For many, the great treat of summer is a quality gin and tonic. For others, the warmer months mean ice cream season. And now, those two groups can hold hands as they sit outside in the long days and smell freshly cut grass after they barbecue amidst other summer tropes with some of this: gin and tonic sorbet.   

The recipe comes from TheBoysClub.net, who say, "This can easily be served as a palate cleanser between courses or as a grand finish to your next dinner party. Just be wary though. One small scoop is plenty and quite strong in taste, so don’t serve too much. Enjoy each mouthful slowly, and savour the delight of this icy, lime infused dessert."

Got an ice cream maker? Head to The Boys Club to snag the recipe: Gin and Tonic Sorbet (and Cocktail) 

And from the ManMade archives: How to: The Simple, Easy Trick to Improve Your Gin and Tonic

Yesterday I shared our plan for an awesome backyard father's day bash, and today I'm really excited to let you in on a huge giveaway. We've teamed up with Lowes and are giving away a $2,000 gift card. People, do you know how many ratcheting screwdrivers I would buy with $2,000? Power tools! USB-enabled power outlets! Those little rolly things you use to put painters tape down! Caulk guns! Shrubbery! I could go on and on, but I don't think you'd enjoy that as much as I would. So read on to find out how to enter the giveaway (I promise no more shopping-spree daydreaming from me)...

Ok, so, Lowes is a great brand to work with, straight up; we're doing this huge father's day party with them (you should come, it's this Saturday!), and we just finished two really amazing bathroom makeovers with them over on Curbly (Al & Meghan's here, and Capree's here). So when they suggested giving our ManMade readers a chance to win a $2,000 gift card, I was like, "Why don't you just give me the gift card so I can buy a few pallets of ratcheting screwdrivers?". But common sense won the day instead (stupid common sense).

Check out this page to see all the other great Father's day projects bloggers are dreaming up for this series.

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

1) Leave a comment on this post telling us what you're thinking of getting with your gift card. Or, if you're shy, just say "Pick Me!". We'll only count one entry per person (so no need to leave multiple comments)

2) The giveaway starts now, and ends on June 13 at 11:59 PM central time.

3) Only U.S. residents are eligible to win. When the contest closes, we're randomly pick a winner from the entrants, and send them the gift card!

GOOD LUCK!

To get some great father's day gift and DIY ideas, follow @lowes on Pinterest and@loweshomeimprovement Instagram! 

Thanks to Lowes for sponsoring this post, all opinions are mine alone.

ManMade reader Donal McKernan is an expert in graphic design and dimensional sign-making at Danthonia Designs, a hand-crafted sign shop in Inverell, Australia.

 Danthonia recently released a series of how-to videos, detailing the process to making a one-of-a-kind hand-carved wooden sign.    

Check out a few of the videos below for a glimpse into the process: 

Head to Danthonia Designs' web page for more videos and examples of their craft. 

image

A vignette is a visual focus point that identifies the character of a room. These intentional areas are often the shots you'll see published in magazines, and you can achieve 'em at home, using mostly items you already have. Here are 5 ideas to get you started.

Use these tips to to make the most out of your space, using what you already own to great effect and keeping it cool and masculine. It can be done, and it's easier than you expect.

1. Sticking to a colour palette (above): first, you gotta choose your colour palette; a couple main colours plus a complementary tone. Above you can see black and white are the main stars of the show, the complimentary colour (tanned) is perfect and adds a touch of masculine to the whole space. The cleaner you keep your paletter the less cluttered and busy it'll look. So yes, get rid of those clashing ikea knick-knacks from college!

2. Make it quirky: adding a touch of playfulness makes a room that much more interesting. In the example above the clean space works great with those empty picture frames combines with one photo. The trick is not to overdo it or it'll look like a storage room. Stick to odd numbers and subtle pieces. Go to the thrift shop and look for unique objects that go with your palette. (image)

3. Use space fillers: got a huge empty space? Don't know what to place it in? Add some fillers! Space fillers can be anything from a single HUGE painting to a couple of oversized planters like the ones above. This is the easiest way to get rid of those "dead spaces" in your home that can drive you nuts. No need to spend endless hours trying to select an intricate and cohesive poster collection. (image)

4. Use everyday objects: incorporate objects you use on a daily basis. The bike in the image above is the perfect example: it's clean, it matches the decor, and also doubles as decor. Are you a hat lover? Use a simple rack and display them in your entrance. Got lots of cooking books? Place them arranged by size on your coffee table. You see what I mean now? Oh and keep dirty shoes and nasty laundry hidden away, those never work as decor ;)  (image)

5. Use color to your advantage: if you absolutely positively do not want to get another piece of furniture, another picture frame, or plant - then use colour as your ally. In the example above the bright yellow on the heater works almost as a statement piece, no need to add anything else! Use this same principle around your home to create simple yet stunning vignettes. Another great example is to paint a door of one bright colour - boom! instant decor. (image)

See, that wasn't so hard. It may be hard to get used to see bare spaces in your home, but trust us, once you get the hang of it and you see how awesome it is to live clutter free, you'll totally love it. Have fun!

