Easy Drapery Panels

The window treatments for every room in the downstairs of our home are now hanging and I am thrilled!  Two adjustments need to be made, but I'm happy to say that it's coming together.  And, now that we have neighbors, I have to add some mini-blinds to the kitchen, so hopefully we'll be getting those this week.

Drapes are my absolute favorite window treatments, so with the exception of faux roman shades in the kitchen, every room downstairs has some form of drapery panels.  (I'll be sharing the others with you soon).  The Dining Room, as you probably know, has been my big project, of late, and Friday night, literally 10 minutes before our dinner guests arrived, my husband hung the drapes.  I went back and forth on the fabric choice, but ended up with a Waverly pattern that I love.  Our fabric outlet in town had one remnant piece that was a little less than 3 yards, so I did have to order another cut, but I still saved a ton of money (I even found some blackout lining--pre-hemmed--for $1/yard, so I snatched up everything they had) and I'm really pleased with how they turned out.

I like to be able to fit the vacuum cleaner under my drapes without having to push them to the side.

Because drapery panels are my favorite, I thought I would do a semi-tutorial on how to make them.  I guess you could call these 'lazy girl' drapery panels.  There are more sophisticated ways to make drapes, but these are just your plain old simple ones that require minimal cutting and simple hardware.  You see, no matter how hard I try, cutting a straight line is just really complicated for me, so the less cutting involved, the better!  Plus, having two little ones running around demands sewing projects that take up as little brain power as possible (I'm a novice with the sewing machine).

First, measure your windows and determine the finished length of your drapes (i.e. distance from where it will hang on the hardware to where you want it to fall on or near the ground).  To that finished length, add 8 inches for a 2-inch bottom hem, or 10 inches for a 3-inch bottom hem.   Cut the fabric to this length.

Next, determine the finished width of your panel, and add 3 inches to that measurement.  Cut the fabric to this size.

*My dining room window is actually two windows that are separated by a 4-inch strip of dry-wall.  I'm not really sure why they did it this way, but I decided to treat it as if it was one window.  Since I absolutely hate cutting fabric, I made my panels each the width of the fabric (54"), and I didn't even cut off the selvage!*

Once your fabric panels have been cut, cut the drapery lining (lining protects the fabric from becoming faded and provides a more sophisticated look from the outside.  No one wants to see what color your drapes are from the outside of your home).   The lining should be 3 inches narrower than the fabric panel width, and 2 inches shorter.

Next, make the hem on the fabric panel.  This is done by folding fabric to the wrong side 6 inches (for a 3-inch hem) or 4 inches (for a 2-inch hem).

Iron the fold so you have a nice crisp edge.

Then, bring the raw end of this fold and tuck it against the pressed edge.  Press again.

Pin in place.

Stitch close to the folded edge of the seam, creating the bottom hem for your panel.

Repeat this process for the lining fabric, creating the hem on the lining.

Lay the fabric panel and lining panel right sides together, lining the top edges together, and centering the lining on the fabric.

Pin the fabric to the lining on each side of the panel (do not sew the tops or bottoms together), being careful to keep the fabric from shifting.  If you're worried about the fabric shifting you can always pin the top edges together while you work, to ensure that the lining will be pinned straight to the fabric. Sew sides using a 1/2-inch or 5/8-inch seam allowance.  Since I left the selvage on mine, I just used the selvage line as my stitching line which made it pretty easy.

(Sorry I don't have a picture of this one, but I think you get the idea).

Turn the panel right side out, making sure that an equal amount of fabric is on each side of the lining and press.

To finish the top and create a rod pocket, fold the top over 4 inches to the wrong side.  Press, then bring the raw end in to the pressed edge, press again and pin. (This is the same process as used for the bottom hem).

*I was working with less fabric than I should have had on my remnant piece, so I had to make the rod pocket a bit skimpier than I wanted, which is why you see in the picture below that I only folded 2 1/2-inches to the wrong side.  If you're skimping like I did, follow these next few bits, otherwise skip to the part where it says, "stitch rod pocket in place, stitching close to the top folded edge".

Turn the raw edge under 1/2-inch, press and pin in place. 

This hole will become the rod pocket

If you're going to 'cheat' like I did, you can take that raw edge that you turned in, and simply fold the end at an angle so it looks a bit cleaner from the outside.

Stitch rod pocket in place, stitching close to the top folded edge.

