Round Window Covering

As I started pondering how I was going to make over our entry powder room, one of the biggest dilemmas was determining what I would do with the window. We have a beautiful round window in that room, but with the bathroom being on the ground floor it obviously has to have some type of covering. The current covering was nice… in its day, but had long since become dated. (Unfortunately I don’t have any “before” pictures.) Originally I had taken a loooong piece of fabric and made a pocket (much like one on a standard curtain) to gather on a rod. The “rod” was a large quilting hoop which was just the right size. I had then gathered it together in the center of the hoop and secured with a rubber band. It looked like a pretty flower in the center – but I was pretty sick of it. So, the question was… “How can I switch it up and give it a whole look?” I needed something new and sleek. I spent days searching the internet, but alas I found no suggestions. Of course I could spend tons of money and “buy” something, but that just wouldn’t do. I determined that I was on my own to try and come up with a new idea. I wanted a window covering that looked like “slats” or a window blind. (The one reason I wanted "slats" is because I DID want to be able to peak through the window covering to see outside if I needed to.  If it had all been one piece I could not do that.)  After one failed less than desirable attempt, I gave it another shot, and this is what I came up with.

First I went and purchased a brand new 24” quilter’s hoop. This was found a JoAnn Fabrics for about $6.00. I used the inside portion of the hoop so I had one solid hoop – reserving the outer hoop for later in the project.

From my first attempt I learned that it was very easy to pull the hoop “out of round”, so I figured I better reinforce it somehow. This was done by taking two strips of fabric – slightly larger than the hoop, and stapling them to the back of the hoop. I measured carefully to make sure that once attached the hoop kept the same dimension all the way around.



Next I purchased a yard of fabric that I wanted to use. On my first go-round I had tried a sheer fabric. That did not really work out, so this time I selected something with a little more body to it.
I determined how wide I wanted my “slats” to be, including the amount for the overlap. I decided that 7” would be just about right. I measured off my fabric every 7” – the cut strips the width of the fabric.







I ironed each strip down the center so I had a nice crisp edge. Since the fabric did not really fray, and I knew I wasn't going to be messing with it much, I decided I did NOT need to finish the edges. (Don'tcha love that kind of a project!!!???)



Although it’s a little hard to see, I laid the strips across the hoop at the approximate distance apart until I had enough strips to cover the hoop.




Once that was done it was time to start assembly. I found the center of my hoop and measured down an equal distance on each side - making sure that my first "slat" would be straight. The first strip is the most difficult because you need to secure it without any puckers. You want it completely flat. I stapled that in place on each side and along the top.



For each remaining piece I measured down the same distance on each side and secured it with a couple of staples. I continued this process until all the pieces were secure. You want to pull each piece taunt without pulling the hoop out of round.

I then took the other part of the hoop assembly. (The one with the screw to tighten it.) I placed that hoop over my hoop with the fabric. I tightened the screw and pulled all the strips to make sure they were tight and straight in the frame. The dilemma came when I realized that I now had a metal screw and plate sticking up - obviously would not fit in the window that way. The solution to that problem was to staple the whole thing together. I went around the outside if the frame and placed staples so it would hold the two hoops together, then it was easy to remove the screw and metal plate.

With that done I was able to cut off the remaining fabric even with the back of the hoop. I tried to make this as neat as possible so it did not look bad on the back side - after all, this would be seen from the outside.
The final step was to hot glue a contrasting cording around the entire edge to finish it off. This way none of the wood hoop shows.

I held my breath as I took it into the bathroom for installation. It was a VERY TIGHT fit, but I was able to get it into the window. I stepped back and admired my handywork. I LOVED it. It was exactly what I had been looking for. It gave just the right look for my newly re-decorated bathroom.

 

If you have a round window maybe you can think about using this type of covering. Everyone has loved it - I hope you do too!!!

Goodwill Jewels - Project #2

I guess it's time for me to let you know about another one of my "Goodwill Jewels".  I haven't quite gotten down this whole "blogging" thing, so please forgive me if it takes me a while to post.

