Uncategorized

Homemade Napkins, Hearts Galore and Favorite Valentine’s thoughts…

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Just a little love  today with some ideas for making your own Valentine’s Day table linens

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perfect for celebrating the day with your special someone
some fun places to visit and lots of “heart-spiration”
to share in this post!

I’ve shared before  on making your own tea towels
but I don’t think I’ve share before about sewing your own
napkins and tablecloths for special occasions. 

Here are some super easy directions for you…

How to Sew a 45″ Square Tablecloth and Napkins

Cutting out your fabric

*Purchase 1.75 yards colorful cute Valentine’s fabric ~
wash, dry and iron out the wrinkles.

*Open the fabric out widthwise and take the top upper selvage corner and fold diagonally across and down so the fabric edge overlaps the opposite selvage creating a very large triangle.
Smooth out any wrinkles as you create this large triangle
of fabric with both selvages together.

*Cut a straight line across under the lower edge of the triangle
across the remaining fabric ~ when opened out this will
make a 45″ x 45″ square of fabric.
{this will use up 1.25 yards of the total length of fabric}


The remaining fabric will be enough to make (10) napkins
measuring 9″ x 9″ square cut before sewing {use the selvages! They will be turned under and sewn so they won’t show}
or buy 2 yards and the fabric can be adjusted to
(6) 13.5″ x 13.5″ napkin squares before sewing.


A table set for a past Valentine’s Day.

Pressing and Sewing

*Fold under all four edges of each napkin once, then twice making “hospital corners” or mitered fabric at each corner.
Try to make very small turns to have as large a napkin once
fully sewn.
A seam roller really helps with this if you have that
attachment for your sewing machine.

*Sew from the topside with decorative stitches, if desired,
catching in all the edges and corners.

*Lace can be sewn and added afterwards to create
a larger napkin too and to change the look.
Go back and restitch by hand or machine as needed.
🙂

*Press once more and starch if you’d like.

Set your tea table and enjoy
your lovely table! 

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A  few years ago  I was able to drive down to see
author and artist Fifi O’Neill on Valentine’s Day and she gave a talk and shared stories about being editor and her new book
at the time.
Later on I wrote about Vignette’s the store Fifi spoke at which is a treasure trove of antiques and collectibles for the soul
located in sunny Ocean Beach, surf-side in
San Diego County, California.

Here is our former home’s front doors decorated
for Valentine’s…

Funny, I don’t know why I never made a second
wreath like the one on the far right but then
on sale after Valentine’s one year
I ended up buying this beautiful wicker one
decorated with reddish-pink berries.
Last year I found this sweet heart inside a great pie shop
called The Texas Pie Company.
I loved their bohemian decor and this heart was awesome!

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Last year too  I set a Valentine’s tea table outside
and had fun decorating and sharing a little Cinderella
story with you all, dear readers.
🙂

Sharing with
Wow Us Wednesday ~ Savvy Southern Style
Thursday Favorite Things ~ Katherine’s Corner
Tablescape Thursday ~ Between Naps on the Porch
Feathered Nest Friday ~ French Country Cottage
Dishing It and Digging It ~ Life and Linda
Friday at the Firestation ~ A Fireman’s Wife
Sew It Cook It Craft It ~ Sew Historically
Really Crafty Link Party ~ Keeping It Real 


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Happy decorating!
Uncategorized

A Little Nordic Christmas Home Tour

Welcome to my home tour here at
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French Ethereal !
When I was thinking about what kind of theme
I wanted to create for this Christmas I kept coming back to all of the beautiful snow scenes
that I’ve seen over the years in lovely magazines ~ 
pictures of homes from all over in Europe…

Our garden angel last Christmas time.
A Nordic ChristmasI wanted to recreate a little of that
here in Texas so today I’m happy to take you on a
little tour of our prairie home.

