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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

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August 30, 2012

Sisters and Sewing…from Linda at It All Started With Paint



We are so honored to have Linda from It All Started with Paint here with us at the fence today! Not only does Linda have a fabulous blog, but she also has a gorgeous Etsy Store, Drop Cloth Designs, and it one of our amazing sponsors. Linda is sharing a heart warming and touching post dedicated to her sister Janet.  Please welcome Linda…to At The Picket Fence!

it all started with paint
When Vanessa and Heather, the blogging sister sensations, asked me to guest post, my first thought was “yes, of course.  I’d be honored.”  And my second thought?  My sisters.
Carol, who I shared a room with growing up and who is closest in age, made a major life change and moved her family to Montana many years ago. And then there’s Janet.  The first born.  She spent over a decade fighting long and hard against breast cancer.  Her battered and weary body finally gave in on August 21, 2006.  The post I’m sharing today is a tribute to her legacy …
What Would Janet Do?
Any time I find myself making curtains, I think of my sister Janet.
You see, Janet was the penultimate seamstress.  Meticulous attention to detail.  Perfectly straight seam lines.  She knew all the technical sewing lingo and skills …

Like what cutting on the bias means …

… and what bias tape is really used for …
… and how to make button holes.
She also never, ever bought department store drapes.  Instead she studied their construction and went home and made her own.  Only better.
Janet was the person who taught me how to make balloon shades.  Together, we made four for my very first apartment; she and her husband came over and helped me iron those folds and folds and folds of fabric and hang them.
When it comes to sewing, I’m a poor woman’s Janet.  My projects entail a lot of guesswork and fudging and improvisation …
So when I tackled the drapes for my son’s room remodel, I was wishing Janet was still here so I could ask her what to do.
Teen Room orange gray black clock
Like, what did she think about me making them out of canvas painter’s drop cloth …
I’m pretty sure she would tell me to wash them first.  Yes, I’m positive that’s what Janet would do.  So I did too.
And when I cut that drop cloth panel in half, I’m thinking Janet would know this handy tip of just snipping and ripping that drop cloth with my bare hands into a perfectly straight line …
image image
And that band on top?  I know Janet would approve of my solution to sidestep possible uneven seams by attaching thick ribbed orange ribbon  to the top …

Teen Room orange black white drop cloth drapes

… and then again where the panel and the drop cloth materials meet …
… and then top-stitching right over that ribbon with orange thread …

DSCN1148 (550x413)-1 (2)

And I know I was channeling Janet when I realized the bottom seam should get a band of ribbon too.
In the end, I think Janet would’ve approved of what I did …

Teen Room orange gray black bookcase

Teen Room Orange gray black drop cloth drapes

Janet, you are missed …

img001

Thank you Linda for sharing this lovely post dedicated to your beautiful sister Janet…we are so grateful that you shared a part of who she was with us…we are honored! Please pay Linda a visit at It All Started With Paint, we know you’ll love her as much as we do! 
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Comments

  1. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    August 29, 2012 at 12:20 PM

    What a sweet tribute to your sister and the drapes are fabulous. She would be proud.

    Reply
  2. White Weathered Hutch, says

    August 29, 2012 at 12:53 PM

    Yes your sister would have been very proud. These drapes are custom made.

    Reply
  3. Holly says

    August 29, 2012 at 1:13 PM

    What an amazing room redo – the curtains look completely professional! Janet would be proud. Breast cancer…oooh. My friend was just diagnosed with both sides and needs 20 weeks of chemo before surgery and then 40 weeks after. I’m so sad. Great post!

    Reply
  4. thistlewoodfarm says

    August 29, 2012 at 1:49 PM

    Linda…..I know your sister was so amazing! And what a beautiful….beautiful tribute to a sister who left such a legacy! Thanks so much for sharing your heart today.

    blessings,
    karianne

    Reply
  5. Linda @ it all started with paint says

    August 29, 2012 at 1:58 PM

    Heather & Vanessa,

    Thank you so very much for letting me guest post here today … I cried when I wrote this post. I cry each and every time I read this post. But I smile too at the wonderful memories of my beautiful sister.

