Handmade Happiness: Finding Meaning in the Art of Making

Thomas and Jessica Clark
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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.

  1. 4D AGO

    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 cooking from scratch, sewing, repairing, building, and crafting are more relevant than ever. This conversation is about resilience, confidence, creativity, and raising capable kids in a modern world. Handmade skills are not just hobbies — they are life skills that build independence, problem-solving ability, and deeper connection to our homes and communities. Whether you’re interested in homesteading, slow living, homeschooling, or simply becoming more capable at home, this episode will encourage you to start where you are and build skills that last. ✨ Thanks for tuning in to Handmade Happiness! ✨ If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe so you don’t miss future conversations about slowing down, creating with your hands, and living more intentionally. 💌 Stay connected: Visit me at TheLarkLife.com Follow along on Instagram: @The_Lark_Life Click to join my email list for updates, resources, and encouragement 🧵 Share the love: If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to leave a review or share it with a friend? It truly helps others discover the show. Until next time, may you find joy in the simple things and beauty in the work of your hands.

    33 min

  2. FEB 8

    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 looks like to love the people right in front of us through small, everyday actions. This is a conversation about presence over perfection, consistency over grand gestures, and building strong families and communities through ordinary care. If you’re craving deeper connection—at home and beyond—this episode offers gentle encouragement to slow down, pay attention, and invest where love grows best. ✨ Thanks for tuning in to Handmade Happiness! ✨ If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe so you don’t miss future conversations about slowing down, creating with your hands, and living more intentionally. 💌 Stay connected: Visit me at TheLarkLife.com Follow along on Instagram: @The_Lark_Life Click to join my email list for updates, resources, and encouragement 🧵 Share the love: If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to leave a review or share it with a friend? It truly helps others discover the show. Until next time, may you find joy in the simple things and beauty in the work of your hands.

    41 min

  3. FEB 1

    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 episode of Handmade Happiness, Thomas and Jessica Clark from The Lark Life explore why winter is uniquely suited for learning and skill-building, especially handmade and homestead skills that support everyday life. This is a gentle encouragement to embrace winter as a season of preparation rather than productivity. Whether you’re curious about baking, sewing, gardening, or simply growing in patience and presence, this episode will help you see winter as a valuable season for quiet growth. Perfect for listeners interested in: intentional living, slow living, winter rhythms, skill-building, homesteading, handmade skills, family life, and learning at home. ✨ Thanks for tuning in to Handmade Happiness! ✨ If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe so you don’t miss future conversations about slowing down, creating with your hands, and living more intentionally. 💌 Stay connected: Visit me at TheLarkLife.com Follow along on Instagram: @The_Lark_Life Click to join my email list for updates, resources, and encouragement 🧵 Share the love: If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to leave a review or share it with a friend? It truly helps others discover the show. Until next time, may you find joy in the simple things and beauty in the work of your hands.

    27 min

  4. JAN 25

    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 shares a realistic approach to seed starting and preparing for the upcoming garden season. This conversation isn’t about perfection or complicated setups. It’s about slowing down, choosing what truly fits your life, and preparing for the garden season in a way that feels supportive, not stressful. Whether you’re new to gardening or refining your rhythms, this episode will encourage you to prepare for the season ahead with confidence, curiosity, and grace. Perfect for listeners interested in: seed starting, garden planning, homesteading, simple living, intentional living, growing food at home, and seasonal rhythms. Watch our video for the 2026 seed haul and how I organize my seeds  ✨ Thanks for tuning in to Handmade Happiness! ✨ If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe so you don’t miss future conversations about slowing down, creating with your hands, and living more intentionally. 💌 Stay connected: Visit me at TheLarkLife.com Follow along on Instagram: @The_Lark_Life Click to join my email list for updates, resources, and encouragement 🧵 Share the love: If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to leave a review or share it with a friend? It truly helps others discover the show. Until next time, may you find joy in the simple things and beauty in the work of your hands.

    31 min

  5. JAN 18

    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 and Jessica Clark from The Lark Life explore the research behind boredom and explains why moments of “doing nothing” are critical for creativity, problem-solving, and mental clarity. We’ll also talk about how boredom supports children’s development and share simple, practical ways to invite healthy boredom into everyday life. In this episode, we cover: What boredom really is (and what it isn’t)The brain’s Default Mode Network and why it needs quietResearch showing boredom boosts creativity and insightHow constant stimulation affects attention and emotional regulationWhy boredom is especially important for kidsSimple daily habits that allow space for boredom and imaginationHow boredom naturally leads to creativity and handmade living This episode is for anyone feeling overstimulated, creatively blocked, or craving a slower, more intentional way of living. Sometimes the most meaningful ideas come when we stop trying to fill every moment. Perfect for those interested in: creativity and brain healthintentional living and slow livingparenting and childhood developmentreducing screen timehandmade, thoughtful living👉 Subscribe for more conversations on homesteading, creativity, simple living, and building meaningful family rhythms.  👉 Follow along on Instagram: @the_lark_life 👉 Learn more at: thelarklife.com ✨ Thanks for tuning in to Handmade Happiness! ✨ If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe so you don’t miss future conversations about slowing down, creating with your hands, and living more intentionally. 💌 Stay connected: Visit me at TheLarkLife.com Follow along on Instagram: @The_Lark_Life Click to join my email list for updates, resources, and encouragement 🧵 Share the love: If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to leave a review or share it with a friend? It truly helps others discover the show. Until next time, may you find joy in the simple things and beauty in the work of your hands.

