onde onde: Paisely Stamped Drapes for Hubby

I owe it to him. Really, I do.

Poor hubby has never had a real office at home.

I've always set up a desk and bookshelves for him in a room that started out as an office, but then I would turn it into the catch-all room and force him to resort to the kitchen table for a desk.

It's time he has a place to call his own. A place that I do not eventually take over.

But, that's not what this particualr post is about. This post is about his window treatment. Drapes fit for a man's office - finally.

I've been schlepping around a set of pinch pleated drapes left over from a job I did several years ago. I somehow made an extra set. Don't know how. Anyhoo, they are a very nice fabric, silk blend, crepe looking, neutral fabric that is easily adaptable to any setting. Problem is, they were about 112" long, and you can't use that just anywhere without altering them, and shortening them was more work than I wanted to do. But, when we moved I suddenly had the perfect window.

I decided to use them in hubbys office, but they were so bland and that office needed a bit of color.

Remember my paisley stamped blocks? I actually bought those stamps for these drapes.

To start, I had to remove all of the pleats and crinolin at the top.

Then I layed them out on the table and ironed the folds out from the pleats. Sure helps to have a big table (which I'll show you how to build tonight).

These things are 108" wide x 112" long - each. But being sheer, they scrunch down to give a nice full look.

I gathered a few supplies.

I used acrylic paint for this but thinned it down with a clear satin glaze.

I wanted my jet black to be a bit softer, and the glaze really helps.

I decided to just start stamping and see where it took me. But before I put the stamp on the face of the fabric, I tested to see how it was going to work. I flipped over the hem and did a test stamp.

I liked it, so I jumped right in with the stamping.

I kept stamping. I first used the large stamp all over, knowing that I would fill in with the smaller one after it was dry. I was going for random, and not too full.

I really like the way the stamp looks on the fabric.

After I finished both panels, I decided to gather them at the top so that it would make it easier for me to staple them to the tree branch I wanted to use for the rod. Off to the ruffler I went.

(Side note: I will be giving a full tutorial on how to use a ruffler in the upcoming Home Decor Series)

All the ruffling is done, and the drapes are ready to be hung.

Here they are in place.

I screwed drapery brackets into the branch and hung them just like you would a regular rod.

(Side note: If you're going to do this, be sure to let your branch dry out for several days inside the house.)

I Love them. And more importantly, hubby loves them.

They drape so nicely.

I'm a puddler. Puddling your fabric helps to weigh it down and keeps your folds in place.

And besides, I love the way it looks.

Now that these are in place, it's time to get the rest of the office pulled together.

I've put all of the furniture in place and I've encouraged hubby to decorate his own office, his own way.

When he's done, I'll come back and let you see it.

EDITED TO ADD: Just for kicks, I thought I'd throw in a pic of what this window was wearing when we moved in to this house.

(And I'll even be honest and tell you that I've only removed the wallpaper in the spots that I placed the furnishings so far. Some day I'll get the rest of it down!)