Swedish Roll-up Blinds

I made these blinds....

from this book,

which I highly recommend and someday I might even own. Right now I am perpetually renewing this from our local library. She has great projects, photos, instructions and sketches to illustrate all of the steps. I work best off of pictures so this book is fabulous.Mine are made out of raised Swiss Dot on the inside white cotton and blue ticking on the outside.

They turned out great...I love them. I keep pointing out to John that I did indeed make these. I think if I keep saying this he might wish that I had, you know a "real job". Still need to get window cleats to hold the strings...John won't use them yet. He doesn't want to undo all of the double loop de loops, that I use to keep the blinds from dropping. Poor guy, it only took me three weeks to finally hang the blinds.

How long do you think I can hold of on the cleats?

What I've been up to...

So I have been busy taking care of lots of projects. I decided I wanted, no, needed a change in our home. After getting John on board with "my plan" he had two stipulations 1. that we have to use what we have. and 2. That we get it done while John is out of school during August. So we got to work. So far I have been painting and painting and I still have more painting to do. I've always wanted to play interior decorator.

This is our Bedroom. Four years ago I painted one and a half of the walls the blue brushed technique....then I stopped...I was depressed...I was tired...I got a job...left my fun job....opened our own store...got pregnant with Miss Paige...ran a store...closed a store...and now I've started again. I love blue, at least that hasn't changed and went with one focal wall brushed with three colors and the other three walls a light blue called "Summer Breeze". Extra paint from Skrappaper. All blues American Traditions Lowes. Also I can officially say the "cutting in" is not my favorite. Alas where is Melly when I need her? She has serious painting skills.

New Chairs for kitchen. My mother gave them to me plain without seats and I've had them in the garage for at least four years! Adam made the seats out of particle board about two years ago. When I told John about "my plan". He reminded me that I have had the fabric out in the garage for these chairs for at least three years. YAY ME! I bought foam for the cushions....and Viola! It only took me four years to get them finished. There is hope for me yet!

Paint in the living room and kitchen are the same colors since the rooms feel better coordinated. On the front door and chairs "Guacamole", on the wall "Lettuce Alone." (Menards Behr Paints) I will post more pictures as soon as I accomplish more. Paint provided in exchange for babysitting my nieces over the winter. My sister Laura knows the way to my heart.