We worked liked beavers today, hauling down furniture from the attic, putting up the curtain rod, repairing dressers that were a bit wobbly, dusting everything off and sweeping my wonderful new floors! It’s really feeling homey here and we love it. My day was spent getting my curtains finished and they are all done EXCEPT for hemming them. We had to do a few trial runs on where the brackets needed to go so my curtains could be as long as possible for that hem… Maybe I’ll get to that tomorrow.
Here are a few pictures from yesterday and some from today…
Here was the baseboard trim going down…
This is where my big bookshelf goes…
My wardrobe was being filled with my blankets and sheets… all neatly stacked in there… YAY!
I couldn’t resist pinning one side of my curtains on the rod we still had up there… just so I could see what they were going to look like.
Since most of my day was filled with working on the curtains, I thought I’d show you how I made them… not a total full-on tutorial, but a few of the steps I took to get them the way they are now…
Once I got the fabric cut and had 2 separate panels for each side, I wanted to make sure I had plenty of fabric so they would be as long as possible. Remember me telling you I wanted the pattern to match across the curtains from one side to the other, (being a mirror image) but it wasn’t? Well, what I did was lay the two panels on the floor and pull the right side panel up so the big reddish flower was lined up across each panel as closely as possible. (It isn’t perfect, but it’s pretty close.) Then I trimmed off the top 3″ of the right side and moved it to the bottom of that panel… that way, I had the panel length I needed and the design flowed across the panels pretty evenly. With it being such a busy pattern, I didn’t think that would be as noticeable as the flowers being off.
Can you see the seam about 3″ off the floor? It’s not very noticeable, is it?
Okay, the next step was to make a facing at the top and I just used a piece of beige fabric I had… and stitched it right sides together using as small of a seam as I could… about 1/4″. Then I turned that to the back side and edge stitched it… I pressed it flat and stitched it about 1/4″ from the top edge. I laid one of my metal ring clips at the top of my fabric and decided I wanted to hide the little clippie part and just show the top of the rings… I hope you can see what I mean in this picture. The second row of stitching was where the clip “teeth” came to as they were dangling down…
If you have trouble with the video buffering, let it load for 30 seconds or so and then watch it without interruption.
Then I folded it like this 5 second video shows… (sorry, I turned it around from the picture above… and YES, I still have paint on my fingers!)
Then I marked that little flap with pencil marks. My panels were exactly 80″ wide, so I put a mark every 5 inches and on the ends… using 17 clips for each panel. The last clip on each end had to have the little clippie part removed and the ring sewn on by hand… it had to do with the fabric being folded back over the flap I just showed you…
I held the flap facing straight up and clipped a ring trying to get it as close to the stitching line… like in this 10 second video… (I REALLY need to go to “video school!” :o)
Here they are all clipped on…
I wanted to give the top of the curtains a little more body than what they had, so I used some Wonder Under and slipped a piece in between the clips and ironed it down…
It made it a little stiffer, but not as much as I had hoped… I may still do something else after “all this” is over…
It was now time to see what they looked like on the rod…
We couldn’t just hang them up wherever I wanted. I had to make sure there was enough fabric hanging on the floor for at least a small hem… My hubby was very patient as I said, “higher, lower… just a little bit higher, etc!” We finally agreed on where it is now…
This is what they look like next to my new paint… I haven’t gotten very good pictures of them yet, as it was almost 7:00 p.m. and pretty dark outside…
This is my green wicker chair from upstairs… and while I love it, it’s looking maybe a bit more tired than when I saw it last… but for now it will do…and it definitely needs a new cushion…
Here is a little chest I bought at an antique shop a few years back… I might use it… and maybe paint it…
So here is a picture of everything so far…
…and a panoramic shot just for fun…
I went to fix some dinner and when I came back to the sitting room the next time, my hubby had done this…
That white lampshade “might” be a bit too bright for in here… :o)
He told me he changed the lightbulbs in the hallway lights to 40 watt bulbs instead of 60 watt… He said it made it more cozy! Gotta hand it to him for hanging in there with me and “all” my ideas… he would have been happy with just new floors…but I think he’s liking the way it’s looking so far…
Lots of little things still to be done… but we did get all the furniture moved into the new “guest” room, but that will have to wait till another day…
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, what your “new” sitting room brings to mind: warm, cozy, friendly!! Just like you! It certainly is amazing what a room do-over can do to bring a “feeling” to mind! Your curtains are just lovely with the wicker chairs, and yes, they do need new cushions, maybe a solid color that blends in with one of the colors in the curtains? I can just imagine sitting in there in the winter with a good book, a cup of tea, and watching the snow fall!
I have a question about that little”cubbyhole in the second picture? Was that a former entrance ? I know your house has been changed around, and just always wondered why that little part of the room was like that.
You are going to be totally fine with getting the house in order for your Thanksgiving/Christmas gathering! I know you, roasting a turkey or two, doing all the sides, and no ordering or dining out! That’s what makes you happy!
Everything is coming together beautifully, Jeanne! What a clever way to get the pattern matched up across the panels. Yes, *I* could see where the seam was, because I knew to look for it, but I doubt any of your visitors will notice it. Who looks at the very bottom of a curtain, anyway?!
In answer to Laura’s comment about her grandmother and African violets, etc., my mother was born in 1920. She would have been 101 this year, but only made it to 86-1/2.
And Barbara, you are an enabler!! I had to look up House of Biscotti, and ended up ordering three of their patterns!! I got the pleated skirt with blouse sister set (LDs and 10″), the smocked dress for 10″, and the little hanky dress for 10-11″ dolls!
