Monday, November 26, 2012
Sunday, November 25, 2012
DIY window curtains
Our new apartment didn't come with any blinds or anything. We already had enough curtains for our bedroom/studio, but not enough for the living room. We both wanted floor length light airy curtains. Some weeks ago we went to JoAnn's and picked out a neutral linen. I had already measured each curtain so I knew how much fabric to buy. Measuring out the entire project and drawing a diagram for the construction made the actual project much easier when I started sewing. Typically I don't like to plan, which never works out with sewing projects. I wanted the curtains to have texture, so I referred to my Reader's Guide Complete Guide to Sewing.
I didn't end up using any technique in the book, but there are so many techniques in the book it is helpful for generating ideas. This book also have very instructive illustrations. Another neat thing about this book is it has a section on how to sew curtains.
I started by washing and drying all the fabric. Then I ironed it. The hardest part of this project was the ironing. I have a small ironing board that I have to use on the floor. Each window curtain was over 100 inches in length and to properly measure and cut the curtains I had to iron a lot of fabric. I took up the entire floor ironing. I cut each curtain and machine stitched all hems, sides first and then end hems all about 8-10 SPI and 3/4" wide hems. Be sure to iron the hems down before you sew them. When I was new to sewing I would try and not iron so much, but the finished results will always look bad. Iron everything all the time. I ironed the hems down, pinned them, then sewed them.
Be sure to think about how the curtains will attach to the window. I bought a suspension wire and metal clips, so the curtain didn't have to have any way of attaching, it was just clipped up.
After I finished the machine work I started the hand work. I tacked the bottom of the curtains in a diamond pattern. To do this I put the curtain down over a cutting mat. Then I measured out each tuck and marked it with a sewing marker. After the design was marked out on the fabric, I gathered the fabric at each point and tacked it on the back of the curtain, which created an overall quilted effect.
Below are the completed curtains. Floor length, light and airy with texture. I like them because they let in a lot of soft light during the day, but they also block out street lamps at night. I was worried I would have to back them or add another layer, but in the end I didn't have to.
I started by washing and drying all the fabric. Then I ironed it. The hardest part of this project was the ironing. I have a small ironing board that I have to use on the floor. Each window curtain was over 100 inches in length and to properly measure and cut the curtains I had to iron a lot of fabric. I took up the entire floor ironing. I cut each curtain and machine stitched all hems, sides first and then end hems all about 8-10 SPI and 3/4" wide hems. Be sure to iron the hems down before you sew them. When I was new to sewing I would try and not iron so much, but the finished results will always look bad. Iron everything all the time. I ironed the hems down, pinned them, then sewed them.
Be sure to think about how the curtains will attach to the window. I bought a suspension wire and metal clips, so the curtain didn't have to have any way of attaching, it was just clipped up.
After I finished the machine work I started the hand work. I tacked the bottom of the curtains in a diamond pattern. To do this I put the curtain down over a cutting mat. Then I measured out each tuck and marked it with a sewing marker. After the design was marked out on the fabric, I gathered the fabric at each point and tacked it on the back of the curtain, which created an overall quilted effect.
Below are the completed curtains. Floor length, light and airy with texture. I like them because they let in a lot of soft light during the day, but they also block out street lamps at night. I was worried I would have to back them or add another layer, but in the end I didn't have to.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Ceramics, Metal and Glass
More from the Cincinnati Art Museum.
Both of the above pieces are from Iran. I saw many blue lions in the Iran Art section.
Lions represented royalty and strength and are oftentimes depicted with the sun.
I am still researching the blue lion to see what significance the color plays, if any.
The two above images are Chinese glass bowls. I was drawn to the
creamy colors. They also reminded me of FireKing ceramics
and 1960's Tupperware (see below).
FireKing
Tupperware
This contemporary ceramic piece is my current favorite.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
More of the Cincinnati Art Musuem
One room of the Cincinnati Art Musuem has paneled wooden walls with
faces at the top. One is old and one s young, but they look like
the same person. It was strange seeing them side by side.
Somehow, seeing them smiling above you in a wood
paneled room seamed so "twin peaks" to me.
Here is Saint Anthony. Nice posture and
turn of the head.
Patron saint of lost articles.
He died of Edema.
Death Bed Paintings
Yesterday I visited the Cincinnati Art Museum.
Here is a small sampling of the death bed paintings,
memento moris and hair work.
The memento mori usually contains hair of the deceased, often
ground to make pigment.
These examples of hairwork were usually given to
one's betrothed.
I am really drawn to the intimacy of wearing
a physical part of a loved one. It also makes
a memento mori more poignant.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
These days
I have started a lot of projects recently.
Knitting a cable rug. I bought the largest knitting needles
I could find.
Sewing curtains for the living room.
I never realised what a pain it is to sew a floor length curtain.
106 inches long.
Ebe likes to play with it while I work on it.
I'll put up pictures soon.
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