from Ugly House Photos.com

This photo from Ugly House Photos might have been in our own little condo, but it wasn’t. Still, it looks awfully familiar. They have some other great examples in this article, “Design through the Decades,” on 1980s style.

But now, twenty-five years later, my life is a bit more relaxed. My color preferences have changed, my home is very different, and my tastes have taken a 180. I’m not saying there was a problem with 1985 home style. OK. I might be saying that. But only because I was queen of mauve. And seafoam green. And peach. (I still kind of like peach. The deeper, rusty kind.) My husband made us some bookcases in our 1986 condo. (That was an engineering feat!) And they were painted a very pinky, purpley, mauve.  They looked great. In 1986. So, if anyone should be allowed to criticize the 80s, I am that person.

But time marches on. A person can either continue on down the road or get stuck in the middle of the road. And then get hit by a bus. Yeah, we all know those people. They still wear their Farrah Fawcett hair today! (Again, I can criticize. I had big–very big–hair. In the 80s.)

The epitome of big hair

But I digress.

It seems to me that most people are living a more casual lifestyle than a few years ago. This is evident in almost everything, but particularly in home decorating. I want our home to be warm, inviting, and comfortable; I do not want to rope off the living room. I want it to look put together over time–not perfectly matching and rigidly styled. The 1980s were great. I have some very fond memories of those years. But it is time to move on!

New window treatments can give a room a big update. Look around you. Are you stuck in a past decade? Think about updating with less structure and a more casual look and feel.

If your windows  need to be dragged out of the 1980s, start looking in current magazines or on websites and create a file of things you like. Take a good look at window treatments. Collect pictures that appeal to you. You do not need to use terms like jabot or cornice; simply clip pictures of window treatments that make you feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. Notice how few pouf valences there are in any post-2000 magazine! (If you love the pouf, ignore that comment please.)

Start thinking about change. About updating. About comfortable and relaxed. Think classic. Think casual. Think twenty-first century. You’ll be glad you did.

Next time, I have some pictures to share that show the huge change a new window treatment can make. Not as big as jumping from 1985 style to 2010, but still big.  And the best part is that it is not difficult.

This post is not about the movie or about the actor…It’s all about the scissors.

It truly is all about the scissors.

I pride myself on not taking mundane problems too seriously. Life is too short for that sort of thing. Right?

There is (at least) one exception to this. There is something–not a big thing if you are not a sew-er–that can turn me into a head-spinning, pea soup-spitting, screaming, out-of-control wife/mom. Truth is, I’m not exactly ashamed of it. In fact, I can’t believe more people don’t take this on as a cause:  Protect your sewing scissors!

Don’t allow anyone intent on cutting construction paper, hair, rubber tubing, or wire anywhere near your sewing scissors. It was just such a scenario as this that caused my initial transformation. Needless to say, my husband was shocked, and to this day, he keeps a wide berth from my sewing room. (Guess it worked!)

I have sewed home decor products my entire adult life as a hobby. For about four years, I sewed as a part-time profession. During that time I bought my first real sewing shears. They were a slick, beautiful, heavy-duty pair of Gingher Shears. Ah…The feel of them is indescribable. The beauty is almost too much to behold. Get ready…

World's Best Shears by Gingher (That is my name for them...I think Gingher refers to them as "9 Inch Knife-Edge Tailor's Shears." A wee bit on the under-stated side if you ask me.)

This was my first venture into truly good equipment. I think I paid close to $30 for these. (It doesn’t seem like much unless you have only purchased the pack of three for $12 from your local business store.) I later added the pinking shears. Equally beautiful. And I can honestly tell you that equipment can make a huge difference in the ease and precision of a sewing project. (I’m sure there are clinical studies to prove this, but I won’t cite them here.)

