Burlap Curtain Tutorial.

When we had our new windows installed, I immediately decided that we needed all new window treatments to match. Unfortunately, we spent all of our money on the new windows, so there wasn't much of a budget left for curtains! I'm not much for sewing, but I figured that curtains couldn't be too hard....right? I set to work perusing Pinterest for ideas. But, all of the "easy" curtain tutorials seemed to involve bedsheets or tablecloths...and none of them were at all what I'd envisioned for our living space! I wanted basic curtains that looked nice, let in lots of light, and added texture/interest to the room. And then, I stumbled upon the idea of burlap curtains! I combined a few different techniques to make my panels, and I love the way that they turned out! Not only were they super easy (and affordable!), they also bring the perfect amount of texture and interest into our home! (And, despite what the lady who cuts fabric at Joanne's believes, the burlap smell really does go away quickly; it was gone by the time I hung each panel!)

Here's what you'll need to make burlap curtains:
Burlap (I used about 2.5 yards to make 2 panels/1 window)
Satin Ribbon (enough to line the top and bottom of each panel, about 1 inch wide) - any color you have--even the free ribbon that comes on your son's new PJs works; you won't be able to see the ribbon in the finished product!
Straight Pins
Needle
Quilting Thread (to match your burlap)
Iron & Ironing Board

First of all, cut your burlap straight down the middle lengthwise (to get 2 panels from your cut). If you don't know how to cut burlap, here is an easy tutorial. (Do not just start cutting; you need to use that ^ tip or your burlap will be crooked and unravel!)

When your panels are cut, choose an end and iron it over the ribbon to create a fold. The burlap won't stay, but you will have a crease that you can see when you're finished.

Next, fold the burlap along the ironed seam (with the ribbon inside), and then fold the whole thing over again. Pin in place. (See? The ribbon the hidden!) If you want, iron over the whole thing again to smooth--but not if your pins have plastic tops! ;)

Now, use your needle and thread to stitch everything in place. As long as your thread matches your burlap, this is super easy! You can use big stitches, messy stitches, back stitches--whatever you want! Just make sure that they're holding, and you're fine! Mine are super sloppy, but you can't see them at all when the curtains are hanging up!

And, that's it! Trim any visible ribbon from the edges, and repeat the entire process on the other end of your panel. When you have both the top and bottom hemmed, use drapery hooks to hang your curtains up.

Easy peasy burlap curtains! Enjoy!

Vacation 2013.

Since we've been back home for a week now, I think it's time to share some vacation photos with you! We went to our favorite vacation spot, Lakeside, Ohio again this year. Our family has vacationed in Lakeside for years, and it's like a second home to me--a really fun second home! I love watching my children thrill in the same Lakeside fun and excitement that I loved as a child (and still do!). Our boys are the fifth generation of our family (on my dad's side) to visit Lakeside, and we plan to keep up the tradition for many, many more years to come! This year was especially fun, as Lakeside recently added a new Splash Park for the kids! We had gorgeous weather all week, but it was super hot (heat advisories most days!), so we made good use of the new pool and splash pad! We had a wonderful week with my parents and brothers, and can't wait to do it all over again next year!


Until next year!

That bed hoggin' monkey....

Can't help but feel a little sorry for this fella when his monkey bullies him into sleeping squished in the corner like this, can ya?

Happy Birthday, USA!

We've kept ourselves busy the past few days with lots of fun activities. We took the boys to watch fireworks, which turned into quite an adventure as we were drenched by a brief rainstorm beforehand. Despite the rain, we stuck it out (in the car!), and stayed until the show began. And, oh it was worth it! Nate adored the fireworks that he'd been eagerly anticipating for days. And, Levi? Well, let's just say that he seemed to enjoy the first three fireworks. After that, he had better things to do....


On the 4th, we spent most of our day at a cookout with Eric's family. We all had a super time eating, swimming, and laughing together. Nate, unsure of the "deep" water at first, quickly warmed up and was happy to ride on his "boat" raft for much of the afternoon, splashing anyone within reach! Levi, on the other hand, is fearless! He LOVED the water, and tried more than once to dive right in from our arms! I love how my boys can both be complete opposites, but both so perfect for our family.


Since then, we've gotten together with a great group of young people from our church for dinner, visited a farmer's market, and even gotten some work done around the house. And, the weekend isn't even close to being over yet! Who knows what else we'll be getting into soon! (Berry picking, perhaps??) Hope you're having a lovely (and productive!) weekend!