Now, you can either hang using the rod pocket, or you can clip on some rings and slide those onto your rod.  It's nice to have an option.  Just be sure that you measured correctly from the beginning because the length will be different depending on how you hang your drapes.

You can be done here, but if you left the selvage on like I did, you may want to do this next little step. 


The bottom of my panels looked like this:

You can see here how the lining is shorter than the fabric.

I didn't want this much of the selvage to show on the inside of my panel, so I decided to do one small stitch and hide it a bit.

Starting at the bottom corner of that selvage, fold in to the side edge, at a 45 degree angle.

Stitch at an angle, close to folded edge.

It will look like this when you're done:

Be sure to clip your threads!

It's not necessary, but if you hate cutting fabric as much as I do and want to leave the selvages on, this is a way to make it look a bit better.

There you have it, some simple drapery panels!

Here are some other links for ways people sew their drapes.  Enjoy!
No Sew Panels  by In My Own Style 

Drapery Panels Lining made Kind of Easy by Isabella & Max Rooms (there is a series on this blog, which you'll find if you go to this link).

How I Sew Drapes by Scissors and Spatulas

I'll be linking this to:
Making the World Cuter Monday
Made by You Monday at Skip to My Lou
Tutorials and Tips Tuesday at Home Stories A to Z
Strictly Homemade Tuesday at Strictly Homemade
Show Me What Ya Got at Not JUST a Housewife
Tuesday's Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Laugh, Love, and Craft

Meal Planning Part 2: Grocery Shopping

This is the second post of a 3-part series in which I will attempt to share some insights on how to plan meals.  Planning for meals is a way to be more frugal, efficient and organized about something that takes place every day in your home.  When I started thinking about doing a post on meal planning, I realized that there are some background topics that go into my meal planning, so I wanted to be sure to include those.  Hope you enjoy this series and maybe even learn something along the way.

If you missed my first post in this series, go ahead and click here for how to stock your pantry.

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First off, I have to say that I LOVE grocery shopping!  I know some people don't, but it's a necessity for most of us, so here are a few tips for you that will hopefully help in making your shopping experience more budget-friendly and maybe even a bit more enjoyable. 

1. Read the Weekly Store Ads

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Call me old-fashioned, a dork, or whatever you will, but I love to read all of the grocery store fliers that come in the mail.  Whether or not that truly is an oddity, it is one of the first steps to being a frugal shopper.  The deals at the grocery store are generally how I determine what to buy that week. Unless it's an absolute necessity, I won't buy something unless it's on sale.  Comparing each store's deals is also helpful in knowing where to buy what that week.  It might mean driving around town a bit, but if something is less expensive at Kroger one week, I will go there instead of Publix.  Yes, this does take some time, but in the end it's worth saving quite a bit of money and getting the biggest 'bang for your buck'.

2. Take Stock of your Kitchen

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After browsing the ads and taking note of what's on sale, look through your pantry, fridge, and freezer to determine what is needed.  Undoubtedly there are certain items that you will buy each week, but there are also staple items that may need restocking.  I haven't ever done this, but it's a great idea to keep a running list on your fridge, or maybe make a chalkboard sign to hang inside of your pantry (this is my plan) so that when you run out of something, you can write it down.  This would save time and help you know exactly what is lacking.

3. Make a List

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We've all done it before, wandering around the grocery store with our mouths watering, sweeping the shelves of everything that looks appealing.  This really is fun, but when you go to pay, you'll be forking over a lot more green than if you had made a list and purchased those items.  A little bit of planning will go a long way in helping your budget.

4. Gather Your Coupons

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You don't have to be an 'extreme' coupon expert to save some money by using coupons.  It's as easy as buying a Sunday paper to have coupons to utilize each week.  There are TONS of websites out there to help match the coupons with the deals in the stores.  I will not even attempt to come close to the experts on this, so instead here are some great websites for help in being a savvy couponer.

The one I use is The Grocery Game.  I like this because the deals are matched up with a specific store, and it tells me what percentage I'll be saving on each item.  It's not a free service, but I just add the price (charge per store, on an 8 week cycle) to my grocery budget.  On several occasions I have saved more than I spent using this system, so that works for me!  There is a free 8-week trial, so try it out for awhile, and if you're satisfied you can join.

*I will say when I lived in CA, this didn't always work for me; often the list didn't match my actual stores.  Since moving to GA, though, I've had more success than failure.*

Southern Savers is another excellent resource to use, although, just like the name, it's specific to the South.  This is a free site.

