The Little's Rooms Got Some Love

Last week I was thinking about how much creating I do for custom orders or for volunteer jobs. I spend a lot of creative energy on people outside of my family and so I suggested to David that it would nice to spend some creative energy on the littles. I had some ideas brewing and when he gave me the thumbs up, I went into full design mode. We settled on a gallery wall for each room plus curtains, hooks for their towels, shelves for each bedside and an art hanger for each little. I made a list of elements I wanted to include in each room.

1. something sewn/fabric element
2. woodcut element
3. string art
4. monograms
5. photograph
6. printable art/quote
7. scripture verse

Then I narrowed down to specifics as to what that looked like. So for the girls' room it ended up like:

1. kite
2. heart (inspired by HEart by CC)
3. crown
4. cut out of foam board
5. siblings picture
6. "Dream Big" (source)
7. I will add a verse to the heart woodcut at a later time

The boys room:

1. deer head
2. arrow
3. sword
4. cut out of foam board
5. siblings picture
6. fox
7. I will add a verse to their arrow art later

David shopped, cut and stained wood during the daytime. He was in charge of the woodcuts, string art, shelves, towel hooks and art hangers. I painted the clothes pins (for the art hangers) and the frames plus rough cut out the fabric elements during the day. The rest of the projects were done in the evenings after the littles went to bed. That meant late bleary eyed nights, but I'm really happy with the results. Last night I planned the gallery walls, but putting them on the floor. I took pictures to give to David for hanging and while I took the children out on a playdate, David re-arranged the girls' room and hung all the elements we crafted. What a thrill it was to reveal it all to the littles!

The deer head was made from a pattern found here. I found the wood plaque at the thrift store and a with a bit of paint it made a great mount.

David cut this based on a few pictures I showed him on Pinterest. I didn't want to tell him exactly what to make, but I knew I wanted an arrow. It turned out great. His favourite piece.

Again, I asked for the sword, but I left David to do the style he wanted. He found a sword image on google, added a cross in the middle and enlarged it to make the template. Screws were an easier choice and he just went with it. I like it a lot!

The monogram "M"s I printed out on the computer, taped to foam board and cut out. I painted them and that's it! Super easy and a great and cheap monogram! We enlarged a photograph from our last family pictures in 2014. The same picture for both bedrooms. 

I thrifted and painted this cute frame and got the printable from here. 

Here's Malachi's art hanger in action (sorry for the dark picture). Just clothespins painted and glued to a board. Each little has one, though we haven't hung Hannah's yet. We are saving it until she is a bit older.

Michaels had these cutlery clothespins in a bin and I simply glued them onto this little board, also from Michaels. Cheap and funny, considering the boys are always thinking about food. This wasn't planned for, but added on a whim.

I found this wood pineapple at the thrift store. It was varnished and worn, but I saw its potential and snapped it up. I painted it and glued an oversized clothespin on it and it's adorable! My favourite piece in the girls' room!

David did the crown the same way as the sword and he did a great job!

The girls' monograms were done the same as the boys. I found the birdhouse and bird at Michaels and threw it in. 

The kite I made up as I went. I drew a pattern and did a basic quilting pattern on it. Then simply tied jersey bows onto a ribbon tail.

Each little got a shelf on their bed. They all needed a place to put water bottles and treasures etc. Here's Abby's in action. David made simply with two boards, painted white and attached right to the bed frames.

David made this based on a picture I showed him. Abby thinks it looks like a minecraft heart.

I used flat sheets from two of the littles' bed sets to make quick curtains. Not too difficult as I cut them in half, finished the two cut edges and voila! Curtains! I hate sewing curtains, but this wasn't too bad. We are exhausted, but happy with the results!

Summer Lovin' Check In

I am loving summer! I'll skip the apologies for how long it's been since my last post and just say "I'm playing!" I did want to pop and in and give an update as to what we've been up to. Let's call this one July and I'll stop in again with August, okay? Let's get to it...

We kicked off the summer with my favourite holiday, Canada Day. (And our 2nd VANinversary) We went to St. Norbert and took in some of the festivities including The Red Ember pizza truck, local musical talent and fireworks.

 Let's just say that we are all SUPER Happy to have David home for the summer! Hannah's face says it all.

We are doing our best to just have a great time together on as many mini adventures as possible. River and beach walks, lots of parks, picnics, tandem bike work-outs and even waiting at the doctors office can be an adventure if we are all together.

David and I are trying to take the time to date our littles one at a time (sometimes together and sometimes one on one). So far, we have taken Abby to her first baseball game, Micah to his first movie, Malachi to kids club at Michael's and Abby to a Zumba class. 

We had the joy and privilege of baptizing our Abigail. We've had such a journey with her and we are so pleased that she's making such a profound decision to follow Jesus and to tell others about it. If you're curious about why we do this, you can read about it here.

This could technically go into my August update because that's when it was finished, but David and a student He works with spent several hours in July on this beautiful kitchen table! I'm so pleased with how it turned out but mostly with the hard work and time that my David put into making it for me (okay, for my family). I have a list of other items I'd like him to build next. Its so exciting!

 It's hard to believe that July could be summarized so simply, because it's been a grand adventure! I'm so glad that we have a few more weeks before it's back to the daily grind. I update Instagram regularly if you'd like to keep up there. My user name is mrsgingras. Otherwise, stay tuned for an August update (sooner than I'd like).

Checking In

I have a lot of random things to share, so I'll do it in pictures...

Creative Happenings...

1.Biggest commission project - a sound booth cover 2. a passport holder for a family of nine 3 & 4. Family t-shirts hand painted - freezer paper stencilling 5. family growth chart

Documented Faith weeks 9-14

We attended a family retreat at the end of March it was a great time!

