.png)
Handmade Happiness: Finding Meaning in the Art of Making
Handmade Happiness invites you to slow down and reconnect with the traditional skills that nourish the body, mind, and soul. Each episode offers practical tips and heartfelt stories to inspire you to live more intentionally and embrace the art of doing things by hand. Whether you’re a seasoned homesteader or just beginning your journey towards a simpler, more intentional life, Handmade Happiness is your guide to cultivating a deeper connection with your food, your home, and the world around you.
Episodes
42 episodes
41 Homestead Tools We'd Buy Again in a Heartbeat
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, eq...
.png)
40 It's Not Too Late to Plant Your Garden! Making the Most of Your Growing Season
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 nea...
39 Simple Preparedness for Everyday Life | What a Weekend Without Power Reminded Our Family
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 co...
38 Thinking About Canning? Here's What You Need to Know First
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 h...
37 How Much Land Do You Really Need to Homestead?
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...
36 June Garden Update: Harvesting, Seed Saving, Food Preservation & What's Growing Next
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...
35 What a Quilt Show Taught Me About Community, Creativity & Passing Down Skills
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 Ha...
34 Why Making Friends as Adults Is So Hard | Building Community, Finding Your People & Overcoming Loneliness
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 rel...
33 One Year Later... Was It Worth It?
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 th...
32 What’s Actually Saving Us Money Right Now: Simple Ways We’re Spending Less & Living More Intentionally
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 w...
31 What’s Growing in Our Garden Right Now: Spring Homestead Garden Update
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 ...
30 Find What Makes You Happy | Handmade Skills, Community & Trying New Things Without Fear
What happens when you stop worrying and start pursuing the things that genuinely make you happy?In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Jessica and Thomas share a relaxed and encouraging conversation about handmade skills, hobbie...
29 What Homeschooling Really Looks Like | What We Prioritize, What We’ve Learned
What does homeschooling actually look like in real life?In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Jessica and Thomas Clark from The Lark Life share an honest, behind-the-scenes look at their homeschool rhythms, what’s working, what...
28 Working With What You Have: Stewarding the Land, the Time, and the Life You’ve Been Given
What does it really mean to use what you’ve been given well?In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Jessica and Thomas reflect on the idea of stewardship, working hard with what you already have instead of constantly feeling like...
27 Raising Your Own Meat in Your Backyard | Rabbits, Ducks & Small-Scale Meat Production for Beginners
Is it really possible to raise your own meat in a backyard—without a lot of land or a big investment?In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Jessica and Thomas Clark from The Lark Life share what it looks like to raise meat rabbi...
26 What I Would Tell My Younger Self: Lessons I've Learned Along the Way
If you could sit down with your younger self, what would you say?In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Thomas and Jessica Clark from The Lark Life reflect on some lessons learned along the way through family life, homesteading,...
25 Learning as You Go | Why You Don’t Need to Be an Expert to Start (Homesteading, Skills & Confidence)
Have you ever felt like you need to know more before you begin?In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Thomas and Jessica Clark from The Lark Life talk about why you don’t need to be an expert to start learning new skills. Whether it’s g...
24 Preparing for Spring with Patience
In a culture that pushes us to move quickly and expect instant results, preparing with patience can feel countercultural. But many of the most meaningful parts of life take time to build.In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Th...
23 Spring Cleaning Reset | Simplifying Your Home, Finishing Small Projects & Refreshing Your Space
Spring is a natural time to refresh our homes, simplify our spaces, and finish the small projects that have been waiting all winter.In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Thomas and Jessica Clark from The Lark Life share a gentl...
22 Family Budget Reset: Save Money, Reduce Debt & Live Within Your Means
Are you tired of living paycheck to paycheck?In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Thomas and Jessica Clark from The Lark Life share a practical approach to resetting your family budget, living within your means, and breaking t...
21 Teaching Kids How to Learn (Not Just What to Learn) | Homeschool & Intentional Parenting
Are we teaching our kids what to think — or how to learn?In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Thomas and Jessica Clark from The Lark Life explore the importance of teaching children how to learn, not just what to memorize. Whe...
20 Why Handmade Skills Still Matter: Cooking, Sewing, Repairing & Traditional Skills for Modern Life
In a world of fast fashion, convenience culture, and disposable everything, do handmade skills still matter?In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Thomas and Jessica Clark from The Lark Life explore why traditional skills like c...
19 Loving Your Family and Community Well: Small Acts That Matter Most
In a busy, disconnected world, loving our family and community well can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be complicated. In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Thomas and Jessica Clark from The Lark Life explore what it really ...
18 Why Winter is the Best Time to Learn New Skills
Winter is often seen as a season to endure—but it’s actually one of the best times to learn new skills. With fewer distractions and a naturally slower pace, winter creates space for focus, repetition, and growth without pressure.In this ...
17 Seed Starting & Preparing for the Garden Season (Without the Overwhelm)
Seed starting is one of the most hopeful parts of the garden year, but it can also feel overwhelming if you think you have to do everything at once. In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Thomas and Jessica Clark from The Lark Life sha...