If you are coming over from the
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Creative Christmas Link Party
Welcome!
I’m really glad you are here.
🙂


Presents waiting to be wrapped, boxed and shipped ~ fun!!!
Any Nordic style Christmas has to include
silver and whites as nights are long during the winter-time
up along the 49th parallel.
Europeans like to brighten their homes year-round
but especially in winter with light colored walls
painted in soft greys and whites.
Often their furniture is of Gustavian or French origin and is
also painted in those same brightening shades.
Other favorite colors used in Nordic style are
pops of red, silvery greys of tin and antique silver,
and of course the green of pine boughs.

I’ve added these colors to my Christmas decorating
with cream-colored throw pillows,
a pure white sheepskin throw wrapped around the base
of our little Christmas tree,
and sparkly silver and white ornaments
hung from our tree’s deep green branches.

Our home also includes more of these Nordic touches with
our white leather couch and reclining chairs
plus a soft cream and grey plaid blanket draped over
the back of the couch.
Subtle pale red and grey stripes run crisscross
along its breadth and length
bringing in more of this wonderful look.

My one break with all this European Christmas goodness
is including a little more pink perhaps…
Pink is my favorite color along with white
and I had to include a bit of that when I found
dear old Santa Claus available online.
The floral stocking came from there, too.

Europeans appreciate good wood furniture whether
painted or stained and here in our prairie home we have a lot of stained wood which is thankfully
not too dark.

Reading material ~ always a good thing.

As we move into our master bedroom just a little reindeer
accompanied by a snow-dusted Christmas tree
is all that is needed
to bring in some holiday cheer.

Our bathroom also has a little bit of
Christmas spirit…


And no home tour would be complete without a visit
outside to a festive table set for family and guests!
More Nordic touches abound out here with bright red
and snowflake-white napkins
boughs of fresh pine boughs running the length
of the dinner table and dried Christmas-red tea and
sweetheart roses
tucked among the greenery.
One lit candle scents the air with its
pure vanilla perfume…
It sits snuggly in an old soup tureen turned
candleholder for the day.

Our Pekingese Yoda enjoys the outdoor scene, too.

One last look inside…
I hope you have enjoyed our
little home tour today ~ it has been
my pleasure!

* God Jul! *

Also sharing with
We Are Pinnable Thanksgiving Link Party ~ Fairies and Fauna


and


The Creative Christmas Link Party is hosted by Janet of Shabbyfufu and the the bloggers of Blogging 50. Please visit all of the talented bloggers below! 

https://static.inlinkz.com/cs2.js

Also….please visit some others and show them a little love and PIN. PLEASE SHARE or there is not a heck of a lot of benefit!

Uncategorized

Just a Quick Post…

Just a quick post today sharing just a couple
photos from some upcoming posts I’ve worked on
for the past couple of weeks ~ will be including these
great Texas longhorns, visiting a museum or two
and checking out some great shops!

but…

Sometimes having an Apple iPhone and an
Apple computer is NOT a good thing ~ like when
they both “think” you might be stealing someone else’s
photographs… grrr!
Anyway, I’m emailing all 157 photos from my phone
to myself and will trick the system! 
{Ha! Take that, evil Apple programming!!!}
I WILL have this post on visiting the 
Fort Worth Stockyards
ready by Friday at the latest.
🙂

Sorry, I know this has been a slow month over here
at French Ethereal.  Pretty typical as I look back over
the past three July posting.  Just my slow season,
I guess.
😉

But, isn’t that what summer 
is for?
Summer vacation!!!

Sharing with
Wow Us Wednesday ~ Savvy Southern Style
Welcome Home Wednesdays ~ Five Kids a Dog and a Blog
Vintage Charm ~ Our Hopeful Home

Have a great evening,

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Inspirational Furnishings ~ Cynthia Rowley’s Gorgeous Furniture Pieces

Riding the downward escalator inside
Dillard’s
at the 
Shops at Willow Bend, Plano, Texas
a couple of weeks ago
I spied this gilded bedroom beauty and 
an armchair that made my heart go
pitter-patter…


“Mimi” wing chair ~ available at Dillard’s online and in stores.
I tend to fall head over heels for rose strewn pieces
and having two upholstered couches decorated with roses 
just waiting to come out to Texas…
this lovely armchair 
would fit right into my home perfectly!


