faith – French Ethereal

Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was white as snow… Just a lovely nursery rhyme… Today I’m sharing our Christmas mantel and the crazy mishmash of putting it together. Definitely a layering! ~ it took several weeks to put together into what it is now.

Of course I know it is after Christmas now, but I thought you’d enjoy seeing our mantel anyway.

Have you ever had the realization that this sweet nursery rhyme, Mary Had a Little Lamb, could be allegorical? It occurred to me here at Christmastime, that this rhyme could be saying much more…

[His] fleece was white as snow. From a Biblical perspective, Jesus was sinless; he was pure as new-fallen snow.

knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Jesus-Christ,-Sinlessness
1 Peter 1:18-19

Everywhere the child went, the lamb was sure to go… Okay, maybe this part, isn’t so allegorical, but… Then again, everywhere we (humanity) go, the Lamb, is sure to follow. Meaning that Jesus follows us, that He is interested in us. He is concerned about our welfare!

There is more to this nursery rhyme and I don’t feel those lines are very allegorical, but for me this first stanza is.

I just thought I’d share that here on our first Sunday in the new year…

And I am sorry I haven’t written more about my faith this past year.

Confession time:

I visited several churches when we first moved to Texas and I was enjoying a church up in Sanger a lot. Living in our Prairie Home, our big RV, I went with several friends to this church on Monday evenings for a community dinner. Then I went to a couple of Sunday services and I was enjoying going.

One Sunday, there was a thing which happened which kinda freaked me out since I was feeling really insecure and vulnerable living in an RV and still feeling very homeless, plus being new to Texas… One of the people who used to live in the RV park shouted out my name before the service began, in the middle of the sanctuary, and I felt all eyes on me. She has little tact, and I hate saying this, but it is true.

It wasn’t good and I was mortified! I never went back because I felt called out.

I don’t know if you are secretly very quiet and private, but I often am. And though I blog, I don’t always share everything, and I think that’s how most bloggers are. Maybe I am wrong on this, do let me know!

More Type B than Type A, really.

Our new nativity found at Hobby Lobby a couple of years ago, before the other crash-landed.

Anyway, all that is to say that I haven’t been too keen on visiting more churches. It’s an excuse, I know.

I visit my old church, Calvary Chapel of Murrieta, from California online, still read Christian literature and donate to charities and read my Bible. I pray all the time for our students and for the safety of our school, our community, our home, my family.

My mother-in-law introduced me to her old church in Sacramento, which also has an on-line presence. Covid was good for getting churches and worksites to get online!

She flew out to California for Christmas and with Southwest Airline’s computer system crash, and her flight back to Texas cancelled… She decided to extend her stay. She needed a good visit home… <3

She didn’t get the extra year to adjust to moving out of her house of 57 years like we did when we lived at Lake Skinner.

Anyway, I just feel hypocritical, so… That’s why I haven’t written many Sunday Sentiments in a long time. Maybe you are experiencing something similar? Let me know. <3

But I plan on writing more of them as part of my New Year’s resolution, as it were. 🙂

Our old Kirkland nativity (post from which this photograph was pulled) which was unbroken until a year ago. I am going to try to use car bonding to see if I can put back each figure. This very much mirrors what happened to a Nativity figure in Jan Karon’s book, Shepherds Abiding.
This older nativity’s statues were more than 12″.

I love Christmas, and nativities!!!

My mother-in-law loves them, too, and has quite a nativity collection! My own mother had a lovely old wooden creche and nativity she put out each year. One of my brothers has it now, I’m sure.

Sadly, when Mr. Ethereal was putting ours away last year, the 34-year-old box just disintegrated while he was holding it, and the foam inside fell out. The Wise Men and Joseph shattered.

We swept up all of the pieces, even tiny parts, all that we could see, and they were lovingly put into a clean shoebox.

I just haven’t had the heart to sort through the pieces and begin trying to glue them together.

So we needed a new nativity! I found a nice one, a bit smaller, at Hobby Lobby so this is what I featured on our mantel this season. This one is about 3/4 of the size of the old Kirkland one.

