Comfortable With Color Schemes
While traveling through the south of France I was taken with the fabrics of Provence. The colorful, printed cottons are used for tablecloths in restaurants, curtains in country homes, for scarves and tote bags. The variety of inexpensive prints has a country charm that is reminiscent of traditional calico used in early American designs. They are imported here and sold through specialty stores like Pierre Deux in New York City. Waverly fabrics has a similar line that can be found in most better fabric shops throughout the country.
Table Covers, Quilts, and Chair Seats
As with calico, it is easy to combine patterns and colors and still have a coordinated look. Some of the prints are banded with a contrasting border of a larger design. Use these for making tablecloths, napkins and quilts. Consider too, making quilted chair seat cushions and secure them to the chair back with fabric ties.
Pretty Details For Curtains
Decorative tie-backs add a custom look to curtains. This is an easy project to make with one yard of any fabric. Ideally they should be approximately 4-5 in. wide. Cut a strip 36-in. long, allowing 1/4 in. for seam allowance at each end with a little over 17 in. at front and back of the curtain. The suggested width of 4-5 in. is perfect for long panels. If you use a fabric with a decorative border the wide of the fabric will be determined by the design. When possible, use the full print rather than cutting away part of it to make a narrower tie-back. I often use a fabric liner to give the tie-back a little body.
Valances
The borders alone can be used to make a valance over cafe curtains in a kitchen or dining room. In most French country towns, the windows are covered with lace panels. These provide privacy and allow light to fill the room. A pretty bedroom treatment is a combination of lace panels with a padded, wood valance covered with provincial fabric. Or simply use the fabric to make a gathered valance over lace curtains.
Lace By The Yard
When I first visited Paris many years ago, I thought these curtains had all been hand crocheted. Perhaps at one time they were and indeed, during this trip, I saw women in the town square of Bram crocheting lace curtains. But for the most part, the lace is purchased by the yard just as other fabrics are sold. Fabric shops here, as in France sell a wide variety of patterns. Ready-to-hang lace panels in a variety of window sizes can be found in most fabric shops.
Formally Speaking
For a formal country window treatment, cover a window with a lace panel then add printed cotton draperies. The lace panels should hang flat to show the patterns. Use simple wooden or brass rings for hanging the draperies. Combined with the wide tie-backs you will have a charming French country feeling.
Charming Bath Ensemble
For instant freshness in the bathroom, make a lace cafe curtain. It should be quite full. You'll need 2 1/2 times the wide of your window and the hem should be full as well, about 3 in. Use a piece of the printed fabric to trim towels and for lining a basket to hold soaps. This is an easy and inexpensive way to add a bit of French country style to your home.
Copyright Leslie Linsley, author
Reprinted with permission, HouseNet, Inc.