A year ago in the spring at the
Design Blogger’s Conference in Atlanta
Cynthia Rowley came and spoke during one of the
sessions about becoming a designer.
In her slides, she shared this table from her new line
which was then going to be coming out in the fall
and of course I remembered it 
because of the roses!

The Antoinette gilded upholstered bed, king size along with other Cynthia Rowley designed furnishings

The gilded twig mirror in that first photograph
{sharing again!}
is also part of her collection for
Hooker Furniture.
I love the play on faux bois with the twigs
around this gorgeous mirror!

The tables, chairs and other items you see around the 
Antionette bed and the rose armchair are also
part of the collection.
I am thinking my daughter would love
that mirrored dresser ~ it’s so glam and
Old Hollywood with its retro 1930’s/1940’s
vintage look.

One last quick photo ~ I only took a very
few photographs with my iPhone while I was
looking at these lovely pieces.
The part of me which loves anything and everything 
in a vintage French style wanted to share this 
amazing detail with you.
Loving the soft blue grey velvet
paired with the gold ormolu crest!

Trés bien, non?
Have a great Wednesday!


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Create Link Inspire
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Vintage Charm ~ The Blue Willow House
Talk of the Town ~ My Simple Home
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Places to Visit ~ Lavender Ridge Farms

Gorgeous pink roses mixed in with tall lavender perennials.
Over the Memorial Day
weekend
My hubby and I took a drive out to 
Gainesville
to visit a lovely little farm ~
Lavender Ridge Farms…

A newly planted upper field on the farm.
Lavender Ridge Farms
2391 County Road 178
Gainesville, TX 76240
(940) 665-6938


I love the little tagline Lavender Ridge Farms
has on its flyers:
“An herb’n experience you can’t get in the city!”
And they would be right!

Memorial Day weekend was warm up in Gainesville
but not blistering and our 20 minute drive 
up the freeway then another 10 miles
with some rights and lefts and some bumpy roads
brought us to the farm.

Plenty of parking and much of it shaded
was spread out over the farm.
Lots of folks were walking around
although it was the last day
of the annual three day lavender festival.
Some people were having lunch under
the shaded table area.
Others were picnicking out on the lawns.

Part of the lavender festival included
 crafters and vendors selling:
*lavender jams and jellies mixed with 
lime and other flavors
*handmade purses and bags
*handmade clothing
*repurposed vintage glassware made into
the cutest garden flowers and
melted into three dimensional
window frames
{I’m sorry I didn’t get any picture but I was afraid the owners
would think I was trying to steal their ideas!  If anything, I would be
promoting them.  So, no photos from the vendor area.}
*wood crafts
*recycled and upcycled lamps made into
solar yard lamps {very clever!}

And, of course, there were lavender items
for sale, though all of the lavender plants
and most of the lavender products
had sold out during the festivals
previous two days.

These echinacea and plumeria were available and
I was tempted by both but decided to
pass until I see how my current plants
survive this summer’s coming heat.
{maybe next year!}
🙂

We had parked up above the lavender field at the top 
of the farm then worked our way down 
through the vendors tucked under the trees
arriving in a shaded area where some ducks and chickens
and four soft and cuddly looking lemurs were!
Isn’t he cute?
{How they got four lemurs to live at their farm I don’t know, but they looked
like they enjoyed being around all the people.  I kept thinking that I had a
cantaloupe in the car I could have cut up and fed them…}
Love this armillary!
Just beyond the animal area still heading left towards 
the farm’s giftshop and restaurant we found 
this armillary amongst some greenhouses.

We made our way down to the rose and flower garden 
next where Hubby decided to take a seat in an 
obliging wooden chair underneath a shady tree.

This incredible lavender tree was situated up towards 
the main house and giftshop.  I don’t know if it is a type
of lavender but it sure was pretty and blooming like
anything!

