Creation
by Oksanna Normandeau
I watch my baby
Take the paintbrush by storm.
She does not think
About where it goes.
She lets the motion
Of her energy flow,
Like she already knows
This is not for a performance
Or to romance another.
It is purely for the feeling
Of a blissful summer color mix
Or dancing to the beat
Of a drummer
As the music sways
Her hand to switch…
Read more of Oksanna Normandeau’s poem in SEARCH Magazine‘s Fall 2022 #Homemade issue.
Making a Gratitude Journal
by Lillian Csernica
Keeping a gratitude journal can become a powerful tool for promoting and protecting mental health. Now, more than ever, we need a simple, effective way to stay positive. A gratitude journal is both simple and effective.
According to Amie M. Gordon, Ph.D., “Using randomized controlled trial designs, researchers in two different groups found that people who kept gratitude journals or wrote gratitude letters to people they had never properly thanked, reported feeling happier and had significantly better health than those in the other treatment groups.”
MAKE IT SIMPLE
The phrase “gratitude journal” might conjure up intimidating images of a tooled leather cover, gold-embossed lettering, fine parchment, and perfect calligraphy…
Read more in SEARCH Magazine‘s Fall 2022 #Homemade issue.
And see SEARCH Magazine’s last issue, in Summer 2022, where Lillian discusses the need for a gratitude journal.
Homemade Workouts
by Heather Roulo
When the weather’s bad, the gym is closed, or the world is shut down for a pandemic, it’s nice to feel in control of your own health with an at-home workout. Obviously, purchasing the right equipment will simplify your task if you know what you like and have the space.
Weights and a bench are great. Ellipticals, rowing machines, and stationary bicycles help you get in
your cardio…
Read more in SEARCH Magazine‘s Fall 2022 #Homemade issue.
City Spotlight on Seaside, OR
by Heather Roulo
Seaside, Oregon is an hour west of Portland. This cute town boasts beachy shopping, sandy beaches, and all the saltwater taffy a person could want. Its 1.5 miles of oceanfront promenade, built in 1921, is particularly distinctive. There is also the Seaside Aquarium where you can feed seals. The town is divided by the Necanicum River.
On days with nice weather, tourists can rent kayaks, canoes, and paddle boats shaped like swans to
tour the waterways.
Seaside is proud of the historic visit by members of…
Read more in SEARCH Magazine‘s Fall 2022 #Homemade issue.
Romano Chicken and Italian Zucchini by Brian and Patricia Dake
For a unique blend of flavors in a meal I would consider comfort food, we’ve taken traditional Italian ingredients and combined them with a bit of habanero, a pepper originally from South America. Just a few dashes of habanero powder in the recipe impart tremendous flavor. And, although, habanero chili powder may be hard to find, it is worth the effort. For some, even a small amount can be too spicy. In this case, we recommend substituting cayenne pepper or a small amount of crushed red pepper flakes as a less hot alternative. If any level of spiciness is too much, the habanero can be left out which would be an unfortunate loss of subtle flavor, but for some may be a required trade-off.
Read more in SEARCH Magazine‘s Fall 2022 #Homemade issue.
Party Decorations on a Budget
by Elliot Thorpe
One part of the many facets of parenthood I love is all the gluing and painting and (not so much) glittering. It eventually branched out into the customary school projects for my children—among which we had an ’award winning’ World Book Day costume, a scale model of one of the Giza pyramids (complete with sand and a tomb), and a tiny medieval castle (with a real water moat). Then along came those obligatory birthday parties.
With the saturation of kids’ shows and movies, it’s relatively easy for parents to think of a theme for such an event. It can be pretty basic. My daughter went to one last month that was “princesses and superheroes,” so there were any number of little Auroras and Moanas running around, colliding with mini-Hulks and Spider-Men, all vying for…
Read the rest in SEARCH Magazine‘s Fall 2022 #Homemade issue.
Sewing on a Budget
by Kristin Battestella
For those looking to sustainably customize their wardrobe or add unique personality and alternative style compared to expensive, fast fashion, weighing the costs of supplies and the time it takes to actually sew may put one off this inventive hobby.
Fortunately, sewing can be an affordable option if you know how to pool your resources. Here are a few tips to get you started on your sewing journey!
Read more from Kristin Battestella in SEARCH Magazine’s Fall 2022 #Homemade issue.
The DIY Music Album
by Michele Roger
There is an art—or maybe it’s a science—to making playlists. Whichever genre comes from my heart, that’s from where this compilation derived.
My muse was the feeling I get with the windows rolled down, the summer breeze whipping through my hair, and the urge… No, the need to sing at the top of my lungs. Even at red lights.
I’m hitting the road this summer. After months and months of staying in, staying away, and staying in a routine, this playlist is about breaking away from that whole idea. This collection of songs is about freedom, joy, adventure, and anything else that moves youIt’s been a challenging few years. The good news is that from it, some incredible talent and creativity has emerged. If recording your own music has become part of your life list, or if it’s been a minute since you last recorded an album, there are a vast number of options. Here are three DIY ways to record your own music:
1. Garage Band
Garage Band has been around for years and is Apple’s answer to meeting the needs of the recording artist—no matter your professional or amateur status. The bonus of Garage Band is that it’s free and built into nearly every product Apple makes. If you haven’t worked with Garage Band in a while, there have been some vast improvements.
The perks: Garage Band can save directly to a user’s iCloud, making your work…
Read more in SEARCH Magazine‘s Fall 2022 #Homemade issue.
Name: Elliot Thorpe
Location: Southend-On-Sea, Essex, UK
Tell us a little about yourself:
I’m a father of two. I have a son in University and the other in the early years of her schooling. I own my own company that specializes in documenting people’s life stories and experiences. I also oversee The Dean Martin Association, an organization that was set up in 1960 by Dino himself and my late father Bernard H. Thorpe.
You’ve been with SEARCH Magazine practically since the beginning and written 26 articles for us! How does it feel to write for SEARCH?
It’s amazing to think that I’ve written so many articles for SEARCH and…
Learn more about Elliot Thorpe in our Fall 2022 #Homemade issue.
Explore Tatting
by Suzanne Madron
Admittedly, when I first became interested in learning to tat, it was because of the cool antique tatting tools called shuttles. It was akin to the dice being my gateway to learning how to play Dungeons & Dragons, if we’re being honest.
I had learned to make bobbin lace and I was looking for something more portable—even more portable than knitting or crocheting. It was hot that summer and I wanted to still work on making something but without the bulk and warmth of yarn. Enter tatting.
In case the term is not readily familiar, the finished product most likely is. Tatted lace edges are used on dresses and as decorative pieces in various ways. Tatting uses loops similar to crocheted lace but the technique is a bit different.
There are two types of tatting…
Read more of Suzanne Madron’s Explore Tatting in SEARCH Magazine‘s Fall 2022 #Homemade issue.
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