Sense of Accomplishment

I started a project over two years ago and today it is finally finished...... completed.........done!!!!
YES! YEAH! HALLELUJAH!

We had two blinds left in our 6 family room windows and they were ripped, taped, tattered and UGLY!!! I was tired of buying blinds (this was the last of the second set) that just don't last, so I decided over two years ago that it was time for some ROMAN SHADES to replace them with. I priced them at different stores and even with discounts they would cost over $900.00. I just wasn't willing to fork out that much money so I decided that I could make them for much cheaper than that.

First I measured the windows then went to a local store that was having a sale on their curtain panels and bought 6. And then they sat in their cute little packages for a few months while I moved on to other things. One day I decided it was time to start work on them and opened one up, held it up to the window to make sure that it would block out the light, which is a necessity or we can't see the TV during the daytime. The flimsy little curtain panel hardly blocked out the light and their was still glare on the TV. I was so frustrated, so I folded the panel up nice, put it back in its cute little plastic package and went back to the store to return them. Remember how I let them sit in their cute little packages for a few months? Well it was just enough time that I could not get a full refund on them and I would end up loosing money. I was pretty darn frustrated to say the least. I came home and wanted to beat myself up over my laziness and not at least thinking to check the panels as soon as I purchased them to make sure they would be light blocking. I decided that I only had three options: 1- I could cry, feel bad for myself and do nothing, and just live with the ugly blinds we currently had. 2- I could give in and pay the $900.00 for someone else to do them, or 3- I could go to the fabric store, buy some room darkening fabric and sew that to the back of the panels. I decided to go with #3. So I ran to the fabric store, bought the other fabric, took it home, bought all the hardware that I would need to make them and then...................let it sit in their cute little packages for many more months.

One day when I got tired of looking at the old, ripped blinds (and the other windows that had no blinds) I was once again motivated to start on them again. I once again measured one of the windows, cut out one curtain panel and the backing and went to town hemming the cut side of the panel, sewed the backing on, then sewed all the rings on and threaded the cord and was so proud of myself for completing one curtain. I took it in and held it up to the window and it fit just right. Then I pulled the cords to make sure they operated properly and that I had done everything the way I was supposed to. To my horror, the curtain pulled away from the edge of the window a good 3 - 4 inches on both sides and let in a lot of sunlight. I nearly cried!!! I knew what had to be done, but I had been trying to avoid it because it meant a lot of extra work. There was no stability in the fabric to keep it from being "sucked in" on the sides. I would need to sew 4 - 5 pockets on each panel and insert some sort of dowel. One of the reasons for trying to avoid this (besides not wanting to do the extra work) was the dowels would not go up and down the window without hitting the chair railing that was on each side of the inside of the window. Guess what I did? I folded that curtain panel up with the others and let it sit and gather dust for several more months.

Finally one day I had had enough of the nagging in the back of my mind (maybe because it was always on the top of my to-do list) and decided it was time to just bite the bullet and get them done. I had decided that the only way to go was to cut them to extend a few inches on each side and have them be on the outside of the window instead of the inside where roman shades typically go. I measured the window "once again" and proceeded to cut another panel. Then I layed out the backing to cut it and realized that I had transposed the measurement on the panel and cut it at 56" instead of 65". This time I was not going to quit, and decided that I would just have to have a seam in it. Two of the shades would have to have seams in them....the one I just cut wrong and the one I cut months ago for the inside of the window. From there everything just flowed and I worked on it as much as I could, but summer was in full swing and I was busy with the garden and canning and other fun, busy summer activities and trying to finish up the second phase of school. But I persisted and finally they are now done. Actually they were done two weeks ago, but I have been waiting for Dennis to help me hang them. I thought it would take an hour or two to hang them. NOT! It took 4 1/2 hours.

I was so worried how they would look, because the curtain panels were so flimsy and the fabric shifted so much while sewing the rod pockets, but they don't look to bad actually. Professional looking, they are not, but they look 100% better than what was there. Two ripped and taped blinds and 4 windows with no coverings....and rather than feel a huge sense of accomplishment, I more feel a huge flood of R.E.L.I.E.F!!!!!

