window pelmet (diy)

I've been hanging out on pinterest quite a bit lately (abearmadethis) for crafty inspiration of all sorts and  I'm going to share some of my attempts to emulate them.

This week I made a window pelmet/valance inspired by this pin: window valances made from cardboard boxes .  Yes, you read that right, "made from cardboard boxes"- genius!

I've had experience making pelmets before.  I've covered an existing wooden pelmet with new fabric and I've made a new one using foam board and both turned out well (so well they were still attached to the windows when we sold our house).  Edit - the two photos below are professional property photos used to sell our house - all other photos are mine (and you can tell!).

covered wooden pelmet - Ikea fabric
(ps my craft room has never been this neat before or since this photo)

the foam board pelmet also covered with Ikea fabric

The idea of using cardboard boxes, rather than wood or foam board really appealed to me because:

1. I have plenty on hand after moving house recently
2. I love to use recycled materials in my crafting when ever possible
3. no $$ outlay for foam board - winning!

Now a couple of things to be aware of about me before we start; I'm an imperfect crafter/maker, I mostly eyeball measurements (rather than actually measuring), I tend to rush ahead and then have to go back, undo and make alterations and I can be extremely impatient which often leads to lots of "it'll do" moments.
I do have fun though and most things I attempt turn out ok in the end but if you are a perfectionist you may want to look away now.

What I used (all materials came from my stash)

• cardboard boxes - enough to fit the length and depth of  window
• wadding
• fabric to cover the cardboard/wadding 
• fabric trim
• jewellery wire
• cutting knife & scissors
• packing tape
• staple gun 
• ruler & measuring tape
• iron

I started by folding and cutting up two boxes to fit the length of my window.  I used packing tape to join the two boxes together and  made it stronger by folding up all the flaps, rather than cutting them off.

Next I folded my wadding in half (I only had thin wadding on hand) and placed it on top of the cardboard.  Again I used packing tape to keep it in place.

Then I lay my furnishing fabric over the wadding, folded the ends over and stapled around the edges.  The fabric wasn't long enough so I had to join two pieces together.  For a more polished finish I thought about sewing the two fabric pieces together, but I knew I was going to hide the join anyway so after ironing I simply butted the fabric ends together over the base and stapled in place.

fashion pattern mixing

Earlier in the week I 'broke the rules' via Aussie Curves by mixing non matching patterns.
Then today I saw this excellent example of pattern mixing...I want to be like her when I grow up!

At the Movies

I love seeing movies on the big screen, not for me the DVD at home in my pjs, I like the cinema experience.  I've grow past the clubbing, bar hopping, pub scene so now a great night out is dinner and a movie and not necessarily in that order.
I saw two movies over the weekend, two vastly different movies but I loved both of them.
First up on Friday night was 'The intouchables'


It is a French movie based on a true story of friendship between a handicap millionaire Philippe (Francois Cluzet) and his street smart ex-con caretaker Driss (Omar Sy).  And it was awesome!  Such a great cast, but really Omar Sy was the standout.  He just lit up the screen with his beautiful smile and loud laugh.  What was most moving about this movie was the end when you found out what happened to them both in real life. This is one is a movie I will watch again.

Next was Looper on Saturday night.


In stark contrast to the Intouchables, Looper has quite a bit of violence and blood.  But don't let that deter you as it stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis & Emily Blunt, who are all awesome actors.  Looper is a time travel movie so you need your whits about you to ensure you don't lose the plot line or get confused.  Joseph G-L does an awesome job playing a young Bruce Willis from the past, he really mastered the eye and mouth movements of Willis so that it was incredibly believable that they were the same person.  He did an awesome job.
I'm not going to give any spoilers, but this movie supports my belief that if it's got Bruce Willis in it then it's got to be good.

Wear your clothes with joy

I love this blog, Advanced Style.  It's so awesome to see eclectic fashion is alive and well in the over 60's.  No mutton dressed as lamb here.

this amazing poncho wearing lady's style tip was "wear your clothes with joy"...excellent advice!
check out the original post here

Easter Sunday Snippets

Hooking up to Tinnie Girl's Sunday Snippets

my week with Marilyn

 I went to see this movie last weekend.  I'd heard and read good things about Michelle William's portrayal of Marilyn and I wanted to see for myself.

I left the cinema, felling very ho hum after the movie and really wasn't sure if I'd enjoyed it or not.  

Then tonight I read this post over at Sheri Bomb and  everything she says I totally agree with. 

Thanks Sheri Bomb for writing so well the thoughts and feelings I was unable to.  xx

The Artist

This was a totally spellbounding, beautiful, heartfelt movie which deserves (IMHO) all the awards it and its actors have won. 
I adored it and would def see it again.  All shot in black and white but so fabulously done that you could totally see the missing colours and textures.  The characters were loveable and believeable and the dog was gold! 
I truly urge anyone who hasn't seen this yet to run, not walk, to your local cinema and buy your tickets.  As always this is a film best savoured on the big screen for it's first viewing, don't wait for the DVD.    
9/10
http://weinsteinco.com/sites/the-artist/