A gallery wall process

Our 42nd anniversary was last Wednesday. Richard and I decided to work on a gallery wall for our living area. Who wants to work as a way of celebrating? Me.  When Rich says "what do you want to do?" if I answer with a project, I get the project--completed. How's that for a romantic date?   

 It took us from Wednesday to Sunday. There are a few reasons for that. We work slowly, for one. We had several (good) interruptions. I wanted to make use of the frames that we already had, but I wanted black frames. Plus, I didn't have mats or a clock, both of which I picked up at Hobby Lobby on Friday. 

Nevertheless, we have completed it, and I L-O-V-E, love it! I thought I'd share with you our steps in case you ever want to make your own gallery.

1. Remove photos and glass from frames. Ours had been sitting in boxes for a couple of years. So I  cleaned the frames and washed the glass using glass cleaner.

 

2. Once everything was dry, Richard hung the frames outside to spray paint them. Despite the 99 degree heat. 

 

3. I had the chore of putting the frames and photos back together: frame, glass, mat, photo, back. I spent a great deal of time choosing pictures. 42 years of photos means there are too many for this one wall.

4. Use the frames to make paper templates to hang on the wall. Mats have two sizes on them, the picture size and the frame size. Frames, on the other hand, have only the picture size. However, the frame itself adds to this size. So an 8 X 10 frame means it can hold and 8 X 10 size picture. If the frame is two inches wide, the paper template will measure 10 X 12 because it is the outside measurement of the frame. (That's why you put the frame on the paper and cut around it to make your template)

 

 

5. If necessary, put hangers on the backs of each frame.

 

6. Paper the wall. Choose the places for each photo using the paper templates and painter's tape, which doesn't leave a residue.

 

 

7.  Measure and put up wall hooks. Again, I went the cheap route and used metal hooks from years ago. Rich didn't want extra holes in the wall and he knows my math level. That translates to he took over the job. And did fantastic work.

 

Suggestions: 

Write something on the paper templates so you can easily match picture to template. It's amazing how confusing it all becomes. 

Use your template notes to add the corresponding picture as you put up each hook. 

To add interest to your gallery, mix in other items. We added a large clock and a couple of souvenirs. To tie everything together, our frames are all black and the mats are white or b/w.

I made a few changes along the way and am still considering whether I want to add yet two more small photos. I think of this gallery wall as a living project. We can change portraits or items at will. So long as we stay within the sizes and colors that are now set. Do you have any suggestions for adding interest to a gallery wall? 

Wait. What? July 7th

Already? The last week has flown by. I'm not really sure when I slept. 

I'm kidding, of course.  There has just been so much going on. First, my very sad news is that our sweet little Cottontop, who has been my constant companion for over 17 years, went to puppy heaven last Wednesday. It's extremely sad to miss him so much, but he was getting in pretty bad shape, blindness from glaucoma, painful hips, confusion. I am happy that he is no longer suffering. Seventeen years is old and we have been expecting it for a long while now. Richard took care of burying him in our backyard. He had made a small wooden coffin a couple of years ago. 

At the time that he was dealing with my little Maltese, I was tutoring English. My student spent several days completing his assignments, testing and learning test-taking skills. I kept him pretty busy, poor kid. Today was his final and I'm anxiously awaiting the results.

Thursday I left for my modern guild quilt retreat. What fun! I had such a great time. I completed one top and almost finished another. Plus, I completed my "mow the lawn" strip for the Sugaridoo BOM. (I'll be so happy when it's complete.) And I made a couple of postcards for a sister, which I can't find at the moment.  The retreat took me all the way to Sunday. 

Monday, I went to a guild meeting and gave a presentation on thread-painting. That went badly. It also happened to be Will, our oldest son's birthday. They invited us to their home for supper and cake. Their kids and grandies were also there and we were reminded how noisy a house full of kids and teens can be. And be grateful to return to the quiet of home.

But aren't they cute?

Quick Finish

That's me. Testing the finished product.

Thanks to Sweet Red Poppy I've finally found a scrub cap that fits and I like. And, this pattern is free! 

In one of those rare incidents, I did not change a thing. Nope, not one thing. I printed, taped, cut, and sewed exactly as instructed. Whew! Not an easy concept for me. But it's a winner.  

How do you find this freebie, you ask? Go to Sweet Red Poppy, click on Free Patterns in the navigation bar at the top. The very first one is the scrub cap. Voila! 
(Shh, listen, there are many other useful freebies.)

A couple of adjustments and we're happy.

This cap is already in Jenny's hands. She's going back to work as a dental hygienist in just a few short days. She's a germaphobe, in the worst way. Hates all the ickies!

It's a conundrum. I get to play hero for a moment. She loves me, what can I say?

Have a fabulous week. I hope it starts out with your being a sewing hero to someone. It's a sweet feeling.

Family, flowers, face masks...the little things in life

A rose from the new bushes

 

A beautiful moth Rich discovered this morning.
 Look at those markings.

I haven't been sewing very much of late. Between enjoying the beautiful weather and the yard, dealing with being quarantined, and making masks (yes, sewing but not my fav), the days are flying by. 

My new issue of Quiltfolk,
dedicated to Louisiana quilters

The children do occasionally visit, but we are keeping social distancing alive in the back yard. And of course, we visit Rich's mom daily, but again social distances have become the norm. 

New tee-shirts that a wonderfully talented friend 
delivered to my mailbox. 
Social distancing means not visiting as usual.

I've been walking more while it's cool enough to be out-of-doors. I took these pictures of the slough down the hill from our house on one of those excursions. 

And those masks! Thus far I've made and mailed four to my sister Laura, donated 10 to the local nursing home, and have two ready to mail to my niece who cannot find completely black masks for her flight attendant job. 