1. Malachi and his friend at the pool 2. David holding Micah during family worship time 3. Hannah has so much fun 4 & 6. Malachi and Abby both riding for the first time 5. Silly group shot

Random family news...

1. We walked the river at the Forks for the first time this winter....so cool! 2. I love my new clock 3. chubbbers!!! 4. My daddy celebrated his 65th birthday! 5. an anonymous zipper challenge has me thrilled and excited (already a month behind ;) 6. pink hair! 7. Bunny's first haircut 8. Girl's date at Cinderella 9. New tradition: socks for Easter

Keeping it simple lately with ink in my Bible....

1. John 13:34 2. Colossians 3:13 3. Daniel 3:18 4. Psalm 121:1 5. 1 Peter 2:17 6. Romans 1:6-7

I have had a whole pile of custom sewing jobs and I've agreed to a craft sale fundraiser next month. My sewing machine and I are being friendly and I'm loving it. I love Instagram and in many cases feel like that's been a better space to stay in touch. Is this blog getting to be an outdated thing? I love this little space, but is it too redundant? What do you think?

Just Because...

My last post seemed a bit on the heavy and I didn't mean it to be, but I've been thinking about 2014 (still) and I thought I'd throw in some silly and just because favourites of 2014.

• I was introduced to a few new movies and my favourite one was definitely The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - I watched it twice one evening after another when I was first introduced and have watched it several times since. My David even bought us the soundtrack. So good! My favourite scene is the shark scene! I laughed so hard and still do every time.

• We camped overnight with the littles last summer - I don't think I like camping anymore. I'm good with a warm bed shared only with my husband. I'm okay with my sense of adventure being different than it used to be. 

• Bible journaling and Documented Faith have brought me into a place of self discovery in art and I'm loving every minute of it! 

• A group of my girlfriends have been chatting throughout the holidays via Facebook messenger (it actually began in the beginning of December) and I love these girls more everyday! I am so blessed to have such great community here! Its real and funny and crazy and honest and encouraging and I love to hear my phone ping at any and every hour! 

• Our weekly tradition of pajama van has been invaluable to me and has made my littles amazing road trip travellers! This might make us sound like crazy mean parents, but on the trip home from holidays, David was the only one to leave the van (to fill up with gas once) from Moose Jaw, SK to home (Winnipeg, MB). That's about 400 miles or 640 kilometres! The day before, the older littles got out of the van once for a bathroom break and that was almost the same distance. I take for granted how well they travel, but I think it's because we drive 1-2 hours at a time every week. Some days we go for a extra 45 minute-1 hour drive just because. David and I have always loved going for a drive together and now we take the whole family and hope they love it or learn to just as much as we do.

• Hannah's first year went by so fast! Phew! It's like I blinked and it was gone. I'm trying not to miss anything and like Jesus' mother,  Mary,  I'm treasuring all these things in my heart.

• Being an artist wasn't my only discovery last year. I'm so glad to look back and see some character growth. That's especially encouraging when I feel stuck in the SAHM mom rut.

• I've grown to really enjoy Instagram and I post there almost daily. Sometimes I forget that I have anything to blog about because I've already posted about it on Instagram. 

• Last year's parties were fun and I'm pondering what to do this year. Any ideas you've been itching to try?

I think this should be all for my 2014 musings. I will give you a quick rundown on our road trip soon.

Bethlehem LIVE! 2014 Begins!

our Malachi as Jesus (photo credit)

Tonight Bethlehem LIVE! returns to Winnipeg. I'm not directly involved this year, but my David will be guiding tours through Bethlehem and praying with those who would like someone to pray with. I will tour Bethlehem with my older two littles (the babies are sick) tonight and with a new scene added, I'm particularly excited. I didn't get to attend last year (I had severe mis-alignment issues in the last month of my pregnancy) and I missed it! Bethlehem LIVE! is an interactive live nativity that our church hosts every year. There are hundreds of volunteers who gift the city of Winnipeg with a Christmas tradition that won't easily be forgotten.

Abigail's favourite scene: King Herrod's palace 

I've had the privilege of participating in BL four times. The first year I sang as an angel, heralding the good news from up high. The second year, I brought baby Abigail with me and we were in the town well scene and also sat in as Mary and baby Jesus for a few tours. Abby was 11 months old, so a little difficult to pass off as a newborn, but people especially love to see live babies play the special role.

David as a tour guide with Micah waiting to begin

The third year, our Malachi was weeks old and David played Joseph while I was Mary and Malachi was baby Jesus. What an especially memorable time that was! There was a tour that came through that I remember with extra fondness. The group had been ushered from our stable scene and on to see the shepherds and hear the angels, when a lady came walking back to the manger side. She had tears in her eyes and a smile on her face as she softly said two words... "Thank you". You could tell that she was so impacted at the reminder of why we celebrate Christmas. It snapped me into an attitude of awe and gratitude at this incredible gift that we've been given.

Baby Malachi plays baby Jesus

The fourth year, I brought baby Micah to the well scene. Once again we sat in at the stable scene for a few tours and I got to see the delight on everyone's faces as they witnessed the miracle of Christmas. That does not get old!

We try to tour BL every year as guests, too

Hannah hasn't been to BL, yet. Since my Christmas baby was born on Jesus' birthday, she has a different honour. Our hope is to someday journey to BL as a family and serve together. This year, we release David to serve and pray that this gift will be a blessing to many.

Every tour group gets to hear a mini sermon message from one of our great pastors

If you're in Winnipeg come to Gateway Church at 851 Panet Road
tours run every 8 minutes and last approximately 40 minutes
Thursday 6-9
Friday 6-9
Saturday 12-3, 6-9
Sunday 12-3
Come early and expect to wait, but know that it's worth the wait! Visit the BL website for details and more pictures.

Malachi as Jesus