Grocery Smarts covers primarily the West, so if you're in that area, this would be a great one for you, and this is also free.  There are even workshops that you can attend to learn how to make the most of the information offered.

There are MANY more sites like this; just google coupon sites and you'll find a ton!

5. Look for Manager's Specials
Generally, sticking to your list is a good rule of thumb.  However, there are many 'manager's specials' in most stores.  I always browse the meat department and usually come out with some awesome meat deals to stick in the freezer.  Sometimes I'll find a cut of meat that I don't normally buy, and I have no idea how I'm going to cook it!  But, if it is marked down really well, I'll stick it in the freezer and google a way to make it later on.  This has helped to save money AND to learn how to cook some new things!  Stores also have specials on other items, so as long as you can use it within in the "Use By" date, you're golden!

I hope these few tips are helpful to you as you try to be a better grocery shopper!  


Do you enjoy or endure grocery shopping?
Do you have a favorite coupon website?

Blueberry Chicken Salad with Sage Butter Biscuits

This chicken salad came about as some other of my recipes do, simply because I'm trying to use what I have on hand, instead of going to the store and spending more money.  Does anyone else do this?  We were going to small group and everyone was supposed to bring an appetizer.  My mind was drawing a blank, though, so a friend inspired me by suggesting chicken salad in cream puffs (which, by the way, would be awesome--I just didn't want to spend the time to make the cream puffs, but someone really should tackle this!), which made me decide on chicken salad.

I found a great recipe tucked away in my collection that I had saved from a Better Homes & Gardens magazine in 2008.  I altered the chicken salad recipe a bit, but kept the original biscuit recipe.  There weren't any sandwiches left after our dinner, so I guess you could say that everyone liked them.

Chicken salad recipes are wonderful, but everyone has a different opinion on the proportions of dressing to chicken and other ingredients.  The recipe below is what I used, so you may need to adjust it to fit your own chicken salad preference.

These would be great for a shower, luncheon, or just make the chicken salad and serve it on a bed of lettuce. Hope you all enjoy!

Blueberry Chicken Salad:
2 cooked chicken breasts, cut into small cubes
1/4 cup plus 1 Tablespoon mayonnaise
2 Tablespoons sour cream
Blueberries
Craisins
Slivered Almonds
chopped fresh chives
salt and pepper to taste

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine chicken, mayonnaise and sour cream.  Gently stir in as many blueberries, craisins, almonds and chives as you desire.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Chill for at least an hour before using.  Spoon onto Sage Butter Biscuits (recipe below).

recipe adapted from Better Homes &Gardens, April, 2008

Sage Butter Biscuits:
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried rubbed sage
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3/4 cup chilled, unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

Preheat oven to 425F.  In a small bowl, whisk together milk and egg until blended; set aside.  Blend flour, baking powder, salt, sage and pepper with a pastry knife, or in a food processor.  Add cold butter and pulse or quickly blend with pastry knife until mixture resembles coarse meal.  Do not overmix.  Add milk mixture and process just until moist clumps begin to form.  Transfer dough to a floured surface.

Knead dough until it holds together (this part was tricky for me because my dough was super moist.  I probably added about 1/2 cup of flour to the dough by the time I was done kneading it) about 6 turns.  Roll out dough to 1/2-inch thickness.  Using a floured biscuit cutter, or the rim of a small drinking glass, cut out biscuits.  Reroll scraps and cut remaining biscuits.  Transfer to a large nonstick or lightly greased baking sheet.

Bake until golden brown, 10-12 minutes.  Slice in half and spoon in Blueberry Chicken Salad.

recipe slightly adapted from Better Homes & Gardens, April, 2008


Linking to: Strictly Homemade Tuesday at Strictly Homemade

and

A Few of my Favorite Things: Kitchen Gadgets

There are oodles of products out there to purchase for use in your kitchen.  Certainly every one of them could be put to great use, but how do you decide which ones you really NEED?  Obviously, measuring cups and spoons, a spoon to stir with, a spatula--these are definitely necessities--but what other items should you have on hand to enhance your efficiency and productivity in the kitchen?

This list is not comprehensive by any means, but just a list of a few kitchen gadgets that I am so thankful that I have.  I don't use all of them everyday, or even once a week, but they are the kinds of things that when I do need them, they help to save me a TON of time!  If you are in the mood to purchase any of these, I've made it easy for you! Simply click on the picture and you'll be taken directly to a purchasing page.

