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July132011

making lemonade out of lemons – a post about curtains

Soooo, this is our living room. This is where we do most of our lounging and TV watching. It’s still a little empty, but slowly coming together. We still need some type of area rug and a chair or love seat on the other side of the room. We love this room because of how much light it gets. There are two giant windows behind the sofa and nice sliding doors leading to the side of the backyard.

A few weeks back we hung these curtains over the sliding doors. They are from IKEA and we love them 🙂 They dress the room up just enough for us.

Here’s the kicker… this isn’t the first pair that we’ve hung. If you’re familiar with IKEA, you know their curtains come super long and with fabric tape so you can easily hem them to fit your window. Mr. Weekly Bite hung the curtain rod (also from IKEA) and I meticulously measured and hemmed the curtains. I ironed the finished products. Giddy with excitement, Mr. Weekly Bite hung the curtains up and one was over 2 inches shorter than the other. I was crushed.

Long story short… the curtains originally were two different lengths. I should have measured from the top down. I measured the curtains from the bottom.  Boo 🙁

Having learned my lesson, I went back to IKEA and purchased a new pair. This time (thanks to my mom) we got it right! We love them.

I held onto my irregular lemon curtains because I wanted to try my hand at sewing a valance curtain for the nursery & M’s room. After searching online for an easy pattern, I found this very cute & simple tutorial from Joni of Lay Baby Lay.

Oh, I am not much of a sewer either. I have a simple sewing machine from Target and my biggest project to date has been sewing throw pillows. I told Mr. Weekly Bite I was going to sew curtains. His response: Really?! Don’t you need help for that?

Ummm… thanks for the confidence?

Moving forward, I measured the windows, bought some fabric border (black for the nursery, coral for M’s room) and sewed away.

Close to 2 hours later, the nursery valance was done! Yay 🙂

I was so happy with the result!

Mr. Weekly Bite was shocked! (in a good way :)) He loved it too!

The next day I sewed the valance for M’s room.

Her response:

Sooo Cuuuute Mommy!

I would have sewed something different for M’s room… but this is as far as my sewing talent goes 🙂

Maybe sometime in the future I’ll have the guts to try something different. For now… I’m super happy with result 🙂

 

17 Responses

  1. Aunt Cindy said on July 13, 2011 at 6:47 am

    Sew cute!! Ha ha. You did a beautiful job. Love how your home is taking shape.

  2. Estela - Weekly Bite said on July 13, 2011 at 6:59 am

    Thanks Cindy 🙂

  3. Becky said on July 13, 2011 at 7:11 am

    You never cease to amaze me (and make me feel incredibly unaccomplished). 35 weeks pregnant, potty training a toddler, cooking, AND sewing curtains? Tell the truth, TIM is actually the one who sewed the curtains, right?? 🙂 They look great!

  4. Estela - Weekly Bite said on July 13, 2011 at 7:40 am

    Ha! Thanks Becky 🙂

    No need to be amazing though, these were the easiest curtains ever. If I can sew them, anyone can. 🙂

  5. Erin said on July 13, 2011 at 7:53 am

    You’re house is DARLING and you have such style! Where did you buy your flooring?

  6. Nicole, RD said on July 13, 2011 at 8:06 am

    M has such good taste!

    P.S. I can’t leave comments on any of your older posts. I just wanted to let you know.

  7. Heather @ Heather's Dish said on July 13, 2011 at 8:12 am

    It’s so adorable! Wanna sew curtains for me? 🙂

  8. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga said on July 13, 2011 at 8:41 am

    We are moving..in an hour! to our new place and i dread the next couple weeks…I will be living at BB & Beyond and Ikea in search of shower curtains, curtains, etc and spending a small fortune AND the frustration…oh girl, i feel your pain!

  9. Lauren at Keep It Sweet said on July 13, 2011 at 9:18 am

    It looks fantastic and you have such a beautiful new home! I don’t think I could come close to doing that lol.

  10. Blog is the New Black said on July 13, 2011 at 10:01 am

    I think it looks great!! 🙂

  11. Estela - Weekly Bite said on July 13, 2011 at 10:56 am

    Erin – Are in San Diego? We ordered the flooring from a local store here 🙂

  12. emily (a nutritionist eats) said on July 13, 2011 at 12:13 pm

    I agree with M – sooo cute!

  13. Erin said on July 13, 2011 at 2:17 pm

    Thanks Estela. No, not in San Diego 🙁
    My husband and I have been SEARCHING for the right floor and once I saw your pictures this morning, I knew that is THE ONE!
    Do you happen to remember the brand? and/or the color?

  14. Estela - Weekly Bite said on July 13, 2011 at 3:09 pm

    Hi Erin 🙂

    I don’t know the brand, but it was on sale. The color is Hickory Tobacco. It’s a pre-finished wood so its very easy to install. Best of luck 🙂

  15. Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) said on July 13, 2011 at 5:29 pm

    You have such incredible style! I love everything you do to a room! I think you need to come visit me when I get my new place.

  16. Estela - Weekly Bite said on July 13, 2011 at 8:37 pm

    Thank You Sarena! You are way too kind 🙂

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