News From the Nest, November 3

New on the Blog

Not gonna lie, I’m pretty smitten with these fabric Christmas luminarias that cast the most magical starlight patterns when you light them up. The soft glow through the fabric creates such a dreamy atmosphere, and once you get the hang of the technique, you can easily whip up several for gifting or scatter them around your house for instant holiday magic. Fair warning: your family might start requesting these for every room once they see how lovely that twinkling light looks through the painted stars!

A Few Fun Finds

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• Fun and functional stocking stuffers for anyone who does laundry!
• Pretty amber glass, short, candle holders for your Thanksgiving or Fall table.

• It’s a fact… square storage containers are just more space-efficient than round ones. It’s one of those things that makes you go “oh, of course!” once you think about it. Square containers are like puzzle pieces – they nestle right up against each other with no wasted space between them. Round containers, bless their hearts, always leave those little triangle-shaped gaps when you try to pack them together, no matter how you arrange them. I knew I wanted to maximize the space in my pantry by switching to square storage containers for my dried beans and grains, and I finally did. What you can’t see is the empty space to the far right. Before this switch, there was NO empty space on this shelf. These and these are the jars I switched to.

From the Knit + Crochet Studio

When you’ve spent hours lovingly knitting a gift for someone special, you want them to know how to care for it properly, which is why I created these free printable knit care tags to attach to all your handmade treasures. Just print them on cardstock, cut them out, and tie them to your knitted or crocheted gifts—the yarn wrapper has all the information you need to fill them out correctly.

These silly little fellows have completely stolen my heart—each one of my knitted Christmas gnome ornaments seems to have its own personality, from the buttoned-up types to the renegade gnome with his hat pulled low over his nose. Using bits and bobs from your yarn stash, these quick-to-knit ornaments make perfect tree decorations or gift toppers, and yes, we need to talk about the fact that they could just as easily be called knit knomes or gnit gnomes thanks to our ridiculous English spelling rules!

I had this waffle stitch knit dishcloth pattern on my to-do list for way too long, but once I finally sat down with my needles, it practically flew off them! Simple knits and purls create this lovely, reversible textured pattern (this girl loves a reversible knit), and the waffle stitch gives you a fabric that doesn’t curl—hallelujah! One skein of Sugar ‘n Cream makes two washcloths, making these perfect for gift-giving paired with a bar of homemade soap.

Adding a crochet border to my knit pieces is one of those finishing touches that takes a project from “nice” to “oh wow,” and I’ve put together a step-by-step guide for adding crochet borders to knitted pieces, complete with photos and video. It’s the perfect way to clean up those raw edges, weave in loose yarns, and sometimes even help uncurl a stubborn knit edge.

From the Kitchen

Well, after making these toasted walnuts with rosemary four different times because Terry kept eating them before I could photograph them, I can tell you they’re dangerously snackable. Just walnuts, olive oil, salt, and fresh rosemary—that’s it—but this simple combination proves that the whole really is greater than the sum of its parts, and they make wonderful gifts in pretty jars with the free printable tags.

With all the baking about to happen, understanding the science behind your leaveners will make you a better baker, which is why I took a deep dive into everything you need to know about baking soda and baking powder. The short version: baking soda needs an acid to work its magic, baking powder already has the acid built in, and knowing when to use which (or both!) will guarantee your holiday baking turns out perfectly every time.

Using San Marzano tomatoes, fresh garlic, and basil, plus a healthy glug of good olive oil, this authentic marinara sauce recipe comes together in just 20 minutes. Still, it tastes like it’s been simmering all day. Those little pools of orangey-red olive oil floating on the surface aren’t just pretty—they provide incredible flavor that gets absorbed by your pasta, making this the perfect companion to our tender meatballs.

After years of perfecting this recipe, I can confidently say these oven-baked meatballs are everything you want: perfectly moist from the ricotta cheese and milk-soaked bread, wonderfully flavorful from sautéed onions and herbs, and so much easier (and neater!) than their fried counterparts. I’ve never made just a single batch—it’s too easy to double or triple the recipe and stash some in the freezer, especially when topped with a dollop of ricotta and our simple marinara sauce.

This sourdough focaccia recipe has completely won me over with its high-hydration dough, which creates the most incredible airy texture and an irresistible, crispy-bottomed crust when baked in a cast-iron skillet. Don’t skimp on the olive oil—it’s essential for both flavor and for achieving those gorgeous dimples, topped with sun-dried tomatoes and fresh rosemary, that make this bread perfect for everything from sandwiches to soup-dipping. Reader Jeanna called it “the best beginner-friendly way to make focaccia” and a crowd favorite in her house!

With just fabric paint and rubber stamps, you can transform plain white napkins into festive stamped Christmas napkins that add holiday charm to your table or make excellent gifts anyone would be excited to receive. The secret is using soft-touch fabric paint with a dauber (not a brush or roller), cleaning your stamps frequently to maintain crisp details, and heat-setting with your iron for permanence—and remember, fabric paint is essential here; regular acrylic won’t bond properly with the fabric.

When you need a stash of gifts for everyone from your mailman to your favorite cashier, this homemade mulling spices recipe comes to the rescue with its warming blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, orange peel, and aromatic spices. Just two tablespoons per quart of cider or wine, simmer for 30 minutes, and your house will smell like the holidays while you sip on liquid comfort—pair it with a mulling ball and you’ve got the perfect hostess gift.

In the House + Home

Can you hear it? That’s Thanksgiving driving down your street—luckily, he doesn’t have GPS and won’t ask for directions, so you’ve got a few more minutes before he pulls into your driveway! My 2025 printable Thanksgiving planner breaks down exactly what to do three weeks, two weeks, and one week before the big day, plus a day-by-day schedule for Thanksgiving week that’ll keep you sane. From setting the table early (yes, really!) to making turkey stock weeks ahead and freezing it, these preparation tips mean you’ll actually get to enjoy your guests instead of being stuck in the kitchen!