Grace Laced

The walls in our recently re-decorated bedroom have remained

mostly bare for the better part of the past year.

Howie and I both had ideas about what we wanted to do,

but, it was tricky to pull it all together.

 I couldn't have told you exactly what I was looking for.
But, I was quite sure I would know it when I saw it.

A little over a week ago, I landed on a blog I'd never been to before.

Beautiful artwork was featured across the header of her blog.

I noticed a *Shoppe* button, and clicked through to find

the perfect solution for our walls. 

I love how Scripture is incorporated into each piece.
And, the colour scheme perfectly complements our room's decor. 

We are both incredibly pleased with the results.

It all came together too easily for words.

In these, and a myriad of other ways, we see the goodness
 of the Lord.  His loving hand is evident in every detail of life.

May you know His loving care over you as well.
And, may you see His hand in every little thing.
 
With Love, Camille
 
**I am not compensated in any way for my opinions.
I'm just thrilled that I stumbled across this lovely artist's blog. 
Perhaps you will be, too?

Work in Progress

I have done quite a few posts on the renovations and destruction

and rearranging we have done in our home over the years.

But, I haven't really posted much in the way of *after* photos of our projects.

Not necessarily because I haven't wanted to, but, because we have not
really and truly completed very many of them.  Not completely.

Most things are still a work in progress.

Curtains haven't made it onto most of the windows in the rooms
we've worked on in recent days.  Things often seem to reach an impasse
at the point of installing them.  They don't get made.

This was our room in its standstill state.  It looked like this for about ten years.
Life happened and children grew and the motivation to strip that paper was just not in me.
We pinned things to it knowing that one day it would come off the walls.

I actually didn't set out to take *before* photos.  In fact, I didn't.

Howie took these a few years ago for insurance purposes.

I only saw them recently.  After he stripped all the paper off the walls,

I lamented the fact that there were no photos of what it had been.

Then, these emerged.  So glad they did.

We didn't swap out any of our furniture.  It's just the same.

As it turns out, so is the duvet cover.

I bought a couple of new ones to try, and ended up preferring the old.

The pillows are new, however.

And, so are the curtains.  It only took three tries to get them right.

We still have plans for more pictures on the walls.

But, that may take time.  At least the curtains are up!
And, the *after* photos have been taken.  :)

So, there you have it....a work in progress.

Happy Monday!

Many Blessings, Camille

Sneak Peek

Just a little sneak peek....

I've partially dressed the window and changed

my mind at least three times.  Thankfully, the fabric is inexpensive.
Almost there.  Really.  Truly.  Hopefully.

Hugs, Camille

While We Were Gone

I don't know if I've mentioned it here before, but, 
our home falls into the *older* category.  At least, here in Canada it does.

We've tweaked and rearranged and updated along the way.

Long ago, I had the bright idea to do our master bedroom in wallpaper.

The wallpaper was put up as well as the curtain rod.  And, that was it.

I hit a brick wall when it came to decorating the space.

Nothing went with that paper.  Nothing.
It was a mistake.  I mostly closed the door on it all.
It stayed like that for ten years.  And, we lived life.
We let it slide.  And chatted about what we would one day do.

While we were gone, Howie implemented those plans.  Perfectly.

He worked 'round the clock ~ keeping the business going and renovating in the off hours.

He didn't take much time for much else.  I had no idea.

Actually, I had an inkling.  When he asked how to remove wallpaper

and what the codes were for the paint colours before we left.  Those were clues.

However, I had no idea that he would tackle the entire project in one fell swoop.

But, he did.  And, I am so thankful.

When our plane landed and we were waiting to be picked up at the airport,
I didn't realise there was a surprise being finalised for us at home.
Calvin arrived driving the van and informed us that
we were under strict orders not to go directly home.
We were banished from the house for a couple of hours.

Another one of those clues.

Howie was madly finishing up.  When we did arrive home,
he opened the door to greet us with caulking all over his jeans and paint on his shirt.
The house smelled very strongly of fresh paint and newly applied caulk.
The walls were still tacky in places and the supplies were still on the bathroom floor.

But, it was done.  And it is beautiful.

The beginnings of stripping off all that paper.  True love.
Howie used a fabric softener solution which worked beautifully.

However, it all took time and a mess was made in the process.
A word to the wise ~ think long and hard before installing wallpaper.
In some cases I still believe it is the best thing to do.  In this case, it wasn't.
Live and learn.  Oh, and leave when the job is being tackled!  ;-)

My Sweetheart carefully planned and measured and implemented.

He worked diligently to get it all done while we were gone.
(And, he even took photos to document it all...wasn't that sweet?)

This is how the bathroom looked with all the supplies lined up neatly on the floor
and on the counters.  Apparently, this was his work station.  I'm glad I didn't know.

Moulding was purchased....

...and installed.

My Dad came by to lend a helping hand ~ thanks so much Dad!

The level was employed....

...as was the caulking gun.

Howie really did work 'round the clock.

The poor neighbours.  :)

But, he completed the project, and I am so thankful.

Now, I am busy making curtains and dressing the room ~ finally!
Before and after photos coming soon...I hope.

Happy Monday Y'all!
With Love, Camille

Amazingly Simple Jean Quilt

During our recent visit to my sister's home something I hadn't noticed
before caught my attention ~ the most adorable jean quilt ever.
She had it rolled up in a basket just asking to be used.  Love in a bundle.

I am not a quilter.  Never have been.
However, this looked like something I could do.
I had previously been intrigued by the jean quilt idea.

Jeans were collected and saved.  For years.

