Unsure of store hours? Allow me to explain....

Have you stopped by the store lately only to see the lights off and the place looking empty?  Well.... there's a perfectly good explanation for that!  The lights have been off and the place has been empty!  Not really!!  Allow me to give you a picture explanation of my life over the last month....

Grabbed a ziplock project bag from the stash and finished up / made these...

Worked mostly from memory on these, using techniques I'd seen before.  How's that for vague?   I did look around though, and found tutorials for two different zippered pouches (here and here) over at Skip To My Lou's blog.   I added an extra step at the end too -- boxing the corners so that the pouches would be able to stand up by themselves if needed.  Just think it gives the look that extra "I cared enough to do my very best" look.

Wished I had seen this one first though -- love it even more than the ones I made.  

That extra punch that the pleats give...  So cute!  

After I crossed another "finished" project off my list, but before I could grab another to do, I found myself in desperate need of  this:  

I swear, the older I get the easier I get sick!  

Think the guy over on the next block had a case of the sniffles and I caught it!   

Praise the Lord, was able to get that under control in time to head out on an unexpected vacation here..

We spent two days with Oldest Son and his family.   

Daughter-in-law's family lives in LA, and 

we were able to drive over to spend some time 

with everyone.  

Highlights included:  

You gotta see this place!  

There was fabric and trim and thread everywhere!   It was amazing.   

A fabric hoarder's dream come true.  

After that, we were treated to lunch here:  

Totally on my bucket list!   

Guess what I had!  

Yep... a plain ole' hot dog with ketchup, mustard, 

chopped onions and relish --- onion rings on the side!  Worth every single calorie for sure!

Saw this from a distance

Which was also on my bucket list... 

Los Angeles -- what a place! 

And I'd do it again in a minute to spend just one second with these cuties....

In the midst of all of the above, Husband and I received job offer letters from this place!

We leave a week from Sunday for two weeks of training in Dallas.  We are very excited about this opportunity -- been a long time since I was active in the work force so will be a huge change for me.  Husband will slide right into his new responsibilities easily so am hoping to ride along on his coat tails!

Needless to say, that's why you've seen this whenever you've come to 33rd and Broadway recently! 

 We are heading into another crazy month, what with being gone 

to Dallas for two weeks, then having a week to move to our 

new location / job.  Wish us luck -- and I'll do my best to have 

SOMETHING fun and exciting 

on the shelves should you find time to stop by!  

If you want, I'll show you my menu from Pink's too!  

Holiday Fantasies Department -- Main Lobby. Special on Valentine's Day Garland.

I'm stealing this Pinterest idea from my younger sister Kelly's blog post (her blog is called Restitch Me) who, in turn, got the idea from  this blog.    And yes, this will qualify as my Pinterest project for this week even though it was not my original "pin"!  I was just reading a daily devotional entry about the verse in Ecclesiastes 1:9 that says "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun."   Guess that's the case here!

Please don't judge me for the pop tart package in the background!
Am taking this pile of hearts cut out from the latest Martha Stewart magazine

and have made it into one of these!

Very simple project for today, but that's okay!   Have just finished up two huge projects (huge in that they were a little bit out of my own comfort zone) and am happy to have something simple, silly and fun to think about doing!   I posted my "squatty tote bag" yesterday, and am guest posting over at Restitch Me with the big cushion project!   Check it out!  

This garland was to be sent to college to Youngest Son's girl -- in hopes of bringing a little bit of Valentine's cheer to her dorm room.   As of yesterday morning, the Valentine's Banquet being held at the college was a "no go" for Caleb and Brook  this year.   Both of them are working hard at their various jobs to keep that school bill paid up, and that doesn't always leave much money left over for date activities.   And that's totally okay!!!!!   God knows and sees exactly what they need and what lessons there are that need to be taught in any given situation.   I'm proud to say that they both have had very good attitudes when it became clear that the banquet would go on without their presence this year.

Fast forward to the afternoon hours just before work shifts were to begin.  Walking to the parking lot,  Caleb noticed an envelope tucked under the windshield wiper of his car.   Printed on the outside was this message -- "Here are two tickets for the Valentine's Banquet.  Take Brook and have a great time!"   Signed, A Friend.

Happy dance!   Shouting "glory" and jumping for joy!  When God blesses in such a fashion, how can we possibly doubt His love for us?  He not only cares about the things that we NEED, He is constantly watching to see where and when He can bless us with "the desires of our heart."    It reminds me of that song "I stand amazed."    Husband, Caleb, Brook and I all stand amazed!   But seriously, isn't that just like God....

A completed Valentine's Day garland?   Why, that's just icing on the cake!  

Check the Main Lobby, Bag 'n Baggage Department for Bible Tote Bags

My first order!   From my BFF Chrissy -- she needs a tote bag to carry her HUGE new Bible in!   I have one just like it so am able to give you a peak at it's size!   Price we both are paying for getting older!