Choosing a nativity is such a personal thing, isn’t it?

I saw some really pretty ones at The Christmas Place in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, when my daughter and I were there for my niece’s wedding.

Putting our Woodland Mantel together

So, getting back to how this mantel came together, it really began with the two outlying grapevine trees. I found them on sale at Hobby Lobby in early October when I went in search of a couple of papier mâché pumpkins to craft (a project for 2023!).

Hubby brought down a few Christmas boxes for me when I was prepping for November’s Pinterest Challenge putting together the Christmas tree and when I was making the little Salt & Pepper Snowman.

In those few boxes, I found the vintage style Santa tins and I added the Norman Rockwell tin I found around Thanksgiving time at a thrift shop here in Denton. Gini and I were creating gift baskets for the IOOF poker tournament fundraiser and there it was, waiting!

The little fuzzy reindeer I found at JC Penney on Black Friday with Hubby. They were so cute! I had to bring them home. 😉

It really was a mishmash put together over several months and somehow it all works…

Really not a surprise when you think of Whom watches over us… 🙂

On another note…

Have you seen The Chosen? It is a crowd-funded show about the life of Jesus from the Apostles’ perspective. I really enjoy the series and to me, it’s a really cool show!

It is Biblically based with ideas of what things the characters as real people would have talked about, in addition to portraying real events which happened during the lifetime of Jesus (and beyond, with the apostles) some 2000 years ago.

Much of what is said is straight out of scripture, and the actors who portray Jesus, Mother Mary, and the others, give their best performances. You can really feel God’s presence behind their portrayals!

Plus, I like that the actors are from all faiths and ethnic backgrounds! They make the show and Jesus so much more real.

My mother-in-law introduced us to the series last winter while she was staying with us.

I think you’ll like it! (That’s my plug). 🙂

New Year 2023

Work for me is going really well. I am enjoying working in a middle school library full time getting to share favorite books with our students, giving advice and counsel as needed. I got approval for a scholarship to teach needlework to students after school; I just need to put together a purchase order for supplies. Our librarian and I are already staying late on every other Tuesday working with these girls and boys. I love seeing how eager they are to learn!

Mr. Ethereal has his own changes with work coming, so that will be a big change for us in this new year. Not my favorite thing, as you probably know… But, Life is always changing so it is nice to find solace here with you.

I appreciate you for this!!! And I thank you for your friendship. <3

Happy New Year, dear friends,

Barb 🙂

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A 5 Minute Easter Bunny Basket

April 6, 2020 French Ethereal

Easter is just a week away and this past week I put together this 5 minute-to-make Easter Bunny basket. Here’s how to create this Momma and Baby Bunny basket…

Supplies you will need

a pretty basket to create your Easter centerpiece with

a momma and baby bunny or any other bunnies you may have

plastic eggs for color and filler

a cake plate or stand to raise the bunnies

green moss to line the bottom and sides of the basket

faux or dried flowers to create a meadow-like setting

Add sheet moss or clumps of moss around the bottom and up the sides, if desired. Next, place your cake plate in the basket. This cake plate is placed off to the side because of the handle in the middle.

Place the bunnies in next and begin adding flowers to your basket.

Bend the wires of each stem unless you wish to cut them. I reuse my faux flowers all the time so this works for most of my stylings.

Add in some colorful plastic, blown or any other decorated Easter eggs you may have in your craft and holiday supplies… And you are done!

A quick 5 minute Easter Bunny Basket centerpiece to grace your Easter table…

💒🐇

Come back tomorrow to see how I’ve used this centerpiece in a Easter table setting. Wishing you the best of health and happiness this Easter season!

💝

25 Jesus said to her (Lazarus’ sister), “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.

~ John 11:25-26a (NIV)

Sharing with

Blogging Fifty

Shelbee on the Edge

April J. Harris

Friday at the Fire Station

Share Your Style

Happy decorating, friends!

