V-Stitch Drawstring Bag

Hi!!

A few weeks ago, I promised a couple of patterns for the little gift bags that I made as gifts for the boys' teachers.

Well, here's the first one, it doesn't have a fancy name, I just call it the V-Stitch Drawstring Bag.

V-Stitch Drawstring Bag

It can be made with any yarn, any size hook, and in any size you want.  It works up quickly, so I've even been able to make it in an evening for an event the next day!

I hope you enjoy this little project!  Please let me know what you think!!

♡P.S.  If you would rather order one, please feel free to email me (or through IG @littlebeachbird ).  The price is $13 shipped (for the bag only, contents not included).♡

**Disclaimer:  I'm not a professional pattern-writer-upper (yep, technical term), so it may not be a perfect pattern.  If you find a mistake, or have a question, please let me know in the comments.  I appreciate all feedback!!**

Feelin' Kinda Christmas-y

I know, I know, it's only April, but I am feeling mighty Christmas-y right now. 

You see that little candle in the photo above?  It's one from my mom's collection of all things scented, and it smells exactly like a Christmas tree!

I have had the pleasure of sitting next to it all morning, smelling it's rich fragrance (it's not even lit, and I can smell it!).  It's put me in a kind of Christmas spirit, ready to bake cookies and decorate the tree.

It has given me an idea, though, to get to work on some handmade Christmas gifts.

Up until I got married, I would have Christmas gifts bought way on back in October.  I'm not one who really enjoys the Christmas rush.  I like the idea of going out and shopping for loved ones, surrounded by throngs of others doing the same.  I like the brisk, chilly walk into the stores, hearing Christmas music playing over the speakers, and smelling the scents of the season.  

But that's it.  I like the idea.

What I really want to do is have a completely handmade Christmas (well, for extended family, that is, my kids may not enjoy a pair of handmade mittens or socks).  I always wait until the last minute now, so handmade is often out of the question.

I have the time now, so I think I'll get on it!

Just a Wednesday Update

Random photo of a tree
and the moon

Hi!!!

Don't worry!!  I haven't forgotten about you!

I have to be honest...  I've been trying to figure out how to embed a pdf into a blog post so I can share the patterns for the bags! 

It hasn't gone well.  I need my computer, but it decided it needed to update.  Not only did it update, but the battery died, and then it took all day to update!

I'm going to figure this out (or have another tutorial) by the end of the week, so Sunday you should have something!

Thanks for sticking with me!!  See ya Sunday!

Gardening In My Future

Is this not the cutest little strawberry you've ever seen?

I love gardening!  It's too bad that I'm so terrible at it.  I have the hardest time keeping plants alive and having them produce anything. 

One thing that I've had great luck with is my roses.  They were my pets for so long.  Every March 10, I would go out and cut them down.  When they grew back they looked stunning!  When the blooms died I would cut them off and more would bloom!  Awesome!

I am going to spend 2015 studying container gardening so that I can have a successful gardening haul.  I have a spot in my little yard already picked out.  I can't wait to get started!!

Do you have any recommendations or tips for me?  I welcome any advice you can give!

Lady Grumps-A-Lot

I have days where I feel like I could crawl out of my skin.  I'm antsy, grumpy, easily irritated.  Normally on those types of days, I will eat massive amounts of chocolate or fast food.

Ever have those kinds of days? 

What do you do to get over those days?  I mean, I know they'll go away, eventually, but what kind of stress relievers work for you?

Since I like to make lists, I thought I'd make a small list of the things I do to relieve stress. 

1.  Pray.  I have a devotional that I adore, so I will break out that, my bible, and a couple of devotional apps that I have, to see what God is telling me.

2.  Run.  Yep.  Running does wonders for me.  I can put in my headphones, step away from the problem, and turn off my thoughts.  Awesome!

3.  Yoga.  Another great stress reliever.  I also feel better physically after about 15-30 minutes.  I focus on what my body is doing more than the issue at hand.

4.  Journaling.  This one isn't done as often as the others, but it can work.  It helps to focus my mind on what's bothering me, in order to find a solution.

5.  Nap.  A nap every now and then is so good!  I used to be a serious nap-taker, but I have gotten out of that routine, and now I only take one occasionally.  Most of the time it's on the weekend.

How do you relax?  I'd love to hear your methods!

The Honest Truth

Last year I took up yoga on a challenge from an IG friend.  Aside from running, yoga is the bees knees, man!  I feel so great when I'm on the mat!

In the past six months or so I haven't done much in the way of yoga (or running, for that matter), and I can tell a huge difference in how I felt before and how I feel now.

I also put on a little weight (yes, that is important to me).  I felt great when I had lost some weight last year, and I want to feel that again.

Enter the yoga challenge.  It is what got me started last year, it is what will get me back this year!!

I am going to be quite frank:  I love/hate the picture above. 

I love the picture because it signifies a new beginning in my fitness journey.  In light of recent unexpected events and some expected upcoming events, I am making a personal goal to go healthy!

I hate the photo because I struggle with my self image.  I constantly compare myself to the other yogis on IG, thinking I'm not flexible enough, or that my body doesn't look like that.

Well, I honestly think that's something that I will always struggle with.  It's also something that I want to put behind me.  I am going to pursue being fit, and then maybe, just maybe, I will come to terms with my self esteem.

The point to this post?  I don't think there is one.  I think that I posted a photo of myself on social media that honestly made me uncomfortable, and I wanted to address it in more than a little blurb.

I did keep the photo on IG, though.  I am me.  I can't hide from it, so I'm just gonna be honest about me and embrace me.

Thank You Treat Bags

Let me just say that junk food is my love language.  You want to know the way to my heart?  Gummy bears or ice cream or valentine's candy, or just anything sweet (popcorn is a pretty safe bet, also).

Recently, I put together some thank you goodie bags for a special group of people, and, seeing as I don't bake, I made a little bag of sweets (with a little salty).

I love making goodie bags as thank you gifts, they are so easily customizable!  They are my go-to for teacher gifts, especially, with some of their favorite foods and supplies.

I thought that I had written up a couple of posts about various gift bags that I'd put together, but I guess I haven't! 

In light of the end of the school year, and teacher appreciation week, I'll put together a series of posts with the different bags that I put together in the past, along with a tutorial for a couple of the bags!

What are some things you add to goodie bags, or that you like to see in them?

Happy Easter

HI!!

I just stopped by to say that I hope you and your family have a very Happy Easter!

God bless!!

Shop Name Change

A week or so ago, I confessed that I hit a wall.  I couldn't will my yarn to make pretty things, and the yarn couldn't inspire me to make.

Something happened on the way to pick up the boys.  The little voice in my head said that I needed to re-brand.

Over the past year or so, I have had a couple of different names for my Etsy shop, but none felt right.  Nothing I put in the shop felt right.  I knew that I could crochet hats and blankets, so I whipped up a couple and stuck them in the shop.  I honestly didn't put much thought into what I was doing.

I knew in my heart that I needed to go somewhere else with it.  I wanted a new name, I needed to believe more in my product, maybe to have more products, not just the hats (which I am keeping in the shop, btw, because they are such super little hats).

A couple of things will/have change[d].

The first to change is the name.  The new name is Beach Bird Yarnworks.  I have big ol' heart eyes for the name!  I'm so in love with it! 

Next will be a couple of new items that I've been toying with, as well as weeding out some of the items that I'm just not feeling anymore, or are seasonal.

My slump is over!  I'm just glad this dry spell didn't take too long.  I was feeling very crazy and a little guilty that I couldn't come up with anything!

I'll keep you posted on any more changes!