Now I can work start piecing quilt tops again. I told myself months ago, that I could not do anymore quilt tops until some of my unfinished projects were completed and I have accomplished that. I got two of the three quilt tops I previously made quilted and I finished the roman shades.

The blinds closed

The blind lifted half way

The blind lifted almost fully up. When they are all the way up the valance hides them.

The view of 2 different shades, closed.

P.S. Just in case anyone is even thinking it.........the answer is NO!!! I will not help anyone make roman shades, and I would not advise doing it. Even thought I love you all, the answer is still NO!

Where DOES the time go

My, has it really been 6 months since I last posted? How does that happen? I do occasionally get on blogger and check out what is going on in everyone elses life, but I just get lazy and don't post. I have noticed that I am not the only one who has sort of fallen off the blogging Merry-Go-Round. About 2/3 of the people that used to blog a year ago have not posted anything for a very long time. I wonder why that is?

So here is a quick update on our family, the best I can remember.
1. We had two new grandsons born this past spring. They are now 5 1/2 and 6 1/2 months old. Amanda and Malinda are the proud mothers of these adorable little ones. They are as different as night and day and we wouldn't have it any other way.
2. We only got to go camping twice this year (well 3 times for me). I was privileged to go with Alisha and Randy's family to Bear Lake and crash their family reunion. I have only driven by Bear Lake 2 or 3 times in my life, so I really enjoyed it. We went to Minnetonka Caves which is nearby in Idaho. Our second trip was to Gooseberry Reservoir. All our kids and their families came, plus our dear friends the Dunn's, as well as Alisha's in-laws and Malinda's in-laws and my mom and her friend. We had a wonderful time. Some of us didn't want the long Labor Day weekend to end. The third and final camping trip was to Goblin Valley with Amanda and Steve's family. We invited everyone else, but due to work schedules they weren't able to come. We had so much fun hiking and playing on the "Goblins". The weather was perfect for mid October.
3. We tried to get good use out of our "Pass of all passes" by going to Seven Peaks as often as we could. We had a great time going there as a family.
4. Dennis and I went to St. George the first week of October so he could officiate for Track and Field during the Huntsman World Senior Games. He loves doing it and is a great official. (He even received a totally unexpected award from the Utah State High School Athletic Association as Official of the Year. The games put us up in a very nice condo. While he was officiating, I spent two days quilting the very first quilt tops I ever pieced together on a long arm machine. There is a store there that has about 8 or so long arm machines and you can call ahead a reserve a time to use one. They are so good about helping as much or as little as needed. The first day I needed a LOT of help as I had never ever used one before. The second day, I didn't need as much. It was a lot of fun and a wonderful weekend.
5. We had a great time going out to Mark's house the first part of June to see Taylor get baptized. We got to stop and visit with my cousin Jim and his family. It was wonderful to visit with them and see their new home. Alisha came along with us to surprise Mark and we are glad she was able to come along. We had a really great time visiting with Mark and his family. We visited Bonanzaville again as Alisha had not been there. We did went to some garage sales, but had to be careful because the car was already packed to the gills. It was wonderful to be part of Taylor's baptism.
6. We did the annual Trunk or Treat as a family again this year. I think that makes it about 5 years straight. I am so glad our ward does this (and selfish enough that none of the kids wards do it) so we can all get together and build these fun memories. The kids get so much candy that the little ones can't even carry their bags they are so full.
7. Our remodel project is all done, except for a few small things. It was done months ago, but I failed to follow through with the updating of it. I still have pictures to hang, but that is minor.
8. We hosted for the Springville World Wide Folkfest again this year. The group we hosted were flag twirlers and dancers from Belgium. Dennis and I had Neela and Ingrid, both about 20 years old. It was a wonderful but exhausting week full of activities every hour. The best things about it is getting to meet new people and in one week become dear friends, and the other is getting to watch the performances every night.

I am sure there is much more to tell, but that is all I can think of at this late hour. I will try to be better at posting and keeping you all abreast of the going ons in the life of the Archuleta's.