If you can purchase good shears, it is important to take care of them. Try these tips to keep your shears in good working order:

• Use sewing scissors only on fabric. Keep them hidden if you have to. (See above transformation story for details.)
• Do not allow children to use them–even on fabric. I have no doubt that they could sever a finger tip. We’re talkin’ sharp, folks, and efficient.
• Store them in a sheath, if possible, in a cool, dry area.
• Never drop them. This could cause the blades to become misaligned or even to chip.
• Take care to keep straight pins out of the way of the shears when cutting fabrics. Pins can cause nicks.
• Wipe the blades clean after use to prevent lint build-up.
• A drop of oil periodically placed at the fulcrum screw will keep them moving as swiftly as when they were new. (Edward Scissorhands will have nothing on you.)
• Have shears professionally sharpened at the first sign of dulling. Most sewing machine shops offer this service for a fee. Look for coupons!
• Keep a decoy pair of paper scissors in your junk drawer. Tell your spouse to take special care of these scissors. They are special. [wink] Tell him they are only for the manliest of men.

If you take care of your scissors, they will last a lifetime. (I’m at least 12 years into it, and so far, so good!)

Happy cutting!

Daughter's Method--The Wadded-up Throw

My family is a mixture. I am a folder-draper (not a neat stack, but rather, folded then draped longways over the end of the couch.) The son is a definite folder (when he has “time”!) The daughter is the notorious wadder-upper. (She apparently never has time!) My husband just would like for the throws to be clean (perhaps the most important attribute). He really doesn’t ask for much.

Son's Style--The Folded Throw

There is even the faction out there that actually throws the throw. But that is a little too literal for me.

We have a few different types of throws in this house. Fleece, cotton store-bought, chenille, and raggy flannel (my favorite!)

My Style--Folded/Draped Raggy Flannel Throw

I leave most of them out year-round. (I get cold even in the summer–thanks to a family who has much thicker blood than I.)

No matter what kind of throw you have, keep it clean. Wash often, and it will be much more enjoyable to snuggle under! That distasteful what-is-that-smell smell that comes with kids and animals (and adults, if we are being honest) can taint a perfect cozy evening at home…Yes. I speak from experience.

Tide plus febreze--Great Product!

Want to give a practical gift, but you still want to jazz it up a bit? Try making an “addition” to the practical.

The gift was for a young couple, just starting out. They needed basics:  cleaning supplies and a trash can. I bought the trash can at Walmart and put several cleaning products in it.

(You know, you could go bankrupt buying cleaning products! I just realized that all they really needed were vinegar and baking soda…and a Swiffer.) Pretty practical gift, if you ask me. I added a pair of rubber gloves that were at least purple. That was a step up from the yellow, in the jazz department.

Here comes the jazzy part:  I remembered seeing some fancy gloves with feather boa trim around the tops. Using that idea, I went through my scrap pile and found the perfect scrap to cuff the gloves. I measured around the glove opening and added a 1/2 inch on each end. Next, I cut a rectangle that dimension long (about nine inches) by about four inches wide. I ironed the rectangle in half, long-ways, then ironed under 1/4 inch on all of the edges. Last, I topstitched the cuff onto the glove, sandwiching the top 1/2 inch of the glove’s opening between the edges of the rectangle. The ends were also topstitched and left split for ease.

Not perfect by any means, but pretty darned-cute. (Side-note:  Perfect takes too long. Good enough only takes a few minutes.)

Maybe cleaning a toilet will be fun wearing these gloves…nah.

Or at least, jazzier.

Here is an easy how-to for sewing a basic pillow. You don’t have to be an expert to try this. So, grab your machine and fabrics, and get busy!

1.  Make a drawing. Some people can get by without this step, but it always helps me to put it on paper–dimensions and design.

OK…You are paying attention! The designs at the left are NOT the simple pillow I am talking about…I felt a little creative this day.

2.  Gather supplies:  Rulers, fabric, scissors, fabric marker. (Yes, I occasionally us

pencils–only for cut lines–or soap slivers. Ask me about that later.)

