Selene Builds Things

10/14/2026

I hired my first (human) employee and it is none other than my best friend and partner in life. Please welcome Devin to !
If you’ve been following along then this will not come as a surprise. This has been in the works for what seems like years now. I quit my job two years ago and ever since then, I’ve been trying to convince Devin to quit his too and join me so we could work together and be free to travel the world and work anywhere. It took some convincing and a bet to prove that my little business could not only support me but both of us.
Are we taking a chance? Yes.
Is it without risk? Of course not.
Will it be worth it? We definitely think so!
What’s next? Follow along as we take this show on the road! Next stop: California.

10/11/2026

How to Make a No-Sew Fleece Blanket (3 Easy Ways)

Three ways to tie a no-sew fleece blanket, plus exactly how much fleece to buy for five sizes, from a lovey to a twin....

Make a no-sew fleece blanket three ways: slit and pull through, balloon tie, and double knot. Plus how much fleece to buy for five sizes, from lovey to twin.

10/10/2026

It’s official! We’re digital nomads. We sold our house and most of what we own so we can be free to live anywhere we want! New York is our first stop. We’re moving in with my brother-in-law for a few months to save money, spend time with family and do a few projects. Where will we head next? Wherever the wind blows us.

10/09/2026

The Fees Nobody Mentions When You Buy an Akiya in Japan

On a ¥1,000,000 akiya, the fees can run to 54% of the purchase price. Here is every cost nobody mentions, what it runs, and when it lands on your doormat....

Agent commission, acquisition tax, scrivener fees and more. The real cost of buying an akiya in Japan, and why fees hit 54% on a ¥1,000,000 house.

10/04/2026

Would you stay here???
I think I’ll be booking the rooms from now on. 😆

10/02/2026

I think I’ll be booking the room next time. If you don’t hear from me tomorrow, send help.

09/27/2026

Want the full tutorial and all the tools I used for this project? You can find them here: https://selenebuildsthings.com/2025/03/29/diy-guide-removing-and-refinishing-thermofoil-kitchen-cabinets/

09/26/2026

The 3 out of 10 didn’t phase me, I knew it was a bold design choice.

I loved my hand painted wallpaper and that brick wall. I’d put it in again tomorrow in a house I was staying in. But Damien (my realtor/brother) wasn’t scoring what I liked. He was scoring what a buyer would pay for, and those are two different questions.

My tool room is the one that stings because it’s my favorite room in the house. And I had to take it down. We opened it up to make a small bedroom feel bigger, and it worked. It also left a bedroom without a closet, which buyers would not want and i knew that going in. I did it anyway. I need our house to work for us and our needs, not some hypothetical buyer and some unknown point in the future.

He explains every single score in the full interview on YouTube. Comment SCORE and I’ll send it to you.

09/26/2026

How to Build a DIY Halloween Graveyard Fence from PVC Pipe

Build a DIY Halloween graveyard fence from PVC pipe and 1x2 boards. Six 8 foot panels, exact picket heights and spacing, and a zero waste cut plan....

Build a DIY Halloween graveyard fence from PVC pipe and 1x2 boards. Six 8 foot panels, exact picket heights and spacing, and a zero waste cut plan.