Obviously the first step for me was to find a tote bag tutorial that I could fall in love with!   Done and done!  Check out this tutorial for a Squatty Tote Bag from The Crafty CPA.   I love the "squattiness" of the bag and thought it would work out perfect for this project!   Boy was I RIGHT!!!!   When you finish reading here, check out Megan's blog -- I'm having a blast looking at all the wonderful projects / ideas!   She's doing some awesome things with polymer clay!  

Back to the tote bag -- Fashion Coordinator Daughter and I picked these fabrics out of my stash -- the leopard print is every where these days so that was a must.   Wanted a cream fabric for the outside so we could embellish with paint but, at first glance didn't have anything that would fit the bill.   Brain storm!   Why not use the cream colored 1/2 yard of pinwale corduroy for it and just turn the fabric inside out?   Yippee!!!

Tutorial -- check!   Fabrics -- check!   Embellishment ideas?   Beth searched Pinterest for a "slogan" that would fit Chrissy perfectly!   No problem -- "embrace messy hair."   That was so easy as it has Chrissy's personality all over it!    Next step was to grab the Cricut machine and cut out the stencils.

Went to work with my bottle of black craft paint and my small stencil brush.

Be prepared to be very scared!   

This picture is NASTY but wanted to show you finished product.  Don't you just LOVE
 the beads that Daughter found in the stash to put on here and there?

She really is underpaid here at 33rd and Broadway! 

On to the sewing part!   Following the tutorial was a breeze!  I used her measurements exactly when cutting out the pieces.  Bought the hardware she suggested for the handles too.   I opted out of the piping this time -- would definitely suggest using it on another bag though.  Megan had instructions within her tutorial for making your own piping and they looked equally fantastic and easy to follow.  

I did deviate from the tutorial in a couple areas -- I put some pockets on the inside as I know Chrissy doesn't usually carry her purse with her to church and Bible Study.   I loosely followed the instructions from this tutorial found at Hooked on Needles blog.  I don't think I can explain my thought process clearly but will give it a shot.  Using the pattern for one of the lining "walls" I cut it down 4 inches SHORTER and made another two wall pieces.   Sewing those two pieces together at the top -- right sides together -- I turned it wrong sides together and pressed at the top.  This obviously was done to cover up the raw edges and to "line" the pockets themselves.  Pinned the pocket pieces to the wall piece along the bottom edges, and then decided where I wanted my pockets to go.  I choose two SLIM pockets in the middle for pens as I know Chrissy NEVER has a pen with her -- and then two larger outside pockets for her mints, keys and cell phone.

The other step that I added was putting purse magnets on either end of the tote bag up at the top.   The fabric wasn't all that stiff and I wanted to give a little bit of structure to the bag itself.   Hind sight, I would probably have used an iron-on interfacing -- medium to heavy -- to give it more stability, along with the magnets.

The rest of the bag construction was simple.  Here is a picture of the finished product.  

I just love it -- there's plenty of room for Chrissy's Bible to lay flat on the bottom, and the pockets will provide room for her mints, pens, keys and cell phone.    I know for a fact that this tutorial will be one I come back to time and time again!

Let me quickly say a couple things about Chrissy.  She has an amazing website here and her facebook page is here.   Both of these sites are devoted to an amazing book she has written 

"When I Fall Please Grab My Hand."  

It's a devotional book that is out of this world.  I have a autographed copy of it that sits right on my night stand next to my Bible.  I guarantee that the Lord will speak to you through the daily observations Chrissy makes while just living life.   It's down to earth and easy to read.  Knowing Chrissy for all these years, I can testify of her strong love for Jesus, and for people!   But don't take my word for it -- stroll through her website and facebook page and see for yourself!  

Okay!  Just phoned from the Customer Service Desk 

here to check on status.  The shipping room needs to put a mailing label on the "squatty Bible tote bag" box, then it's on it's way to sunny Florida!   Check it out -- who doesn't want to go to church in style!  

Attention boys and girls! Buzz & Woody pillows available! Young World Department on the 2nd floor!

Remember the Pinterest challenge I made for myself -- using one of my pinned ideas per week?  That's where we find ourselves today.  I want to try and make one of these 

Out of this fabric found at the SAS Fabric Super Store  

Commercial break here:  Fashion Consultant Daughter and I discovered this AMAZING place -- SAS Fabrics Super Store --  right here in Phoenix.   Fabric for our body pillow was purchased for around $7.00 for the piece you see here.  They had several other choices but Sawyer is definitely a Toy Story man!  When you visit SAS, be prepared to spend some time and you must be ready to DIG!  SAS Fabrics Super Store -- a must see if you are a seamstress and live in the Phoenix area!

We now return you to our regularly scheduled program!   