The lower fields are set up with a large
arbor entrance flanked by two potted junipers
where visitors pass into the garden over
a planked footbridge.
This steps right down onto the garden’s
pathways with these gorgeous pink roses
everywhere!
Since I haven’t seen many pink roses growing here 
in this part of North Texas
I looked to see if any of them had name tags
but alas I didn’t find any.
🙁

I did find lots of blue salvia, many perennials and
a host of annuals planted among the Spanish
and English lavender plants.

Next time my friend Julie from the park
wants to come up and have lunch as 
they serve lavender tea sandwiches
lavender scones
and other lavender treats
like lavender sorbet.

In the fall the lavender farm has several 
events going on so do make plans to 
come on out for a visit.

Really a lovely lavender
time!
Sharing with
Wow Us Wednesdays ~ Savvy Southern Style
Totally Terrific Tuesday ~ Savvy Apron
Welcome Home Wednesday ~ Five Kids a Dog and a Blog
Tuesday Cup of Tea ~ Antiques and Teacups
Friday Features ~ Oh, My Heartsie Girl!
Sweet Inspiration ~ The Boondocks Blog
Vintage Charm ~ Blue Willow House
Share Your Style ~ The Red Painted Cottage
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Flash Forward ~ Lightroom and the Canon Speedlite

Oh my!  Even though this photograph is
still dark on the statue’s face…
I am loving what the program Lightroom
and the new flash 
Canon Speedlite 430 EX III
{picked up a couple of weeks ago}
and a soft diffuser can do for photographs…

This was an accidental photograph
I took and was going to erase
but
then I thought maybe I’d include it…
Totally ugly, isn’t it?
I was just shooting in the room checking
the lighting and hit the shutter 
without focusing.
***This second photograph was really the third photograph ~
taken after shooting a photograph using the auto focus.


I learned a little bit this week about
using math to figure out what f-stop
to use when photographing.
All this time I have been playing around
with the aperature and shutter speed ~ 
the length of time
the shutter needs to be open.
Most of my photos are grainy
and
I like a lot of them that way.
They have a 1970’s look to them
that I grew up with shooting film
with my old instamatic cameras.

However if I really want to get better 
at this whole photography thing
{and I obviously do}
I need to bring some
Big Girl photography skills
to the table.
🙂

This one was one I took with the Canon Speedlite
attached to my Canon EOS Rebel SL1 camera
but without the portable pop-up
diffuser on top of the flash’s clip on plastic diffuser.
It’s blown out but not a bad photo overall.
This pop-up diffuser is a portable 16″ 
round “cover” that gets put overtop 
of the flash unit.
It works great and is a good
first diffuser and less expensive 
than purchasing a large umbrella-type diffuser
professional photographers use
in their studios and on location.
The portable diffuser I purchased is the
Fstoppers Flash Disk.


Hopefully these two pins I saved from
Pinterest will show for you.
🙂
And here’s one final photograph
that I copied to bring over
to share.
I can work with this one and lighten up
the statue’s face and sharpen it up a bit.
Our washer was spinning at the time
so you can see the shake
in the picture…
lol!
😉

Oh, and that watercolor which snuck in
up above in amongst the photos…
That’s a work in progress and a project 
I’m getting some help with…

Hope you like the changes
going on,
Happy Friday!
Sharing with
Friday at the Firestation ~ A Fireman’s Wife
Sweet Inspiration ~ The Boondock’s Blog
Friday Features ~ Oh, My Heartsie Girl!
Friendship Friday ~ Create with Joy
Dance with Jesus ~ Susan B. Meade
Saturday Sparks ~ Pieced Pastimes
Dishing It Digging It ~ Rustic and Refined
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Uncategorized

Happy Memorial Day ~ Remembering the Fallen

Happy Memorial Day!
A good day to remember our military
family members who didn’t make it home…


Decoration Day was the first known observance
of remembering fallen military members
here in the United States and had its beginning
in 1868,
three years after the Civil War ended.
Major General John A. Logan
the head of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR)
{a veteran’s organization}
issued an order
for the annual tradition of decorating
the graves of the war dead.