    Linda

    Reply
  6. Linda@Coastal Charm says

    August 29, 2012 at 3:12 PM

    What a beautiful post, and yes, your sis would be so very proud of you.

    Blessings,
    Linda

    Reply
  7. Ruby Jean says

    August 29, 2012 at 4:16 PM

    Linda, this was such a Sweet and Endearing post. There is such a special bond that can be made created between sisters and when it is there is NOTHING else like it and NOTHING that can break it.
    The curtains came out lovely.
    Blessings
    Angelina

    Reply
  8. Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage says

    August 29, 2012 at 8:14 PM

    I loved your post all about making your drapes and how you included your sister and her knowledge. I cried the first time, I cried this time. Even though it’s such a fun happy room. I know it was bittersweet. I’m so sorry you lost your sister, but glad you can share a little piece of her with us 🙂 I’m sure she was just as sweet and special as you are.

    Reply
  9. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    August 29, 2012 at 11:10 PM

    Linda…you know that your sister is so very proud of you…she has been guiding your hands every time you sit down to sew those gorgeous pillows and your amazing other sewing projects…I am so very sorry for your tremendous loss. There is nothing like a the bond of sisters … such a beautiful tribute to your sister Linda!!

    Heather and Vanessa…thank you for Linda’s post today..she is such an amazing person with a beautiful soul…

    Reply
  10. Eclectically Vintage says

    August 29, 2012 at 11:41 PM

    Linda is a fabulous girl and I know her sister would be laughing and cheering along with us as we read her blog. What a great tribute to an amazing sister – I think I’ll call my sis right now.
    Kelly

    Reply
  11. Geneva says

    August 29, 2012 at 11:43 PM

    What a lovely post … I was crying and smiling all at the same time. Janet, would indeed be proud!

    Reply
  12. Jessica Kielman says

    August 30, 2012 at 1:26 AM

    Okay, crying. I think of my Grandma Gosney every single time I turn on my sewing machine, and how proud she would be that I am making things myself instead of buying them. Your sister sounds like an amazing woman. Thank you so much for sharing this post…and hooking me on using dropcloths for everything!

    Reply
  13. Good Time Charlie says

    August 30, 2012 at 3:11 AM

    What a beautiful tribute to someone who was obviously so gifted. Hmmmm, if Linda is a poor woman’s Janet when it comes to sewing, I am definitely below a pauper then. Love those curtains.

    Reply
  14. Heidi @ Decor & More says

    August 30, 2012 at 11:14 AM

    She’s smiling down on you, Linda! <3 you!!
    xo Heidi

    Reply
  15. Kelly says

    August 30, 2012 at 6:23 PM

    What a wonderful tribute to your sister! You obviously share her talent as I’m a personal recipient of one of your beautiful pillows. I think those draperies turned out so cute and I don’t doubt for a second that they are sewn very well! I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your sister too.

    Reply
  16. Our Little Orphanage C says

    August 31, 2012 at 12:29 AM

    She would be proud of you and so am I those curtains are beautiful!! What a wounderful tribute. You know she smiles down on you:)

    Regina

    Reply
  17. debra says

    August 31, 2012 at 9:58 PM

    I am a mix of emotions reading this…mostly sad that you cannot have her company but also inspired that you carry her with you when you work on something. What a beautiful and LOVING post…that’s what comes through 🙂

    Yes the talent comes through but the LOVE is there interwoven with every word / I am SO sorry that you lost your beautiful wonderful sister far too early …. 🙁

    Reply

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I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consumin I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consuming seasonal decorating. When I think back on the years where I would feel all of the pressure to come up with something fresh and creative I’m seriously embarrassed. Truly. Because it was such a waste. A waste of my time, my energy, my resources. Something clicked with me a few years ago. I was just done. I needed to simplify. I needed to not spend an obscene amount of time looking at fireplace mantels on Pinterest and trying to figure out how to make mine look amazing. I needed to put it all in the proper place in my heart and my mind. Which meant, it had to go waaaaayyyy down on the priority list. So far down it almost wasn’t on it. And I needed to confess to the Lord that I had allowed it to become an idol. 