Anyway, continuing with our outing to local Goodwill stores, my find of the day was this little beauty…

I was in need of a small side chair that I could use in our bedroom. This was the ideal size, had pretty lines to it, was clean, was in PERFECT condition, and was C-H-E-A-P!!!!! Cost for this little baby was only $5.95!!!! Knowing that I already had the fabric at home that I wanted to use, the only thing I needed to purchase was some cording to go around the edge. 

Now, let me put in a little “disclaimer” here… I have NEVER reupholstered anything, but did not feel too intimidated by this particular make-over. My niece Amy (of Design Intervention) had already advised me on how to tackle something like this, so I felt somewhat prepared to dive in.  That is until I tried to find a phillip's head screw driver to remove the seat to start my project.  My husband was out of town, and hard as I tried I could not find even ONE screwdriver!!  I have my own battery-operated screw driver, but my dearest husband had taken the bit for his own electric screwdriver.  NO!  I couldn't even find that one.  Sooooo, before I could even start, I had to make a trip to Lowes for a new bit for my screw driver.  While there I decided in invest in a whole set of screw drivers that would be ALL MINE for future projects.  They will be locked up for safe keeping!

Looking at the underneath side of the chair you can see what good condition it was in.  Only four screws to remove and I was on my way.

I carefully removed the staples holding the black facing (or whatever you call it) and put it aside to reattach later.

At that point I set myself down and started removing what must have been a bazillion staples.  You know all those smart people who tell you to put down a sheet under your work to catch all the staples?  Well, you should listen to them - I didn't, and am STILL finding a staple here and there on my carpet. 

Once I had all the staples removed I ended up with a naked cushion (notice the EXCELLENT condition it is in!).  I laid my new fabric out and used the fabric from the seat cushion as my pattern piece.

Doesn't it look pretty already??

I started questioning my sanity in taking apart this chair when I saw that it was made in Italy.  According to another tag that was on the chair (and subsequent research on the internet) I believe that it is was a pretty expensive chair.

Next step was to lay the cushion/frame down on the wrong side of my new fabric.

I carefully folded over the edges to the underneath side of the seat and started stapling.  I put one staple at the top - pulled the bottom to make it tight, and put in a stapel there to hold it.  I then worked my way around the seat - being especially care with the corners - until the entire seat cushion was secured.

Finally I ran the cording around the seat and secured that with staples as well.

 

Once that was completed I trimmed away the excess fabric and reattached the black fabric on the back. 

Now I was ready to tackle the chair itself.  With a few coats of Rust-Oleum's Heritage White spray paint....

This lovely red chair -

took on a whole new look!!! 

I love it already!!

After letting it dry for 24 hours, I glazed it and "scuffed it up".  Geeeeezzz - it seems so silly to go to all the work of making sure that I had a perfect paint job, only to scratch it all up.  Why didn't I do this when my kids were little???... then it wouldn't have mattered a bit that my furniture got a scratch or two!!! 

Final step was to reattach the seat to the chair, and bring it to our room.  I was absolutely thrilled with the outcome, and am SOOOOO proud of myself.  I think it turned out pretty darn good for my first try!!

 

Well, that's it for Project #2.  It was so easy that I now feel qualified to take on an even more difficult project.  I've already purchased another chair at a Thrift Store ($12 - marked down from $15.99), and will start working on it once I determine exactly where I'm going to put it and what fabric I want to use.  Here's a little "sneak peek" of the chair I'll be working on.  Stay tuned for a posting when I take on this little baby!! 

Until the next posting - thanks for visiting.  Feel free to leave me a comment or two so I know there is someone out there reading this stuff!!!  :-)

I'm linking up to:

Quick (and cheap) Porch Makeover

One broken rocking chair – picked up out of trash… $0

One rusty old milk can… $15

One can of Heirloom White spray paint… $3.49

Antiquing over paint (already had)… $0

One yard of fabric for seat… $3.50

One can of Black spray paint… $3.49

Few additional little personal touches…

Total project under $30

New DIY decorations for front porch – PRICELESS!!!!

And you never even notice that the chair is broken!!!

