Yipee! We got more snow today and it’s a winter wonderland out there. Old Man Winter is going to go out scratching and clawing all the way. I love that we’ve finally had a real winter this year!
Anyway, there’s been some sewing happening here. A few years ago when we redecorated the kitchen, I chose some fabric for the kitchen curtains. I’d let someone talk me into doing things in red and black and gold, and while that would have been just fine, I didn’t love it. One day, SweetiePie was here and I was whining to her that I didn’t love the new fabric (fortunately I hadn’t purchased it yet) and I thought it was possibly because there was no blue anywhere in the new plan. SweetiePie jumped into action and in about 3.5 seconds, she found this post on the internet. It made me start thinking and even though my walls aren’t white like those in the “model” picture, I decided that look might work for me.
I bought some fabric and then procrastinated because there were complications. Our window is 150″ wide and the longest curtain rods are only 120″ long. I knew I could probably custom order one, but I started thinking about alternate plans. I finally decided I’d like a fabric covered valance. And then I procrastinated more because I really didn’t want to build said valance. Finally, when we had the bookcase built, it occurred to me that I could have the cabinetmaker build me a valance. He did such a beautiful job, I hated to cover it.
So, a few weekends ago, I moved the machines up to the kitchen and started sewing.
Of course, I had some help. Paulkitty really did try.
And he was much more helpful than Scruff who just wanted to kill himself in the plastic bag that came with the roll of fabric. Don’t worry, no kitties were harmed in the making of these drapes.
The sewing went well and didn’t really take very long. Even covering the valance wasn’t particularly difficult. But, hanging it on the wall was a jumbo pain in the rear end. Two people, a long valance, and two poor quality stud finders meant that the hanging process almost took longer than the sewing.
Anyway, I’m very pleased. We’ve been in this house over 14 years and it finally looks like we actually live here! Extra special thanks go to SweetiePie — without her, I’d probably be complaining about my black and red curtains to anyone who would listen. ;-D
One last thing … Attention Stripe Lovers! You’ve probably seen the diagonal stripes from the April Showers collection. Bonnie and Camille’s stripes are Perfect for quilt bindings. Not to mention any other stripey needs you might have. In case you need some and don’t already have them, I’ve added some stacks to my little Etsy shop.
XOXO,
Anna
This looks awesome ! Love the blue and yellow! Now could you and Sweetpie come help me with my kitchen windows?
PS: The snow at your house looks beautiful! Especially since it’s at your house ! LOL
I love the fabric Anna. Blue is my favorite color. I’ve always wanted a blue and white room. The curtains and valance are fabulous.
Wow! Your house could be in Better Homes and Gardens. All that work was definitely worth it. Way to go, Anna and SweetiePie!
love what you did to your kitchen! wonderful curtains. Glad that you like your winter – I am ready for the springtime weather myself but could do without pollen!!
Gorgeous. It really pulls the whole room together.
Your curtains look very nice! Good job. I hope you aren’t sending that snow this way; I can’t take any more.
Very suiting. We have the same issue. Huge windows. Thank goodness for ikea. Aren’t those the best stripes!?
yahoo for sweetiepie!!! they are just lovely anna. love the blue. just love it. can’t you think of 4 million things to do with those stripes? i’ve been looking over at amy’s site finding all sorts of things to do with them. hopefully i’ll finish them in the next five years before i get some grandchildren. and you, well…. hopefully you will too – but you always finish all your stuff – put the rest of us to shame. one quilt a month, that’s all i ask, lol. alright it’s past my bedtime. go sew something else so we can pretend we’re going to make it.
:waves madly
what a beautiful room x
The curtains and pelmet look brilliant, Anna. Well done to you and SweetiePie and the cats!
Oooh and I’ve beaten Anne this morning! LOL
Gorgeous curtains and well worth the effort… which of course is easy for me to say because I didn’t make the effort… and I hate doing curtains!
It looks indeed like winter wonderland. I’m so jealous!!! Fantastic curtains, blue and white, a sure winner. You are aware that this is only the beginning. You’ll probably start with a couple of blue and white cups and then you can’t stop. Well, you’ve been warned ;)!!!
ok, you twisted my arm. you can figure out and make all the curtains for our new house really so kind of you to offer anna.
I can’t believe this post ~ I, too, am measuring and marking valances for eventual sewing this week. I’ve had the fabric forever, but put it aside when I realized that my easy plan to cut them lengthwise from the floral pattern wouldn’t work, because of the repeat direction. (Which just looked generally *floral*, until closer examination.) Once it looked like seaming patterns would be necessary, I lost interest quickly. But there’s something about spring that makes one want things DONE, isn’t there?
Your window treatment is fabulous!! Love the fabric choice, love your space! (And I can’t tell you how often I get shaken from a rut ~ of thought and/or inaction ~ when my daughter arrives and forcibly ejects me from it in short order.)
I love the beautiful new blue drapes! Great job. And the kitties are so funny. ;)
Those blue curtains are so beautiful!! Nice choice. Love the decor. And that snow outside looks picturesque!
Wow, such a beautiful window! I can only imagine how pleased you are at this point. I say sit down at the table with Sweetie Pie and enjoy a cup of tea and some homemade scones.
