Dining Room - Additional Photos

Since my photo of the new window treatment for the dining room was so dark, I took a few more pictures once it got dark last night.  They turned out better.

 Here is a better picture that you can see the beaded trim,

This is an angled photo of the jabot.

Happy Sewing,

Susan

Project Complete!

Yep, after about 8 years of prcrastination, I've completed the new valance and sheers for my dining room windows. 

The color in the photo isn't very good - how do you take pictures of a window with light coming in at you?  Maybe I'll try again once it's dark to see if that's any better.

The valance is three pieces - the pattern calls it 'scalloped swag with jabots'.  There is beading along the bottom of the center piece and inside and bottoms of the jabot pieces. 

The pieces are mounted on a board and the husband was nice enough to hang them up for me (I hate getting on a ladder or step-stool eve - two steps is my max).

The sheer I just slightly gathered widthwise, and then I folded the bottom up on either side to  make it as if it were a partially pulled up roman shade.

I think the procrastination was because of the sheer - horrible fabric to work with in my opinion.  The valance pieces were very easy to do.

Now I can feel ok about making new curtains and pillows for my great room to go with the new couch.

Happy Sewing!

Susan

At Last - Or Better Late Than Never?

We bought a new couch for our great room.  I didn't think there was anything wrong (really) with the one we had, but the husband wanted to get one - so I broke down and we ordered one at the end of December, and it finally was delivered yesterday.  If you follow me on Twitter you know that when it was delivered I wasn't too sure it was going to fit like we'd anticipated - it's a small sectional and wider than the couch we were replacing.  Shifting some other items around (mainly switching one of the end tables for a smaller one) got it all in and so we are adjusting to the change.

Of course, a new couch made me need to look for fabric for new curtains, new throw pillows, etc.  I didn't find anything that I liked (well, not enough to pay the price for it), but it reminded me that many years ago I bought fabric to replace the window treatments in the dining room.  The dining room is the only roon that I didn't make.  I've lived in this house about 13 1/2 years and I've made several variations for the master bedroom and bath, but not done the ones for the dining room.

As you can see from the photo (yes, that is Layla on the dining room table - bad kitty!) currently I have curtains with coordinating scarf swags across the top and down each side on a decorative rod.

I'd wash these again, but I think the curtain will fall apart if I do.

Stay tuned for the new look!

Happy Sewing,

Susan

Vacation - I'm back!

We just returned last night from a vacation in Key West.  This was my first actual vacation in Florida - I've been in Florida by merit of the fact that I've flown through and had overnight layovers (or more commonly called delays).

I'm not a real hot weather fan - I have fair skin and burn easily (can you say about 10 minutes without sunscreen and I look like a lobster?)  In my younger days I attempted to tan - the only way I'm ever going to get tan is if all my freckles connect into one.

But the hubby wanted to take a 'winter' vacation someplace warm, so that's how we ended up in Key West.  Of course, we all now know that the weather at home this week was pretty splendid (or at least we heard that). 

I'm not a huge fan of air travel - and so of course, our flight from Charlotte to Key West was delayed on the way there.  The official word is that the 'plane is broken'.  Um, ok, better get us one that isn't.  So that made our travel time from our arrival at the airport here to arrival in Key West about 12 hours.  UGH.

The highlight of our trip was our 'sunset cruise'.  Luckily, we had great weather that evening (it rained the next evening about sunset) and the 2-man crew was great, and it wasn't overly crowded - so it wasn't the party cruise - just a relaxed evening on the water.

Other things that we enjoyed was a day in the car driving up through the keys, stopping at the state parks, which are really nice, and the trolley ride was interesting.  The Hemingway house was good - although that was early in the trip, which made me miss my girls - Mimi and Layla - all the more.

But we are back home now, and soon enough I will be back to sewing - once I figure out what to work on!

Happy Sewing!

Susan