Remember this is me with the "no pattern" phobia!  Well, I'm fixin' to try and make this little project from the picture.  If you aren't as adventuresome as I am, check out Great Little Trading Company.  They offer "ready beds"  here on their website.   

The hoarder in me didn't want any unnecessary expenditures on this project.  That said, asked Fashion Coordinator Daughter to raid her bedding stash.  She was able to come up with 3 extra pillows.  I decided to run the pillows long ways instead of how they appear in the store bought version.  With that in mind, the fabric needed to be cut down into a narrower strip.  After measuring  a current pillow case I decided on the width measurement of 42 inches.   It took a little positioning to capture as much of the Woody and Buzz picture as possible.   After sewing the main long seam, here's what I ended up with -- a tube of fabric with a seam down the middle of the back.  

I then sewed across one end of the "tube" of fabric, closing it off.   

Pillow #1 was inserted at the top, followed by a row of stitching.  Pillow #2 inserted -- row of stitching.  Pillow #3 was last and then I closed up the end with... you guessed it -- a row of stitching!    VERY simple really -- and Sawyer and I loved the end result!  

All three pillows are completely enclosed.   The fabric and the pillows are all machine washable.   I suppose you could put zippers in each "compartment" though, allowing you to remove them as they needed washing.  Just a thought!  

My model was distracted here -- by Toy Story 3!  

Another satisfied customer!  

And if you've not had enough of my luscious grandkids... here's two more! 

Please stop by Customer Service and let me know if you see a Buzz Lightyear body pillow in your future!  

Attention Associates! Clean up in Fabric Department, 5th floor!

I just keep moving the piles around and it's beginning to get on my nerves!   So today I'm taking my free time and getting some things either taken care of, put away OR thrown away!   All the while I'm itching to get started on another project!   Have several in mind!  

With the few things that I have accomplished over the last couple weeks, I find myself with lots of smaller pieces of fabric.   I hate to throw things away -- the hoarder in me for sure!   I have two boxes next to my stash -- inside each of them are fabric strips cut into either 1 1/2 inches or 3 inches widths.  I have been cutting them out for some time now.  Eventually I want to have enough to make a rag rug for my kitchen (1 1/2 inch strips), and then wanted to try one of those stitch and flip quilts (3 inch strips)  my sister Kelly has blogged about over at Restitch Me.   Though I don't have near enough fabric strips to begin either project at this time, I'm trying to be diligent in cutting up leftover fabric swatches to add to my stash until I do!   If I have piqued your curiosity at all, you can find the tutorial for the rag rug here at the Marie-Madeline Studio blog.   

 And then Kelly's stitch and flip quilt post can be found here.

As I was cleaning up my area and cutting out fabric strips, I did something else.  I honestly can't remember doing this before, though I'm sure that I have.  I threw away a project that I'd started long ago.   It was a purse pattern I'd purchased somewhere along the line.  After the garbage bag was taken to the curb, I left the pattern itself out to study -- to ponder -- to see if I even wanted to keep that.  Am so glad I took some extra time!  It would be adorable made up a little bit smaller -- small enough for a  little one to  carry her precious treasures around in.  A VERY cute use of this pattern!  I am so glad I took the time to think outside the box a little bit here.   I won't put this project into the "waste of time" category by any means -- it will be exciting to search out some fabric to fit the current vision.  And I won't carry around the guilt of things not working out the first time I tried either!  There are to many other projects calling out my name.  Now I'm not one to waste supplies either -- that's not good stewardship at all!  But I want to be working on things that I love these days -- things that bring me joy as I'm creating.  Life is way to short!  

Though I've not given you lots of eye candy to show today, it sure does feel good to get some "stuff" done!  Please take a glance at my two "projects in the making!"  A GREAT way to use up those scraps of fabric that are always left at the end of a project!  That clears the path for new inspiration and new projects!  Just wait until you see what Fashion Consultant Daughter and I've got in the making!  

Street Floor Cosmetics Department: Check out the new make-up bags!

I'm in love with Pinterest -- along with the rest of the world.   But I've already collected a stash of fabric, 7 books from the library that must be read within the next couple weeks else I'll have to pay overdue fines for them, and enough food recipe choices to last till the Rapture!  Seems like such a waste to collect pictures as well, so thought I'd try using one of the tutorials that I've pinned.  

With that said I consulted with Daughter, our resident Fashion Consultant here at 33rd and Broadway, and she helped me pick out fabrics.  This is the outcome of that conversation --

Am taking that stack of coordinating fabrics and turning them, Lord willing, into these! 

My inspiration came from this cute bag on Pinterest.  I was able to follow the picture back to this blog and this tutorial posted on August 23, 2011 by Melissa.  Isn't it adorable?   I needed three little gifts and this is going to fit the bill perfectly!  

