After 30 plus years in the same home, I’ve been setting up house in our new one – which means new window treatments. I have to admit I hate MEASURING and most of all HANGING curtains!
Where we needed privacy, I ordered drapes – tried and true Supreme draperies from JCPenney. Nothing fancy, but very nice. Call me old-fashioned, but I love drapes with sheers underneath.
For other windows, we purchased in-stock and cut to order Levolor blinds from Lowes. I really like them. I love letting the sun into my home, and these allow me to easily do just that – open and close as desired.
To dress up the windows with blinds, I made simple valances. Now some of you may remember my earlier post – “Quick & Easy Curtains“. I was so proud to have actually made my very own curtains (actually just a simple valance) for the very first time! This from a girl that never touched a sewing machine in her entire life until about the age of 50!
Once again, I must give credit to a book written by Vanessa Arbuthnott called “A Beginner’s Guide to Making Curtains, Shades, Pillows, Cushions, and More“. This book gave me the confidence I needed to even attempt making anything other than a quilt. I highly recommend it!
From this book, I have made an Easy Pillow (page 76), Box-Edge Cushions (page 100), Director’s Chair Covers (page 116), and a Lampshade Cover (page 152). I’ve also learned many tips from Chapter 6 Basic Techniques. There are quite a few other projects from this book on my list of things-to-make. As you can see in the slideshow, I even managed to help my son and daughter-in-law do over their Airstream!
I finally got around to making MORE CURTAINS! This time, I tackled the kitchen and the laundry room.
For the kitchen, I purchased this beautiful cotton fabric from one of my favorite quilt shops, Miller’s Dry Goods. I ordered the fabric online, and it is just beautiful! Stonehedge Solstice by Deborah Edwards and Linda Ludovico for Northcott. The lining fabric is a simple Moda Bella Solid – Off White.
For the laundry room, I was a little more frugal. I used one of my flea market finds – pretty “cheater” quilt fabric! I had purchased about 3 1/2 yards of this beauty, not knowing what I would ever do with it, that is, until I was looking thru my fabric stash for this curtain! It has little “quarter square triangles” replicating feed sack fabric! Love that it matches nicely with my laundry room “decor”…
My next “curtain” project will be my sewing room! I have been collecting vintage hankies and embroideries, and I have a few ideas for repurposing a few of them for a one-of-a-kind curtain! Stay turned…
Thank you for the inspiration, and the reminder that the bedroom and the sewing room still need valances in our new home!