Remembrance Day is observed across the 
British Commonwealth on our Veteran’s Day
recognizing the end to the Great War in 1919,
WWI.
Members of the British royal family observe 
two minutes of silence at 11am
on every November 11th and
place wreaths of poppies on the graves
of fallen soldiers.
Small plastic poppies are also worn
commemorating these heroes.
In the United States, many of our 
veterans organizations
have also adopted the tradition of
passing out small red poppy boutonnieres
to be worn in remembrance
of the fallen.

In Belgium the day is called
Armistice Day
which is the name that has poignantly
stuck in my mind all these years.
Poppies are also their flower of
remembrance
and are released from the top
of Menin Gate in Ypres
{shown above}
after a wreath-laying and a 
Last Post bugle call there 
in Ypres, Belgium.
The bugle call sounds every evening
at 8:00pm; however, it is particularly
moving as it began 


So whether you call this day Memorial Day
Remembrance Day, Volkstrauertag {in Germany}
Armistice Day, or 
by another name ~ enjoy the day 
celebrating and remembering.  
Display your country’s flag proudly
remembering those 
military members across the world
who gave their lives
the ultimate sacrifice 
during wartime…

Blessings to you,
Sharing with
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Inspire Me Monday ~ Create with Joy
Monday Social ~ My Heart Lives Here
Family Joy Link Party ~ Thinking Outside the Pot
Snickerdoodle Create Bake Make ~ Blue Willow House
Vintage Charm ~ Blue Willow House
Share Your Style ~ Red Painted Cottage
Tablescape Thursday
Dishing It and Digging It ~ Rustic and Refined

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5 Fun Beginning of Summer Things to Do with Bandanas

My Girl Scout Brownie troop around year 2000 hamming it up in their super cool flying cow bandanas!

Today’s post is all about things we all
like to do and wear that’s fun for our kids and 
for grown-ups too
and with 
summer coming up and this weekend being 
Memorial Day…
Patriotism and good memories of loved ones 
and fun times 
is on my mind and
were the inspiration for this 
perfect
beginning of summer post.
I’m talking about something that is a
staple in everyone’s drawers
and camping supplies ~ good for
washing dishes on a campout
to 
making a mini backpack to tie
to a little pole ~ it’s those wonderfully versatile
bandanas!


One of the first times our girls washed dishes.  This was many of these girls first time camping.  🙂

Bandanas are great for many things!

So today we are talking about the

wonderfully handy sometimes a hanky

but often utilitarian 

bandana

and 

some of the other fun things 

for which

a bandana can be used:


1. Tying back one’s hair


The number one use for a bandana 
(and probably always will be)
ever since these darlings 
were invented
is to tie back one’s hair.
Always wonderful for keeping that hair
out of one’s eyes when the wind is blowing,
bandanas come in such a variety
of colors and patterns now, it’s just plain
fun to wear them.
Pick up a few for everyone in the family
like we did back 
during our Scouting days and 
be “twins” 
with your kids for the day!

Our Girl Scout troop had these cool
flying cow bandanas
my co-leaders and I found at
the local Army-Navy store
one day when we were picking up
GS badges and other items.
I think we gave them to the girls that 
first year we were together.

They were something the girls could 
wear together which helped 
gel them together
as a group and it was part of their 
color-coordinated unofficial uniform
for when we went on hiking trips
and for this 
our first camping trip.


A spring breakfast tea using the trustworthy bandana!

2. Bandanas as Napkins


A while back I had a post sharing
these fun pink napkins used
in place of other napkins I’d 
normally use.
Because bandanas are usually made out of
100% cotton
that makes them perfect for 
cleaning up spills
or for 
wiping one’s lips
when jam or BBQ sauce
gets all over.

