Flashback Friday: No Sew Roller Shade Curtains

Roller shades don't have to be boring or expensive. This Flashback Friday is an easy no sew roller shade option.

No Sew Roller Shade Curtains

Hi Everyone!

If you have been reading my blog, you know that I have been talking about the dining room curtains for a while. Most of the time the post goes something like this, "Look at this cool project, please ignore the Hawaiian like fabric haphazardly hung on the windows."

I got the idea for my curtains from this tutorial by Cottage and Vine. I posted it as an idea thief a few months ago. Ever since then, I have been obsessed with the idea, but I was waiting for the right time to purchase the Amy Butler fabric I was in love with.

Cyber Monday was the perfect opportunity to buy this Wallflowers fabric from Hawthorn Threads. They were offering cheap shipping, and the price was a little less than normal.

So, I figured, I'll get some cheap roller shades from Lowes, have them cut to size, mount them and then put the fabric on. Easy project. Done in one Saturday.

Uh. No. Lets just say the score after this weekend was Blinds: 5 Me: 0.

I measured my windows several times. I went into the store. I explained my measurements, got the brackets to hold the blinds and went to hang them. Every single one was too big. (I had even had them cut on the small side for this reason!)

So, I got out my scissors and utility knife and cut them to the right size myself. Of course, this makes one side all hacked up and wonky. But I was covering it with fabric and didn't care. (although they all kinda hang crooked for this reason)

So, I try to put the brackets in. First, I use nails. However, the space is so small, I can't get a hammer into it. (and I was using a rather small hammer even)

I move on to screws. Of course, as is the case with the drill every single time I use it, I can't get enough pressure behind it, and I strip out the screws.

Enter husband. He just laughs at me and attempts to attach brackets. He starts cussing immediately because he also can not hang brackets. 

We get brackets hung, but the newly cut shades are too short for placement of these brackets. And they are the wrong kind of brackets to move. Go to store to buy new brackets.

I'm too lazy to venture into the snow to get the ladder, so of course, I'm balancing on a folding chair. And course I fall down with a screw driver in my hand almost poking an eye out.

At this point I finally get all of the main shades hung. I'm one shade short, so I decided to skip Lowes for this round and head to Wal-Mart.

This is important. GO TO WAL-MART FIRST! They have the wonderful adjustable shades that you can just tear to the right size. You know how much easier those shades were? And they were half the price of the Lowes ones!

So, I am pretty excited about my easy Wal-mart shade. I get the brackets hung pretty easily, and I put up the shade. I realize that I have put the brackets on backwards. They work the way they are, but the shade will now roll under the top rather than over the top like the other shades in the room. Is this a big deal? To a normal person: probably not. To me, I knew if I looked at that shade I would be irritated for all time.

I decide to remove the brackets and switch them around to fix this problem. Except after I have them moved and drilled in, I notice that the way the brackets are, they can't be hung this way. So I have to move them back to the way they were. But now the holes aren't working with the screws (the holes are too big) So, I have to move to a new location. Which means the shade I already tore to the right width is now too narrow. I have to leave part of the pole sticking out without any shade. Whatever. I go to drill the brackets in the new location. However, now the stupid things won't drill in, and I've stripped two sets of screws. Husband comes in trying to help but leaves cussing about stupid cheap shades. I decide to grab a hammer and just use nails. That finally works.

After many many hours of this project, I'm ready to be done. I just have to attach the fabric with hot glue (very easy especially if you use some clamps to keep the fabric from shifting). I get all done with the fabric, I go to hang the final shade and......

I attached the fabric to the wrong side.

I just start laughing hysterically. Are you kidding me? Husband comes in to ask what is the matter (I'm sure he's figured shades have given me a nervous breakdown). I show him how I attached to the wrong side. He tells me to just attach more fabric to the opposite side. Except I only have a 5 x 10 inch patch of fabric left. He decides we're going to make it work. He jimmy rigs it up and hot glues it in place. So, for now, it's staying. Just enter our home cautiously if you use the door with the shade hot glued on.

Here's the "before"

See the awesome Hawaiian fabric haphazardly hanging on the windows?

This is the "After"

I

Gone Junkin': New Furniture Finds

Hello!


Last weekend was the local town's city wide rummage sale. The timing couldn't be more perfect. My husband and I sold some items prior to our move, so we wouldn't have to deal with them (good thing because our moving truck was filled to the brim). After I was done rummaging, I hit up two antique stores on Main Street in Brookings, SD. I would highly recommend the locally owned shops in downtown Brookings.

So, here are some of my finds from this past weekend! They all are going to be fancied up either with paint or just some cleaning up (well except the dresser...it's already wonderful).

As you can see, this piece is already getting some play as a nightstand. This is a old typewriter stand. I'll be removing the top and staining it very dark. I might add a fun color to the metal legs.

This piece was a super amazing find! This is a Dillingham end table. It's authentic midcentury. It has some water marks and stains. I'm going to try a couple of different methods to keep it natural, but I might end up having to stain it darker. Now, I don't normally talk about the cost of each item I pick up, but I'm just so excited about my find I want to share. I picked this piece up for $8.00. The different retail prices I have found for a set (granted this is just one) are around $400.00 and up. Awesome find!

This coffee table will get the contact paper removed and the top refinished. Either with some new sort of thing (like vintage yardsticks or something) or by refinishing the wood top (depends on the state of the wood underneath)

Love the hairpin legs!

This piece was done by the Junk Mama in Brookings (Found at Antique Gallery). It's a nice grey color. Perhaps chalk paint? I am in love with Antique Gallery. It's Pyrex hunting paradise.

My little lady even got a bike. Since it was pretty inexpensive, we took the pedals off so she can try that new fancy gliding.

Ugly House Renovation: Hunting Lodge Nursery Before & After

Hello There,

I have my first before & after to share from Ugly House. It’s a bit lame to call it a before & after. The room didn’t need much from me except a new coat of paint and furniture I already had. 

Here are two of the "before" pictures from when we looked at the house. Not bad, but a little color goes a long way. 

As you may recall, I’ve had the hunting lodge nursery theme since my son was born. I didn’t add much to my son’s room except a new alphabet poster from The Porch Light in East Village in DSM (LOVE that shop). I also added the dresser we got from my son’s godmother (Click here for tutorial). I thought it was a nice touch that it was in her room as she grew up. I have the mirror, but I’m not sure if we’ll add that now. It will be safe in storage for a little while.

Yes...we live in this house so there are things like video monitor cords showing and diaper champs. :)

 

Sorry about the blur. I was using my iPhone.

I really do enjoy the new color here in South Dakota. It’s named “Distant Thunder” and is from Lowes’ Olympic One line. As I spoke about in my son’s room, I adore this brand of paint. It covers dark colors in just one coat. 

Most rooms in the house will get an update in the form of white paint on the trim and doors, however, this paint choice looks good with the dark trim, so we’ll keep it. My husband loves the color so much, we’re probably going to continue the color into his man cave (aka the family room). Fine by me. Less trim to paint!

His room is mostly done. In the future, we might add a bookcase. I have a vintage map (also a find from The Porch Light) that’s pretty beat up. I’m hoping to mod podge it to a bookcase for him.I am thinking of updating the closet and room door as well.