Summer weekends are the perfect time to test out a new cocktail. Stop by the store on the way home from work, grab a new bottle and some citrus, and spend the rest of the weekend gathering with friends and nailing it down, just right. 

This weekend, I'll be trying out an update on my number one, very favorite, easy-to-order-cause-its-hard-to-mess-up-unless-they-shake-it cocktail, the Negroni, by cocktail blogger Emily Arden Wells. The traditional recipe is a summer 1:1:1 of London dry gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. This twist by cocktail blogger subs the vermouth (sweet) and Campari (bitter) for Aperol and Cynar, both of which have a combo of bitter and sweet, so the complexity abounds. Stir it up, add a swath of orange peel, and go. I personally prefer  my Negronis in a rocks glass with ice because it helps maintain that cold, clear, heavy texture, but recipe calls to serve them up. Your call.

Oh, who am I kidding? I'm not waiting for 5:00. I've got everything I need already, and it's Friday. It's awesome working from home.

Behind the Bar: Gastronomista's Stolen Negroni[DesignSponge.com]

Magnetic strips and drawers and knife blocks begone! This custom solution allows you to add some serious texture to your kitchen or workspace while protecting the edges of your tools - with a leather knife and tool rack.    

This project was spurred Alexa Hotz spied a leather tool rack on the side of cabinet in a magazine, and searched everywhere. When she realized it had to be have been a handmade effort, she sought to figure out the technique herself. 

She says, "I had to have one, so I made my own—and discovered that with a pliable piece of leather, it's a pretty simple thing to create. And you can tailor each loop in the rack to fit your own needs—no advanced knife skills necessary."

For durability and looks, you could switch out the thumbtacks for some wide-headed brass or copper nails, which would stick in the wood further and be less likely to work their way loose with repeated use. 

Get the full how-to at Remodelista: DIY: A Wall-Mounted Leather Knife Rack

Now there's something else to look at instead of all those flatscreens....

The Shustov Brandy Bar interior has a serious vibe going on:

Obviously, the outstanding element is the bottle installation. Hundreds of empty glass bottles serve as a giant lighting fixture that add tons of character to the place. As you may notice the whole space is a bit on the moody side, but it's super well balanced with this bright addition.

If you wanted to recreate something similar at home, you could do it in the shape of a chandelier like this one, or perhaps just using mason jars, like this other one.

If you want to day dream about having a drink at this bar, head over to the Belenko, the masterminds behind this design.

Here's a helpful tip for some serious upcoming summer getaways. Cause the more efficiently you pack, the easier you travel; and the easier you travel, the more places you can go.    The technique is called "the army roll," and its a technique to get all of your t-shirts and other items into little six-inch bundles that you can pack tightly. Oh, and no rulers necessary - just use a dollar bill as a guide.

Check it out in the video below: 

Now, go somewhere!

[Top photo: Homage in Columbus, Ohio]

I've admitted it before on ManMade: I'm a hair product guy. I have a very short forehead, and rather thick and heavy hair, and if I don't put a little hold in it to get it off my brow, I just look sad and like I don't know how to comb my hair. 

So, after shelling out $18.95 for little tubs of purple wax, I'm interested in this recipe by Ryan Foy for a DIY solution. It's mostly just beeswax and coconut oil and with a little peppermint oil for scent. 

Get the full recipe at Momtastic: DIY Hair Pomade for Father’s Day (All-Natural!) 

This isn't the first multi-person transit vehicle-turned-personal road trip travel home makeover project I've shared, and it probably won't be the last. Why? Cause I always think this is a great idea.    This way, as long as you've got permission to park, if you have a lake, you've got a lake house. Any mountain can become a mountain retreat, and you can extend to fishing cabins, beach houses, even a home base for rock climbing or cave exploration. 

This makeover comes from Marco Khalil and Caroline West, a Vancouver, BC couple featured on DesignSponge. The project came to life when "they first recovered the floor in an utilitarian vinyl tile. Then they added a timber daybed and a cubby unit comprised of vintage wood crates – both of which are easily removable when the bus needs to fulfill its cargo-carrying role as a truck. The full renovation took ten days."