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From the Heart… A Small Summer Home Tour

June 18, 2019June 21, 2019 French Ethereal

Beauty is all around and it isn’t always easy changing and beginning something new. I thank God everyday for giving us new chances. With that I have a small home tour for you today…

The garden is coming along and I’ll share more later this week or early next. Mr. Ethereal and I have been working on several projects outside such as cleaning out gutters and installing gutter guards to prevent leaves and acorns from filling them up, fixing the back fence and gate, as well as making the back flowerbed.

Thankfully we have had plenty of rain each week or two so our grass is green, the plants are well watered and the new Apello solar sound vole repellents seem to be driving the voles away.

Later today I will be driving down to visit our daughter for a few days. We plan to visit a couple of gardens down in Austin, Texas and I am looking forward to sharing them with you!

spring blooms with summer photos coming.

So without further ado let’s head back indoors, shall we?

In the living room the library tea table is getting an update with the addition of this favorite plate stand. Everything still has a soft patriotic theme with the pinks, whites and blues.

Hubby helped me hang up the curtain rod we brought from California along with my favorite lace curtains in our bedroom.

I’ll share those the next time as right now while working in the craft/sewing room, a mattress is back in our bedroom… Which is why I can’t reshoot the bedroom and share the whole thing.

Always the way, isn’t it? Lol.

Not too perfect ~ casually wrinkled and perfectly pink! I am still deciding what I want to hang above the bed which is why nothing is there yet. I’d love to find a French corona to hang bed curtains from but that’s a hit and a miss and may require a trip somewhere far away to find.

This is how we had our last bedroom after buying the California king mattress and our daughter taking the cherry bedframe and headboard. She still loves it, btw!

Good news! Our trailer is up for sale and hopefully it will sell soon. Hubby and I do talk about taking a nice trip overseas to Italy and France and it would be sooo nice for our 35th wedding anniversary coming up in two years… But we will need to save for it, of course.

This vintage rabbit lamp I found at an antique store years ago in Redlands, California and it is a favorite. Surprisingly we don’t need that many lamps and many will be sold at our first Texas garage sale.

Right now though I am looking for a lamp shade to match this one for the lamp on hubby’s bedside table ~ no luck so far.

Any ideas on where to look? Maybe I just need to find a shade with the same coloring and similar shape.

Taken about a month after our household goods
were delivered.

The attic space is getting cleaned and shelves are going up so this large box and the wicker trunk will be heading up shortly. There isn’t really a spot for this wicker trunk downstairs right now and it was one of my first purchases from my very first job.

I found it at Cost-Plus World Market when it was a new store in the late 1970’s. I am not willing to part with it just yet… It was the hope chest I kept at the end of my double bed in high school.

Our fair maiden graces enjoys the afternoon sunshine.

I think she is pretty happy here…

And so are we.

🙂

Blessings to you,

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Sunday Sentiments ~ Getting Back to the Heart…

June 16, 2019June 21, 2019 French Ethereal

Welcome and Happy Sunday! When I began blogging almost five years ago now I started a Sunday post called Sunday Sentiments… Then Mr. Ethereal lost his job just as my blog was barely getting going and I was devastated. I felt God had pulled the rug out from under me but probably it was more that He propped me up during that time. And it was You Know Who up to his usual worldly tricks…

As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it, for this is my body.” — Mark 14:22 NLT

God has always been there for Charles and myself through the four times Charles has been laid off (economic turndowns in warehouse management; not for the faint of heart) and the couple of times that I lost mine over these past 33 years.

I accepted Christ at 11 years old when my parents stopped attending the Catholic church ~ my deaf brother Frank and I found our way along with the Presbyterians then. And we are ever glad that we did!

This summer as a renewed section to my blog, I thought I’d start up Sunday Sentiments again. Not to help heal everyone’s wounds, because in myself I can’t, but to help lead you to the One who can…

God brings great joy after terrible sorrow…

If an abused dog adopted from a shelter, one who bit and hurt his owners because he (the dog) thought they were competing for his food, or for love, care and comfort, can learn to love and feel secure ~ so can you.

