• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

May 30, 2012

Drop Cloth Curtains with Toile Trim

Hey! So, have you heard about how you can use Drop Cloths for something other than tossing them on the floor while you paint a room?
No, seriously folks!
You can use them for pillows, tablecloths, runners and even curtains!
Oh wait…what’s that you say?
You already know that?
Everyone has been doing this for years and I’m just now getting on board the
“Drop Cloth Bandwagon”?
Oh man!
And here I thought I was being all cool and trendy!
Well, I may not be the first person to do it, but better late than never right?

Drop Cloth Curtains

For some time now, I’ve been wanting to make a change to the drapes in my family room, breakfast nook and kitchen.
They have served me well for the last 4 years but I was ready to lighten and brighten a bit.
But, I wasn’t ready to spend a lot of cash-ola!
DSC_0604-001
So, I thought I would give the old “drop cloth as curtains” trick a go.
My only problem was that I really wanted them to have some kind of decorative detail to give them some extra “umph”. And that led to another problem.
I originally wanted to fold over the tops and add fringe to the hem but 2 yards of fringe per panel was going to cost me A LOT and totally defeat the purpose of having this be a budget friendly project.
Soooooooo….I thought and I thought and I hemmed and I hawed and I huffed and I puffed and I blew the house down…oh wait, that’s another story. Winking smile
But, on one of my many trips to the fabric store desperately trying to find the perfect fringe on clearance, I stumbled across a gorgeous remnant of toile fabric.
I’m a sucker for toile. It calls out to me. It knows I love it so.
And at $12 for 4 yards I was SOLD!
DSC_0602-001
It was a match made in toile heaven.
Mr. Drop Cloth, meet Miss Toile.
He may seem a bit rough around the edges at first. But after a nice bubble bath and spin in the dryer, he’ll just soften right up.

Don’t they make a lovely couple?
Sorry.
I’m weird.
I know.
Ahem….
So, I figured out that I would have enough toile to give each panel a 3 inch flange edge.
I doubled that to allow for folding it in half which meant I cut each strip 6 inches wide.
The length was the same as the length of drop cloth I needed for each panel.
DSC_0605-002
I was feeling rebellious against my sewing machine so I decided to use this little rolled up bit of genius instead. Ahhhh…Stich Witchery…you really are quite magical.
DSC_0607-001
Each fabric edge was folded in half and the fusible web strips were then placed on the inside to create a “hem”.
DSC_0610-001
Then, they were fused together with the iron per the instructions on the package.
This also created a nice crisp outer edge which is what will be visible on the curtains.
Is this all as clear as mud?
DSC_0606-001
Turn your drop cloth panel over so that you are working with the “wrong side”.
Place your fabric edge along the seam of the drop cloth and fuse them together using the Stitch Witchery. This isn’t hard but it is time consuming. Drop cloths are so thick that you have to apply a lot of pressure to get the fusible webbing to really attach.
DSC_0612-001
And, of course, it’s all in the details right?
So, be sure to finish off the bottom by creating a nice “hem”.
DSC_0615-001
So, are you ready for a little Before meets After?
Well here ya go!
Family Room BEFORE:
DSC_0604-001
Family Room AFTER:
DSC_0669-001
DSC_0652-001
The toile trim really ties in perfectly with the other accessories in the room.
DSC_0676-001
DSC_0653-001
Breakfast Nook BEFORE:
DSC_0611-001
Breakfast Nook AFTER:
DSC_0672-001
Ahhhhhh….
DSC_0673-001
I love the nubbiness (that’s a word right?) of the drop cloth and how it has a linen quality about it.
DSC_0621-001
In the kitchen, I decided to just completely give in to my love for the toile and let it stand on it’s own as simple panels on either side of my corner windows.
Kitchen windows BEFORE:
DSC_0006-001
Kitchen windows AFTER:
DSC_0637-001
This corner seems so much more open and spacious now.
Sigh…toile…if loving you this much is wrong, I don’t want to be right!
DSC_0631-001
So, there you have it.
I finally made something out of drop cloths.
Drop Cloth Curtains
Look out folks!
Who knows what might be next?
Has anyone made a drop cloth toga yet?
source
Hmmmm….now there’s a thought! Winking smile
Thanks so much for joining me at the Fence today,

1553F4F30A9801A6AFB3E9C624118E7B

Don’t forget we are offering a summer advertising special!!  For more details visit our Advertise With Us Page and receive 25% off your summer sponsorship!


