Thursday, July 5, 2012

One Down, Six More To Go!

The valances for the sunroom may take me longer than I thought.  I have a feeling I will be lucky to get two done a day.  I showed you a sneak peek on my last post and my  ideas for adding embellishments to a plain, straight sewn window valance {with a few little pleats for some interest}. 

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I like the way it turned out and how it looks hanging up.  It is just enough fabric to soften and, when you are in the room, just the one makes a difference.  I think it is going to look great once I get them all done and up!

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I have been sewing off and on for about 25 years and I still consider myself an intermediate sewer.  I don’t do well with patterns and usually “wing it”.  Straight lines are no problem, but curves literally throw me a curve!  I hope the pros out there aren’t cringing!

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This was just a straight sewn valance and then I laid it on the floor to play with a few pleats just to add some interest.  I tacked them together by  hand. 

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I was lucky enough to find trims that matched the colors in the fabric perfectly and a silk taffeta remnant in the clearance bin at Hobby Lobby.  It is enough for me to do the covered buttons and maybe the back for a pillow {cause you gotta have a matching pillow in the room!}. 

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I sewed on the beaded trim, but fabric glued on the flat trim.  I hand sewed on the button and little tassel.  You can see why this will take awhile!  Especially since I have to wait for the trim that is fabric glued on to dry so I can move onto the next step. 

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{The furniture is not quite in its rightful places because the bookcases are on furniture movers and pulled away from the wall ~ awaiting new flooring in here}.

So I think my guinea pig turned out pretty good and I will move onto doing the rest in the same way. 

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Let’s hope I’m done by the end of the Summer!

34 comments:

LuLu Kellogg said...

LOVE! Yes, it will take a lot of time but the payoff is going to be fabulous!

Well done!

LuLu~*xoxo

Linda (Nina's Nest) said...

Your window treatments look fantastic. Great job on all the detail. I've been sewing for 40 years and still consider myself an intermediate sewer, too! Linda

Okio B Designs said...

Pretty pattern and I love the bead trim! I remember learning to sew from Mommy and in home ec. I still only know the basics. =)

Jeanine

Marsha @ Tattered Chick said...

Ha ha, well, at least you can sew a straight line, I sure can't, nor cut in a straight line, draw a straight line even with a ruler AND I noticed that most of my photos need to be "straightened" just a tad . . . hmmm . . . I must be crooked, LOL

It looks great, Kathy!

xoxo

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

Looks great Kathy! Love the fabric! Wish I could sew!!

PinkPeony said...

Beautiful valance and looks very intricate and professional looking to me.....you are creative.

Suzy said...

Hi Kathy. I think you're doing a great job of customizing ready-made window treatments! It's always amazing how adding a few details can really ramp it up!

Michele M./ Finch Rest said...

Sure DID turn out well - my goodness, looks GREAT!

You create such loveliness in your worlds, Kathy.

Very well done, ma'am!!!

Michele Smith said...

It turned out beautifully, looked lovely in your room!

Blondie's Journal said...

You are doing a great job, Kathy! I love the fabric! I can't wait to see all the valances up. Love those pleats, too!

XO,
Jane

BECKY said...

Love it Kathy! The fabric is just gorgeous, and they will look fabulous when they are all done!!
You go girl! I will be changing our new spare room into my studio/guest room over the next couple of weeks! Finally have the paint picked out! Woohoo!

Have a great day!
Becky

Shirley@Housepitality Designs said...

Looking great so far Kathy!!!....Looking forward to the total room reveal!! :)

Dee ⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️ said...

Hi Kathy,

I love it so far. I can't wait to see them all up. They are going to be gorgeous.

Dee

Gail said...

O'Kathy, they are going to be beautiful! You have done a fabulous job!! Enjoy your evening, Gail

Anonymous said...

Kathy, I love your Guinea Pig valance! You sew beautifully! This is so pretty; I love the trim, buttons and beading! I think you hit a homerun with this fabric!

Carolyn said...

I think you did a great job! They will look so nice all done and hanging up.
Carolyn

Debbie said...

You are doing a great job! I love how you are giving it your personal touch.

Unknown said...

They're looking beautiful! I know what you mean though. Sometimes it just seems like you're never going to finish a project. I always seem to under estimate the time it will take. At least we're optimistic! If we weren't we'd probably never start anything.

Gail said...

Hi Kathy,
I just gave you a shout-out on my blog post. Enjoy your weekend and stay cool, Gail

Kelly said...

It's looking good! I'm sure that is a lot of work with the fact that you have so many windows. It is going to look wonderful when it's all done.

Donna, The Decorated House said...

Sewing sounds like a cuss word :)
The valances are going to be so nice in the sunroom, and worth all your time when you are done. Hey that's my mantra as I'm sticking my fingers with the pins and wishing I had someone else to send off the sewing to. Happy Weekend~

Patti @ Pandoras Box said...

These are gorgeous..love the fabric! And I consider myself high up on the sewing experience and I think you did a fabulous job. I can offer a tip: Hot glue the trim on...and if you ever want to remove it to use it again, it will pull of quite easy - just a thin strip will hold it, and there is no waiting! Good luck. I use to have a sunroom with 10 windows and every time I made new valances, I would cringe at the thought, and after 6 or 7 I was ready to shoot myself! It is all worth it in the end!

Darjeeling Darlings said...

Your are extremely talented!

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Very pretty, Kathy! I love the fabric too.

thistlewoodfarm said...

Can't wait to see them when you are finished! I think the fabric is so pretty!

blessings,
karianne

Unknown said...

Your valances are turning out beautifully! You may not be good at curves, but your straights are super! Have a great weekend! E

Something Special said...

Love that beaded fringe. I have used some that is similar on a valance before. Thanks for your recent comment. I wonder if you saw the hatbox post, and I am hoping that all the participants are getting ready, their hatboxes for the swap next week. Reminder that mail out date is no later than the 15th of July. Hugs to you!

Debra from Bungalow said...

I have sewn for a long time too and I don't really enjoy it anymore and only do it when I have to! Your valences will look so good when they are finished. The trim is perfect!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Oh I so love your valance. I love the material and the trims, it looks sooooooooo pretty.

Thanks for the gracious comment on my new chair. I got a kick out of your comment about what people put out on trash day. Here there is a really serious law against putting anyting on the sidewalk. Only in the designated trash cans. If you put anything on the sidewalk, the fine is super stiff. I think that is why so much winds up at GW, people don't want to pay a fine, and they don't want to pay a $50 dump fee, so they take it all to GW. Weird law huh!!!!

Hugs, Marty

Rooms by Ann said...

Your valence looks fabulous. I love the trim. I wish I could sew just a little bit.

Always Nesting said...

Love the fabric!

SheilaG @ Plum Doodles said...

I love all the detail you're adding to your valances- they will be gorgeous on all those windows! I have a row of windows that need something like that. While you're at it...? :)

chateau chic said...

Your valance is beautiful! I admire anyone who can sew curtains and get everything straight. Very pretty fabric.
Thanks so much for stopping by and your sweet comments, Mary Alice

John West said...

I love what you did with the fabric and curtain, its very warm and bright looking.

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