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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
34 episodes
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...
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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...
16 In Praise of Boredom: Why Doing Nothing Is Good for Your Brain & Creativity
In a world of constant noise and stimulation, boredom has become something we avoid—but what if boredom is actually essential for creativity, brain health, and emotional well-being?In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Thomas a...
15 Planning a Year of Intentional Living: Choosing Themes Over Resolutions
Planning a new year doesn’t have to mean starting over from scratch. In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Thomas and Jessica Clark from The Lark Life share a gentler, more sustainable approach to planning a year of intentional living, by choo...
14 Ending the Year Well: Reflection, Reset & Rhythms of Rest
As the year comes to a close, this episode of Handmade Happiness invites you to slow down and reflect—without pressure, resolutions, or hustle. Instead of rushing into the new year, we’re talking about how to end the year well t...
13 Less But Better: How Essentialism Transforms Family Life & Homesteading
Are you tired of trying to do everything and feeling stretched thin? In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Thomas and Jessica Clark share a gentle, practical introduction to Essentialism—a life-changing approach to intentional living inspired ...
12 Bake Bread at Home | Bread Basics, Why Fresh Bread Matters, & How to Start Small
Learn how to start baking delicious homemade bread from scratch—without spending all day in the kitchen! In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Jessica Clark from The Lark Life shares why fresh bread is worth making, how she started with simple...
11 Family Traditions on the Homestead: Building Culture, Values & Meaningful Rhythms
Traditions are the threads that stitch a family together—often in small, simple, everyday ways. In this heartwarming episode of Handmade Happiness, Thomas and Jessica explores how traditions—whether passed down for generatio...
10 Garden Dreams: Winter Seed Catalogs, Family Favorites & New Varieties to Grow
It’s seed catalog season—one of the coziest moments of the homestead year. In this episode of Handmade Happiness, Thomas and Jessica invite you to pull up a chair, pour a warm mug of tea, and flip through those colorful wint...
9 The Art of Gathering: Simple Hospitality & Meaningful Connection on the Homestead
Discover the true art of hospitality in this heartwarming episode of Handmade Happiness. Thomas and Jessica shares how simple, meaningful rhythms—handmade touches, warm food, and genuine attention—create a welcomin...