Handmade Happiness: Finding Meaning in the Art of Making

Episoade

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  50 The Art of Hospitality | How to Create a Welcoming Home & Build Community 18.10.2026 35min

  What makes a house feel like home? Is it beautiful decorations, a perfectly clean kitchen, and an elaborate meal? Or is it something much simpler? In this episode of Handmade Happiness, we're talking about the art of hospitality, building meaningful friendships, and making room for the people around us. Hospitality is something that's been on my mind lately. I recently had an article published in Homemakers Journal about hospitality and handmade gifts, and I had the pleasure of being a guest ...
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  49 Before We Plan Our 2027 Homestead | What Worked, What Didn’t & What We’re Changing 11.10.2026 48min

  Before we order another packet of seeds, add another animal, expand the garden, or start another homestead project, we're doing something important, looking back before we look forward. In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Thomas and Jessica are sitting down to evaluate what actually worked on their five-acre Missouri homestead this year and what didn't before any plans are made for 2027. It's easy to open a seed catalog or see someone else's homestead and immediately start dreaming about e...
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  48 Don't Stop Gardening Yet! Plant Garlic, Saffron & Shallots This Fall 04.10.2026 34min

  Just because summer is over doesn't mean gardening season has to end! Fall is actually the perfect time to plant certain crops, and this year we're planting garlic, shallots, and saffron crocus on our Missouri homestead. In this episode of Handmade Happiness, we're talking about fall planting and why some of the most rewarding harvests begin long before spring arrives. We'll share how we're preparing our garden beds, planting garlic and shallots, and trying our hand at growing our own saffron...
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  47 Save Seeds & Grow Free Plants | How Our Garden Keeps Giving 27.09.2026 46min

  What if next year’s garden has already begun and some of it won’t cost you anything? In this episode of Handmade Happiness, we’re talking about one of our favorite parts of growing a garden, discovering just how much abundance a single growing season can produce. We’re saving seeds, propagating plants, storing tubers, and finding ways to carry this year’s garden into the next. We share what we’re doing with okra, bok choy, snow peas, calendula, dahlias, garlic, and blackberry plants, includin...
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  46 Preparing Homestead Animals for Winter | Chickens, Ducks, Rabbits, Turkeys & Pigs 20.09.2026 37min

  Winter mornings on the homestead are a whole lot easier when you prepare before the temperatures drop. In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Jessica and Thomas are walking through how they’re getting their animals ready for winter, from chickens, ducks, and turkeys to rabbits and pigs. We’re talking about the practical cold-weather jobs we want finished before the first hard freeze: checking shelters for drafts while maintaining good ventilation, adding and managing bedding, strengthening pr...
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  45 What We Learned at the Ozarks Homesteading Expo | New Friends, New Ideas & New Animals! 13.09.2026 40min

  We spent the weekend at the Ozarks Homesteading Expo, and we came home with a lot more than we expected including some new animals for the homestead! In this episode of the Handmade Happiness Podcast, Jessica and Thomas recap their weekend at the expo, the people we met, the conversations that encouraged us, the things we learned, and some of the ideas we’re excited to bring back to our own homestead. One of our favorite parts of attending homesteading events is realizing just how much ther...
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  44 Grow It, Preserve It, EAT IT! | What We Realized While Cleaning Our Deep Freezer 23.08.2026 37min

  We cleaned out our freezers expecting to make a little more room. Instead, we discovered just how much food we had actually grown, raised, harvested, and preserved over the past year. In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Jessica and Thomas talk about what happened when we pulled everything out of our very full homestead freezers and realized we had bags of homegrown squash, berries, greens, eggplant, pumpkin, peaches, cherries, home-raised meat, and more tucked away inside. It was encouragi...
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  43 Apple Slinkies, Raising Capable Kids & Learning to Enjoy the Work 16.08.2026 37min

  What if chores weren’t something to rush through so we could get back to “real life”, but were actually part of the life we’re trying to build? In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Jessica and Thomas talk about chores, family responsibility, raising capable kids, and learning to find satisfaction in everyday work. As our family prepares to settle back into homeschool routines, we share how chores fit into the rhythm of their home and homestead, from laundry and dishes to feeding anima...
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  42 The Opportunities We Almost Miss | Free Resources, Community & Homestead Life 09.08.2026 37min

  Sometimes the best resources aren’t the ones you buy; they’re the opportunities you learn to notice. In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Jessica and Thomas talk about recognizing and making the most of opportunities that show up in everyday life. From gathering free firewood after a storm to receiving an abundance of free apples from a friend, we’re sharing how resourcefulness, relationships, and simply paying attention can provide for your family in unexpected ways. We also talk about the...
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  41 Homestead Tools We'd Buy Again in a Heartbeat 26.07.2026 36min