But, that quilt never got made.  It was much more involved than this one.

I must admit, I was slightly frightened by the project.  It kept getting put off.

But, the jeans were still there just waiting to be made into something.

Enter Janine's amazingly-simple-I-can-do-this jean quilt.

I took photos and measurements and came home with
renewed enthusiasm for this long ago abandoned idea.

The box of jeans was dug out of the closet.
A partially made flannel nightgown was cut apart.
And, a teeny bit of cream coloured flannel was purchased.  I was all set.

And, the quilting began.

One side is raggedy with all the seams unfinished.

The other side is finished and randomly patched together.
There's no right or wrong to this.  It was a wonderful quilt to begin with.
If you look closely, you will see some of my mistakes.
But, that makes it all the more endearing.  At least, that's what I keep telling myself.

My sister had hearts on her quilt.  I copied.  Cute, don't you think?

Want to know how to make one yourself?  Easy peasy.
Here's how you do it.  Gather together all your jeans with holes in the knees.
Or, do like my sister did, and buy a few pairs from the thrift store.
I just happened to have a big ol' collection in the closet.  So, I was prepared!

I didn't have any quilting supplies.  But, I must say, a rotary blade, cutting mat,
and clear quilting ruler came in mighty handy.  I borrowed the ruler from
my sister and bought the cutting mat and rotary blade as a set.
It was the most economical way to go.

First, I cut off the seams and pockets of the jeans.
Then, the remaining material was cut into 5 inch squares.
I needed 144 squares for each side of my quilt.
My plan was for the finished product to be 12 squares by 12 squares.
The jean side and the flannel side require the same number of squares.

So...144 squares of jean material and 144 squares of flannel were cut.
This is by far the least fun part of making this quilt.
But, what's gotta be done must be done.

If you want hearts...cut those out and randomly
stitch them to a few of your squares.

Once you have all your jean and flannel squares cut out, this is how you begin.
Take one of your jean squares and lay it on the table right side down.
Lay a flannel piece right side up on top of that jean piece.
These two pieces should match up exactly and be right sides out.
Take another piece of flannel and lay it right sides together on top of the last flannel piece.
Then, take a piece of jean material and lay it right side up.

You should have a stack of four squares in the following order:
Jean ~ right side down; Flannel ~ right side up; Flannel ~ right side down;
Jean ~ right side up.  Now, sew a straight line down one side connecting all
four squares together.  Make sure your seams are a consistent measurement.
They all need to be the same in order for the quilt pieces to fit together nicely.

I used just shy of 1/2 inch seam allowance.
You could go as narrow as 1/4 inch if you want less fray.

On a side note ~ It's advisable to use a jean needle for this project.
I broke at least four while putting this quilt together.  I thought it was only
fair to warn you.  Just buy a package of needles and you'll be fine.  :)

Once you have sewn one side...open up to expose the flannel as shown above.
Now, take another square of flannel and place it right side down
directly on top of the square on the far right (the one to the left doesn't get added to).
Place a square of jean directly on top of that flannel right side up.
Stitch together at the far right with another straight seam.  Open up and repeat.

Keep adding to your quilt in this manner until you have
12 squares sewn together in a single row.

One side will be jean with raw edges exposed as shown above.

And, the other side will be flannel with finished seams as shown above.

 Iron your raw edges flat for each row of quilting as you complete it.

Once you have two rows of 12 quilt patches made, sew one of the long edges together.

Press flat and make another row to add to these two.  

Continue until you have 12 rows all sewn together.

Sew the full length of the quilted row on one edge only.
Remember to piece your quilt together with jean/raw edges on one side
and flannel/finished edges on the other as shown below.

Iron the quilt flat between each new addition.

Once your quilt is all pieced together, sew a straight seam
along the outer edges to finish it off.  The outer edges will fray just like the jean side.
It will get cosier with each wash.  According to my sister, you will
need to trim the threads after the first few washes due to all the fraying.
But, that's the charm of it...don't you think?

And, that's it.  It's as simple as that!

My quilt was made up of pieces of jeans collected from
each of the children through the years.  Some were even mine.
I embellished the finished quilt with a label from inside a pair of Austin's jeans.

The pocket from a pair of Emma's jeans made up one of the squares.
Memories are all tied up in this quilt.  It's a treasure.
Get creative with your quilt and customize it to make it extra special.
And, most of all...have fun!

Here it is ~ all rolled up and ready to be put to use.

Any questions?  Clear as mud?
Start collecting those jeans.  Happy quilting!

With Love, Camille

Art Incorporated

A few new pieces of art have recently been added to our home.

Calvin had some calendars printed which included a number of his photos.

The one he made for me had carefully selected Bible verses added to the pictures....love!

Last summer, my Dad created some more of his beautiful drawings.
He shared one of them with us.  A Grizzly mama bear with her cub is
featured in it with one of the Rocky Mountains in the background.

It currently lives in the office area of our home.

Do you remember this?  Well, that led to this, which resulted in this.

We've had this frame for a number of years, but, it was never put to use.
Once the bathroom had a fresh coat of paint, I was inspired to hang art.
Guess where the picture came from?  An old calendar.  Free!
It's hanging on the wall to the left in the photo above.



The hand towel rack that had been pulled out of the wall needed
to be installed in a different spot than it had previously been in.
And, these two little plaques go perfectly in the space created.

I especially love the Bible verses featured on them.
What precious promises the Lord gives His people!!

So, there you have it.  Art incorporated.
How do you incorporate art into your home?
What is your favourite tip for doing it frugally?

Happy Weekend Y'all!
With Love, Camille