I just think it’s fun to change up what we
think of as a napkin!
Guess I’ve always done that.
How about you?
What do you like to do for your napkins?
Have you sewn any of your own?
It’s super fun to create something
to coordinate with an upcoming
party’s theme!
I’ve used leftover fabric when making a
tablecloth to create tiny fingertip napkins.
Check out an old Valentine’s post where
I’d made matching napkins.
🙂

While I was starting to write this post
I got to thinking about
where and when were bandanas invented?
Turns out that they have officially
been around for over 200 years!

There’s a really cool article online about 
“Bandana History” by BandanaShop.com
which talks about how bandanas
have been used as giveaways
promoting political figures
{George Washington being one of the first to be thus immortalized!}
and as a promotional tool for
that newfangled invention
“the talkies” ~ handkerchief bandanas
with Snow White and the seven dwarves
likenesses being one of the first
out there promoting children’s films.
I found the article fascinating
and I think
you will too!
Do follow the link over and check it out.
🙂



3. Bandanas Belts


Tie or braid several together to make 
an impromptu belt to coordinate
with a summer outfit…
With the 4th of July coming up
it’d be fun to sport
red white and blue bandanas
woven together into a belt.

The belt I whipped up for the photos
above is just
*two bandanas laid on an angle
*fold each opposite point inward
then fold the bandana in on itself
making a long rectangle.
*Tie together in back with a granny or
square knot.
*Slip through belt loops and tie in front.
Easy peasy!

If you want a Patriotic Bandana Belt
you’ll need six bandanas (two of each color}
to braid together.
*These can be folded as above
or
they can just be scrunched
and tied to its twin lengthwise
*tie the three colors together on one end
*then braid all of three long bandana “ropes”
at once.
*When braided, tie the three ends of the 
three colors together.
*Slip through your waistbands
and knot around in front.








4.Bandana Dog

I saw this hot diggity dog of a bandana
idea and knew it had to be
featured here at French Ethereal…
;)’


I contacted Marci at Stone Cottage Adventures
and asked if I could use a couple of her stories.  
She was delighted to have 
a few of her bandana posts
featured!
The blog link above will take you
to a quick bandana star story
she just posted.

The pink headlines and I think the
Pinterest photos
will take you to her posts, too!
{the pink links for sure!}
Marci shared how to make this incredibly 
cuddly cute dachshund
that she made for her granddaughter
out of just one bandana
per dog
plus a little from a coordinating color 
for each of the sweet pup’s ears.
Naturally, she made several of these
hot dogs…
{pun totally intended!!!}
Stop on over to see the other cute dogs
she made.
I could totally see a 4th of July dog…
yep
{or is that “yelp!”}
to go with our theme.
;)









5. Sweet Dress for Your Baby


I also saw this darling baby dress 
over on
Stone Cottage Adventure’s blog
and knew it had to
come on over, too ~ 
just check out how adorable 
Marci’s sweet granddaughter
looks with her purple bow
and matching 
purple bandana skirt!

Marci gives a whole tutorial on
how to cut pieces of
bandana to create the bow
and then 
how to create the dress.
Several other photos show
this cutie modeling
a couple of other outfits.
She is quite the fashionista
which is part of the title.
An outfit for your baby or for a family
member’s or friend’s new baby
out of 
patriotic colored bandanas
could be just the ticket
and a real crowd pleaser!


Happy Memorial Day
this weekend,
Remembering the fallen…
Barb 🙂





*The red is for the poppies… since 1919 when Memorial Day
was called Armistice Day.


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Sweet Inspiration ~ The Boondocks Blog
Friendship Friday ~ Create with Joy
Feathered Nest Friday ~ French Country Cottage
Friday at the Firestation ~ A Fireman’s Wife
Vintage Charm ~ Blue Willow House











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Sunday Sentiments ~ Scripture Quilts and a "How To"

Happy Sunday evening to you!
I thought I’d share a little on
something new I found recently:
scripture quilts

This photo is a bit over-lightened but I need to lighten to share this quilt
as this room is a bit dark.

When I first visited my friend Peggy
we took a tour around her lovely home
decorated with family antiques 
and wonderful vintage 
family photos and also these 
soft and sentimental scripture quilts
she had sewn.