Even if you are new to this, try a different fabric on back. It is fun to mix and match, and it’s really as if you are getting two pillows for the price of one!

3.  Cut fabrics to the exact size as your pillow form. Weird, I know, but it works. For instance, if you are making a 20″ square pillow, cut your fabric 20″ x 20 “. (Forms or stuffing? It’s up to you and your wallet. Look for forms on sale at JoAnn, Tuesday Morning, Hancock Fabricks, and Ikea. I am new to Ikea, but so far, I am liking it.) If your fabric has a motif or design, center it. You’ll be much happier, even if you have a little fabric waste. (Save scraps for other projects.)

4.  Cut corners. This is a tip I learned after I was well into sewing. Some pillows end up with floppy, “dog-eared”corners. To avoid this, simply taper the corner cuts. Measure out from a corner 1/4 of the length of a side. (For a 20-incher, this is five inches.) From this 5″ mark, draw a line toward the corner, ending about an inch up from the corner. Measure the same kind of taper on the side perpendicular to the first. The lines will intersect in from the corner about 3/4″. (I’m sure there is a geometric formula at work here, but I can’t for the life of me remember it!) Cut all four corners the same. Want a shortcut? After cutting one corner, fold fabric neatly side to side, then top to bottom. Carefully cut the other three corners, using the first as a template of sorts.

5.  Pin front and back together–RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER. There isn’t a sewing person anywhere who hasn’t made that mistake, either due to fatigue or distraction. Trust me, it is NEVER fun to have to go find the seam ripper.

6.  Sew, using 1/2″ seam allowance, ALMOST all the way around the pillow. Leave a 10″ gap in the bottom side for turning rightside out.

7. Turn, and carefully insert pillow form. This may take a bit of persuasion, but fold and scrunch until form is where you want it.

8.  Using a hand needle, whip stitch the opening closed.

9.  Voila! Toss [grin at pun] and enjoy! (Pictures to follow–as soon as I’m finished sewing!)

Don’t you just love tassels?  They can add a finishing touch to almost anything–a lamp, a doorknob, or a window treatment. The possibilities are unlimited. You can find tassels and tasseled trims in almost every color and style you can think of. If you can’t find exactly what you want at a store, check out www.Etsy.com for some handmade tassels. (Be sure to search for home decor tassels or tassels for home. Otherwise, you’ll get some…well, let’s just say, not G-Rated uses for tassels.) They can be very formal, casual, or even whimsical. So, have fun discovering your style, but don’t overdo a good thing.

I bought these tassels at Hobby Lobby and at Tuesday Morning. I didn’t spend much money. I believe the vase tassel was around $7 and the larger ones, on the window treatments, were $10 each. (There is an identical one on the other drapery panel.) I added the tassels after finishing the panels because I thought the treatments were a little boring.

Please excuse the quality of the lamp photo. It doesn’t show the contrast of the gold tassel on the cranberry lamp…It must be the camera. Couldn’t possibly be the photographer, could it?

If you have children, be forewarned:  They love to flip the tassels. It won’t bother you so much if you have only spent a few dollars on them! Look for bargains. They are definitely out there.

Or if you just NEED a new craft to try, make your own tassels! There’s a good article with pictures at the DIY site. Also, check out Be Tasseled, a cute blog about tassels with an easy-to-follow tutorial.

If you can sew a straight stitch, you can make a custom, reversible throw (small blanket) to enhance your room. (If you can’t sew, you can still make a throw. It just might need to be treated a bit more gently. Look for iron-on tape in any sewing/craft store.)

First, choose a fabric or two. I chose two that complemented each other (and that I had left over from other projects.) Cut two large squares or rectangles from each fabric. I made mine about 54 inches by 64 inches, but a square works just fine. One side note–before choosing fabrics, decide how you’re actually going to use the throw. Mine is more decorative, so although the fabrics are somewhat soft, they are not all that cuddleable. Also, I used decorator fabrics. That accounts for the 54 inch width. If you use other fabrics (usually 45 inches wide), you might consider sewing two panels together to give you a substantial piece. If you will use your throw often, prewash the fabric, according to manufacturers suggestions.

