A Little Luxury

I am so excited about my latest drapery installation! It is so elegant, opulent, and appropriate for this historic Victorian home.  It almost gave me the giggles putting it in!  What do you think? Isn't it just yummy!

 

And to think it is only 8 1/2 inches tall! Yes, this lovely room is in a dollhouse.  The mother of all dollhouses!  I think it has 24 rooms! The owner started on it 35 years ago and is still adding to it, and I have had the privilege to contribute to it.

 

The draperies have over 40 hours in them, primarily because I had to make all the fringe myself.

 

 

That took forever!

 

 

 

 

Then the drapery silk was cut out, exactly to scale, and just as I would a full scale drapery.

 

 

The hems were put in the panels.

 

Heat bonded with 1/8" of bonding tape.

 

 

Then the lining was inserted. Yes, I have gone over the edge! I know you were wondering!

 

 

All the valance pieces were sewn with a very small stitch!

 

 

Then they were turned right side out and the trims attached.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After all pieces are constructed, they were folded into their desired look and attached to a board. Then all the extras were added.  I even made little Victorian cut work shades to insert under the treatment for night time privacy!

 

 

Then all was carefully packaged for transportation.

 

 

Delivered, installed and the room put back together!

 

 

Relax in luxury!

 

 

 

 

Great Expectations

 

 

 I love to read, and I especially love Charles Dickens.   One of my favorite stories of all time is "Great Expectations" and all the imagery the story commands. Given the opportunity, I couldn't resist putting my own touch to the imagery by doing a piece in miniature



"Miss Havisham's house....dismal, and had a great many iron bars to it. Some of the windows had been walled up; of those that remained, all the lower were rustily barred."

"....draped table with guilded looking glass,... a fine lady's dressing table... in an arm chair....sat the strangest lady I had ever seen."

"... dressed in rich materials-satins and lace, and silks all of white... everything which ought to be white  long ago, and had lost it's luster... the bride had withered like the dress and the flowers..."

Window big and small

 

 

 

 

Making draperies has been a big part of my life for a very long time.  Making miniature draperies is also something I really love to do.   Here are examples of one "real size" window treatment and some custom miniature treatments I have had the pleasure to do, as well as a rug and bed treatment.