Samplers? Try either the Art Needlework Department on the Fifth Floor or Home Accessories on the 7th

If someone were to ask me what my decorating style is, I'd be hard pressed to really describe it to them, especially in ten words or less.  I like the looks of some shabby chic items, stay totally away from anything modern, and would probably shoot myself if I constantly had to look in a mirror that was surrounded by sea shells!   Now if those items float your boat, I say a hardy "yippee!"  I'm all about surrounding ourselves with the things that bring a smile to our face!  If I have to clean that toilet, please let me be surrounded by pretty nic nacs while I'm doing it!  The easiest way I could get you to understand the things that I like would  be to show you ANY copy of a Country Sampler magazine because that pretty much sums it up!  

I'd probably also show you recent posts from any of my "country" blogs that I follow.

The Sampler Girl is one of my favorites, 

along with Primitive Bettys.

I visit AND revisit these  two blogs often!   Apart from drooling over the stitching projects these ladies are constantly featuring, I can't wait to scan through all the FREE charts that they offer all the time to their readers.  

THAT'S what I've been doing this weekend... finishing up a couple LONG AGO started stitching projects.  I love them for several reasons.  I can work on them while watching a movie with Husband and still feel like I'm giving him and the movie my full attention, not to mention they are easily taken up and put back down at a moment's notice when Sawyer needs to show MiMi  something!   But mostly I love the possibilities offered in each project.   These little beauties can be put anywhere -- in any kind of form!  I can wade through piles of discarded frames at Good Will looking for the perfect one to house the finished stitching, or I can wander through aisles of fabric looking for the perfect piece use to turn my completed project into another pin keep!

   I've even seen them "glued" on one of those rounded paper mache hat boxes -- and it was really cute!  

The stitching I just finished up is this -- titled "BOO Jack" on Primitive Betty's blog.   

It's one of three that I think I will turn into pin keeps using the homespun you see in the background.  And you don't have to say it!  I know -- another fall project!  Really?  But don't I get points for actually finishing up something from the stash?  

You simply must scoot over there and check out her blog!   (And don't forget about The Sampler Girl's blog either!)  After you scroll through the luscious projects Primitive Betty currently has going, focus in on her sideboard to the left!  Click on that photo to view her free stitching charts and be prepared to be amazed!   I can't find many that I would NOT want to do!  Her "Valentine freebie" has currently taken up residence on a shelf next to our bed!   LOVE it!  

Note that this Good Will frame has the paint treatment on it from this tutorial over at the The Pickled Pepper Patch blog.   Another favorite blog with tutorials that I'll use over and over again!   Again, I know -- the picture IS nasty, but I wanted you to get the idea -- not to mention I'm almost late for church!  

Why take the time for such projects you ask?  I don't know -- I've always loved the looks of stitched pictures for some reason.  As a child, we had four pictures -- one tree showing each different season.  Very cool!  I guess these projects display that handmade touch -- the time and the pride poured into each stitch.  The samplers of long ago maybe?  To be honest, I never thought anyone noticed them much around the house... until just a couple weeks ago.  Youngest Son was preaching for the teenagers at our church.   Within his scripture references, Bible principles and personal illustrations he used this quote "The smallest deed is better than the grandest intention."   He'd been starring at that in our front bathroom back in Melbourne, Florida for years.  Guess somewhere along the line it grabbed his attention and stuck!  If he thinks about it and begins to incorporate that principle into his life, that'll make all those "stitches" well worth my time!   Don't you think?  

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!  

Decorations that scream Fall? Find what you need on the 7th floor...

It's the weekend;  Youngest Son got on the airplane Friday and headed for Knoxville.   He's already back at college, totally unpacked and set up in his dorm room once again.  Has seen Girlfriend again and hooked up with his friends.   Put in 5 hours as a "sandwich artist" and was headed off to the Russian church this afternoon.  It'll be as much as four months until we see him again, and I'll hear his voice on his answering machine more than I'd like to, but I'm happy to know he's where God wants him to be.  When I get homesick for him, I will look at this...

Graduation picture.  Sigh...   All that said, I didn't feel much like sewing this weekend!  

When I first started this blog my sister Kelly (if you haven't already you simply MUST take some time and skip over to her blog -- you won't believe what can be done with a couple of old t-shirts!)  and I talked about posting content.   I laughed because I didn't think that would be a problem for me!   Remember my fabric stash?  There is another pile right next to it -- very similar in size!   This second consists of all kinds of unfinished projects!   Doesn't speak to highly of my short attention span, does it?

Enter this little FALL project!   Yes, you read that right!  Char over at The Pickled Pepper Patch posted this fall project back August 3, 2009.   These cute sunflowers are probably displayed best when the air is turning crisp, the smell of cinnamon is every where, and the wonderful colors of rust, mustard yellow and Christmas tree green are beginning to pop up all over our homes!    I realize that  we are right in the middle of the winter months,  and that spring seems an eternity away, let alone the fall season!  But you have to check this out!  

http://charsethman.blogspot.com/2009/08/tutorial-tuesday.html  is the link for the entire tutorial.  

I grabbed my supplies and worked on this project some when we first got to Phoenix.  Because of a lackof proper planning I caught a snag when I got to the last step!   NO green homespun in the bag that contained the rest of the supplies!  Result -- entire UNFINISHED project went right back to the pile!   Then last week, as Fashion Coordinator Daughter and I were choosing fabrics for the book bag (see earlier post because it really did turn out cute!) I found the perfect piece of green!   I grabbed my rusty bed spring sunflowers and went to town!    

