Welcome to another edition of What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday. What the heck is that, you ask? It’s just a chance for a bunch of us to see what’s happening on the desks of other creative people around the world. For more info and lots of links to workdesks, go here.
My desk today shows two sets of Roman shade hardware, ready for the shades to be mounted. Off on the bottom left you can see a corner of one of the shades. I just have to press them, defur them (my cat thinks they are the perfect place for a nap) and insert the ribs and weight rods. The final steps will be to string the cords and mount them in the window.
I’m really excited to get these done, as my living room faces the south and the blinds I made many moons ago are quite a mess from the sun. This time around I used a lining with UV protection, so they should last quite a bit longer.
I could post a tutorial on how to make Roman shades, but honestly, I don’t think I could do a better job than they do over at make-roman-shades You can get a pattern made up in minutes, save it on their site for a year, be able to print it for $2.99 or get it free with a $25 purchase.
The pattern really is a set of step-by-step directions with all the measurements personalized to your requirements. Follow all her tips to the letter, she’s truly got all the kinks worked out!
Once you enter your dimensions (there are tips for how to take all the measurements correctly) you’ll get a customized supply list, with explanations of what everything is used for. I’ve shopped at this site several times for my own personal shades and for clients and can’t recommend them highly enough.
So happy Woyww, ya’ll! I’m off to get those shades finished.
*********Update June 23, 2011**********
Several of you asked to see the completed shades. These are not the most exciting photos, as I made them out of a solid fabric. But, it’s the clean, crisp look I was going for.
The color on the walls is one of those I call “chameleon paints.” It looks completely different at different times, depending on the light. In these pics it looks brown, but in other light it looks like a lighter shade of the green I used in the shades.
Btw, there is one itty bitty change I would make regarding to the make-roman-shades website. Don’t bother to order the screws for mounting the boards. The ones they send are slotted, not phillips, and they nearly drove me out of my mind.
My woodworking hubby recommends you buy your own 3″ phillips head wood screws and drill a pilot hole first. This was at least a million and one times easier, in my opinion. 🙂
I like that phrase “defur”!!!! I have to do that regularly because I tend to wear black often to work and even if I haven’t been near my dog his fur always gets on there somewhere!!
Good luck with the blinds!!
xxx
It may happen by chance with your doggie, but my cat is quite deliberate about spreading herself around. You know when you’ve got cat hair on you, it’s on purpose.
Wow, I was going to say – with the bits you list left to do, you SO know what you’re doing..sounds like you assume I know what you’re doing too. Great recommendation Sandy, have bookmarked this site, what a service!
Julia, the first time I made a Roman shade was because a customer asked me if I could make her some. I had no idea what I was getting into, but being me, I said ‘yes,’ and then dove right in! I thought they would be really complicated, but with directions from make-roman-shades.com they were a breeze.
What a great idea! I’ve bookmarked the site, too. Show us pics of yours when you get them up, Sandy.
Will do, Robin. I’ll take pics in the morning.
They’re up and look pretty good, if I say so myself. 🙂
Roman shades, what a huge undertaking, good on you!!
Keep smiling and creating, I couldn’t play this week, but watch for my post next Wednesday for sure!!
OMG! Roman shades are not the easiest things to make! You rock! Looking forward to seeing the pic of the new blings and I am going to bookmark that site and maybe give it a try. Thanks for sharing. Vickie #107
Actually, Vickie, Roman shades are quite easy, it’s just a lined rectangle of fabric.
What a wow project! Patsy from HeARTworks