"Now the bus, which they call Riley, serves as the backyard cabin on their property. Marco and Caroline regularly use the bus as a mobile cabin and, whenever they can, they book their favorite seaside site at a local RV park that provides everything they need – a firepit, BBQ, coastal beach walks and a modern bath facility."

I don't know how this compares, costwise, to fixing up an old RV or to buying a new (and not nearly as customizable) one, but I'm definitely interested in figuring it out. 

Take the full tour at DesignSponge: A School Bus Turned Vacation Home

With grilling season in full swing, it's time to head to the butcher shop, see what looks awesome, and build those fires. And while the flavor and luxury of beef is relatively straightforward, buying the right cut for grilling, and cooking it to perfection actually isn't. Steak is expensive, and anyone who's tried to cook a too-thin cut or one with too much connective tissue only to cut into a dry, chewy mess can tell you: you gotta know what you're doing, which means knowing what you're buying. 

This video from NYC butcher extraordinaire Pat LaFrieda "explains every "steak" you'll likely see, where they come from, what they look like, and what they're good for in one fell swoop."

Cool, right? Learn more at Lifehacker.

DIY meets IKEA meets affordable-is-my-last-name. This table is perfect to hold your summer drinks and snacks and requires little work. Make one this weekend!

I've got a soft spot for projects that take little time to make and go easy on the wallet (especially if you just moved!). This IKEA hack by Emerja Design totally scored on those two categories, so I'll definitely be making one this summer. 

Patio/summer furniture can be a little bit expensive and you don't really get to use it a lot... For this project you'll need to head over to  (you can also order online or scout your thrift shop for similar items), then just gather some paint, scissors, and you're pretty much set. The table top is built from magazine organizers, which makes for a cool little stash spot to store your goodies. If you decide to use it outside, be sure to paint or seal the wood

We love the handmade wood vibe of this table and the fact that it can totally be customized! E.g. dip-paint the legs, colour block it, or go minimal by painting it all white.

To get the list of materials and step-by-step instructions head over to Emerja Design

This year we teamed up with Lowe's to throw an early Father's Day lawn party for our friends and family. Today I'll share the nitty gritty details, all the pretty pictures, and (hopefully) inspire you to pull together a few last minute DIYs for this weekend's Father's Day celebrations. Read on to find out what we did, and download everything you'll need to throw a party of your own.

(If you're more of a skimmer than a reader, don't forget to scroll to the very bottom of the post for a link to a free PDF file with all the checklists and resources you'll need to throw this exact party)

The Theme

Every great party has a theme, but we didn't want to just stop at "Father's Day". We wanted to embrace the beautiful early summer season and encourage laid back interaction. We settled on a rustic outdoor picnic theme, with an emphasis on lawn sports. We drew on some Scandinavian influences (we're in Minnesota, after all), with a healthy dose of 'summer camp nostalgia' mixed in. 

Here's the mood board we put together last week (read our planning post here):

And here's our Pinterest board for the party:

Decor & Serving

With our theme intact, we centered the decor on the masculine aesthetics of blue-and-white plaid and wood grain. We picked up a bunch of beige canvas drop-cloths from Lowe's to serve as picnic blankets, and added in some simple succulents potted in empty quart-sized paint cans. 

• Blue-and-plaid tablecloths
• Wooden lanterns
• Empty quart-sized paint cans (for succulents)
• Bamboo Utensils
• Squeeze Bottles
• Food Baskets
• Deli liners (for food baskets)
• Birch bark pattern straws
• Paper Snack, Sandwich & Chip Bags
• Washi tape for chip bags
• Salad serving jars
• Flour sack towels
• Jelly Jars (to use as cups) 
• Beverage tag template (PDF below) and twine to tie them on
• Wood grain paper pattern (PDF below)
• Weber Genesis E-310 Espresso grill

Menu & Beverages

We kept our menu very simple. Almost everything could be prepped in advance, which left only some easy grilling during the party. A gourmet hot dog bar is an affordable, interesting and fun way to feed a lot of folks. We used these five recipes from Nobel Pig (the overwhelming favorite was the Bahn Mi dog - sooooo good).

In addition to the hot dog bar, we served two simple sides: a superfood salad and potato salad. We also bagged our kettle potato chips in paper sandwich bags, which made them easy to grab and go.

Our beverages were as simple as our hotdogs. We served wine and craft beer in a wagon, and offered sparkling water and lemonade to the young ones (and the pregnant ones - because, at the moment, nearly all of our friends happen to be pregnant).

