Projects Galore: Austrian Curtains

My next project has, once again, to do with the bedroom.

I have often watched period films set in Elegant homes and seen, what I believe are called "Austrian" Curtains, or "Balloon" curtains, including, though I cannot find a screenshot right now, Lucy Honeychurch's Room in the Pensione in the 1985 "A Room With a View."(Helena Bonham Carter.)

Photos are not mine, they are from Pinterest. click the pictures for the link.

I have long admired their elegance, and been searching for a way to incorporate them into our room. First off, they cannot be bought for less than a kidney, as they are rare and so have to be custom made usually out of silk tulle.

Sadly, this young family cannot afford $200+ a panel... So I turned to my sewing room.

Also, Since our new bed doesn't have a headboard, the clanging of the ancient Venetian blinds that were on there was seriously annoying!!

But how to do it? I long debated buying a bolt of some material or other, to have enough fabric to do it. I threw around the idea of linen, then went down to muslin, dabbled with satin or tulle, but all those options involved a lot of work and still $100+ in materials.

Then brilliance hit...

I bought four more cheap sheer panel curtains like we had "Draped" the room in.

I flat felled two of them together length-wise, and ironed a crease along the center.

Then came my handy dandy Ruffler foot that came with my Treadle.

I call these photos simply "Froth" Haha!

This process cut out all measuring, cutting, hemming, and well, most of the grunt work, and turned several days worth of trouble into just a few hours!

And voile!

The final result!

Eventually I can hand sew small rings on the back at intervals and turn them into shades that will raise, but right now I am seriously loving the color of the light that comes through them!

I will however be getting a matching set of red panels to go along the sides and hid the mild wonky-ness of them.

What do you think? leave me a comment and let me know!

A Bedroom Refashion

Since the day we were married, my husband and I have been sleeping in a full sized bed. The bed was an heirloom, having belonged to Joshua's grandparents. It was also THEIR first bedroom suit as a married couple.

 

 This arrangement worked fine during the first year and a half of maternity and parenthood when all was cozy, but then both of us began to stretch out. We ended up in night-long wrestling matches for space and covers. Despite the bed's history and significance, I was the one who finally decided it was enough, mama need her sleep!!

So to craigslist I went and found this double pillow-topped treasure for $100!! Box springs and all!

E-bug enjoying a tumble on the new mattress

What's out there?

Then with a little love and effort from my wonderful husband, we now have a cloud-like haven of rest!

 

 

 The quilt was a $50 Zulily find, and it came with the two shams. The curtains are from Big lots and are simply stapled in place.... I think we bought out their supply of sheer white panels!  


 The light is... well... the highlight! The light bulb is very special, it not only changes color by remote, and has several variegated and solid settings, but it also has a bluetooth speaker!! (Talk about setting the mood!)

The little pillow is one I hand embroidered years ago to go with another quilt I made

 It has been so nice to not only have breathing room, but to have the space so dreamy and soothing. Set the diffuser going, turn the light down low, gentle music, and dreamland isn't far away! And now that baby is finally sleeping through the night, so are Mama and Daddy!