Sally Cowan - Sew a Beautiful Window: Innovative Window Treatments for Every Room in the House

S ew a Beautiful

Window

SALLY COWAN

2001 by Sally Cowan

All rights reserved.

No portion of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a critical article or review to be printed in a magazine or newspaper, or electronically transmitted on radio or television.

Published by

Krause Publications
700 E. State St.
Iola, WI 54990-0001
Telephone 715-445-2214
www.krause.com

Please call or write for our free catalog of publications. Our toll-free number to place an order or obtain a free catalog is 800-258-0929 or please use our regular business telephone, 715-445-2214.

Library of Congress Catalog Number: 2001090489

ISBN: 0-87349-255-2

eISBN: 978-1-44021-980-1

Illustrations by Kurt Loftis, Kurtis Creative, Inc.
Photos by George McHendry, Photo-Graphics by McHendry, unless otherwise indicated.

Printed in the United States of America

It has often been said that the eyes are the window to the soul. Perhaps our windows reflect a look into our hearts.

Sally Cowan

D edication

This book is dedicated to my brother, George McHendry, who did the photography for this and my first book, Sew a Beautiful Home. Working together as professionals made us realize that our love overrides any differences we might have had as young children. We discovered that family comes first. Also to my husband, Cary, who keeps me focused and, best of all, very spoiled.

A family portrait. Left to right: Sally, Mother, Daddy, and brother George McHendry.

A cknowledgments

The author, photographer, window treatment consultant, and illustrator make up a team of four. This book would not have been possible without each one being willing to be a team player.

Special thanks to Robin McCallister, George McHendry and Kurt Loftis.

Another member of the team is a very special person who has guided me through the process of writing two books. Without my editor from Krause Publications, Barbara Case, none of this would have been possible. She acts as a guiding light and I cant thank her enough for holding my feet to the fire when I needed it most.

There were many people who were willing to give us access to their view from the inside. Thanks to the following people for sharing their creative window treatments, their expertise, and the warmth and love within their homes. And yes, their darling children and pets.

Renee Scott

Potters House Christian Fellowship

Hosanna House

Rackley Rods

Debbie Shagnea

Erin Alderman, Alderman Interior Design

Jennifer Eccleston

Taylor Woodrow Communities Design Center

Marlene Frazier

Barbara K. Hoover Interiors

Donna Kauffman, Donna Kauffman Interiors

Chris and Kathe Swindel

Church of the Good Shepherd

Suzanne Suttles, Allied Member ASID

Robin St. Denis

Susan Weeks

Lisa Hardison, Designers Workshop

Lamp Post Antiques

Ginger Wallace

FCCJ Window Treatment Design and Home Accessories classes

Karen Meyer

John and Paula Usry

Dal Shirah, installer along with Dave Polscer

Missy Chapman

David and Pam Blumberg

Pam Edmiston

Lillian Ward

I am also thankful to the companies that provided products and equipment:

Superior Threads

Sulky of America

Robinson-Anton

Babylock U.S.A.

Pfaff

Husqvarna Viking

You learn very quickly when writing a book that no man (or in this case, no woman) is an island. It takes a whole team.

Robin McCallister, consultant.

Photo by Helene McHendry.

George McHendry, the photographer. But not just any photographer my brother.

Kurt Loftis, an award-winning illustrator who has worked with me for many years on various projects and is someone I have always been able to count on.

T able of C ontents

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I ntroduction

W hile writing my first book, Sew aBeautiful Home, I became a true advocate of home decorating. I had never been far from home decorating projects in my personal life, but garment sewing had always been my first love. Well, that has changed. After sewing for people for 30 years, I have found sewing for a window or a bed is so much easier. Windows and beds dont change size (unless you buy a new one), and they dont complain. The satisfaction of decorating an area in a home that will be shared by many is a wonderful privilege.

As your family sits around the kitchen table, you cant help but notice the window treatments that add warmth and atmosphere to that area. The definition of a window is an opening in a building for admitting light and air, usually having a pane of glass. Notice the definition says nothing about a curtain. We add curtains to give us privacy from those looking in, yet we want curtains that will allow us to look out and see the world. The curtains are visible from the outside and they should reflect the love and warmth shared on the inside.

The subtitle for Sew a Beautiful Window could very easily be Instruction and Inspiration. After you read the instructions, I hope you will be inspired to go a step further and create the window treatment that fits your family and your lifestyle.