Dessert consisted of homemade ice cream: sea salt caramel, vanilla, and bourbon, and fresh baked cookies. There were no complaints, and no leftovers.

• Gourmet Hot Dogs Five Ways (recipe)
• Potato Salad (recipe)
• Sea salt kettle chips (Amazon)
• Super food salad (recipe)
• Assorted craft beer and wine
• Lemonade and sparkling water
• Homemade bourbon ice cream (recipe)
• Ice cream maker (Lowe's)
• Chocolate chip cookies (NYT recipe, my favorite!)

The Games + DIYs

We invited a mix of close friends and family to this party, so we wanted to encourage mingling. Lawn games were an obvious choice.

We offered a handful of games: bocce, ladder ball golf, lawn Bananagrams, and a giant Jenga game. The latter two we DIYed, and they were by far the most popular.

For the Giant Jenga game, we simply cut several 2x4s into forty-eight 10.5" pieces, sanded them, and put them in a Jenga stack. We followed this tutorial to create our game, and it was a favorite.

Our Giant Jenga game was fun, but our lawn version of Bananagrams was the crowd favorite. The normal version of the game is fun because of its crossword-like characteristics. The lawn version has the same crossword charm, plus a ton of crazed running and yelling. Highly recommended.

To create our lawn Bananagrams we stenciled letters onto 8x8 inch squares of hardboard that we cut from two 4x8 foot sheets. Here's a great how-to that includes all the information about the number of letters you need. For the complete rules, head to the Bananagrams site.

Since we had a number of children at our party, we wanted to make sure there were some activities to keep them occupied (so dads could relax and enjoy). We created a giant teepee using PVC piping (6 - 10 foot tubes), a giant 12x9 foot canvas drop cloth, and colorful rope. We followed this simple, new-sew tutorial. The kids loved having their own nook, and it got pretty crowded in there. 

We also got a bunch of bubble wands from the dollar section at our grocery store for the kids to play with. Adults couldn't resist though:

• DIY Bananagrams tutorial (although I suggest hardboard instead of 3/8" plywood)
• Stencils (for the Bananagram letters)
• DIY Giant Jenga tutorial
• Bocce Ball Set
• Ladderball Golf Set
• DIY Teepee tutorial 

The Loot

No party is complete without favors, and we decided to send our dads off with paint cans full of manly goodies. 

Here's what we included:

• A 2014-16 Farmer's Almanac
• A heavy-duty grill mitt
• Ratcheting screwdriver
• Whisky stones
• Cologne samples
• The most clever key chain bottle opener ever
• This amazing soap
• Grapefruit and lemon bitters

We packaged the goods in empty paint cans, and created vintage inspired labels to adorn them. They were a big hit. Here's what you need to package up the gift baskets:

• Empty paint cans
• Apothecary bottles (for bitters samples)
• Full-sheet labels
• Cellophane bags for whisky stones and cologne samples
• Shredded paper filler
• Wood grain background (PDF below)
• Gift bag labels template (PDF below)
• Bitters labels template (PDF below)
• Whisky stones labels template (PDF below)

Below is a download of all the label templates in PDF format (and included as *.studio files for those of you with a Silhouette), as well as printable checklists to keep your party stress-free and on-track:

 Download the PDF here, and a ZIP file with the Silhouette files here.

In the end, our Father's Day lawn party was simple, low-key, and a lot of fun ... I hope yours will be too. Let me know what you've got planned for Father's Day in the comments!

Thanks to Lowe's for sponsoring this post. All opinions are mine alone.

Working with leather can be as complicated as you want it to be. You can get involved in stitching ponies and floral stamps and swivel knives, or you can keep things simple with pre-cut shapes and the alphabet.   This how-to from Fairgoods shows you how to create a sharp, classic leather bag or luggage tag, which beats the pants off that plastic-y job your suitcase came with. Or, you can get creative and make tags for anything, like your whiskey decanter.

If you want to take this up a notch, you can stain or dye the leather, or just ink the embossed recessed so they'll stand out a little more. 

See how its done (plus a bonus project)at Fairgoods - Father’s Day DIY: Embossed leather tag and tie clip

Whoa. Optical illusion? Nope! This is all made by hand using nylon threads and charcoal pieces. Fascinating? Definitely! Check out the rest of the images of this awesome installation:

These incredible installation was created by Seul-based artist Seon Ghi Bahk. His work explores the relationship between mankind and nature. 