Yes, I want to have a home that I enjoy. Yes, I love pretty things. But something really amazing happened when I finally released it all. When I decided to not give into the pressure and panic I would feel when I would scroll through my Instagram feed. When I just laid it all down and said…enough. There was this incredible irony in it. Because, the less time I took to decorate my home for each season, the more I found myself loving the results. I think that all along I had just been getting in my own way. It’s really taken a lot of time and prayer for me to finally be at a place where even though I still struggle with insecurities and I still have doubts from time to time, I’m becoming increasingly more confident in who God created me to be. And, just like my home, I’m finding that as I relax into myself, letting go of the comparisons and the pressure, the more I can actually lean into the calling He has placed on my life. 🍂

Leave a comment if you can relate! 

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking
“As the alluring song of September begins to whi “As the alluring song of September begins to whisper in my ear, my passionate spirit yearns for the splendor of its promise.” (Peggy Toney Horton)

Happy September dear friends! While I’m not quite ready to let go of summer and I plan to make the most out of the lingering, warm days, I’ll admit to starting to think about my fall decor this year. And one way to get inspired is to take a look back at previous years. Here’s just a glimpse at some of the ways I’ve welcomed Autumn to my home! 🍂

#september #falldecorating #falldecor #falldecoratingideas #wearethehomemakers
Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning the corner and getting closer to fall but I’m not quite ready to let summer go. So I’ll just be over here continuing to whip up some super simple summer meals for my family that frankly can be enjoyed in any season. These shrimp rolls I made the other night were definitely a hit and would be great for any of your upcoming holiday weekend gatherings!

Shrimp Rolls 🍤

Ingredients
1-2 lbs of shrimp that is peeled, deveined and tail off (If using frozen make sure it’s thawed completely)
1/3 cup mayonnaise 
1/2 of a lemon
2 Tbsps chopped scallions
1 Tbsp chopped dill
1 Tbsp chopped Italian parsley
1 Tsp of Old Bay seasoning (more if you like!)
pinch of sea salt and pinch of black pepper
Hoagie Rolls
Softened butter

Directions: Gently pat the shrimp with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Roughly chop the shrimp and place in a bowl. Add mayonnaise, squeeze half of lemon and stir to combine before adding in the scallions, dill and parsley. Stir to combine and then add the additional seasonings. Spread butter on hoagie rolls and toast in the oven until lightly browned. Pile on the shrimp mixture and enjoy! 

#shrimproll #foodie #weeknightdinner #easydinner #seafoodlover
Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. W Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. We woke up to the sound of chainsaws and rushed downstairs to find that our backyard neighbors were having two of the huge trees that line our shared fence removed. These trees have been here longer than the neighborhood and no, they weren't dead or causing damage to roofs, foundations, etc. They were beautiful and gave us wonderful privacy. We had no notice of this happening so this came as quite a shock. Because we were given no notice, we didn't have the chance to cover our outdoor furniture or plants and everything is now coated in a thick layer of sawdust including the fresh bark we recently put in the garden beds. And now our lovely privacy is gone, replaced by a direct view of an above ground pool and RV. I know, I know, it's totally a first world, privileged kind of problem to have. But, now we have to spend thousands of dollars on plants to try and recapture some semblance of privacy. Now we have days worth of clean up to do after we had JUST done a massive freshening up of our backyard. My overarching feeling has just been weariness at the way our world is today.

