Florence Siphon

The Florence Siphon

The vacuum siphon coffee brewing method dates back to the 1840s. It produces some of the cleanest, smoothest-tasting coffee of any method. Commercial vacuum pots are available, but I wanted to heighten the drama of vacuum brewing by taking it into the realm of the mad scientistโ€™s lab. Thus the Florence Siphon was born! After […]

Mosaic Table

Mosaic Table

I am a klutz. I break dishes all the time. This is why I like mosaics. Itโ€™s a wonderful way to make amends to all my precious pieces of pottery. โ€œSorry, Teacup, you can be a picture frame now! Oops, too bad, Vase, your flower-holding days are over, but please, live on as this pretty […]