A friend of hers had made some and Peggy
had seen them and asked if she could
get a pattern to make 
some scripture blocks.
These first squares ended up being the
beginnings of three quilts
she has made for her husband
and adult children.
More are on the way, too.
😉


I love how this room is decorated with many lifetimes of passed-down family heirlooms ~ taken with my old iPhone 5.
Quilts blocks based on biblical stories have been 
made since women began making quilts
however
these more modern scripture quilts with
scripture quotes written in a
family members’ handwriting are
a relatively new idea.

I saved a number of biblical and scripture pieces out onto my 
Pinterest Faith board
if you’d like to stop by there
and take a look.

Love the tea dyed quilt block to match the variegated cottons prints used for the rest of the quilt.  This quilt was
presented to Peggy’s husband Tony for his birthday one year.


These quilts are a nice way to keep family members
close especially when everyone lives are so busy
and many of us live far away
from our family
and hardly have time to get together
much except during the holidays.
These quilts also a wonderful way to remember
family member who has “gone on home.


A fun idea is to have each family member
write out their favorite scripture verse
and sign his or her name along the
bottom edge above where
the seamline would be.
This could be a great thing to do over
Thanksgiving while the turkey is cooking
or at a family summer BBQ.
A station to set up in your backyard while
everyone is together celebrating.
Also, this idea could be easily adapted to 
other types of handwritten quilts.
Be sure to sign your quilt when it is done
and this separate quilt block
looks lovely placed on the
back of a quilt.


Drawn “square” is the “cut out block.”  The center horizontal and vertical
axes are drawn first.


How to make a Scripture Quilt Block

Supplies needed

*parchment paper
*pencil
*ruler or straight edge
*markers to draw over pencil lines
*permanent marker in black or favorite color

to use for final handwritten block.
*muslin washed and dried ~ cut to size of final
quilt block(s) plus seam allowance.


Instructions

*Begin with cut squares from parchment paper

in the size you need for your quilt block
plus 1/2″ around all four sides 
for the seam allowance.
Also cut out actual muslin

*On your computer, type out your scripture verse(s).

*Print the verse onto regular computer paper
large enough with roughly 3/4″ intervals
between each drawn line.
{leaving about 1/2″ of open space between lines of words}



*Adjust your printing and reprint as needed
making the spacing to 
your liking.

I used 1″ spacing on the photos above and that 

was too much, so I re-drew the lines 
to half-inch spacing.That worked better.

3/4″ I think is what the ones which
Peggy made were measured.  
When you create your own scripture quilt blocks, 

play around with the computer font sizes.  
The above printout would need to be re-spaced on 
the computer accordingly.
{see how it doesn’t quite fit?}
This is just a template anyway and your
handwriting can be adjusted
as you create each scripture block.
Play around with each one until each
looks right to you.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from ourselves it is a gift from God —(9) not by
works, so that no one can boast.  ~ Ephesians 2: 8-9

Instructions continued

*Place the typed paper underneath the parchment
paper that has had center lines drawn
horizontally and vertically on them.

*Draw as many horizontal lines
above and below the first centered line ~
enough for your whole scripture quote.


*Align the typed sheet underneath
the parchment paper
adjusting the centers of each line
until it looks centered.
Tape down both papers as needed.

*Write out your verses in a dark marker
on the parchment.


*Lay out your thin muslin
over top.
If available, use a light board or projector
underneath to light the words.

If that’s not available?
 Press down firmly
on the muslin to make the marker
show through for copying.

***Practice writing out your verses
on a scrap of muslin first using 
fine-point permanent marker.
😉


Sew your scripture quilt blocks
together with other lightweight cotton
strips to create your quilt in whatever
design you’ve chosen.
Oh, and don’t forget to sign your
beautiful quilt by placing
a special quilt block with a heart-felt 
message on the back.
Enjoy!

