At the suggestion of a friend, I took down the heavy curtains I had hanging from my studio window.
And then there was light!
Wonderful airiness and space opened up. (I was reminded of a conversation with my husband early in our marriage about curtains. Something about the illogical nature of covering a window with curtains.) I’m not one to do much home decorating, but occasionally I get a wild hair to add a little something here and there. Especially when it comes to boring mini-blinded windows…
Pillowcase valance anyone? When I cleaned out my fabric closet this weekend, I rediscovered my pillow case stash. You know I love to repurpose pillow cases. And without any curtains the naked mini-blind window was just begging for a little sumthin sumthin. I started draping my favorite vintage pillow cases over the bare curtain rod, just to see. These two pillow cases are vintage Vera. Textile designer Vera Neumann had the most wonderfully prolific career and I am so drawn to her work. I even found a fabulous Flickr group dedicated to her prints!
For now… the pillow cases are just clothes pinned in place while I visualize my Vera valance. Hmm, feels like a breath of fresh air.
I have a set of vintage napkins that I got at a rummage sale that have the most lovely design. I saw the little “vera” down in the corner and had no idea who they were designed by but loved them anyway. I think I love them a little bit more now that I know more about the brilliant lady behind them.
Overall I prefer roman blinds to curtains, but lately I’ve been on a cafe curtain kick. I hate being on display when it gets dark, so covering the bottom half of the window still gives it an airy quality while giving us privacy. If I could get over my paranoias, I’d probably go without anything.
Your pretty valances look nice against your view. Good idea!
Great idea. I might have to did through my closets and see what I find.
I kind of like the clothes pins holding them in place. Character or something.
http://www.thescarfshop.blogspot.com
Thanks little T! I like the clothes pins too, but wasn’t sure if it looked too much like “laundry day”, lol!
Love Vera! I have one tea towel that is hanging on my wall – makes me smile. Your idea is so cool, Betz. Nice to have a little dittly-doo on the window to soften the hard edges and muffle the mad studio sounds. What’s the mobile hanging in the center?
Thanks, Jan! The mobile thing is a wind chime made out of shell, I think! makes little clinky noises in the breeze. 🙂
Finding a Vera piece at the thrift store always makes me giddy! Adore her work. Your valance will be beautiful and such a great way to usher in the Spring sunshine!
Yeah, this looks so great and I love the Herman Miller chair you brought up!
Oh I wouldn’t spend a moment bothering with sewing actual valances. I think they look perfect as is… maybe you could paint the clothpins green or yellow to make it look a bit more finished. Or not.
Welcome spring!
I love your curtains..leave them the way they are..love Vera…am loking at my fav piece right now – a funky apron..Although I have mini-blinds, each morning I fling them up and open the windows to bring in the light… have a glass mobile to catch the breezes…Happy Spring..
They look great! Pillow cases and sheets are a really great and inexpensive way to make window treatments.
Oh my goodness! I love Vera Neumann too and I have a handful of her bed linens found at thrift shops. I’ve made a few aprons and sold them on Etsy and am happy/sad to see them go. I LOVE the prints you have found. Just beautiful!
What a great view you have now! Lovely curtains too, the prints echo the green outside. I like that.
Oh, I think you should KEEP the clothespins! Continues that “outdoors freshness brought inside” thing!! Love the pillowcase idea!
Oh wow, look at the view you uncovered!!! As I get older, I need/want more and more light so I have been drawn toward valances now. I even used some linen napkins that a neighbor gave me and draped them over a rod on the diagonal overlapping them somewhat. I like the “pointed, jagged” look at the window. Now I think I will go look for some great pillowcases for some other windows …. and they would be easy/cheap to swap out with the change of seasons. Thanks for the suggestion.
Your Vera valance looks so light and “springy”!
Thanks for the Flickr link – I don’t know much about vintage, but she has some amazing prints!
and what a worlds difference it makes when that natural sunlight comes pouring in..
I have a bunch of her napkins that I’ve held onto for years…I always thought they would make great cafe curtains! Great job, I love it!
It seems like such a lovely space.
Your blog is lovely and so is the view from your window, now you can stare at the blossoms instead of doing your work.
I love the idea of using Pillow cases for valances! What a clever and economical idea. Thanks for sharing. Love the look of the Vera prints you chose!
Jaye
http://artquiltmaker.com/blog