Beach Bird Eclectics: Now Open

Ok, I know I said that I didn't have any posts for this week, but guys, I'm super excited about my new shop.  I've struggled with my role in the handmade community, and I feel that my new shop hits the nail right on the head!

I collect shells, lots and lots of shells, and I have wondered how to incorporate the abundance of shells into life, and not just keep them stuck in the giant cheese ball bucket. 

Here's the answer!  I am taking the pieces that most people overlook and turning them into very loved pieces! 

God has led my family to such a beautiful place, and provided such beautiful shells, that I feel like I need to share them! 

At the time that this post goes live, I may not have had a chance to change all the blog info regarding the shop, so here's a link to my new page:  Beach Bird Eclectics.

There will still be some crochet and hand-sewn items listed, but I am focusing a great deal on the shells!

There will also be a sale running for the weekend after Thanksgiving!  Starting on Friday, November 27, use code SHOPSMALL2015 for 20% off of your entire order!

I hope you enjoy my creations, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Prep

I have been focusing so much of my energy on prepping for Thanksgiving, and getting the house ready for Christmas decorating!  I'm ready for a vacation!

So much has to be done just so we can put up the tree, not to mention the Thanksgiving grocery shopping, and the normal every day stuff, that I don't have really anything to post this week.  I will see you next week, though, with a couple of new posts!

Until then, I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

New Traditions

Thanksgiving is coming!  Thanksgiving is coming! 

How exciting is that?!  And after that is Christmas!!  I'm getting ahead of myself, though.  First things first. 

In all our years together, Hubby and I have never hosted Thanksgiving dinner, until now!

We're so excited about buying our first turkey and planning how we're going to spend the day.  While the kitchen is emitting delicious aromas (Hopefully.  I am not known for my culinary skills), we will be watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and decorating the tree.

This year's ornaments are going to be home made, or at least most of them.  I have been collecting shells in jars and buckets since we moved, and now I have found the perfect use! 

Some will have glitter, others paint, and still others will stay the way God created them.  I'm going to spend the next week or so washing the shells and amassing the needed recipes and ingredients!

What about you?

What kind of traditions do you have for Thanksgiving?  Do you visit family, or host at home?  Do you decorate for the upcoming holiday season, or do you wait? 

I am so stoked to get our first holiday season in Florida underway!  This is going to be exciting!

It's a Tough One

Thank you, Target, for
the awesome dollar
aisle finds!

Do you guys have people on your Holiday shopping lists that are super hard to buy for?  I do.  I stress and stress about what to get them, or what to make (since I really love giving handmade gifts).

I have a simple idea that I'm going to try out this year.  I'm going to make a list, and for each person that is difficult to buy for, I'm going to list their likes and hobbies.  I'm going to creep Pinterest for ideas from their boards, and hopefully score "best gift giver" this year (yeah, I know it isn't about being the best at it, but it feels pretty great to know you hit a home run with the gift, right?)

What about yourself?  Are you difficult to shop for?  Who said that wish lists are reserved for only the children?  I see no harm in writing out a wish list, so when asked, you can go to that list.  Or you can use it as a way to drop hints.  Just hang it on the fridge ;)

Let's give it a try!  Happy shopping!!

Little One's Hand Wreath

I want to make one to
match my decor
year-round

You know, sometimes I have a hard time putting the stuffs into words.  I am oh so eloquent in my head, but then I put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), and I write and rewrite until I finally give up.

So, here's real me trying to set up a blog post about November being the month of Thanksgiving, a time when one will look around at all they have been blessed with (an awesome family, a home, or even just breath in their lungs), and give thanks.  This isn't going to be a sappy thanks post.  I don't do sappy.  I do more speaking of my mind (which isn't a very sappy mind).

What I wanted to put together, though, is a cute little DIY child's hand wreath.  I am most thankful for my husband and my children, and I want to celebrate them, so here's a little something to do just that.

This DIY takes no time, at all!  

Here's what you need:

Scissors
Construction paper
Pen/pencil
Glue
Round piece of cardboard
Ribbon or burlap

Directions:

♡  Have your sweet cutie trace his/her hand multiple times (enough to make a wreath)
♡  Cut out sweet little traced hands
♡  Glue in a circle around the piece of cardboard.  They can touch in the center, or leave some cardboard showing, it's up to you.
♡  Make a bow out of your desired ribbon.  I found a quick, easy bow tutorial on Pinterest.
♡  Glue blow to cardboard
♡  Attach hanger of some kind
♡  Enjoy your Little's hand wreath!

Christmas Shopping

These Bowties are my absolute
FAVORITE!!

Now that Halloween is over, is it too early to talk about Christmas shopping? 

This is totally a shameless plug for my Etsy shop!  Beach Bird Yarnworks has some awesome Christmas gift ideas!

We have ear warmer/headbands that are super soft and come in any color you can imagine!

Our beanies are awesome for keeping warm on those cold winter days!  They also come in any color, and can be made for guys or girls, with or without a bow or flower!

Have a friend or family member that loves a relaxing bath?  We have just the thing!  Our bath bags come with two cotton wash cloths, two cotton face scrubbies, a headband to keep flyaway hair from getting wet, and a matching drawstring bag to hold all of their bath goodies!

Stop by and check us out!  If we don't have something you want, just ask, chances are it can be done!

Bean Bag Tutorial

If you remember, I made bean bags for the Fall Festival at the boys' school.  Any chance I have to craft something up, I'm going to take it!

Here's the little tutorial on how to make these bean bags, and find a use for those old, worn out jeans in the process!

What You'll Need

■  Old Jeans
■  Scissors
■  Thread
■  Ruler
■  Beans (I used black eyed peas, I'm not sure if there's a better kind, I actually didn't Pinterest this at all!)

How To

■  Lay out Jeans, measure the desired dimensions. (Mine were 3"x3")
■  Cut out
■  Sew together on three sides
■  Add beans.  I actually weighed each of mine to make sure they were identical (I told you in the Fall Festival post that I put way too much thought into it!).
■  Sew closed on 4th side
■  Throw!  I mean, that's the fun part of bean bags, right?

I've seen some with X's and O's embroidered or painted on them for Tic-Tac-Toe.  That looks like a cute idea, but make sure you do that before sewing the beans inside. 

Enjoy!!