We all hurt. Life IS hurt, and trials. Being a Christian ~ no one said it would be easy. Just looking at the lives of the Apostles they all died for Christ but the rewards were great. They knew where they were going and what they stood for. 🙂

God gives comfort and strength to face those challenges and then…

The Son comes out and we are happy and whole again!

Jesus Reinstates Peter

15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

16Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

17The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

John 21:15-19, New International Version (NIV)

If you have never asked Jesus into your heart, this is a simple prayer taken from one of my favorite authors. I am sure that she, Jan Karon, wouldn’t mind me sharing it with you.

Spoken by the main character of her Mitford series of books, Father Timothy Kavanagh ~ from Bathed in Prayer: Father Tim’s Prayers, Sermons, and Reflections from the Mitford Series.

‘Have you asked Him to forgive the things you’ve done?’

‘I assure you that God would not want to do that.’

‘Believe it or not, I can promise that He would. In fact, He promises that He will. Would you like to ask Him into your life?’

The stranger stared into the darkened sanctuary. ‘I can’t do it,

I’ve tried.’

It isn’t a test you have to pass. It doesn’t require discipline and intelligence… nor even strength and perseverance. It only requires faith.’

‘I don’t think I’ve got that.’ There was a long silence. ‘But I’d be willing to try… one more time.’

‘Will you pray a simple prayer with me? On faith?’

‘What do I have to lose?’

‘Nothing to lose, everything to gain.’ Father Tim rose from the kneeler and took the short step across the aisle, where he laid his hands on the man’s head.

‘If you could repeat this,’ he said. ‘Thank you, God, for loving me, and for sending your Son to die for my sins. I sincerely repent of my sins, and receive Christ as my personal savior. Now, as your child, I turn my entire life over to you. Amen.’*

The man repeated the prayer, and they were silent.

‘Is that all?’ he asked the rector.

‘That’s all.’

‘I don’t know what I am supposed to feel.’

‘Whatever you feel is exactly what you’re supposed to feel.’

chapter 11, A White Thanksgiving, At Home in Mitford

*Italics are added for emphasis, by me.

It isn’t Christmas today but if you just accepted Christ into your heart, you may feel like it is! For any of us renewing our faith, or just feeling happy being a sister or brother in Christ, it’s always Christmas!

Let’s look at those numbers again, shall we?

We are married 33 years this year ~ the same number of years Jesus was when he died on a cross to be our propitiation ~ to take our wages for sin upon himself. He went in our place; that’s grace.

Today is the 16th of June and my grandmother Helen’s birthdate. She would have been 110 years old, had she lived this long. This week also marks the week my father died, on the 12th of June 1997. The 12th is the date I sat down and began this Sunday Sentiments with the Holy Spirit for you.

Just some extra cool “coincidences” for you. 😉 Welcome to Sunday Sentiments…

Sharing with

Friendship Friday 384 ~ Create with Joy

Thursday Favorite Things “All American Summer” ~ Follow the Yellow Brick Home

Blessings to you,

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Share Your Style #205

April 24, 2019June 21, 2019 French Ethereal

Welcome once again to Share Your Style and to week #205… I am Barb Chapman and I am so glad you are

here today. This week I am sharing a look at a tea and tablescape I held for two friends who came to visit

last week on

Maundy Thursday.

•Barbara: FrenchEthereal / Facebook / Twitter /Pinterest / Instagram

Here are friends Laura of Decor to Adore and Cindy of

County Road 407.

It’s sooo nice to have blogging friends who live close by!

Hope you have a good group living near you, too.

🙂

This tea included a first look at our home in the mostly put together living room as it looks out towards the backyard.

A second post I shared was a spring basket door hanger as

part of this month’s Pinterest Challenge. I’d love for you to

stop by and check out both of these posts. So much great

door decor has been created all this month’s participants and

by our host Cindy of County Road 407!

Great ideas for you to copy and adapt!

So let’s get to this week’s wonderful features

shall we?!

With Easter and Passion week just last week I believe another look is so appropriate… Therefore a few more Easter and bunny posts will feature this week.