If you are using trim (I used a buillion fringe), apply next by sewing it to the FRONT  side of your main fabric. Match the top of the heading (which will end up inside the throw) with the edge of the fabric, guiding fringe in toward the center of the square. Pin and sew into place. TIP:  Use Scotch tape to hold fringe to the face fabric while you sew. It can be easily removed when you turn the quilt and keeps the trim completely out of your seamline.

Next, place second fabric square on top of first piece, FRONT sides together. Pin and sew all around (most home dec sewers use a 1/2 inch seam allowance), carefully keeping trim OUT of the seam and leaving about 15-18 inches open for turning right side out. Turn and whipstitch opening shut.

Just a couple of thoughts (beyond your fabric cuddleability factor)–Most trims (fringes, ball fringes, tassels) can not be safely washed. If you are really ambitious (and clever), apply these with velcro. That way, you can remove before washing. Or you could just skip trim, altogether. Or after sewing, you could tie tassels onto the four corners which could also be removed before washing. It’s completely up to you and your plan for using the throw!

There are many ways to add that softness to a space. After you discover the thrill of fabric or textiles, you’ll never go back:
 

1) The right area rug can make a huge difference. Not only can it absorb sound, add warmth, and add color, it feels pretty darned comfy under bare feet.

2) Add a window treatment. The choices are unlimited–from Roman shades to elaborate, puddling draperies. Even if you have blinds covering your window, consider some sort of fabric treatment too. For me, fabric on a window is essential for bringing a room’s decor together and for giving that space a cozy feel.

3) Throw some pillows somewhere. Floor pillows stacked in a corner or by the fireplace (not too close!), throw pillows on a couch or bed, or lumbar pillows for your favorite chair are not just functional. Pillows let you pull in color, pattern, and texture which all contribute to the coziness factor. Later, I’ll tell you how to make a pillow. (It’s easy if you have a sewing machine. There are some ‘no sew’ pillow patterns around, but I find those to be decorative only, as actually using them might cause the fabric to come untied.) Or if you detest sewing (I am shocked!), try shopping at HomeGoods, T.J.Maxx, Target, or Garden Ridge.

4) Use a ‘throw.’ In case you really never watch HGTV, a throw is really just a small blanket used in a living space. They are great to have around to snuggle under or just to add another layer of color, texture, or pattern to the couch or chair where they are placed. You can find them for under $25 almost anywhere, or (again) you can make your own! Click here for easy directions. http://cozyyourhome.com/2008/08/01/sew-a-throw/

5) Hang a tapestry or quilt on the wall. An easy way to hang something is by using a decorative curtain rod with brackets. Please NEVER nail or tack through a quilt. Even an inexpensive, mass-produced quilt deserves better.

6) Add chair pads or covers to kitchen or dining chairs.

7) Make a fabric-covered ottoman. (Another project for another day.)

8) Make an upholstered headboard. (Not as difficult as you might think…)
 

9) Stack quilts or old blankets on a trunk or in an open armoire.

Start small, but add that softness. Your room (and your feet) will thank you!

This is a quick, easy, and inexpensive idea that will add a lot of charm to your room. This chandelier was purchased at Lowe’s and came with small white lampshades. Using fabric remnants that I had on hand, I covered the shades in various, coordinating fabrics.

All it took was a hot glue gun, inexpensive beaded trim that I found at Hobby Lobby, leftover fabrics, and an afternoon. Covering shades is not unique, but using different fabrics makes this project one-of-a-kind–and pretty darned charming, I think! I have to credit my old friend Tracey D. for this idea. I think little, unexpected touches like this keep a room from being too stuffy and add a subtle feeling of whimsy.