The aprons are here!

These durable tw0-pocket, bib aprons are hand-drawn (by Kate) and locally screen printed in Austin TX. Base is USA-made, polyester/cotton blend with an adjustable neck strap. Color options:...

Read more

5 Tips for Hanging a Kitchen Pegboard

Our new kitchen pretty much trumps all kitchens in my checkered past of rental kitchens. I can teach baking and preserving classes right out of my home now since the living room sidles up, ...

Read more

The Hip Girl’s Guide to Homemaking

The Hip Girl’s Guide to Homemaking HarperCollins (2011) With The Hip Girl’s Guide to Homemaking, it’s possible and even convenient to create an inviting space for living a...

Read more
Kate Payne is a grant writer, creative writing instructor, food and preservation educator, part-time nanny, after-hours poet, occasional painter, big-time procrastinator, tea, toast, and jam obsessed Austinite; and former Brooklynite.The creator of the Hip Girl’s Guide to Homemaking website, she is an expert on thrift stores, flea markets, and Craigslist, and a frequent consultant for design, decorating, cooking, and crafting sites.Find out about booking Kate as a speaker in 2013
What readers and fans are saying:

More MacGyver than Martha, Kate makes frugality both rewarding and empowering. Living well with less is something to be proud of!
– Autumn from Brooklyn, NY

It’s totally Kate’s “fault” I got into this! I always thought canning was so daunting, plus I couldn’t imagine how much fruit / veggies I’d have to buy to make anything. As a full-time working mother of 2, my time and money are hard to come by, so small-batch canning is right up my alley! Thanks, Kate!
– Jannine from Bainbridge Island, WA

Kate’s book and blog have absolutely changed my home–and more importantly my attitude towards it. Her suggestions and ideas have inspired me to make my house into a home I love to be in.
– Jenn from Pasadena, CA