Button-Up Window Shade

I love this idea from Martha Stewart's Craft of the Day. It's a "button-up" window shade. What a great idea. The MSL instructions are not very detailed and the picture above is the only one provided (says me, who makes a mile-long post with a gazillion pics about my window treatment in my kitchen!), but it is a very simple shape so it should not be too hard to make. I would think you could do this to a panel you might already have, too.

Be Inspired! -Karol :0)

Kitchen Window "Treatment"

I have lived in this (rental) home for almost 2 years. The window above my sink looks out to the side yard full of magnolia trees, pine trees, oak trees and palmetto plants. It's a beautiful view. For some reason there were no blinds on this window when we moved here. I have wanted to make a window treatment for this window, but I could never really decide what I wanted.

While at Joann's last weekend I found some fabric on clearance. I had decided I would recover some cushions for the furniture on my front porch. Then I also thought about using these fabrics to recover or slipcover my pink wingback chairs that I haven't gotten around to dealing with yet. Below is a photo I took just trying out the fabrics to see if they would look good on the chairs.

Then today, on a whim, I decided to use the fabrics to make a window treatment for my kitchen window. The colors are perfect in the kitchen. They match great with the blue walls and really tie in the basil green and yellow I am painting my hutch in.

I would love to say this was a quick no-sew window "mistreatment" (as Nester would call it), but it was a sewing project. It took me about 2 hours to make. If anyone would happen to be interested, I will share the basic steps next week in detail. If you sew at all you can make these. It really is quite simple to do.

Be Inspired! -Karol :0)

Curtain Mistreatment

These are the Waverly curtains I bought for my living room a few months ago. Remember my post about using a tablecloth for a curtain? Well, when I was at TJ Maxx and thought of that great idea, I only purchased one of the pretty green/yellow/blue/cream plaid tablecloths. So after experimenting and then posting my idea I needed three more. I went to two other TJ Maxx stores and cannot find anymore in that design. So, if any of you decide to use tablecloths as curtains, be sure you purchase as many as you need at once.

Back to the Waverly curtains I have up now. I love them. I love the rich colors and how I can pull those colors from the curtains with colorful accessories and other fabrics in the room.

I purchased this plaid fabric and added an easy mistreatment to the top of my curtains. So simple to do. I just clipped the piece in the ring clips with the curtain top. I love it. I love that touch of red at the top. It makes the curtains look more substantial. I feel it makes the room even more cozy.

* I will post in a few days about my hutch. The paint is drying. I decided on the new hardware I will replace on it. *

Be Inspired! -Karol :0)

Country Curtains

Ever heard of Country Curtains? I, personally, sew my own window treatments, but if you don't like to sew or you just don't have the time you should check out Country Curtains. They're a mail order window treatment business that has been selling quality tailor made curtains since 1956.

To me, they used to be known as really Country Curtains. As in the muslin-ruffled country curtains from the 80's. If that's how you remember them, you ought to check them out now.

They have all types of window treatments in fabric prints including plaids (my fave), stripes, checks, solids, florals, toiles, ticking stripes, and paisleys. In an array of fabrics ranging from 100% cotton to silk taffeta and every thing in between.

They carry roman shades, roll-up shades, sheers, tab top curtains, cafe curtains, valances, full panels, and yes, they still sell the cheery, welcoming wide ruffle curtains in that classic country style.

They offer braided rugs, chair pads, decorative pillows, comforters, curtain rods, and tiebacks and tassels in a large array of styles and finishes.

You can sign up for their free catalog or you can shop online at www.countrycurtains.com. And if anything, you can get lots of window treatment ideas from their catalog and website to do yourself!

Be Inspired! -Karol :0)