The Blind Leading the Way

We all remember them - those white spring roller blinds of our childhoods. 

Tug the bottom, and they raced to the moon. The ones in my bedroom were so anxious to get to the window top, they often popped off the feeble hardware and crashed down on my head.

Ahh, the good ole days.

Are these really roller blinds?

Yes, and they work beautifully!


The  good news is that roller blinds have been re-designed in every way.  I recently worked with a client who thought she wanted woven wood shades.  But the more we explored her needs, the more apparent it became that roller blinds fit the bill.

Sun glare blockage for TV viewing?  Check

Looks just like a woven wood product?  Check

Opaque at night for privacy?
Check

Minimalist look when rolled hidden beneath the Valance? 
Double Check!

Roller blinds are durable; the ones pictured here are made from wood fibers and polyester.  The colors and fabric choices are vast. 

The best part - THEY ROLL PERFECTLY!  You can even get them with memory roll so they ascend to the same height on the window each time.

I'm not missing the good ole days anymore.

What a Sham!

I love to save money.

And not because it's now fashionable. I was always the one out there searching for a bargain.

Let me make a distinction though. I AM NOT CHEAP. I live by a simple rule:

Make my money go as far as it can without being wasteful.

That's why I purchased 1 1/2 yards of this great fabric while visiting
Fabric Row in Philadelphia recently. I had no idea what I was going to do with the fabric, but I knew I liked it. I paid $13.50 per yard if I remember correctly.
So one afternoon recently, I decided it would be perfect as pillow shams for my guest room.

The style is a simple flanged edge style, with a pocket on the back.

I had some leftover white velveteen in my fabric stash for the backing, so my 1 1/2 yards of designer fabric was just enough to eek out the fronts for two queen size shams.

Now how cool is that - TWO designer shams for about $20.00!!! I LOVE IT.

Sewing My Way Back to Happiness

Sewing has always been a constant in my life.


Through good times and bad, my sewing machine has seen me through.


But I have to admit, it has collected a bit of dust over the last few years.


That's because my life changed forever in October 2009 when the world's greatest man, my husband Paul of 27 years, passed away from Cardiac Amyloidosis.


The grief journey is messy.


Watching my three beautiful daughters mourn for their beloved Dad has been the worst part. But amazing things have happened in their lives that I can only attribute to Paul repeatedly pestering God with, "Help my girls down there!"


I am the last to put my life back together.


My sewing machine has been beckoning,"Come sew with me."
So I am sewing up a storm again. The floodgates of creativity have been opened once again and I am enjoying my own little sewing renaissance.


A lot has changed in two years. Handmade items on ETSY are flying off their virtual shelves. Retro, edgy, modern, and urban are buzzwords circulating in the Home Decorating World.


My renewed motivation has me coming up with many new window treatment and home decor ideas. Keep posted!