After I originally posted this I decided to add our house number to the milk can.  I need to pay closer attention to where I get these ideas, because I actually found it on another blog site.  I'll try to find it and add it in here so I can give credit where credit is due.  Anyway, here is a picture of the milk can with the addition of our house number.  (Instead of painting the number I borrowed my friend's Cricut cutter on white vinyl - worked GREAT!!! Thanks Michelle!!)

Goodwill Jewels - Project #1

The other day my daughter and I (with 3 year old grandson in tow) decided to check out some of the local thrift stores. Let’s just say that going with a 3 year old - who has not yet had a nap - might NOT be the best time to scout out goodies all across the city! However, we couldn’t wait another minute (lest someone else buys the item we are looking for), so we began our quest.

At the first store I found a beautiful selection of various size/types of stemware. I remembered an item I had seen at Hobby Lobby, and thought that I could make some really pretty candles out of them. At anywhere from $0.25 to $0.95, I spent less than $5. Later that day I stopped by Hobby Lobby, picked up a bag of wax crystals and some wicks. Once home I placed the wick in the center of the glass and poured in the wax crystals.

They looked pretty – but rather bland. Since the only color of wax crystals they had at the time was white, I felt they needed something to add a little color.

The bag of colored crystals that I had picked up at the Dollar Tree was just the thing. I emptied the wax out of the glasses, added a few crystals to each glass, and then placed the wax crystals back in there. I thought they were quite cute and could be used in a lot of different areas that needed “a little something”.

So much for “Goodwill Treasures – Project #1”. That was another easy one, but was fun to get my mind thinking of creative new ways to use old things. Stay tuned for other Goodwill Treasures Projects. The next one was more difficult and had quite a transformation!!

Project "TP"

So when you first start out blogging, and you’re in the beginning stages of “making over” things, you need to start simple… right!!?? So how can something be simpler than “fancying up” a roll of toilet paper (TP) to put in your bathroom? I have been in the process of redoing a couple of bathrooms at my house (oh my, the stories behind those efforts – more on that later).  Anyway, one of the things you usually do is have a few extra rolls of TP available in a prominent place for guests (heaven’s you don’t want them scrounging through your cabinets do you?) – just in case the current roll happens to run out. So I put out several rolls and thought that they looked rather plain and naked. I got to thinking that perhaps I could decorate them a bit. I immediately thought about going to the Graphics Fairy (one of my new favorite places to visit - that I learned about from you gals on line), to see if there wasn’t something there that I could use. I came up with a couple of different designs that I thought would work nicely, and proceeded to design some bands and labels that would be wrapped around each roll of TP. I wanted to use my accent colors on each of them, so that was easily taken care of by replacing colors and tones. First I found this little birdie that was begging to be used. The “scroll” could even have words put on it.

I decided to add a few words (Extra Toilet Tissue, and “Scott” – which just happens to be our last name), added a frame and voila!!, ..I had a beautiful label. The perfect size seemed to be 2.5” x 1.75”. I copied it and pasted it multiple times and then printed them out on “Avery White Full Sheet Labels [5265]” so I could use them to fasten the band going around the roll.

Next I needed something for the band around the roll of TP. Although I’m sure I could have use ribbon or something, I opted for another graphic from The Graphics Fairy.

Of course the colors were not right on these images, so I adjusted them accordingly.  I created a graphic that was 1.25" x 16", put a boarder around it, copied and pasted enough copies to fill the page and then printed it out on 11” x 17” paper.

(Enlarged version)

I cut out the band, wrapped it around my TP, and secured with one of my labels. This took a plain roll of TP to a pretty thing to display.

Below are the labels and wrappers that I used in my master bathroom. With a few minor modifications I was able to come up with a suitable color. I like the way they look on the corner shelving unit (please disregard the lack of baseboards – still in the remodeling process).

Soooooo, that’s it for the TP project. Considering that I already had everything in house (including extra rolls of TP – which is rare!!), this little project cost me $0!!!! Not bad for just starting out. Somehow I’m thinking the rest of my projects will cost a bit more!!  Now I wonder… do I REALLY want my guests to USE these decorated rolls? Well, I DO have plenty of extra wrappers and labels, but I think the BEST solution is to make sure there is always a full roll on the dispenser for their use!!

This is my very first time of showing off something, but I'm linking to: