Friday, March 14, 2014

Window Wokking

I was about to start this post with the following statement: 

I can't believe it's Friday already.  

Then, I thought about it and decided that yes, I can.  I can jolly well believe that it's Friday and that another week has disappeared.  That's the way things have been rolling around here for quite some time now. Why wouldn't I believe it?  My life is nothing if not predictable.

If I want to spend time catching up with this favorite pastime of mine, it's a safe prediction that I will become Debbie Interrupted.   Something. Will. Happen.  Someone out there will provide me with a different plan.

If I'm not interrupted?
  Well then, I'll come down with an incredible case of blogger's block.  
Or the demons will possess the laptop.
Or the internet service will inexplicably disappear. 
Or we'll have some random weather event. 
 I dunno what kind...
There's a fault line somewhere in Georgia. I  predict an earthquake. 

If you're picking up on a little grumpy gussing, you would be correct. I'm sorry that you're on the receiving end, but I thought it was time to give the family a break from the weekly daily lamentation. Besides, they tuned me out six months ago. All they hear is Charlie Brown's teacher.



So anyway...

I was planning to squeeze in a little post about a little project this morning. By my reckoning, it was going to take me about ten minutes to get it done. This means that I should have chiseled out about four hours and fifteen minutes.  

Five minutes to grumble.
Ten minutes to write.
And four hours to find the photos to go along with it. 

That's also the way things roll around here. I take no less than 1.2 million pictures in any given year, folks.  My problem is not taking pictures. It's more of a real estate thing.

Location. 
Location.
Location. 

I have those 1.2 million photos stashed computer folders. Somewhere hidden among them is a picture that I took of the boring rod pocket panels hanging in my dining room right now.  I just can't find it. The only photo I can locate with a picture of them is this one.  

The before shot of the dining room light fixture. 


Only... don't look up *there*. 
This post has nothing to do with the light.  


It has to do with the curtains. 


 These are the unfortunate rod pocket panels that I have hanging in my dining room.  It's not the pattern or colors that I dislike. I actually like that. It's not the quality either. For ready made curtains, it's really very good. They're Waverly, and I like Waverly.

 It's just the whole rod pocket thing that bugs me.

It isn't just a plain old rod pocket either, it's a big honkin' rod pocket with a good four inches that are supposed to stand up above the rod. Only they don't stand up. They droop like hormone hair on a humid day.  That's why I fixed them.  

It was so easy to fix that I thought I would share it, just in case someone else out there has a rod pocket thing going on that they want to fix too. 

I just removed the top row of stitches for the rod pocket with a seam ripper. Then I folded all six inches of that rod pocket  forward along the lower row of stitches. I pressed it and  stitched with the machine to make it lie flat.



Then, I added a little fringe along the bottom to give it  length.
  It needed length.



Sewed on some rings, and there ya go.




Total cost of the project was less than $10.00 for the fringe and rings.  There's nothing in the world that perks me up faster than a cheap project using schtuff I already have.

I think it looks much better, don't you?





And that, friends, is all I've got for the day. I had plans for more computer time, but I received   3... 4 phone calls while writing this post, and my plans for the afternoon have been changed, which means that my plans for the morning will have to be changed to accommodate them. 

'Cause that's the way it rolls around here.  This is the song that doesn't end. It just goes on and on my friend...

  

34 comments:

Vee said...

Yes, for all of us, I'm afraid.

Well now. I have received quite an education here today concerning your drapes. I do like them better, much better, but if I had just been asked the question, without seeing them, I would have said that I wouldn't like them. Hmmm...guess that it's all in the seeing after all. Now to discover whether I'll do anything about it myself...probably not. Well done!

Elizabeth Dianne said...

You can make anything funny--ha ha--

DON'T LOOK HERE! Well, I did anyway.

Love the new look of the drapes.

What a genius you are!

Sharon said...

What a creative *fix*! I'm glad you kept the curtains, because I thought they were kinda pretty. Mixed really well with the Year of the Taupe theme. Good to see that your crazy life isn't interfering with your creativity!

XO

Debbie said...

I honestly kind of liked them to begin with, but the new ones you created are definitely better! I never would have thought of such a fix! btw, I spend WAY WAY WAY too much of my time looking for a picture that I know is somewhere on this computer...sigh. lol Enjoy your week-end Debbie!

Elizabeth Edwards said...

wow, you are a real wonder. i love how you updated their look. did you look a magazine or how did you begin? my mom is always wanting to change up her house ... but never knows where to start. it is funny how certain designs really age a home. you never realize it until you look back. we were a 70's house ... lots of yellow. & the parents have finally let that go. i wish you could just wave your magic wand & it would all be better. perfect little home. you are on the right road. YOU GO GIRL!! have a great weekend. ( :

Denise at Forest Manor said...

Debbie, I just left a nice, long comment about how I LOVE, LOVE what you did with your curtains, and the darn Blogger "thing" ate my comment. Grrr. That's the kind of week I've been having so don't know why I'm surprised.

I think you were smart and creative to think of this fix; I have rings on my curtains and love them. Also, your fringe really makes them look dressier and adds more richness to the overall look.

I hope you have a good weekend, Debbie. :)

Big Hugs,

Denise

Sue said...

What a difference. You really did change the whole look of your curtains and entertained us all to boot!
Good job, as usual.

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Debbie, you are too funny, but you slam that ball out of the ball park every last time. Definite home run here! Great job!

xo

Sheila... Being run ragged by men with tools like pressure washers! Danger, Will Robinson, Danger!