I worked with an assembly line mentality for the first few steps.  As I said, I'm using zippers and fabric that I already had in the stash pile.  Because each bag will require a different shade of thread once the actual sewing begins, will proceed from there one bag at a time.  

Got my 13 x 7 1/2 pieces cut out and interfaced all before beginning to sew.

Okay... that is the cheesiest picture ever!  My photography skills obviously leave much to be desired!  

Now was the time to thread the bobbin and begin on #1.  Be sure to refer back to her Cosmetic Bag tutorial as she instructed!   I did NOT and ended up ripping out my very first seam!  

Here are pics of my end products!  What do you think?  

and 

This was a great tutorial in my opinion!  Once I got the hang of it I was able to make one up easily within minutes of Melissa's estimated time frame!  Follow the steps very closely and I think you will be VERY happy with the INSIDE as well as the outside of the bag!  Note that you use both the lining and the outside fabrics together to make the box bottom.  I was so pleased with the way it finished things off so neatly inside!  

The little time that I spent on Melissa's blog  Sew Like My Mom convinced me that I need to revisit her often!  I bookmarked her August 11, 2011 post -- an applique tutorial.  I LOVE to applique but am HORRIBLE at it!  Look forward to improving my skills because of Melissa's informative post!  Check out her January 6th post -- a challenge to all of us to be working on making at least one Christmas gift per month.  This project has my name on it for sure! Take a look -- see if you can't find something worth it's weight in gold!   This make-up bag tutorial is one that I know I'll be using often!   Please note that Melissa has requested (on her side bar) that her tutorials be used for personal use only.  Unless you receive permission otherwise (her side bar also contains her email information should you need to contact her), respecting her request is just the right thing to do! 

If you find something I can't live without, by all means don't forget to stop by the Customer Service Desk and let me hear about it!  

Book Bags? Take elevator to 1st Floor and look for Bag'n Baggage Department

Youngest son returns to college on Friday -- to work as a sandwich artist at Subway; to a new set of 2nd semester classes; and to his girlfriend -- not necessarily listed in order of his priorities!  They decided to exchange some small gifts for Christmas upon their return to college and I'm in charge of making one of them.  Thought I would share Wednesday's project with you as well.   Did you get that:  Wednesday's project -- leaving on Friday --- just another glimpse into my character there for you all!

Not sure when I found this website -- Sutton Grace -- but discovered one of her many fun projects was this tote bag.   Thought this tutorial would make a great book bag.  What girl doesn't want to look fabulous carrying her college books around?  

As a side note here I wanted to introduce you to another one of 33rd and Broadway's personnel.   Let's give her the title of Fashion Consultant!   Daughter was born with my sister Kelly's eye for color -- not sure how that all happened but it did!   Am fortunate to have her expertise and help with projects!   Fabric choices for this bag were totally her doing.   

Without downloading the entire tutorial here for you, let me talk you through some of the steps as I made the book bag.   We started out by obviously raiding my fabric stash.   Daughter Fashion Consultant  came up with three choices instead of two.   We made the front pocket a different fabric than the main bag itself.    

The second change that I made was in the handles themselves.  I didn't have any cotton webbing so decided to make my own using the same fabric we had picked out for the front pocket.  I like the looks of it but wished I'd made them a little bit wider.   I will make note of that on the tutorial for the next time.  Think I would make them 2 inches wide.  Should I purchase some cotton webbing would try and get it at least 1 1/2 inches wide.  

Another mistake I made was in placing my monogrammed letter to low on the front pocket.  I should have measured better and the placement would be much more pleasing to the eye.  Hind sight for sure!

The tutorial was amazing -- so easy to follow and very detailed.   I loved how she instructed me to sew the strap to the trim at the top of the bag last.  It looks very neat and tidy that way.  

Here's a picture of the finished project!   

When I say "finished project" here please know that I am aware of the fact that I've have not yet sewn the lining opening shut!   That will be done before this beauty gets on the plane bound for Knoxville!  

I just can't say enough about the tutorial over at Sutton Grace.   I already have three more book bags in the planning stages -- two for grand kids and one out of a brown and tan checked wool.   Just love how easily this tote went together and that encourages me to come back to the pattern time and time again!  

Apart from the great fabric choices made, I wanted to share one more good suggestion that came from my sister Kelly over at Restitch Me.   I didn't have interfacing that I thought would give good stability to the suede fabric for the outside of the tote.   She had me dig into my stash for some denim fabric and use that in between layers instead of going out to purchase more interfacing!   Awesome tip!  I was able to use something I already had -- didn't matter what it looked like as it was sandwiched in between outside of the bag and the lining itself!   

That's it for today!   Be sure to leave your comments and tell me what you think!  

Have three cosmetic bags to make before the plane takes off and then I'll be on to something else.   Hope you will take the time to run over to both blogs Sutton Grace and Restitch Me.  It will be well worth your time!