$15 Kitchen Makeover

Maybe you don't have this problem, but when inspiration hits me, I simply MUST go with it.  It's an opportunity that rarely comes a-knockin' again.

Recently I went to WalMart with intentions of picking up a few necessities, and accidentally came across  2 1/2 yards of fabulous red floral fabric. This fabric is great! It's cheerful, but doesn't scream CHRISTMAS at me.  I saw the words "soil resistant finish" on the selvedge, and could not resist.  I stretched that 2 1/2 yards just as far as it could go.  All three of these projects were completed within 2 hours total.  I had two small scraps left at the end of the afternoon, and a sense of incredible accomplishment.

Project #1: The dining room table 

I had plans to do a painter's dropcloth for a table cloth, and add fabric runners for Christmas. I pulled the table out to its full size a few weeks ago, so it is 54" square.  The gingerbread house looked a little lonely in the middle of the table, and it needed something else. After careful thought about exactly how many pieces the gingerbread house would shatter into if Zesty or Pinky pulled on a fabric runner, I decided it would be more practical to have an oversized placemat-type arrangement in the center of the table.  

I measured out 31.5" by 63", doubled the fabric, sewed right sides together (leaving an opening to turn inside out), and then top-stitched 1/4" around.  My theory is that the kids can spill/crumb/test the soil resistance on one side, and I can just flip it over to the other side for the next hour.  Possibly two hours, if they actually take a nap at the same time.  I placed the gingerbread house inside a rectangle shaped chocolate brown dish, and it looks lovely in the center of the table now.  Zesty saw it and said, "Red blanket! on the table!"

Project #2: The wreath

I've had this wreath for umpteen years.  It never technically coordinated with any style of decorating I've done, but I dutifully hung it up anyhow.  I knew that eventually it would come in handy.

Today I stripped the ribbon and the flower sprays off, took two 3" x 90" strips of the fabric, and wrapped them around the wreath frame.  I kept the leaves, and fastened the ends together with a fancy technique I call safety pinning.

Only the best for my wreath, only the best.  

Project #3: The curtain

At this point, I'm left with a strip of 20" x 90" fabric along the selvedge, and a section of 28" x 80" fabric across the selvedge.

I toyed with the idea of an apron, and then my eyes fell on my curtain.

(You may recall my previous triumph of turning that curtain from a nursery bedroom curtain into a kitchen curtain.  It's still great, and I plan to fold it up and keep it for the time that my eyes need a rest from all the red.)

I hemmed and hawed, pinned and ironed, and came up with this thought: if I piece them together and use some ribbon, I could almost copy the green striped curtains.  I would use the red ribbon to hide the seam.

Really, can you tell?  I think the pattern is so random that you'd have to be completely anal and way too critical to notice that it is pieced together.  I turned in the side seams, and sewed the bottom edges together making a big tube of fabric.  Hanging it on the tension rod, I noticed that the bottom edges kinda ballooned out a bit, but when I tied them with the ribbon, it looked like the ribbon is actually holding the edge up out of the way of the sink.

I likey!  

Splenda's first words: long silent look  "You are not going to be able to paint the kitchen green now."  haha! Cracks me up.  I informed her that yes, indeedy, I'm still painting it green.  The red will brighten it up.  Too funny!

It's not Christmas-y, but certainly coordinates with any holiday decoration.  Red makes me happy (ergo, my red couch).  

I do believe that for $15, this kitchen makeover qualifies for a Frugal Friday linky to The Shabby Nest :)