Sharing this post here:
Home Stories AtoZ: Tutorials and Tips Link Party
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia: Tuesday’s Treasures
DIY By Design: Spring into Spring
Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesday
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Imparting Grace: Grace at Home
Stuff and Nonsense: Friday’s Unfolded
Common Ground: Vintage Inspiration Friday
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday
Redoux: Friday’s Redone
DIY Showoff: DIY Project Parade
TDC Before and After

56 Comments Filed Under: Decorating, DIY, Good Ideas

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « Perfectly Patriotic Memorial Day Features
Next Post: Turning 40 in style…my surprise birthday party! »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door says

    May 29, 2012 at 1:18 PM

    Great job, Vanessa! My first thought was how well the textures of the two fabrics work together. Love the new lighter, brighter look.

    Reply
  2. Michele @ The Nest at Finch Rest says

    May 29, 2012 at 1:34 PM

    Wow- that looks GREAT!!

    Well done, really is excellent!

    Thanks for the awesome tutorial as well!!!!

    Reply
  3. Courtenay@Creek Line House says

    May 29, 2012 at 1:59 PM

    HA! You crack me up. I’m also just dying for some toile curtains. I like your idea of just using it as trim! Way way way cheaper!

    Reply
  4. Ange says

    May 29, 2012 at 2:17 PM

    Awesome! I love toile as well although I always have trouble pronouncing it. Because making it sound like you are saying toilet and leaving off the t doesn’t seem right but when you say twal you sound very southern. Anyways, love how these turned out and thanks for the laughs this morning! 🙂 Can’t wait to see you at Haven!

    Reply
  5. Shirley says

    May 29, 2012 at 2:40 PM

    Nice toile fabric. I loved your take on the drop cloth curtains. I also added trim to mine however I wasn’t smart enough to use the Stitch Witchery…yep I sewed but I’ll bet it makes a difference with the firmness of the added material. I did not like mine as much as I like yours. Great job! I also want to tell you I love your rooster lamp/shade!!! very nice. I have an old farm house but my kitchen is an old time version of yours ha!! The layout is the same! I love the corner sink it was my favorite part when we bought this house….I think I’m going to re-make some drop cloth curtains now…

    Reply
  6. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    May 29, 2012 at 3:00 PM

    Awesome job Vanessa and I LOVE the toile ones you made for the kitchen!!

    Reply
  7. Kristin @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia says

    May 29, 2012 at 3:45 PM

    Hmmmm the last time I wore a toga…..well, way toooo longggg ago 🙂 I love the new curtains, so pretty and updated the rooms really nicely. Thanks for linking up.
    XO
    Kristin

    Reply
  8. Kristin @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia says

    May 29, 2012 at 3:45 PM

    Hmmmm the last time I wore a toga…..well, way toooo longggg ago 🙂 I love the new curtains, so pretty and updated the rooms really nicely. Thanks for linking up.
    XO
    Kristin

    Reply
  9. Michele Smith says

    May 29, 2012 at 4:06 PM

    Awesome! They look great, I love the toile pattern you used. They really updated your rooms!

    Reply
  10. craftythriftydecoratingwifemom says

    May 29, 2012 at 5:46 PM

    I’m a lover of toile, too! It really made a difference in your kitchen windows (duh, that’s where the most is). Love your sense of humor,too.
    Janet

    Reply
  11. Sandy says

    May 29, 2012 at 6:00 PM

    Very, very nice! I’m a lover of ‘drop cloths’ also.
    I made slip covers for all my living room furniture
    and it’s so easy to toss in the washer. Before I
    made the covers I put all the clots in the washing
    machine with lots of bleach and fabric softener
    and the fabric came out so soft and perfect.
    Great Job!
    Sandy

    Reply
  12. Shelia says

    May 29, 2012 at 6:00 PM

    You little smartie! This looks so good and you did a great time.
    Be a sweetie,
    shelia 🙂

    Reply
  13. Pamela says

    May 29, 2012 at 6:21 PM

    Loving the toile Vanessa!

    Reply
  14. Robin says

    May 29, 2012 at 6:49 PM

    Looks great. I love me some drop cloth fabric – – it has so many uses. Love the fabric you used for the trim too! The finished curtains really lighten up the room.