Happy birthday little reader!

And the most heartbreaking of all: this little guy turned one Sunday and we could not attend his birthday party. Family who live close by drove to their house and sang happy birthday from their cars. We did so via Skype. 

My fear is that they littlest ones will forget who we are if the quarantine lasts as long as projected. I guess it just means we'll have to make up for lost time by spending lots of time with them when CoVid-19 is in the past.

Please keep safe distances of six or more feet from others, even the ones you love. We can beat this pandemic with time, distance, and clean hands. 

Pin It Weekly #300

Yay! We made it! 300 PIW posts! And, yes, still pinning. Want to know the stats? Go here. Want to see what's pinning? Stay for a spell.

Still stuck on patterns!

also windmills, the old fashioned ones with beautiful skies

Everything Louisiana!

Merry Christmas

And for the first time, photos of our family Christmas.

Thanks for visiting!

Meet the Hummers

Sitting on Millie's chair which had
been put outdoors temporarily.

Richard has been feeding the birds again. Well, he never really stopped. But he's now feeding them to keep them safe from hunters. You see, dove season has begun. 

Doves on the barbeque pit? Not a little ironic, right?

For someone who was a hunter, he sure is working hard to keep his fat doves happy at home. With no intention of shooting them himself, of course.

Two of the four feeders at Will and Stacey's house

And then there are the hummers. We apparently live along the flight path of migrating hummingbirds. A couple of weeks ago we got a Facebook video from our oldest son. He's holding two hummingbird feeders in his hands while the birds are swarming him and eating from the feeders. 

Only six in this grainy picture.

Richard has been outdone! He is now filling the feeders several times a day. The one just outside the kitchen window needs sugar water at least four or five times daily. I think I heard him talking to them, but I won't swear to it. 

My job in all of this, you ask? Well, I get to enjoy the birds. Song birds regale me as I walk through the yard. The doves coo when I sit in my favorite chair in the shade. And I can stand at my kitchen window and enjoy the antics of those flighty little hummers. They are something to see. I take pictures upon pictures, but I can't seem to catch them doing something really funny. 

This feeder is just outside my kitchen
window. I can watch the hummers
incognito while standing at my sink.

I saw one stand on another's back and both drink from the same spout. A female somehow poked her beak into the crack along the top of the feeder where the lid is screwed on and flew around the feeder sucking the sugar water from the crack as she went. She did not break stride or have to right herself. How do they not get dizzy? I get vertiginous just watching them!

They are interesting little fliers. Too bad they've already begun moving to more southerly homes. Almost all those territorial males have left, so the females are gearing up for their flight. Richard has devious plans for next summer. Will and Stacey had better stock up on sugar!

Indian Creek Reservoir

Every year my family makes an attempt to get together for a weekend of camping, boating, eating and general water fun. Those of us with campers try to get campsites near each other. That usually doesn't work terribly well, but it's good to have two general areas. One can escape to the other area when necessary.

After all, when many people gather in one place, there's bound to be some noise. Unfortunately, not many of us were available this weekend, but three campers and two boats showed up and brought 25 or so people for an afternoon of water sports and supper. Ahh, family!

So these pictures are some that I took in the afternoon near the waterfront. I didn't have to walk far to take them. As Richard and I were walking "home" to our camper, we saw a little squirrel who leisurely climbed this odd tree with the hole right through the trunk. I missed the squirrel, but the tree cooperated.

Notice that I didn't take any pictures of family. Actually it's because I did not want anyone taking pictures of me...it's so hot I truly was melting in the heat. Not something I want posted on social media, so I decided to abide the golden rule. How do you decide which family pictures to post? It's a tricky question for me, especially when posting on my blog. Do you feel that way? 

Papa -- a hard loss

Back in the beginning of April, I wrote this article about Richard's dad, who had become bedridden and losing his battle with COPD and dementia. We lost him last week. He struggled for weeks unable to breathe, though his memory had a few days of clarity. He was able to recognize those who visited and say goodbye. It was heart-wrenching, but having the closure and knowing he was ready must make his loss easier for Mrs. Carolyn, his wife, and Richard and Steve, their two sons. 

Mama and Papa

We spent as much time as possible with him because we wanted someone to be with Mrs. Carolyn when the time came. Waiting while a loved one slowly passes away is difficult enough without having to face it all alone. So Rich and I made sure one of us was sitting in their house or within just a couple of minutes drive. Mostly we tried to help her in dealing with hospice, company, family, and her own grief.

He'd been in a semi-coma for a week when, finally, on Wednesday morning he took his last breath. I must say that first time that he stopped breathing for several moments was frightening. Not that I'm afraid of death, but because I had promised to call the family. But that was just a warning of what would come in less than an hour, and we were able to gather everyone to their house. 

Richard's parents, Richard Sr. and Carolyn; my parents, Riley
and Ellen (their 50th anniversary); and Richard and me.

People in our area have held wake services for the dead for centuries. Although it's rarely followed now, the Cajun French people of Louisiana held "the wake" throughout the night and into the morning when the funeral is held. Papa had made several things clear and "an all-night wake" (meaning a traditional service) was an absolute if we were going to follow his wishes. Of course, we would comply: a rosary, a mass, a burial in the plot he had prepared 20+ years ago. He had always made things simple. 

Friday we said our last goodbyes and prayed the funeral rites. Papa had been raised and remained Catholic for his entire life. It's quite calming to know exactly what to expect during a Catholic mass. Somehow it's easier to mourn. Father Sklar, who has been assigned to us for only a few weeks, had visited the family several times in the last month and celebrated with a beautiful eulogy. 

And so the last of the five Marcotte brothers is gone.