Here's the end product!

Mine are not quite as dark as Char's -- I didn't use quite as much of the coffee stain, and I didn't add any  cinnamon in the mixture.   Am very pleased with the way they turned out though!  Just looking at them makes me smell my favorite Apple Cinnamon candle burning somewhere!  

If you are wondering about the rusty bed springs, have no fear!   Though I can't remember where I originally bought mine, I just googled "rusty bed springs -- etsy" and had several choices right at my fingertips!   Don't let that supply list item scare you off from trying this easy project!  

Check out the other projects listed on Char's blog when you have several minutes!   I know I've book marked more than one from there!    I've already used the basis for this make-over project several times -- the paint technique that is.   It turned a plain wooden bowl found at Good Will  into a fantastic show piece!    Tried the paint treatment, threw in some jingle bells and covered them with the ornies I got from this site -- the patterns for which were FREE!    Gotta love free!  

See what you can create from either The Pickled Pepper Patch or from Annies Cupboards that fits your personality and decorating style just perfect!   If you are lucky, you won't have to wait until fall to admire your finished projects!   But when you are done, be sure to stop back by the Customer Service Desk and let us know what you created!  

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!  

Cooking Demonstration: Kitty's Orange Cake -- 8th Floor Housewares

Loving to read as I do -- and not always having the time -- am enjoying a new found freedom here in Phoenix that allows me more time to dabble in my passion.  I've recently picked up a book written by Joanne Fluke called Key Lime Pie Murder -- the 9th book in her Hannah Swensen Mystery series.   

It resembles closely a Murder She Wrote mystery (one of my favorite television programs).   Hannah owns a shop in Lake Eden, Minnesota -- The Cookie Jar.  What more needs to be said?   An interesting quirk to Fluke's series are the recipes included at the end of some chapters.  Typically Hannah has made up said recipe somewhere throughout that chapter.  Not all are recipes for cookies -- she has a killer breakfast casserole in there that I tried, along with my first stab at popovers.  The casserole was amazing; my second try with the popovers was better than the first!  I noticed the recipe for Kitty's Orange Cake and wanted to try making that today.    

Seriously -- take a look at a couple of the main ingredients!   Who wouldn't want to make a cake out of those!  Rather than type out the recipe for you I ran over to wegottaeat.com  and copied / pasted it here for you.   

INGREDIENTS

1 box yellow cake mix

One package 3 ounces orange Jello (NOT sugar free)

1 cup orange juice

1 tsp. orange extract

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 tsp. orange zest

4 large eggs

1 cup (6 oz. pkg) mini chocolate morsels*

ORANGE FUDGE FROSTING:

2 Tbs. chilled butter

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 tsp. orange extract

2 Tbs. orange juice

DIRECTIONS

1. Grease and flour a Bundt pan.  

2. Dump the cake mix in a large mixing bowl.  Mix in orange Jello powder.  Add the orange juice, orange extract, oil and orange zest.  Mix all ingredients together until they are well blended.

3. Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition.  Beat 2 minutes on medium speed with electric mixer.  Fold in the mini chocolate chips by hand.  Pour the cake batter into the pan and bake for 45 to 55 minutes at 350.

4. Cool on a rack for 20 to 25 minutes.  Loosen the outside edges and middle and tip the cake out of the pan.  Let the cake cool completely on the rack. 

5. Make frosting by putting butter in the bottom of a 2 cup microwave safe bowl.  Add the chocolate chips; heat on HIGH for 60 seconds.

Stir to see if the chips are melted; repeat at 15 second intervals if they aren't.  

6. Add the orange extract and stir in; add the orange juice, tablespoon by tablespoon, stirring after each addition.

7. Pour frosting over the ridge of the cake, letting it run down the sides.  It will be thicker on top.  That's okay.  And if it's not, that's fine too. 

NOTE: *Don't even think of substituting regular chocolate chips for the mini-chips.  Doing so will cause the chips to sink to the bottom of the cake and you'll have a dickens of a time getting the cake out of the pan.

Being that I am who I am I followed the recipe pretty closely.   This is what happens when you give a "lick and a promise" to the "grease and flour a bundt pan" step -- a couple ugly spots on the top when I took it out of the pan after baking and cooling.  

At this stage of the game I did something ELSE that I typically do -- and that's reading a recipe and NOT paying attention to what I've read!   You'll notice that the instructions say to melt the butter and chocolate chips in the microwave!   And then you'll notice that I did NOT --  I did that step on the stove top.  Can't tell you if it made a difference or not, but it seemed to work out okay in spite of my error!  

My finished product!   Though I could have taken more time to make sure the frosting job was nicer -- more even all around -- it did manage to cover up my mistakes in the cake top itself.  

Let me tell you -- the frosting smells amazing!   It reminds me of one of those chocolate oranges that you can get around the holidays -- the chocolate that comes in the form of an orange.  Know the ones I mean?

  

Well, after another amazing dinner prepared by Daughter, we cut into that cake!  It was different than I had imagined -- the frosting was NOT overpowering at all.   Think maybe the orange juice cut the heavy chocolate taste some.  Very nice -- not light but very nice.  

Let me recommend both books and baking recipes to you!   I have thoroughly enjoyed them myself.   Am onto book #2 -- though am reading the series totally out of sequence.   Another thing I'm prone to do!   

Stop by your local library and check out one of Fluke's books -- if you are a Murder She Wrote lover like I am, these are sure to please!  Then take a moment and drop by my desk at Customer Service.  Let me know what you have baked up!   Happy reading AND happy baking!