Jeanne at her blog of the same name JeanneSelep.blogspot.com

shared the beautiful rosette window pre-fire which was saved during the fire at Notre Dame this past week.

***

Please pray for all those who have loved and are affected by the terrible fire which happened in this very old and beautiful cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, France, won’t you?

Many of you have toured this 850 year old church with its flying buttresses holding up its walls and though I have not, the faith we have, not in those relics and this church (and so many other houses of worship) but the comfort those pieces and places give us…

Notre Dame and the significance it has and has had on our fallen world remind us to continue “looking for the good” and to what the Son of Man went through to save this world from itself.

🙂

Fabiana who lives in Ecuador and writes Fabby’s Living shared this beautiful table set for Easter for all the family and company she had coming over. Simple beauty with sweet rabbits surrounding a gilded goblet and eggs nestled into sherbet glasses.

Simple and stunning!

I am on a bit of a tablescape kick lately as I love creating beautiful table settings for you all and for my family. Here is a stunning table from Sandra over at Dinner at Eight ~ love her Fitz and Floyd Easter rabbit in it’s Easter garden! And look at that tablecloth!!!

Love the Easter grass placemats…

Sew up a storm this Easter with these adorable Easter Sewing Projects!

Michele from the Scrap Shoppe Blog shares a round-up of Easter projects that we all can make now for next year and/or put on our Pinterest save boards for next year ~ adorable!!!

And since this is French Ethereal here in an Honorable Mention for the week ~ from Stephanie at The Style Safari who is planning a trip to France in May and is making some clothes for her trip. Check out her blog for her creative clothing creations!

That’s it for this week, folks! Thank you to everyone who linked up last week and be sure to visit a few partiers while you are here and if you’ll pin my Share Your Style links as well, I send you bunny hugs through the airwaves!

We all appreciate the love!

`,:0}

And just a quick reminder of the party rules:

This link party is geared towards home decor, recipes, gardening and related. I know many of you have so much to say about many other things, but here it’s always going to be a party towards life in the home.

I would appreciate a link back to your blog, too.
Thank you! 🙂

Now let’s party!

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Merry Christmas Wishes to You!

December 25, 2018June 21, 2019 French Ethereal

MerryChristmas to you! As I sit here late on Christmas Eve after a busy week-plus of visiting friends while also looking at houses with my hubby for our potential next home, it is nice to sit down and rest in the quiet of a late evening thinking about the birth of our Savior…

“I’m dreaming tonight of a place long, long ago…,” the song sung by Karen Carpenter so timeless and oft-played on the radio this time of year, is quietly drifting through my sleepy head now after putting out the last of the hidden Christmas gifts.

Memories of Christmases past bring back warm, happy thoughts of Christmas Eve services held by candlelight and the special message of Jesus’ birth

in a stable in Bethlehem.

One of our last Christmases in our Big House ~ love this Italian Nativity found long ago at Costco
when it was Price Club, remember that? The pillow on the couch is an old J.C. Penney find.

So just a few thoughts here before heading to bed…

And today I looked again for the new Nativity to bring over and set out but it is not to be found this year…

But I do have this lovely Mary and Baby Jesus…

So this is our special Nativity this year to help remember the birth of our Lord.

Simple with its message of Love…

The looked-for Nativity in last year’s photo ~ love the Old World feel. Beautiful and beatific!

May He comfort you and be your guide in this crazy journey called life!

Share Your Style will post up on Wednesday but otherwise I am taking some time off for the Christmas season and will be back after the New Year.

Also Sharing with

Wordless Wednesday ~ Oh, My Heartsie Girl!

Joyeux Noël,

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A Year of Giving Thanks

November 22, 2017June 21, 2019 French Ethereal

This has been a year of

giving thanks

for us…

First of all, I’d like to welcome you if you are coming

over from Katherine’s Corner today with the

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Give Thanks Tablescape

Blog Tour

W e l c o m e !!!

We are recent transplants to Texas via many years

in California.

My husband was blessed with a new position

here in the Dallas area last November.

