Travel Brochures for Los Angeles? Check Second Floor, Travel Services

Remember me telling you about our LA Fashion District expedition?  Here's a quick review of exactly what YOU could see if you decide to travel in that direction!  

Our driver and tour guides!

The very first thing I saw upon 

exiting the vehicle...

and it only got better...

thread...

and don't forget the zippers!

Do you see this sign?   A dollar a yard....

or $2.50 PER POUND!!!!

This is an entire front store window showing the different appliques they carry....

You can't see it BUT they had a NY applique like the ones on the baseball hats for the Yankees.  

I would become a Yankee fan just to have one of those appliques!  

We shopped until we dropped.... almost!   This little tour guide.....

insisted we make one more stop here...

for some of this!   

A great idea, don't you think?  

If you stop by Customer Service for some travel advise, 

LA Fashion District -- with a side trip to Pink's -- 

will be on our top ten list for sure!  The only suggestion would be to make sure 

you take enough time to explore the entire district!  We didn't even get into 

the clothes and the shoes and the purses.... 

the fresh flowers and the high tech "stuff".... 

oh, and did I mention the food trucks parked everywhere?

I could easily moonlight as your tour guide!

FAQ at Customer Service: Connection between Ziplock baggies and future projects?

GREAT question!   You will often hear me talking about grabbing another "ziplock project bag" after I've finished with something else.  What constitutes a "ziplock project bag" you ask?  Allow me to explain the method to my madness!  

I was constantly having to look through buckets trying to find the fabric that matched the pattern that matched the zipper that matched the thread that matched the trim...  Guess you get the idea!   So I jumped in with both feet -- brought every single bucket into the living room that contained anything ever purchased at JoAnn Fabrics, Hobby Lobby, Walmart or wherever.   Emptied them all and started to brain storm....  

There had to be a way of getting things in order so I could see what I had to work with.  

First came the initial screening process:  fabric I'd bought "just because I loved it" and fabric I bought "with a specific purpose in mind."   It was easy to organize that pile that had no specific project assigned to it.  Then came the stash that had fabric, buttons, zippers, and any other miscellaneous supplies with it.  How to keep all of that separate?   I'd already taken the time to amass the appropriate thread color, the designated number of buttons needed, and the proper length zipper -- not mention that 3 yards of eyelet lace that was called for during step #26 of the pattern!   It was all there -- but how to KEEP it all there and together -- and not break the bank?

IDEA!!!!

Each project was put into it's own gallon size ziplock bag -- along with any and all supplies needed to finish that project.  And then the ziplock bags were arranged neatly inside the plastic storage buckets.  A perfect solution to my problem -- one that has worked out great for me!  

I love organization -- but not as much as Fashion Coordinator Daughter does!  She was born with the specific "organizational" gene, which she must have inherited from my sister Amy.  Again I ask the question -- where was she when that bill for Daughter's braces was due?   Anyways...  With the new position we are taking at 

we will be moving into a one bedroom apartment at the property we are assigned to -- for the time being, until we work hard enough to get promoted.  (At which time we will get a two bedroom apartment -- to much information?)   I'm totally ready for that -- can fulfill my job requirements, clean the bathroom and have plenty of time for my sewing / craft projects.

The flip side is that I'll be living in a one bedroom apartment!  That's going to take some mad organizational skills.   Have been secretly spying out Daughter's "Organizational Fabulousness" board on Pinterest for some ideas.   Check these out...

Love this idea for towels -- or maybe a robe?  

Who wouldn't mind doing laundry in surroundings such as these?  

And here are a couple I've pinned in hopes of having a craft room all to myself some day...

This was made from a recycled oatmeal container -- how cute is that?  

So.. not much in the way of "finished" projects to share with you today.  But I did want to explain my made up term of "ziplock project bag" and share my idea for using this product to get my fabric / craft stash organized.  Use it if you think it will be a help...  We're happy to help here at the Customer Service Desk and ALWAYS look forward to any and all suggestions you might have!  

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!