The only way to make a window curtain

Window treatments can really help to make your home feel decorated. I have a lot of people ask me questions like “what would you do with this wall…etc” and the FIRST thing I notice is that most of these homes don’t have curtains. Now, don’t take this statement to the extreme. I don’t have curtains on EVERY window in my house either. Curtains are however, a great way to introduce more color in your home, and that seems to be an overwhelming pattern that I see. Most everyone who asks for my advice has a set color scheme in mind, but they psych themselves out when it comes to taking the plunge. Curtains are a great first step.

Curtains are so much fun, and you may not think that you can make them. WRONG-O. The only way to make a window curtain is by YOUR-SELF. Seriously. Especially if you have discovered the $1.00 a yard fabrics at Home Fabrics. Curtains can be cheap, cheap, cheap. Ok, that kind of sounded like a little bird. Maybe it is all the Easter candy that I ate this weekend.

Here is a list of the items you need to make these bad boys:
Fabric of your choice
Sewing machine loaded with thread
Curtain Grommets found at local fabric store (I got mine at JoAnn’s see picture below)

Everyone has their own reasons for wanting to make their own curtains. A lot of homes have windows that are too tall for store bought curtains. Don’t worry, making curtains is very easy. Even if your windows are standard height, I still think you should make yourself some custom curtains. Choosing the right fabric to add to your room is much easier than finding the perfect curtains. You do need to know how to sew in a straight line though.

I measured the windows, and decided that I wanted the curtains to hit the floor. I wanted them to bunch a tiny bit when they hit the ground, but this is merely personal preference, you can measure them precisely so they are even with your floor if you choose. Next, I hemmed all four sides of the fabric by folding the edge in 1/4 inch twice and them sewing along the hem. I folded the hem twice to hide the raw edge of the fabric. You can see the hem in some of the pictures below if you need to.

Here is my before picture. This wall was was soooo boring. It needed color desperately.

The grommets come with GREAT instructions, and they only cost $10.99 (but of COURSE you should use a 40% coupon if possible). You are going to freak when you see how easy this is! Sidenote: These grommets are plastic. I’ve heard horror stories about the metal ones, so I went with the easy road.

Step 1: Trace a circle using the template provided in the grommet package (Thank you to my husband for being my hand model.)

Step 2: Cut out the circle
Step 3: Snap your grommets together by catching the sides of your circle between the two sides of the grommet.
Step 4: Hang your curtain
Here is the end result!
Total Cost: 5.5 yards of fabric ($1.00 a yard)=$5.50 + $6.59 for a package of grommets= roughly $12.00 for custom curtains!

If you would like to know how to make this window valance, go HERE.
If you would like a cheap alternative to expensive curtain rods, go HERE.

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter!

 

And three were under TWO BUCKS!!

And yes, some involved spray paint, of course.

Remember the little tool box from the previous post? I got it for $3.99 at Goodwill and about peed. my. pants. when I saw it. I have been looking for one forever! (OK, just a few weeks, but…whatever.)

I printed out my stencil:

After I spray painted the whole thing brown, I added the stencil to the front:

(

The blurriness is me, not the stencil.)

Then took another trip to Goodwill (good thing there are three within 1.5 mile radius of our house, right??) and found five little glass cups that fit in perfect:

Totally and completely adorable, no?? I still have to find more art supplies that are scattered throughout the house, but I absolutely positively adore it:

Total cost was $4 for the box and $2.50 for the cups. Uhhh…wait…that’s more than $5. OK, well…whatever.
The next two involved the following:

Basically 60 cents of paper, $1 wood tags and $1.50 knob from Hob Lob — almost all half off!

I got this little container from my sweet stepmom last Christmas, (hello LA!) and loved it, but have been staring at it in my son’s toy room thinking I needed to jazz it up with some ca-uteness:

Spray adhesive, scrapbook paper, spray paint and a knob later:

He loves it! I love it! Ahhh! Feel the love!!

More scrapbook paper and spray adhesive on the wood tags for this one. Add in some fun scissors (1.99 at Hob Lob — I have a few and love them!), $1 ribbon, the printer and you get this:

(Again…blurriness is me. I swear I wasn’t drunk.)

I drilled holes, ran the ribbon through and tied them to the baskets:

This box was a $1.99 Goodwill find. It’s the perfect size for the itty bitty teeny tiny toys little boys love:

Adorable!! Less than $2 bucks for all four people!

And for my final trick of the evening, I give you 60 cent wood cuties you can find at any craft store:

The Culturing of the Savage Pearl

 A pearl has a subtle elegance that no other gemstone matches. Pearls use to only be available at the whims of nature. Fortunately though a process has been developed which allows experts to cultivate, or culture, these fine treasures, enabling us to enjoy pearls more often and more reasonably priced.

 The culturing process has a long history behind it thatbegins in Australia. William Saville-Kent actually discovered the methods behind pearl culturing, but it is actually two men from Japan, Tokichi Nishikawa and Tatsuhei Mise, who are responsible for its true beginning as a commercial process.They were awarded the patent in Japan for culturing pearls in 1916, and Nishikawa’s Father-in-law then began to apply this technology to akoya pearl oysters. This technology was then applied to the south sea oyster in 1917 however it took another 11 years before a commercial crop of pearls was produced.

  The oyster is brought out of the water, and a small irritant, usually a piece of shell or oyster tissue is inserted into the oyster. The oyster then activates its natural defense system and starts to coat the intruder with a layer of nacre. It keeps doing this until a full pearl is formed. This process can take anywhere from 2 to 7 years. While sand can cause a pearl to be formed it is much more likely that a bead, piece of shell, or chunk of tissue was used. These provide more reliable pearls, and pearl shapes, great for pearl necklaces and pearl earrings.

The culturing of pearls has provided a unique opportunity for those who desire this jewel. They are able to have a real pearl made through the same process as natural pearls without having to wait as long. It also provides the chance to have longer strands of matching pearls. Whatever the case may be, the culturing of pearls has truly made the jewelry world a better place.

When it comes to saving space, and providing a nice place for guests to sleep, I can’t think of many things better than futons.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I know that futons have gotten a bad wrap from a design stand-point in the past, but they really have come a long way.

Many people think of the cheap black metal frames, when they hear the word “futon.” This is because most futons people have seen are those found within college dorm rooms. However this is not the best example of what a futon is. There are many different styles of futons, and each part has multiple variations, allowing for an infinite amount of combinations, and in turn ensuring there’s a futon that’s perfect for you.

First there’s the frame. While many futons do have a metal frame, they’re also available in wood. Wooden frames are sturdy and look good in a variety of settings. Also, wooden frames use slats to support the mattress which results in a more even and therefore a more comfortable, surface to lie on.

Speaking of the mattress, they’re no longer limited to cotton and polyfil. You can get them with an exterior made of several fabrics, including leather, and numerous fillings. Some have bed springs like traditional mattress, while others are made of space-age memory foam. They come in all levels of firmness from the most soft to the most firm, which means you can find one that suits you.

The last part of the futon is the futon cover. Most people either don’t know these exist, or forget about them, because most college students don’t have the budget for them. However they are an essential part, as they keep the futon safe and clean. They come in a wide variety of materials and designs.

So as you can see. Futons are a very versatile and stylish piece of furniture to have in your home, and not just for the college dorm room.