1. Pastry Knife/ Dough Blender - This is used for cutting in butter to flour.  Sometimes recipes will say use a pastry knife or two forks.  Two forks is awkward, so I definitely recommend having one of these.  We eat biscuits frequently and this tool comes in really handy.

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2. Zester - The peel of citrus fruit has tons of flavor and adds a great taste to pies, pastries and other dishes.  A zester is used like a grater to peel off that flavor-packed layer.  I have both of these (I registered for them when we got married); the longer one also works well for cheese.

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3. Cheese Grater/Storage - I'm sure you've seen these used at restaurants when they grate cheese onto a salad or pasta.  My version of this is actually from Pampered Chef, but other brands I'm sure are great.  I use this for grating fresh Parmesan cheese, which is usually in small quantities and then it's great to have a little container to store the leftovers in.

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4. Egg Slicer - If hard boiled eggs are a favorite of yours, then this tool is great for you!  Making egg salad or just chopping eggs for a Cobb salad is much easier with this.  ps- click here for my egg salad recipe.

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5. Brownie Spatula - I'm not really sure of the technical term for this, but we use this every time we make brownies.  It's also great for removing biscuits and small cookies from a pan. 

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6. Pastry Brush - Coating crusts with milk or egg whites to get a nice browned finish is made easier with this little brush.  You'll have a smooth top and nothing really drips, like if you were to use a spoon or knife. 

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7. Pie Crust Shield - Tired of using aluminum foil to cover your pie crusts to keep them from burning?  This gadget works wonderfully to keep the edges of your crust cooking evenly and finishing with a perfect golden brown. 

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8. Chopper - Great for chopping nuts and other ingredients in small quantities.  

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What are your favorite kitchen gadgets?

Dresser Drawer to Towel Rack

Have you ever noticed that most homes (even brand new ones) only come outfitted with one towel rack per bathroom?  And that one towel rack is only big enough for one towel.  Inevitably, at some point a fix needs to be made in most bathrooms.  Our solution came in the form of an old dresser drawer:

Yes, that is the front of an old drawer.  Do you remember this dresser?

It definitely had to go because it was no longer functional, but I wanted to at least be able to use some of it for DIY projects around the house.  My husband graciously helped me to pull off the fronts of each of the drawers, even though I think he was skeptical of my plans.  I'm pretty sure he was rolling his eyes in his head at me.

After getting the front off, I sanded the drawer down (which actually didn't need to be done), and then measured off the distance for 4 hooks.

Then, I (yes, I used the drill on this project!) drilled the holes for the hooks.

Next, I painted the entire thing with a coat of semi-gloss black paint that I had on hand from another project.  *Just a little tip:  I've found that using a sponge brush on these smaller projects works really well.*

I was ready to apply a second coat of paint and hang the hardware when we realized that we needed to come up with a way to anchor this on the wall.  Since the plan was to make it into a towel rack, it needed to be hung securely in order to hold the weight of towels.

After browsing the hardware aisle at Home Depot for a long time, my husband decided on these; he highly recommends them and says they were quite easy to use (hence the name of the brand, I suppose).

Two holes were drilled which would be used for the anchors to hang it into the wall.

To cover up those holes, we used some wooden screw covers, painted black, to blend into the rest of the rack.

The little black circle is the painted wooden screw cover.

Then, I was able to put on another coat of paint.

Once the paint dried, we screwed in the hooks, and hung it on the wall.

I LOVE it!  Now, the girls each have a place to hang their towels, and when we have guests, no one has to worry about leaving a towel laying on the floor or draped over the doorknob.  There is plenty of room for everyone!

Now, to choose a paint color for this bathroom...

There is absolutely NO natural light in this bathroom, so I apologize that the pictures may not do it justice.  


I'll be linking to these parties:
Home Stories A to Z Tips and Tutorials







Strictly Homemade Tuesday
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia Tuesday's Treasures

A Day at the Lake

Saturday was a fun family day spent at the lake.  And it was planned and organized by my sweet husband.  The only thing I had to do was dress the kids, shop for the grocery list he made, take some pictures and enjoy myself!  There's so much joy in being together as a family, and I'm grateful for the peaceful 3 hours we spent together.

In the car with the dog

Enjoying the muddy beach

This little girl was a MESS by the end of the morning!

Georgia LOVED it and even swam for a bit.

Quality time with Daddy

Lunch over the campfire

These two are best friends, and TROUBLE!

I braved the slimy lake floor to swim with my girl.

The View

What did you do this weekend?