    Reply
  15. Anonymous says

    May 29, 2012 at 6:59 PM

    I love your idea of toile trim but I think I would hang the curtains with the trim of the inside of the window where you can see it more. Just a thought. Anyway I love the drop cloth fabric with the toile trim. Sandy B

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      May 29, 2012 at 8:06 PM

      You know what’s funny? I actually did hang them the other way first before switching it to how I have them now! 🙂 It made it a bit hard to see the toile up against the window blinds but it is fun knowing I can mix it up and move them around whenever I feel like a change. Thanks for the input!
      Vanessa

      Reply
  16. Heather's Blog-o-rama says

    May 29, 2012 at 7:26 PM

    Well this is news to me, so thanks for posting about it 😉 🙂 I alwayas love using stuff meant for one thing to fill a need for something else 🙂 🙂 Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 😉

    Reply
  17. Paula says

    May 29, 2012 at 8:02 PM

    Your new curtains look great. Adding the toile to the edges really dresses them up. I also love how a drop cloth looks like linen.

    Reply
  18. Bonnie @ Uncommon says

    May 29, 2012 at 8:35 PM

    these look amazing!! great job!!

    Reply
  19. Judy says

    May 29, 2012 at 9:09 PM

    Those looks amazing. You did a great job coordinating the two fabrics. I love toile and I love drop cloths. It’s a match made in heaven!!

    Reply
  20. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    May 29, 2012 at 9:41 PM

    Stitch Witchery..now your talking’…my kind of “sewing”….The drapes look great…and I love the toile in the kitchen…I am so partial to toile!….John B. was crossing his arms and saying…hmmm, there should have been some toile in my toga..some touches at the shoulders would have been just the thing…

    Reply
  21. Debbie says

    May 29, 2012 at 10:20 PM

    I really love the look of this Vanessa. I haven’t done a thing with drop clothes yet either, and I keep putting it on the to do list. (And it keeps dropping lower and lower and…) This makes me want to boot it back to the top.

    Reply
  22. Debbie says

    May 29, 2012 at 10:21 PM

    That’s drop CLOTHS… CLOTHS…

    I haven’t done anything drop clothes at the window either, though. Just thought I should mention that.

    Reply
  23. Anonymous says

    May 29, 2012 at 10:55 PM

    Great job Vanessa! Love the look!

    Mom

    Reply
  24. sissie says

    May 29, 2012 at 11:56 PM

    What a perfect way to dress up the drop cloth fabric! It looks beautiful and yes, I’m a toile loving fool and just can’t get enough of it.

    hugs
    sissie

    Reply
  25. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    May 30, 2012 at 12:18 AM

    Vanessa, I love the added toile to the drop cloth. Just perfect. Thanks for sharing at Wow.

    Reply
  26. Yvonne @ StoneGable says

    May 30, 2012 at 12:20 AM

    Vanessa, What a fabulous idea! I love the fabric you chose to compliment the drop cloth. I am saving this tutorial… it is wonderful!!!! I have a room that these curtains would look perfect in! Thanks for the instructions and inspiration!

    Reply
  27. Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads says

    May 30, 2012 at 12:29 AM

    Your drop cloth curtains are just fabulous, and they really do brighten up your rooms. Good choice to just do the toile in the kitchen. I have hemmed curtains and applied trim with fabric glue! Great stuff!

    Reply
  28. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says

    May 30, 2012 at 1:37 AM

    Love that fabric, Vanessa! Can’t believe you found it on clearance! You go, girl! : ) I love that you put your own touch on the dropcloth drapes and how the toile runs down the side.

    Reply
  29. Linda@Coastal Charm says

    May 30, 2012 at 1:56 AM

    Vanessa,
    What a beautiful thrifty look you have here..love the toile!!! Drop cloths are wonderful and thrifty…I love using them. Hope to see ya at NTT.

    Blessings,
    Linda

    Reply
  30. Lynn Richards says

    May 30, 2012 at 3:03 AM

    These are FABulous!!! Do you have a tutorial on an upholstered head board? I bet drop cloths would work wonders on one….
    xo
    lynn

    Reply
  31. Cindy says

    May 30, 2012 at 3:10 AM

    I love using dropcloth! I love toile! You are right, a match made in heaven! Fantastic job! I really like that you used only the toile in the kitchen, it makes more of a statement. Beautiful tiole btw…
    XO Cindy

    Reply
  32. Anu@My Dream Canvas says

    May 30, 2012 at 4:22 AM

    Thanks for the great tutorial. Lovely dropcloth! I do hope you’ll visit me at My Dream Canvas, its great to connect with you.

    Reply
  33. Sharon @ mrshinesclass says

    May 30, 2012 at 4:51 AM

    You can never have too much toile! I’m hoping to get on the drop cloth bandwagon too. Love all of the ‘afters’.

    Sharon @ mrs. hines class

    Reply
  34. Anna says

    May 30, 2012 at 5:11 AM

    They look great!

    Anna
    http://www.askannamoseley.com

    Reply
  35. classic • casual • home says

    May 30, 2012 at 9:33 AM

    Don’t you love Stitch Witchery? I just hemmed some drapes with it.

    Reply
  36. Maria Elena says

    May 30, 2012 at 12:03 PM

    Vanessa, they look gorgeous! I love the mix of the two fabrics! I have a drop cloth obsession! LOL I have made pillow and outdoor curtains and I just love your idea of mixing the fabrics! Beautiful!

    Reply
  37. marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says

    May 30, 2012 at 12:06 PM

    How fun the toile looks amazing. Love it. You did a great job, they look wonderful. Hugs, Marty

    Reply
  38. It's All Connected says

    May 30, 2012 at 2:31 PM

    I’m pretty sure a toga is the only thing I haven’t made out of dropcloths. My weekly shopping list goes – milk, bread, butter, drop cloth, cheese … I’m thinking of using velcro to add an interchangeable flounce at the top of curtain panels. Love your toile! ~ Maureen

    Reply
  39. Angela says

    May 30, 2012 at 2:41 PM

    Vanessa, they look great! It definitely lightens everything up and ties all the rooms together. No sewing is even better!! 😉
    ~Angela

    Reply
  40. Serendipity. says

    May 30, 2012 at 2:56 PM

    Love them! What a great way to stretch $$ by using the beautiful toile as a focal and using the less expensive fabric as the base! That toile is INCREDIBLE. I think that the toga should have just a 2 inch border of toile along the top and over the shoulder, don’t you?! 😉

    Reply
  41. Savvy Seasons says

    May 30, 2012 at 3:24 PM

    Wow, I love this idea. I love the “after” pictures. You always make everything look so easy. I agree, you can never have too much toile. =) xo ~Liz

    Reply
  42. CAS says

    May 30, 2012 at 8:44 PM

    I love toile, too; each design is just so interesting. Your drapes look fabulous, as well as the kitchen curtains. I haven’t used drop cloths for anything, but I should grab one at Home Depot just to add to my stash for when I get a “light bulb” moment…..lol! Great job, Vanessa!
    CAS

    Reply
  43. faithful love says

    May 30, 2012 at 10:05 PM

    I love using dropcloths….they are so versatile…I’m getting ready to make one into a canopy on my master bedroom balcony to cut the sun from coming in this summer…
    I think you should try slipping your plaid panels on with these new ones…they blend in color and it would frame the window more…if the plaid is on the outer edge, then turn the banded lead edge towards the middle, you might find the plaid ones give the toile the lift they need to pop more against the window light…you could also band both edges, or add a solid piping to the toile where it meets the dropcloth….great colors, and I love that vintage texture of the toile….
    Happy Birthday too!…Friends are blessings in our garden of life….
    Tootles!

    Reply
  44. reFresh reStyle says

    May 31, 2012 at 12:19 AM

    I love your new curtains! Awesome and can I get an amen on that it’s a no-sew!

    Reply
  45. Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says

    May 31, 2012 at 2:29 AM

    Great job, Vanessa. This is my favorite toile and the no-sew makes the project even better. They turned out wonderful.

    Reply
  46. Debra @ Common Ground says

    May 31, 2012 at 1:32 PM

    what a great combination! love that toile pattern, everything looks so great! super duper job on these!!

    Reply
  47. Catie @ Catie's Corner says

    May 31, 2012 at 7:20 PM

    Wow, love them Vanessa! I’ve been toying with making some drop cloth curtains for our living room. I’m very tempted now! Lovely job.

    ~ Catie

    Reply
  48. Terry Moore says

    June 1, 2012 at 12:47 AM

    What a lovely inexpensive expensive looking change. You just gave me an idea for one of my guest bedrooms! Thanks!!!

    Reply
  49. Holly Legare says

    June 1, 2012 at 1:02 PM

    These turned out beautiful! I’ve pinned it to my Sewing board and would love for you to share on our Creative Corner Blog Hop. It starts on Monday’s and is open all week – https://hollysstampingaddiction.blogspot.com/2012/05/creative-corner-blog-hop_28.html
    Holly
    https://hollysstampingaddiction.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  50. Richella says

    June 1, 2012 at 9:31 PM

    Awesome, Vanessa! I love this idea. I do love making things with drop cloths, but just the drop cloth fabric by itself is a little plain for me. Your edging idea is a great one!