  What are the best tools to invest in for a homestead? If we were starting over today, which purchases would we make again without hesitation? In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Jessica and Thomas share the homestead tools, equipment, and practical investments that have made the biggest difference in our daily lives. From gardening and food preservation to sewing, cooking, and raising animals, we're talking about the purchases that continue to save us time, reduce waste, and help us live a...
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  40 It's Not Too Late to Plant Your Garden! Making the Most of Your Growing Season 19.07.2026 37min

  Think it's too late to plant a garden? Think again! In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Jessica and Thomas share why midsummer is actually one of the best times to start planning and planting a productive fall garden. With nearly 100 days left in the growing season here in southwest Missouri, there's still plenty of time to harvest another round of fresh vegetables before the first frost. Whether you're planting cool-season crops or squeezing in another succession of green beans, this epis...
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  39 Simple Preparedness for Everyday Life | What a Weekend Without Power Reminded Our Family 12.07.2026 37min

  What do you do if your power goes out for a few days? In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Jessica and Thomas share stories from a weekend at the lake after a severe storm left them without electricity or running water. What could have been a frustrating experience became an opportunity to slow down, adapt, and appreciate the value of being prepared for life's unexpected interruptions. Rather than talking about extreme survival scenarios, this conversation focuses on simple, practical prepa...
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  38 Thinking About Canning? Here's What You Need to Know First 05.07.2026 47min

  Is home canning really safe? Why are so many families rediscovering this traditional skill? In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Jessica and Thomas share why home canning has become an important part of life on their Missouri homestead, how they safely preserve food for their family, and why you don't have to be intimidated to get started. If you've ever wanted to preserve your garden harvest, stock your pantry with homemade food, or learn a practical life skill, this episode will help sepa...
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  37 How Much Land Do You Really Need to Homestead? 28.06.2026 37min

  Do you really need 20 acres to build a productive homestead? In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Jessica and Thomas explore one of the most common questions aspiring homesteaders ask: How much land do you actually need to grow food for your family? After a year on our own 5 acre Missouri homestead, we're sharing what we've learned about matching your property to your goals, why bigger isn't always better, and how thoughtful planning can make even a small backyard incredibly productive. Whe...
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  36 June Garden Update: Harvesting, Seed Saving, Food Preservation & What's Growing Next 21.06.2026 44min

  The garden is finally beginning to provide an abundance of fresh food, and we're sharing everything that's happening on our homestead this June. In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Jessica and Thomas share a June garden update, including what they're harvesting, preserving, and planting for future seasons. From fresh vegetables and herbs to berry picking, seed saving, and building healthy soil, this conversation explores the rhythms of seasonal gardening and the satisfaction of growing you...
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  35 What a Quilt Show Taught Me About Community, Creativity & Passing Down Skills 14.06.2026 34min

  This past weekend, Jessica was a vendor at the Ozark Piecemakers Quilt Guild Show in Springfield, Missouri, and came away encouraged by the conversations, connections, and shared love of handmade skills. In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Thomas and Jessica reflect on what makes quilt shows so special, from meeting longtime customers and hearing stories about finished quilts to introducing new makers to the art of quilting and sewing. The conversation explores the importance of passing do...
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  34 Why Making Friends as Adults Is So Hard | Building Community, Finding Your People & Overcoming Loneliness 07.06.2026 42min

  Why does making friends seem so much harder as an adult? In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Jessica and Thomas have an honest conversation about friendship, loneliness, community, and the challenges of building meaningful relationships in adulthood. After moving to Missouri and starting over in a new place, we've experienced firsthand how difficult and rewarding it can be to find your people and create community from scratch. We discuss why friendship often came naturally as children but ...
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  33 One Year Later... Was It Worth It? 31.05.2026 45min

  One year ago, our family packed up our lives, left Texas, and moved to a small property in Missouri with a dream of building a slower, more intentional life. In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Jessica and Thomas reflect on their first year in Missouri—the challenges, surprises, lessons learned, and the many blessings that came from starting over in a new place. From expanding our garden and raising animals to building community, homeschooling, growing The Lark Life, and creating a home th...
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  32 What’s Actually Saving Us Money Right Now: Simple Ways We’re Spending Less & Living More Intentionally 24.05.2026 37min

  What’s actually helping us save money right now — in real everyday life? In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Jessica and Thomas share the simple changes and practical habits that are genuinely helping their family spend less while building a slower, more intentional lifestyle at home. From cooking from scratch and growing more of their own food to canceling subscriptions, hanging laundry outside, and finding free summer activities for the kids, this conversation is full of realistic ideas ...
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  31 What’s Growing in Our Garden Right Now: Spring Homestead Garden Update 17.05.2026 53min

  What’s happening in our garden right now? In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Jessica and Thomas share an early spring garden update from the homestead, including what they planted in early April, what’s going into the ground now, and the projects they’re working on as they expand their biggest garden yet. From cool weather crops and perennials to warm season vegetables and weed suppression strategies, this is a real-life look at what spring gardening actually looks like during a busy plan...