We are very blessed to be here and for his work ~

our first reason to give thanks…

My former home’s backyard garden in Murrieta, California the year before we sold our home.

Giving Thanks

We have much to be grateful for ~ the least of which

is that we weren’t homeless over the past two

years while Hubby was out of his normal work.

We made it through having to sell what I thought

was our “forever home” and instead took up

a slightly nomadic life

living in a 27′ Coleman travel trailer for about

1 1/2 years before we traded it in for
our new 41′ fifth wheel
which we love for its room!

Looking west over neighboring rv’s here in North Central Texas.

Just a few photos from earlier this fall of my

kitchen and dining areas.

The lemon poppy seed cake on the back counter

is one I often bake when having friends

over for tea.

The garden area in September just after putting in the little square stepping stones.

Our little prairie rv home

This is the garden area just outside our fifth-wheel.

We had no “pop-outs” on the previous trailer so we were

really cramped and constantly having to move a box

to sit down to eat, watch tv, to do anything.

In this beauty, we have the luxury of five slides which makes

the inside about 16′ wide throughout most of the trailer.

It is really a small apartment in many ways.

We are staying nomadic for just a little while longer as we

begin looking for land and a house.

🙂

My friend Peggy came for an impromptu tea one day recently.

“One is silver and the Other is gold”

I am thankful also for my “old friends” in California,
whom I can visit with anytime via Facebook and Instagram,
and I am thankful for the “new friends” I have made
since moving here to Texas.
I believe God has provided for this need for friendship
with park owners who really care in every sense of the word
for the people and animals who live here.

Little Skidboot at his first shearing. He is one of 13 alpacas here at Wagon Master
RV Park and Alpaca Farm, Sanger, Texas.

It is a great blessing for everyone here,
whether as short-term campers or as extended-stay residents,
to be able to stay here.
The owners really act as caretakers of the land and
have a heart for people.
🙂

A tablesetting I did earlier this fall.

New beginnings

We are grateful for a chance to start over
and work on rebuilding our nest egg.
We also are rebuilding our household ~ of which
this “prairie home fifth-wheel” is a big part.

Traveling to new places as I work on making
my little blog into a real business
is also an exciting part of the new here in Texas!
I am grateful for the chance to do something
I love full-time.
🙂

A recent Thanksgiving tablesetting with pumpkins and pansies.

Grateful for the little things

Mostly I am grateful for all the little things which
have “coincidentally happened” this past year…

Our daughter moving to Texas before we did to
move out and live with her friend
then…
my husband finding and getting his new position
also here in Texas.

Or like last Christmas time when I found a
J Broadhurst Constable series set of china
minus the lid for the teapot in an antique mall
I just happened to visit for the first time.
It had been in my heart for many years to have a set
of pinkish-red china like this as it so beautiful to me.
God knew it and led me to it!
Of this, I have no doubt.

Lastly, for meeting a new group of friends and a
Bible study being offered here at the park and farm
by a new wonderful friend.

Coincidence?

I don’t think these things are coincidences.

I believe they are gifts and blessings from our

Great Creator.

I hope you do, too.

😉

Our kitchen table set for a little Thanksgiving tea!

Thank you for Visiting!

And follow me on any of my sites if you’d like.

The links are above and here in the sidebar.

Thank You.

😀

Many blessings to you and your family
this Thanksgiving…

Please enjoy visiting with all of the lovely ladies
who are linking up today.
There are many wonderful and inspirational
tablesettings and ideas out there for
your holiday decorating…

Also sharing with
Tablescape Thursday ~ Between Naps on the Porch
https://betweennapsontheporch.net/nora-fleming-servers-and-minis-perfect-for-holiday-parties-and-special-celebrations/

No Rules Weekend ~ Life As We Know It by Paula

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Sunday Sentiments ~ Author Emilie Barnes, If Teacups Could Talk

July 30, 2017June 21, 2019 French Ethereal

Recently I learned of the passing

of beloved Christian author

Emilie Barnes

who wrote over 70 books on time management

taking care of one’s home and

about tea time and knowing

and loving God…

Teatime as you know is something I find

very soothing, very comforting

and a perfect way to begin one’s day

while having a little quiet time…

I found Emilie Barnes’ wonderful books

at the little bookstore which used to be open

in between services and during the week

at our former church in California ~

Calvary Chapel of Murrieta, California.

http://www.calvarymurrieta.com/

If Teacups Could Talk was part of

what helped bring me back to a closer

walk with God.

