My niece Jessie sent me a cute little handmade bag this winter.

  i was so impressed that she knew how to make them

 (although i shouldn't be, she's very creative).

it's lined and has a zipper at the top and 2 pockets. 

 one day i was on pinterest and a tutorial popped up on how to

make the little bags and i got the bug! i decided if she could make them

surely i could figure it out~ and i was off and running.

i had some fabric on hand, but no zippers, so i went shopping and tried making the

first one. i watched the online video and picked a random size to try

for my first attempt. for some reason getting the lining in correctly just

didn't make sense and i sewed and ripped and sewed and ripped about

5 times before i got it figured out. (i really think the video had it

backwards...) anyhooo, when i finally got that first one right i snapped

a few pictures so i wouldn't forget how to do it the

next time. i haven't sewed a zipper in anything for years, but thanks to

good old home economics and my gram, that part came back to me.

here's a view of how they go together~



this is the first one. the guinea pig of bags.

this one bag has now turned into 60 and counting.

:  )

 ************

what girl do you know that doesn't like a new bag for makeup, jewelry or 

misc. items in her purse?

i liked the idea of a metal zipper, but it turned out to be pretty

bulky so i've been using mostly plastic ones since.

i've made many more trips to buy fabric and that part is so fun.

you have to search to find the right combo of fabric that looks good together and 

that i think other girls will like, but now i have a pile of available

fabric choices piled up on a chair. : )

here's a lineup of the first batch

i had the opportunity to sell my bags at a charity event in eden prairie recently.

if you haven't discovered MADISON HOUSE INTERIORS yet, it's a really

fun shop. sarah, the owner/interior designer is funny and very talented.

she's recently started a non profit in the twin cities called

the healing chair.

this organization raises money and buys lift recliners to loan to

women undergoing breast cancer treatment.

i was excited to be a part of her launch and to help raise money

for such a worthwhile cause.

*coming to the event meant you got to eat complimentary bundteenies! yum

anywhooo, if you're in need of a fun little gift for someone special,

i have a whole bunch of my bags on hand.

thanks jessie, for inspiring me to dust off my sewing machine and 

try something new~

 i have soooo much gardening waiting for me outside that

i'd better dust off my rubber garden shoes now and get out there!

xo, beth

 it's april and it's friday and here's what i think. i think orange ranunculus

are the prettiest.

right after soft pink that is.

or maybe white.

or red.

ok, i just love them all. and today orange are getting their 5 minutes of fame.

you did not loose your eyesight. i thought these blurry (bokeh'd out) images were too

pretty to erase. they kind of look like monet paintings maybe?

and... seriously. these ranunculus have been on my table for 3 weeks. actually

over 3 weeks!  & yes, they are loosing their luster, but i love them from beginning

to end and they are still so beautiful to me as they fade and fall to the table.

today is april 8th and we just had a mini snowstorm.

what E V E R~

my girl and her hubby are traveling home from jamaica as i'm writing this

and they don't even care~ they miss their pup who's been

at my house and they're ready to be home.    'eh mon we're back!

i hit up my first garage sale of the year   < : D 

and stopped at a darling baby/kids shop in the

little town of victoria this morning. if you have littles in your life

you should check it out. 

keep it local.

it's called tazzie.

they have so many unique things for children

and moms and i love to see small independent

shops succeed. ( i used to own one myself).

it's my son's girlfriend's birthday today and she 

LOVES her birthday... 

and i just love it when people love their own birthdays!

it says something to me about them and how they

embrace gratitude and joy in their lives, how they aren't afraid to say

"hey i was born on this day and it might be my favorite day of the year.

i'm glad i was born~wanna celebrate with me?"

*other birthday lovers on that list are:

maggie, cindy, sue k.w.

*************

happy birthday sarah.

24 is a real good number.

xo, beth