How clever are you?! They look so good – clever SweetiePie for finding the post too.
beautiful and fresh fabric! the link to the “bookcase” didn’t work for me, and I was curious, did you build them?
Love the pet helpers!~
Anna, you ARE a wonder! Those drapes look great, and I like your stripes, too.
I had to chuckle at the almost suffocating kitty, you have a “naughty kitty” too. LOVE the drapes, the fabric is stunning!!
Love the curtains Anna. It really changes the look and feel, very nicely done.xo
Ooh, I like! The window treatment, and the snow. It’s full on spring here now, although we had a huge snowfall at the end of March last year so fingers crossed that doesn’t happen again.
1) Love the drapes and the valence!
2) SAVE THE CAT!!!!
Winter needs to GO AWAY! Spring is next week! Love the drapes and valance. Looks great in the space. :)
I’m not really loving snow pictures anymore, but I’m glad you are. Now those curtains are just gorgeous. Your room is beautiful, just stunning. Good work ladies!
Anna – you did a beautiful job on your new drapes. They are perfect for that area of your home!! I just read about your Father-in-law. I’m very sorry for your loss. Prayers are with you and your family.
What lovely curtains Anna – the fabric is gorgeous! I’m too scared to try to make curtains as I know they would never match! x
Dear Anna,
Your curtains are so pretty! Congratulations on a splendid job and my praise as a non-curtain sewer is truly heartfelt! I must also add a little more praise concerning your pullover, which is beautifully photographed, in the previous post. I bet you’ll be getting a lot of wear and love from that!
I’m a little jealous of the snow you’ve had. Spring is in full swing here in the Loire Valley but we haven’t had a snowflake all winter!
And finally, thank you so much for your kind comment on my recent blogpost; it was really appreciated.
I love the blue curtain fabric! Well done Anna, you are so clever!
Wow – those curtains are spectacular Anna! Well done you.
In our old house we had window cornices custom made. One to cover the slider and two smaller ones. One gal came out and wham, bam, thank you ma’am they were up! I couldn’t believe how fast and accurate she was and she did it all by herself! I have to hang a curtain rod and I’ve been fussing about it for almost two years!
Hi Anna, I’m back from beautiful Ber(g)lin(d) :)
First of all, WOW, that tree looks gorgeous!! Does it belong to your yard? Gosh, so pretty wearing this stunning wintercoat!
Second, your drapes are awesome! Fit so perfectly with your beautiful interior! And I can’t stop laughing of your cats, they are the same everywhere, always trampeling on something or squeezing themself into something, LOL
I LOVE the stripe binding idea, hmmm…. maybe I’ll have to visit your site?!
Berlin was fantastic!! Such a great and relaxing vacation for the parents of four! Ahhh…. Sleeeeeepppp :)
And tomorrow I’m off with my quilty-girlz to a country house for full three days of sewing, ah life is good!
Take care
Berglind
You could probably fit our entire house into your kitchen…
Oh these drapes are so beautiful! I love blue, its always my first choice although I have been pushing hard to use different colors in my quilts. I am glad you enjoy the wintery weather, I am very happy in temperate SoCal. And especially glad I do not live in OK, Pioneer Woman not withstanding! I haven’t sewn in weeks…just itching to get back to my usual routine but not happening for another couple of months I’m afraid. Buy maybe I will just go right now, get off the computer and watch a movie will I work on a few of the never ending hexies!
Your drapes are gorgeous! And not only do I love blue & white, but I love the way they play with your gold walls. Kudos to your daughter, I wouldn’t have thought to put the two together, but wow, it works great!
Scruff made me laugh out loud. In fact, I nearly sprayed Earl Grey Tea out my nose, as it was so unexpected. I don’t have cats now, but I have had them in the past, and they are always interesting (and helpful, right?) to have around.
I hope you’re getting some sunshine, warmer temps and snow melting in our neighborhood. We are, sort of….
Very nice! Good for you for getting it done! I’m trying to talk myself into buying fabric and making new sheers for our huge living room window. I hate to spend the money for curtains that are hidden most of the time and the thought of wrestling that much fabric is making me procrastinate. The old ones are in tatters though (they came with the house) and it can’t be that hard to do. One of these days I’m going to get it done. Soon. I swear.
I love the stripes too. Striped binding makes me happy.
Hi Anna…love those drapes. I used to have a drapery business….I gave it up because I loved hobby sewing too much. As for the snow…..I’m usually up for as much as the good Lord wants to send, but I gotta say I’m ready for some spring rain. Xoxo
Looove your snow photograph!!
Thank goodness for SweetiePie! Now I bet you wonder why it took you so long to get those curtains made. They look wonderful. Great fabric!
Your cats made me laugh!
Your curtains look amazing!! 3 cheers for SweetiePie for finding that tutorial and that gorgeous fabric!! Wonderful stripes!! I love the April Showers range, the colours are just right.
I love your adventure here! They look beautiful! I have a little superstition… because I move so often… I put up “temporary draperies” but am reluctant to do what I really want… because I just know when I do… it will be time to move. It always works that way for me.