Stumbling block

I’ve been planning my redecorating for 4 to 5 months. Some things came to me easily and other things are a little harder to find solutions. My kitchen and family room are one big area. It’s a long narrow room with three different windows along the back wall. That side of the house gets all the afternoon/evening sun. This can make it slightly blinding from time to time. So whatever goes on the windows should be able to block out as much sun as possible especially in the summer but we also like to have the light in so it needs to be sturdy enough to get opened and closed frequently.

At the kitchen window I like to look out into the yard or across the way at the cows. I like having more light here but still at times it can be harsh. I don’t want anything to long or frilly at this window for practical reason. I've tried at least three different things here over the years and some where OK but none were great. I made these but never really liked them. They kinda match my walls but that will soon change and they let in way too much sun even with the added liner I put on them.

In the middle of the room, there is the sliding glass door. The rod there was purchased to match the kitchen cabinets, which are now being painted so that will need to be changed. The curtain up there is one that I made to cover the window/door a few years ago while I decided what I was going to do with the room. At first it looked fine when the room was off white. Since then, the room was painted purple but now I plan to give it yet another color. So, I need something more “finished” looking and something that will block out more light than this one (as you can see). I like the general style of this treatment but will need to find fabric that works with my new colors.

In the living/family room area I have two tall skinny windows side by side. We originally got these blinds made-to-order to match the fireplace that is no longer that light oak/maple color but instead a dark walnut color. The blinds worked fairly well but I want something different here now. Plus I don't want to spend the money on custom blinds.

The really hard part is that these three windows are all on the same wall and will need to coordinate with each other as well as the surrounding décor for that part of the room (remember, one end is kitchen and the other end is living room). I headed to the fabric store today and I’m back home now feeling totally overwhelmed. I checked out a ton of fabric and curtain rods and looked in a few books. I have a list of prices that I need to review a few hundred times before I can make a choice. My head hurts.

Do you have any ideas?
What’s your decorating dilemma?

Here's my bag

I’ve been looking at brocades for quite some time now. I love the way they feel and they look so beautiful and rich. Several weeks ago, a friend of mine asked me to ride along with her to go to a fabric store. Which to me is much like asking a six year old to go for a ride to a candy store. It took me a while to finally make a choice and thankfully my friend’s Mother is a seamstress so when I started to hyperventilate she understood. I eventually was able to make a fabric selection despite having a million bolts to choose from. So here’s the new clutch purse I made.


It’s a fold over clutch with a magnetic snap closure.




It has a purple lining…



And it’s deep enough to carry all my stuff for a night out.




I think it will look great with a little black dress or even some jeans and a sweater.


Now back to this amazing candy…Aaa, I mean fabric store. My regular fabric store has a fair amount to select from and I can usually find what I need there. Now, this place is a super store. It has at least 4 times the fabric.

And that is just some of what they have.
I had to make another trip to feed my addiction and this is what I came home with the last time.

I can’t wait to see what the sewing fairies turn this into.