    32 min

  6. JAN 11

    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 choosing guiding themes and rhythms instead of rigid resolutions. This conversation is about honoring the life you’re already living, including the messy parts, and building forward with clarity and care rather than pressure and perfection. ✨ In this episode, we talk about: Why traditional New Year’s resolutions often lead to burnout What it means to choose a theme instead of a goal How themes guide daily rhythms, decisions, and priorities Letting go of the pressure to “start over” every January Building on what worked in previous years, even imperfectly Planning a year that fits your real life, season, and capacity If you’re craving a more peaceful, intentional way to approach the new year, one rooted in continuity, grace, and realistic rhythms, this episode is for you. You don’t need a fresh start. You need a clear direction and permission to move forward gently. 🌿 Perfect for listeners interested in: intentional living, slow living, simple family rhythms, end-of-year planning, essentialism, homesteading life, and building a meaningful life over time. #intentionalliving  #themesoverresolutions #intentionallivingpodcast #slowlivingpodcast #HandmadeHappiness #TheLarkLife ✨ Thanks for tuning in to Handmade Happiness! ✨ If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe so you don’t miss future conversations about slowing down, creating with your hands, and living more intentionally. 💌 Stay connected: Visit me at TheLarkLife.com Follow along on Instagram: @The_Lark_Life Click to join my email list for updates, resources, and encouragement 🧵 Share the love: If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to leave a review or share it with a friend? It truly helps others discover the show. Until next time, may you find joy in the simple things and beauty in the work of your hands.

    31 min

  7. 12/21/2025

    S1 E14 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 through gentle evaluation, intentional reset, and rhythms of rest that support a more peaceful life. In this episode, Thomas and Jessica Clark from The Lark Life share a calm, thoughtful approach to year-end reflection rooted in intentional living, seasonal rhythms, and grace. This conversation is for anyone feeling tired, overwhelmed, or unsure how to move into the new year without burning out. ✨ In this episode, we explore: How to reflect on the past year without self-criticismCelebrating small wins and meaningful momentsReleasing what no longer fits your life or seasonWhy rest should be a rhythm, not a rewardResetting gently instead of starting overCreating margin before the new year beginsYou don’t need a complete reset—you need space to breathe. This episode offers encouragement to pause, notice what matters most, and carry rest forward into the next season of life. 🌿 Perfect for listeners interested in: intentional livingslow livingend-of-year reflectionrest and renewalsimple family rhythmshomesteading and handmade life👉 Subscribe for more conversations on slow living, homesteading, handmade skills, and intentional family rhythms.  👉 Follow along on Instagram: @the_lark_life 👉 Learn more at: thelarklife.com ✨ Thanks for tuning in to Handmade Happiness! ✨ If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe so you don’t miss future conversations about slowing down, creating with your hands, and living more intentionally. 💌 Stay connected: Visit me at TheLarkLife.com Follow along on Instagram: @The_Lark_Life Click to join my email list for updates, resources, and encouragement 🧵 Share the love: If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to leave a review or share it with a friend? It truly helps others discover the show. Until next time, may you find joy in the simple things and beauty in the work of your hands.

    27 min

  8. 12/14/2025

    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 by Greg McKeown’s book. Learn how to simplify your days, eliminate the non-essential, and make space for the things that truly matter in your home, family, and homestead. ✨ In this episode, we’ll talk about: • The core idea behind Essentialism: Less, but better • How to identify what matters most in your season • Letting go of overwhelm, pressure, and perfectionism • Creating peaceful family rhythms and simple routines • How essentialism strengthens your homestead, homemaking, and creative life • Practical steps to simplify your days without guilt Whether you're a mom, homesteader, quilter, or simply craving a more peaceful life, this episode will guide you toward clarity, purpose, and a deeper sense of joy. 👇 If you’re ready to slow down and live intentionally, this episode is for you. Subscribe for more episodes on simple living, homesteading, handmade traditions, and intentional family rhythms. Follow along on Instagram: @thelarklife Learn more at: thelarklife.com #essentialism #simpleliving #intentionalhomemaking #homesteadinglife #lessbutbetter #slowfamilyliving #handmadehappiness #TheLarkLife ✨ Thanks for tuning in to Handmade Happiness! ✨ If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe so you don’t miss future conversations about slowing down, creating with your hands, and living more intentionally. 💌 Stay connected: Visit me at TheLarkLife.com Follow along on Instagram: @The_Lark_Life Click to join my email list for updates, resources, and encouragement 🧵 Share the love: If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to leave a review or share it with a friend? It truly helps others discover the show. Until next time, may you find joy in the simple things and beauty in the work of your hands.

    39 min
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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.

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