Yet again, I do not know weather my motivation for not getting rid of something is nostalgic or cheap? When in cleaning mode, it is about 50/50 for if I am in a toss it mindset, dreaming of a clutter free clean minimalistic look, or if I am in a cheap/nostalgic mood. In the later, I tell myself, "Oh, I could do something with this... it would be cheaper to save this than throw it out and have to PERHAPS buy something similar in the future." Or, "But this was my Mother's screen and wouldn't it be special to have it in the house in some fashion and be able to some day in the future tell my children how it was Grandma's from a LONG time ago? ;-) ) It is ridiculous the things I come up with to convince myself not to get rid of something (please, no one call Hoarders quite yet...I still can see 90% of my floor in all rooms...OK so maybe 70% in the craft room at the moment due to two beautiful oak dinning room chairs from Alex's grandma...that are broken and waiting for a project...).
So the story behind this screen is that my Betty Crocker Momma has had this thing FOREVER! She covered it herself (judging by the fabric, in the seventies) and then it sat in our basement storage room from the eighties on. I can remember multiple cleaning sessions in which my mom was ready to part with the space hogging item but, I however, was not. I convinced her that I would love to have it someday when I had the space, so please keep it, pretty please?! Well, now that Hubby and I have the space all of these items are coming back to haunt me!! So many projects...so little time!!
Luckily this screen ended up having the perfect spot in our new home. We have our master bedroom in the attic of our 1950's Cape Cod, it is a large open space that we love, however a little privacy was needed at the top of the stairs. The screen also helps to hide all of the cords coming from the back of the TV, discount double check....errr.... not the right phrase?.... double duty! (Side note, can anyone explain what that means..I laugh but don't understand.)
Tutorial:
1. Take off the previous fabric using needle nose pliers and a flat head screwdriver.
2. Use the previous fabric to cut panels of your new fabric.
3. Fold all of the edges of your new fabric under about an inch and press. This was instead of hemming. As long as you pull your fabric tight while you staple it back on, the folds should stay in place.
4. Wrap the fabric starting on the bottom of one side up over the top and finishing back on the bottom. Tuck edges Staple the fabric to the screen!
So the story behind this screen is that my Betty Crocker Momma has had this thing FOREVER! She covered it herself (judging by the fabric, in the seventies) and then it sat in our basement storage room from the eighties on. I can remember multiple cleaning sessions in which my mom was ready to part with the space hogging item but, I however, was not. I convinced her that I would love to have it someday when I had the space, so please keep it, pretty please?! Well, now that Hubby and I have the space all of these items are coming back to haunt me!! So many projects...so little time!!
Luckily this screen ended up having the perfect spot in our new home. We have our master bedroom in the attic of our 1950's Cape Cod, it is a large open space that we love, however a little privacy was needed at the top of the stairs. The screen also helps to hide all of the cords coming from the back of the TV, discount double check....errr.... not the right phrase?.... double duty! (Side note, can anyone explain what that means..I laugh but don't understand.)
Tutorial:
1. Take off the previous fabric using needle nose pliers and a flat head screwdriver.
2. Use the previous fabric to cut panels of your new fabric.
3. Fold all of the edges of your new fabric under about an inch and press. This was instead of hemming. As long as you pull your fabric tight while you staple it back on, the folds should stay in place.
4. Wrap the fabric starting on the bottom of one side up over the top and finishing back on the bottom. Tuck edges Staple the fabric to the screen!
See the old seventies fabric folded up so nice and neat in the corner of the picture above? Yup, you guessed it......I SAVED IT?!! Ug, I might need help....Hoarders on speed dial anyone?
Side Note: This would not have been a cheap project if it weren't from my mom's awesome find at Unique Thrift Store. Occasionally you see bolts of fabric, which I am assuming are special order for someone and they either don't like it when it arrives, or more likely, never get to the project they had planned...I think this is a unique characteristic among most crafters. Well, my mom saw this roll of fabric (which when I measured it was 11 yards!!!) at Unique and called me to ask if I was interested, I was, so she.........shhhhh........ kind of "hid" it behind a display until I could go back and purchase it on a 25% off VIP day. (Yes, I am a VIP at the thrift store..sigh..). It worked!! I found her hiding spot, and other than being covered in dust bunnies, it was perfect!!
So my mother is not only responsible for the frame of the screen, but the fabric as well!! Discount double check!!! ;-)
So my mother is not only responsible for the frame of the screen, but the fabric as well!! Discount double check!!! ;-)