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

Oh soooo much prettier! What a great idea to put fringe on there. You're so good to sew those rings on - I usually take the lazy way out and get the ones that clip :)

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

I love them! LOVE, really.

I am going to need new curtains in the master bedroom, and this has me thinking! I wanted a new style and freshness and this is it! It may take 6 months but this is now my inspiration!

Thanks for taking so many hours today to get this post done! I appreciate it!

Deanna

Anonymous said...

Yeah, well - you make it look soooo easy! I have to read it again to actually "get" what you said you did. I usually need a video tutorial. Being a wordsmith does not necessarily mean I always "get" words. Images go further with me.

Like your "DON'T" look at the chandelier bits. Communicated volumes - eliciting giggles all around. Too funny, you.

Most of my curtains have that droopy thingy happening at the top - especially in the bedroom. But, since I'm about 5 years overdue in finishing the re-fit I started 5 years ago in there, I'm not thinking I'll be getting to them anytime soon. However, your visuals will stay in my mind. That's the power of a good image - and a sense of humor.

Joy!
Kathy

Lynn said...

What a fun update! I think they turned out great:@)

Merlesworld said...

Yes it does look better gives them a real lift.
Merle.............

Anonymous said...

Although I read it a couple times, I do not know how you worked your magic on those drapes....they look beautiful! Great job. I'm just not savvy on the sewing bit!

Angel said...

Oh Debbie, no matter how grumpy you may feel you always make me laugh out loud!!! Seriously, I can totally relate to the "hormone hair in the humidity" and taking way too many hours to write a simple blog post. (Are we sisters from another mother?)

Anyhoo, love the curtain rod!

Sue said...

You are so funny, Debbie, and you make window wokking so much fun, great job, .
hugs, Sue

Gina said...

You sure know how to turn a "hormone hair on a humid day" rod pocket into a fantastic hair day! I can't believe what a difference it made! You're now going to have me looking at all my rod pocket curtains & wondering if they need a little help from a hair stylist. Don't be surprised if I show up at your door with an armload of curtains! :D

Chatty Crone said...

Okay Debbie - I love your curtains, but your lesson is way above my knowledge and ability!

Denise said...

Wow. I would not have believed what a difference the rod change makes in your dining room. I LOVE the color, style and big rings. I love the drapes, too, but I had already seen those updated in person. Great job.

Sorry about all the interruptions. Happy to know I wasn't one of them. This time.

Denise said...

Wow. I would not have believed what a difference the rod change makes in your dining room. I LOVE the color, style and big rings. I love the drapes, too, but I had already seen those updated in person. Great job.

Sorry about all the interruptions. Happy to know I wasn't one of them. This time.

elizabeth said...

I love the change to the curtains! It took them from nice to WOW!

Susan Nowell @ My Place to Yours said...

I'm so happy you have something fresh and happy in your world these days... even if you did have to make it happen yourself! Your updated drapes look really nice. :-)

Mrs. Kelley Dibble said...

What a difference! What great ideas! It only takes one thing to change everything, I always say. I LOVE the Waverly floral print, and the SHADES are so relaxing. Great work, Debbie!

Hugs and happy highways... I cannot believe it's Friday either... Saturday at this writing. :o) We're leaving Ohio tomorrow, and our kiddos here and two granddogs. It's been a blast.

Kelley~

Gaby said...

Those don't look like the same curtains. You are a wonder, dear.

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

Oh my goodness, Debbie, the drapes do look so much better. What a clever girl you are and do it it all so thriftily!! Without the scrunch on top, the drapes just lay better. Thanks for sharing your project with us. xo

The Decorative Dreamer said...

Now that was a fabulous fix! I also love drapes with rings so much more then rod pockets but would never have thought of this easy makeover. You are so creative and smart! Your drapes now look very custom made, nice job!

Ann said...

LOVE the fix! I really wish you had posted this about a year ago. That was when I took down my LR and DR curtains for the very same reason you weren't happy with yours.

My windows remain curtainless in the meantime. I've decided to change colors.....

You are right...it's the song that never ends....

Cheers!

Ann said...

LOVE the fix! I really wish you had posted this about a year ago. That was when I took down my LR and DR curtains for the very same reason you weren't happy with yours.

My windows remain curtainless in the meantime. I've decided to change colors.....

You are right...it's the song that never ends....

Cheers!

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

They look great! I also just don't seem to be able to blog lately either...life!!!

Renée said...

A++++ what a wonderful improvement. AND yes, that is how life goes. I've had a 2 and 3 year old living with me since the middle of November. Their sweet mom had the new baby last Sunday, (the three red brothers have a new red sister) and mom is so happy to be out of bed. I celebrated by getting a post on and delivering a loaf of bread to the happy reds. Life s great and you do easy, great pinable tutorials that I just love. THANKS.

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

The drapes are a winner! Totally changed and updated the look. Good job...

As to the rest, it sounds perfectly normal... interruptions, plan changes, phone calls... life... :)

Barbara Neubeck said...

Hi Debbie.... great curtain solution!!
I love it.
You are a clever lady full of great ideas. I love your blog.
I get lots of days that don't go to plan.. have learnt to be flexible.
Hugs and Blessings..
Barb xx

Alycia Nichols said...

It's 1,000,000,000,000,000...oh, to heck with it! It's the National Debt worth of difference for the better!!! Wow!!Fantastic job!

Sharlotte said...

I love Waverly fabrics too...yours is such a pretty pattern. I'm glad you kept them. I do like your modification though...that trim is the perfect addition! How do you like the rings? I have them on all my curtain panels and so far they're working out!

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