    I’m a toile lover too–what’s not to love? 🙂

    Reply
  51. Erica {let why lead} says

    June 2, 2012 at 2:20 AM

    The band of toile really does make them look custom!

    Reply
  52. Donna says

    June 3, 2012 at 12:41 PM

    The curtains look amazing. I love the touch of toile on the edge. Fabulous project.

    Reply
  53. Susan says

    June 26, 2012 at 1:32 PM

    I liked what you had before, but I love the drop cloth drapes! Best take on these that I have seen! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  54. Becky says

    July 30, 2013 at 6:17 AM

    I just love what you did with the drop cloth. I have been searching for an inexpensive curtain solution to a florida room (just bought a home in Florida) that has 4 huge sliding doors. The trim is wonderful and using the toile for other curtains is brilliant. It all ties together. The only problem now will be to find the right toile. I love it all. Thank you so much for a brilliant idea. I will be adding grommets to mine. Wish me luck. Now it’s off to the home improvement store………..

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Can’t Sew? No worries! {No Sew Round Up} says:
    May 17, 2013 at 8:59 AM

    […] created these “no sew” drop cloth curtains with fabric trim for her family room!  Add fun trim in a variety of patterns and colors to create custom […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Savvy Seasons Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Take the Quiz

Stay updated!

Get all the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Must Reads

Recent Posts

  • A New Gig! April 16, 2021
  • Lessons From Growing Out My Bangs March 12, 2021
  • Painted Staircase Handrail Makeover March 4, 2021
  • A New French Country Dining Table February 3, 2021
  • Open Now December 17, 2020

Get all the latest straight to your inbox

Footer

Instagram

I've been watching our cherry trees bloom for 12 y I've been watching our cherry trees bloom for 12 years now and every year I ohhhh and ahhhh over the blossoms like it's the first time I've ever seen them. I gush and I take photos (that look exactly like the ones I took the year before and the year before that) and I make my family come outside and look at them with me which you know they just LOVE to do. 😉 I think that is one of the main reasons why I love spring so much. On the one hand, it's predictable and yet, on the other hand, it still feels like such a surprise after the long months of barren branches.

And yesterday, as I was staring at the gorgeous blossoms for the umpteenth time, I couldn't help but think that I hope this is how I feel when our lives return to some semblance of normalcy.

I hope that the predictable feels special and that the typical feels anything but. I hope that I ohhh and ahhh over the simple things I've realized I've taken for granted. And, most of all, I hope that feeling doesn't go away for a very, very long time! 💗
Are you living with great expectation friends? Bec Are you living with great expectation friends? Because He is risen!

Happy Easter from my home to yours!
Lemon bars all ready for tomorrow! It’s going to Lemon bars all ready for tomorrow! It’s going to be a different kind of Easter for sure but some things don’t change. Have you been baking and getting ready for tomorrow? What’s one thing on your menu that you have to have every year?
If this is Good Friday, why doesn’t it feel so “good”? It all seems backward doesn’t it?

What could be good about the unspeakable pain he suffered? What could be good about the shame and betrayal?

Easter Sunday is so joyful, bright and cheery. Shouldn’t that be the day we call “good”? It just feels so much better!

But, I don’t know how to rejoice over His resurrection, unless I have felt the pain of His death. I have realized that in life the sweetest victories are the ones which were realized after a pain-filled journey.

And, so it is with Good Friday. I know there will be victory over death, but I can’t skip ahead in the story.

Jesus knew what was coming. He knew what he would experience. And he knew why he would go through it. He did it for me. He did it for you.

Do you know that? Have you felt it down in the very core of your soul? 
Sometimes it makes me squirm a bit. Why would anyone do that for me?

Well, because, I can’t do it for myself!

There is nothing I can do to earn that kind of love and mercy.

That is why it is called GRACE.

His grace is freely given. We don’t have to pay for it. He paid the price for us already.

Do you remember that movie from years ago called “Ransom”? A couple’s young son was kidnapped and the parents went to hell and back trying to find him and pay the “ransom” demanded by the kidnappers.

Well, Jesus is our “ransom”. (1 Timothy 2:6) His life was the payment.

Why is it called “Good Friday”? Because that wasn’t the end of the story….
.
…It was just the beginning!
Raise your hand if there’s a table in your house Raise your hand if there’s a table in your house that’s become the landing zone for ALL THE THINGS! 🙋🏻‍♀️🤪 I’ve never been more thankful for our rarely used dining room table as it’s become command central for school books and laptops and games.