I think about how often we try to do right by people, to be respectful and courteous. To be thoughtful and considerate. And it’s not reciprocated. How its starting to seem more and more like people have just given up on those seemingly small niceties. And my soul just feels heavy. Because I feel like so much of what used to be common courtesy is not so common anymore. Drivers on the roads are angrier and more reckless than ever before. Red lights being run are an everyday occurrence around town. On our recent family vacation, I heard more people using the F word out in public than ever before even while around children. Where are manners? Where is kindness? I'm finding myself being surprised when someone is thoughtful because it seems like a rarity. And that's just all on a micro, local level. Don't even get me started on the insanity in our world/culture. After I returned from grocery shopping (which can also be soul crushing), I found myself desperate for a reminder of the truth. 

*Part 2 continued in the comments.*
How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully grasp our strengths or our weaknesses until we are put to the test? Little did I know how much I would love my role as a wife, mother and homemaker until I became one. And that in my endeavor to do those roles to the best of my ability, it would bring to the forefront gifts and talents and blessings that I use outside of these walls.

As I water others, I’m watered too because it brings such joy to care for those around me. But it can also make me see more clearly the areas in which I’m lacking and be a very humbling reminder of how much I still need to grow and learn.

Proverbs 11:25 says, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched and one who waters will himself be watered.”

Have you done any ‘watering’ of others this week? How has it blessed and ‘watered’ you in return?
“Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you “Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you make.” Statements like this from my kids fill me with so much joy and such a sense of assurance that my role as the maker of this home is one that makes an impact on them in both big and small ways. It’s not just sheet pan shrimp boil. 

It’s nourishment
It’s time together around the table
It’s laughing as we try to get the butter sauce out of the pan
It’s a memory
It’s an imprint on their lives 

The ordinary act of making a meal becomes EXTRAordinary. And I try to keep that in mind as I do this task day in and day out, year after year. 

***

Ingredients: 
1 pound baby red or yellow potatoes
Green beans or corn (4 ears cut in half) whichever you prefer
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
1/2 tsp coarse sea salt and pinch of black pepper 
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 (12.8-ounce) package smoked andouille sausage, thinly sliced
Crusty bread for dipping 

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet or coat with nonstick spray. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook potatoes until just tender, about 10 minutes. Put potatoes, shrimp, sausage and green beans or corn on baking sheet. Pour butter over top. Sprinkle with old bay seasoning and salt and pepper. Mix well to combine. Bake for about 12 minutes or until shrimp is pink. 

#shrimpboil #sheetpandinner #sheetpanmeals #homemaking
Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and lig Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and light cocktails! My husband is my own built in bartender and he put this together the other night. 

2 jiggers of gin (you could also use vodka) 
*you should do a jig when using a jigger 😉*
Crushed ice 
Grapefruit tonic 
Squirt of lime 
Sprig of mint 

Easy and so refreshing!! ☀️

#cocktails #summercocktails
There is something magical about the late summer e There is something magical about the late summer evenings. Maybe it’s because we have a greater sense of the fact that these long days are slowly shortening and we want to savor them as much as we can. I know I intend to do just that. 

I hope you’re having a wonderful August so far dear friends!
Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our hou Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our house all summer long. We’re big on the ‘build your own’ method of making dinner especially on very hot days. Simplicity for the win! 
#recipes #easydinner #easydinnerideas #homemaking
In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grou In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grouping of beats. No matter what else a piece of music has in terms of its pitch or tone, the rhythm never changes. Its the stabilizing force and brings order to a composition that would be completely chaotic without it.

The same can be said of rhythms in our lives and in our homes. When everything else feels out of control, rhythms and patterns provide us with stability and something that we can rely upon to give us a sense of security in a very insecure world. But, too often, we associate the rhythmic things we do in our lives as merely tasks to be gotten through rather than gifts which provide much-needed balance.

Whether it’s making the coffee every night before we go to bed or doing my devotional in the morning before the rest of the house wakes up or watering my garden, these simple tasks provide a rhythm to my day that is truly grounding. 

What’s something that you do that you would classify as a rhythm or pattern in your week?
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