This book was a big part of that and was

a book that all of us in my first

tea groups in the Victorian Tea Society

in the late 1990’s read and discussed

at our luncheons.

One of the stories Emilie wrote about in this book was

about her mother and how as Emilie was growing up

they lived for a time at the back of her

mother’s seamstress shop.

When it was quiet in the shop, her mother

would often take customers back

for a cup of tea.

This woman lived out her faith daily

sharing with customers and eventually

with her neighbors in

her later years.

I loved how Emilie wove her family

her love of Jesus

and poetry and quotes about tea

throughout this book!

In all of Emilie Barnes’ books she shares

Biblical scriptures and principles

to help us learn about

Jesus and about

how having faith in our

daily lives is the best comforter

we could ever have.

Sometimes during the late 1990’s

I wrote Ms. Barnes to let her know how

much her books meant to me

and that If Teacups Could Talk

helped renew my faith in God.

She wrote a lovely letter back

which I have with all

my keepsake letters.

Here is a pin I saved sharing another of

Sandy Lynam Clough’s

gorgeous tea artwork which was

soooo pretty and perfect

paired with Emilie’s books.

Part of my Mother’s Day gift from my husband back around 2002 when I visited
Macy’s in Costa Mesa, California for a china signing with Sarah, the Duchess of York.

If you are thinking of a gift for a friend

do consider giving the gift of tea…

If Teacups Could Talk

any of Emilie Barnes’ other books on

hostessing a tea party.

Emilie’s books are printed through

Harvest House Publishers.

Sharing with

Inspire Me Monday ~ Create with Joy

Saturday Sparks ~ Pieced Pastimes

Dishing It Digging It ~ Rustic and Refined
Share Your Style ~ The Red Painted Cottage

Blessings to you,

//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js

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Sunday Sentiments ~ Scripture Quilts and a "How To"

May 22, 2017June 21, 2019 French Ethereal

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

a 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 a
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

Dishing It and Digging It ~ Rustic and Refined

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.

🙂

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Sunday Sentiments, Easter 2017 ~ I’ll Make You Fishers of Men…

April 16, 2017June 21, 2019 French Ethereal

A favorite garden statue I had in my Big House front garden bed.

Easter Sunday ~ He is Risen!

Risen indeed.

🙂

Since this is the Lord’s special day
I was thinking of how we are to be
fishers of men…

I’m not a good fisherman
in fact
I’ve hardly fished for real fish at all
though I love to eat fish!
And I’m a regular fraidy~cat when it comes
to talking to people about Jesus
which really makes no sense at all because
Jesus Himself is not scary.
😉

Beautiful lily pads down at my parents’ 1/2 acre pond at their final home in Connecticut ~ roughly 2010.

But a lot of people are afraid of Jesus
and mostly because of us
Christians who say something wrong
or do something
that shows our weaknesses and
shows us as hypocritical.
I’m sorry for that, for my wrong actions
and sayings.

But Jesus isn’t hypocritical ~ He did what He
set out to do:
to save a world from themselves.
To save us from our sins by taking our place
dying on a cross.
The ultimate sacrifice for an imperfect world ~
Grace and Peace.

All we have to do is believe on Him
ask for forgiveness for what we’ve done
and follow His lead
and
read God’s Word
so we know how to live:
Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth
B.I.B.L.E

It is that simple.

Plain truths on a Sunday celebrating the great

Love

He has for us.

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16 New King James Version (NKJV)

An Easter lily for you! ~ from the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens.

Sharing with
Dishing It Digging It ~ Rustic and Refined
Inspire Me Monday ~ Create with Joy
Create Link Inspire ~
Monday Social

Happy Easter!

Tag: faith

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