Where are things collecting in your house right now?
“Sighing, tears, frustration, anger.” Every si “Sighing, tears, frustration, anger.” Every single one of these emotions has made their way through our home in recent days and, my guess is, they have in your home too.

I SO needed this reminder today from the new book ‘Adore’ by @sarahagertywrites.

Adoration isn’t just sitting at His feet gazing longingly with stars in my eyes. It’s bringing my fears and my sorrows and gray roots in my hair that desperately needs to be colored and my messy house and all of the things that threaten to send me over the edge right now and laying them down before Him, soaking up His word and His presence so that when I stand back up, I am changed for having spent the time adoring the ONE who is... Healer, comforter, peace-giver, deliverer, redeemer.

What do you need to bring to Him today? I’ll share mine in the comments and I’d love to hear from you too!
I’ve always loved evenings, but since this whole I’ve always loved evenings, but since this whole lockdown thing began, I’ve come to appreciate this time of day even more.

It feels the most...normal. Daytime is strange and foreign right now. My husband has taken over our home office, I’m suddenly taking over the responsibility of managing my kids’ distance learning and let me just say that teaching 7th grade algebra to my daughter is hugely ironic since I struggled with math all the way through school. I’m trying to do my own work but it feels utterly futile with the constant interruptions which take precedence right now. In the daytime, I’m constantly reminded of how upside down life feels.

But, in the evening, I cook dinner like I’ve always done and we gather around the table like we’ve always done and we laugh and tell stories and then clean up and play games or go on a walk or watch a show. And that feels SO gloriously normal.

So now I love evenings even more than I ever did before and I’m so grateful for this little chunk of time where the rhythms we established years ago are helping to sustain us now when so much of life feels outside of our control.

What feels ‘normal’ to you right now? Whatever it is, keep doing it. 🌿
When I was in college I would frequently call home When I was in college I would frequently call home and pour my heart out to my mom, sharing with her all that was happening in my life in that completely unfiltered way that you can talk with the person who potty trained you. These phone calls usually took place at night and my mom would patiently listen as I vented frustrations about professors, roommates, boyfriends and the food in the cafeteria. And, inevitably, they would end with my mom saying, “Everything seems worse when you’re tired. Try not to overthink things or make any major decisions tonight, especially when you are feeling emotional.” Dear friends, may I pass along this advice to you today?

If you don’t absolutely HAVE to make a decision right now, I want to encourage you to wait until life gets back to normal. If you are finding yourself over-analyzing relationships and family dynamics, I want to encourage you to remember that everything seems more dramatic when looked at under a microscope. And, let’s face it, being homebound with our loved ones non-stop makes us all feel like lab rats in an experiment.

If you are tempted to quit a job, start a business, start homeschooling permanently, stop homeschooling permanently, move to a new city, buy a farm, quit pursuing your dream, join a commune or make any other major life decision just…wait. Because, if it is in fact the right decision, it will be made even clearer once our lives return to their ‘regularly scheduled programming’. Instead, in this strange season, let’s all just take a deep, collective breath and let it out slowly, releasing the anxiety that threatens to overtake us. Let’s help each other maintain some perspective and not slip into a posture of over-thinking every little thing in our lives. Let’s remember that the enemy of our souls would love nothing more than to use this time when things feel dark to manipulate us into thinking that aspects of our lives are worse than they actually are.

My prayer for you in these days is that you will have the clarity to know what is true and that you will be filled with peace even while we live in this season of so many unknowns.
Raise your hand if you’re doing more baking thes Raise your hand if you’re doing more baking these days! 🙋🏻‍♀️ I’m trying to avoid gaining the #corona15 but my daughter and I LOVE baking together and it does help to pass the time plus it counts as a science lesson right?

If you’re able to find flour in the stores (for the love people please stop overbuying!) and you’re doing more baking at your house too you need to add this apricot bread to your list of new recipes to try!

Normally I’d point you to my blog for the directions but I’m going to do you a solid and leave the full recipe in the comments.

What have you baked so far during this time of social distancing? I’d love some new ideas!
There are a LOT of people out walking in our neigh There are a LOT of people out walking in our neighborhood right now (but still social distancing!) and she decided that she wanted to bring them some joy and put a smile on their face when they pass by our house. Also, the square with ‘say no to coronavirus’ is priceless. 😂 I just love her so much!
Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2021 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2021 At The Picket Fence