Blessings to you,
Barb 🙂



Sharing with
A Life in Balance
Inspire Me Monday ~ Create with Joy
Monday Social ~ My Heart Lives Here
Thinking Outside the Pot ~ Family Joy Link Up Party
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Vintage Charm ~ Blue Willow House

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13 🙂


For more information about
Biblical quilts
please click here.
🙂

Uncategorized

Places to Shop with Sparkle on the Menu

Some days start off as normal
everyday run-of-the-mill days
but after 
morning eye appointment
where the doctor had dilated 
both of my eyes,
I wasn’t just seeing stars
because of some eye drops…
😉



Driving over to pick up our mail after that 
eye appointment
I saw a sign that made 
my heart jump.

a wall area of artwork in front and behind the camera
A place I’ve wanted very much to visit
was here at the mall and so 
after a quick lunch I went inside and 
enjoyed looking around.

The first store I found was
These first photos were taken there.
ZGallerie is a home decor store which carries 
office supplies, tableware and bedding
at medium prices
making it a place for that little sparkly splurge
for your home or for something to 
give as a lovely gift.


Of course I am always on the lookout for fancy sparkly chandeliers!

What caught my eye in ZGallerie were all the
purple and white ostrich plumes
standing tall in a 
large floor vase
and
velvet chairs and sofas.


I’m sorry I didn’t snap a photo of the 
tufted cream velvet sofa 
I found
seated together with a few other velvet
and leatherette chairs.
{I’m pretty sure it was around $1600 which is not unreasonable
for a beautifully built piece of furniture.}
I was kind of gaga eyed at the moment
just taking it all in…
😉
Had to share this one again ~ love all the gold and white… and those tall blooms!

When my photographer senses kicked in
I started snapping photos
to share with you!


The chargers under each place setting
are made of glass.
I’ve seen some before in magazines
but I was quite surprised
that the
free-form purple glass charger
I picked up
was only $18 per piece.

ZGallerie was a lovely beginning to my
eye candy shopping adventure!
***************************************************
Part of the outdoor garden room at Restoration Hardware ~ love the whole courtyard feel!
is the shop I have wanted to 
visit for years!
And when I saw that sign viewed 
just off the freeway
I knew 
today was that day
I was going to finally stop inside.
🙂

Sleek modern outdoor furnishings for anyone who likes edgy and angular with just enough
curves and sparkle to keep those who prefer more curves comfortable.


I knew the company had begun as a store
carrying antique and vintage
hardware for restoring old homes and
to use on furniture
but
Restoration Hardware has evolved
now carrying specialty furniture
for indoors and outside.


Walking into this room which leads into the garden, the wonderful earthy smell of leather is sooo inviting!
Wouldn’t this be a lovely library and dining room in your own home?

I loved talking with the sales staff
about the shop and the furnishings within!
I found out that they are interior designers, too,
and they are there to help with your 
room design needs
and will help you create
a curated lived-in look.

Here I was trying to capture the three chandeliers for you!
Being a huge fan of pier mirrors
and having a pier mirror of my own
I had to share these beauties with you!

Love pier mirrors for their French charm!
Don’t you just love how adding a mirror
to a room
really brings in the light and creates
just the right mood with what is
reflected in it?

Sorry this is a bit dark ~ this is actually lightened up for you.  Photos today were taken
with my iPhone 6.
Restoration Hardware paired these two very
simply framed mirrors for a bathroom scene 
set with a more ornate
old buffet turned into a lavatory cabinet.
Love it!
I also love the soft neutrals flowing through
all of their pieces ~ very masculine
but soft enough for that 
feminine touch.


This too has been edited and lightened to see the cabinet’s detail.  Love, love the marble top!
One final view of the back gardens…
sigh!
🙂


So what I came in for 

In the form of just tons of old rusty crusty hardware and door knobs
though no longer found in the shops anymore are still available as beautiful reproductions online {I checked! ;).
These shops are wonderful resources to find a classic piece to grace your home or garden ~ just ethereal!
(I was not compensated for any of this ~ just purely fun visiting!)
As always, feel free to share this and any other post.
If you like my style, please follow along… Thank you!



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Happy Friday,