Pixie Faire has a great Freebie today only for an overall/jumper pattern. In the last week I’ve gotten a list started of websites or sources for doll clothes fabric and the items like the overall fittings. Thanks, everyone, for sharing your resource sites. I’m up to 15 on the list already!
Hi Charlotte,
Oh, I was way off then. My grandmother was born in 1903, probably one of many reasons my PC Samantha and collection is so special.. My grandmother went to heaven back in 1983, months shy of my 15th birthday. 🙁
I wonder fi House of Biscotti will give me a finder’s fee. There are a few of their patterns I don’t have but would like to. The LD/Boneka pleated skirt and blouse is what I used for Sophie’s outfit.
Good morning!
Jeanne, what a transformation! This room is so inviting and restful. You and George must be so excited about this turnaround, and that little chest will be so handy for hiding “essential stuff”. Well, at my house, I think most of my stuff is essential but that is highly arguable. 🤣
Are you planning to put some sheers behind those gorgeous curtains? I would be concerned about sun fade spots and that fabric is too pretty and special to risk that. Perhaps that room doesn’t get much sun, but the curtains I made, long ago, I always put a layer of muslin as a lining. I didn’t have the money to replace the curtains for quite awhile and since I had gone to the trouble of making them, let alone the cost of the fabric, it was well worth my time. And a little extra insulation never hurts any time of year.
Barbara, you did a magnificent job addressing comments yesterday; we all are looking forward to more fun from your place.
Charlotte, hope you are feeling more refreshed with a couple days passing. You do have a lot going on.
Joy, have fun with the grands tomorrow for the birthday event.
Alina, always good hearing from you and I hope you had something special going on for your Independence Day. Also hoping you get back to sewing sooner than later.
Have a lovely day, ladies. Wish me luck for putting up outdoor Christmas decorations today. My husband really loves them, but has zero patience and style. Not that much style is required, however. It’s just me and the dogs looking out the windows cheering me on. My goal is to beat the awful wind we have been having and to not get too grumpy. Ha! Lotsa luck with that, Sal! 😖
Love the view out the “Garden Room” window. It is lovely. I’d probably never be able to close the curtains. Glad you have them hung mostly off of the windows too which lets in more light. Like Sally, I was wondering about lining. Maybe you’re doing that later. Wouldn’t a cute little comfy loveseat look sweet in front of the window? I personally, have not found a lot of comfort in the wicker chairs around here. Probably just me though. That little chest is a cute piece which might work as an end table as well. Sounds like shopping in your attic would be lots of fun. Just throwing this out, but maybe stacking some of the books on the shelves and adding an object of interest on top might be fun. On our shelves, I’ve added things like an old telephone, decorative boxes, and a glass bowl filled with my red pincushion collection. 🙂
I love how you have filled the armoire with quilts/bedding. We have a similar one here that holds my vintage camera collection and all of the old record albums. Kind of fun to look back at them. Memories.
A big congrats on the Garden Room. The new flooring is wonderful too. Really makes a difference. Looking forward to seeing what you’re doing with the guest room. 🙂
And on to the weekend.
Looking good. I agree with Joy and Sally about lining the drapes. It would also help with insulation in both summer and winter but really essential for keeping the beautiful fabric from fading. Maybe matching covers for the seat cushions and a couple of the pillows on the bed, all in good time with no rush.
The whole room is coming together nicely with plenty of time to get ready for Thanksgiving. Better buy that Turkey yesterday if what I’m hearing about supply is true!
Awe, the room does look very comfortable with the nice long, flowery curtains near the big windows and all the books! It looks like a great place to curl up and read a book! 🙂
Your sitting room is looking lovely, Jeanne. With the wardrobe of blankets and the bookcase full of books it kind of reminds me of an English snuggery. You just need a tea set set out to complete the “look”.
The curtains are lovely. Rebecca will be so impressed when she and Karn come and will wonder why you didn’t do this years ago.
What a lovely sitting room. Looks like it would be a great place for doing any handsewing you need to. I hate sewing on snaps but I might enjoy it more in a room like this. I love the curtains. George did a great job on creating the lovely little conversation area. Your wardrobe is wonderful. Such a great place to store unused linens and blankets. Looking forward to seeing the room totally finished. Also the guest room.
Am having a really busy day today. I got up early and took my dog to the vet for surgery to remove a growth. Doesn’t appear to be anything to worry about. Then I took David to PT at 11 a.m. Then lunch with Sean. Sean and David just left for the shop. Sean is driving him down. .
It’s David’s first outing aside from PT. Then it’s to the pharmacy to pick up some more pain pills and then to Bellville to retrieve Chelsy. Friday is dinner from the pizza place so I don’t have to cook and can relax once all that is done. I hope.
Those curtains are fabulous — I can’t see how they could be better. Except the lining — I agree that lining them will keep them beautiful for years longer, It will also look neat from the outside. If you have or can get more fabric, recovering the chair cushion and repainting the chair and chest will make everything look new. The drapes frame that beautiful window perfectly. It looks ready for snow and a Christmas tree, and it’s not yet Thanksgiving.
Addy is doing wonderfully well with that elegant outfit. Is Felicity next? What could be prettier than a colonial Christmas at Williamsburg?
Jeanne emerged from a beautiful lounge. I admire.
Sally, this is how our independence parades take place in Poland on November 11, and the houses are decorated with white and red flags. Regards.
Alina, I love parades. Did you attend with your granddaughters? I bet the red and white decorations are so festive!
❤️