October 12, 2011 Tips from Terrell Newsletter

We had our first snow last weekend. I actually enjoyed staying indoors, cooking soup and reading in front of the fire. It is now back in the 70's, which is perfect. A little taste of winter is more than enough this time of year. We are in the process of changing our warehousing, packing and shipping location. This was rather a sudden decision that I will write more about later. For now, it might take a few days longer to receive an order. Also, since I am spending a lot of time on the transition, I'm way behind answering E-Mail questions. Just when I thought that things were running so smoothly that I was getting bored … Sigh.

Mock-Roman Shade Valance

A Mock-Roman Shade is a cross between a Window Valance and a Roman shade. It is also called a Faux Roman shade or a Stationary Roman shade. It looks like a fully raised fabric blind, but does not operate. I have received so many requests for instructions on how to make this window treatment that I have added an entire Instruction Section to my web site. These instructions are for a Mock-Roman shade with two stationary "flaps". This gives a nice full look with the minimum of fabric. You will fix the two flaps so that an inch of fabric shows below the bottom flap and also between the first and second folds. As you can see from this drawing of the back of a Mock-Roman Valance, there is very little hardware required for a Mock-Roman Valance. You need a board, screw eyes, lift rings and several yards of lift cord, or even string. Once your shade is made, you fold it up, string the cord through each column of two lift rings and tie it to the bottom ring and the screw eye. The online directions aren't quite finished. I have done the math for you and provided tables showing unfolded shade length for each folded Stackage as well as listed the hardware requirements for all sizes of valances. The section should be finished in November.

Simple Roman Shades

SN of Boynton Beach, Florida, USA sent this photograph of her beautiful Classic Roman shade. Her striped valance, which she made by joining different fabrics, really finishes off the room and coordinates perfectly with her bed linens. You can see a larger photograph of her shade in the Gallery Section of the web site.

PL of Houston, Texas, USA sent photographs of her shades. These simple Roman shades made out of linen and lined with Thermalsuede work perfectly in this beautiful dining room. You can see more photographs of her shades in the Gallery Section of the web site