Each one of these columns was constructed using charcoal, representing how nature is the pillar of life and without it we wouldn't have any of the things we enjoy nowadays. The amount of work that went into creating this installation was nothing short of intense, and the precision is outstanding. 

Seon Ghi Bahk's instalation is currently showing at Zadok Gallery in Miami; if you're in that area you should definitely check it out! For the rest of us, we can see more of his wonderful work over here

Images via Colossal

This time of year, I try to do as much outside as possible. Everything from cooking to writing blog posts (like this very one...hooray for working from home) to paying bills is that much better from fresh air. Even with all the flies and spiders. 

And outdoor dining is a no brainer, especially if you've a proper place to do it. And if you don't, then you should make one.

I like the concept of this outdoor dining table with the built-in cooler quite a bit, but I also like its flexible design. The way it's constructed allows you to scale it to fit your back deck, patio, or yard. 

See more photos and find a link to the tutorial at Ana-White.com: Patio Table with Built-In Beer/Wine Cooler

Industrial designer and maker Mike Cheung took a handmade approach to creating a custom beer tap handle. His design is made from hardwood - maple and walnut - with plenty of graphic details and type to convey the branding aspects of the client, P’unk Ave, a design agency in Philadelphia.

   Mike glued up a couple of strips of maple and cut the handle taper:

He then rounded the end to attach the tap ferrule, and then added some walnut inlay and detail, and finished with a walnut logo and a bit of type. 

Check out the full build process at Mike's blog, which he runs with his partner Paula, at Tinkering Monkey: Tapping the Maple (for beer) 

It's the season of campfires: whether in your own backyard fire bowl, a rock ring at a weekend getaway to the lake, or a (designated) spot in a backcountry trail. And the best way to get them started? One match, and a guaranteed source of fuel. These DIY fire starters use nothing more than two natural, safe-to-burn ingredients: saw dust and wax. Sawdust should be pretty easy to come by for most ManMaker types; but you can always ask a friend or get some at a pet supply or in the grilling section of the hardware store. Paraffin wax can be found in some discount candles, or in the baking aisle of the grocery store. 

Get the full how-to at Wood & Faulk, and let's go outside: Campfire Starters

It's the season of campfires: whether in your own backyard fire bowl, a rock ring at a weekend getaway to the lake, or a (designated) spot in a backcountry trail. And the best way to get them started? One match, and a guaranteed source of fuel. These DIY fire starters use nothing more than two natural, safe-to-burn ingredients: saw dust and wax. Sawdust should be pretty easy to come by for most ManMaker types; but you can always ask a friend or get some at a pet supply or in the grilling section of the hardware store. Paraffin wax can be found in some discount candles, or in the baking aisle of the grocery store. 

Get the full how-to at Wood & Faulk, and let's go outside: Campfire Starters

In the first half of the 20th century, the average U.S. citizen spent about 12-14% on clothing. Today, we spend only 3%, and yet we own about 5x the amount of clothes. In the vein of fast food, economists are calling this "fast fashion," and like that extra value meal, it's not very good for us.   Keila Tyner, a stylist with a Ph.D. in textiles and clothing, recommends a switch to "slow fashion." She says, 

One option is to reconsider our approach to clothing by taking a cue from Europeans who have historically been more more focused on quality rather than quantity. Much of the cheap clothing we consume in droves is like our fast food diets—high in calories (quantity) but low in nutrition (quality). We are a culture that buys a lot of junk. Think about your own wardrobe—consider how many items of clothing you own and how often you wear each of those items. My guess is that most of us wear about 20% of our clothing 80% of the time. That is a lot of wasted space and wasted money.

The average American household has a median annual income of approximately $50,000. If it spends 3% of their income on clothing, they’ll have $1,500 a year, or $125 per month to spend. Instead of buying five fast-fashion, low-quality items costing $25 each, they could invest in one or two quality items at a higher price point ($125 or $63 respectively).

To the thoughtful reader, this comes as no surprise, and in many ways, reflects the "buy it for life" approach that we recommend on ManMade constantly. But its certainly interesting to see things laid out explicitly like this, and with actual numbers. I actually have no idea how much I spend on clothing, though I suspect its less than $125. Unless I consider other, non-daily wear items: a winter coat, specialized bike clothing, outdoor and backpacking gear. Were I to add a budget line-item for this, at Tyner's hypothetical $125/mo, at the end of the year I'd own twelve pieces I'd really love, would wear often, and would last for years to come. Sounds about right to me.

Check out the full article on Quartz: SLOW FASHION - The case for fewer—but better—clothes