Worldly Windows
By: Pam Melton
I have a love/hate relationship with window treatments. I hate mini-blinds because I have yet to find a fairly easy, albeit effective way to clean them. For me, the first thought about anything is what is it going to be like to clean. I just can't help it. For this project, I wanted absolutely nothing in that room which would require diligent, deliberate cleaning on a regular basis. We rarely go in there when the grandchildren or company aren't here. I want to be able to clean it quickly when I have to prep for visitors.
I also wanted the window treatments to fit the frolicsome, enlightening feel of the room. I also like for my grandchildren to learn a little something at any given opportunity. I sew a little, so intended to make the window treatments. Unfortunately, my sewing machine, much like the other machines in my life, has been quite enigmatic. Thus, making a no-sew option critical to successful completion of redoing this room.
Enter the shower curtain. I found a clear shower curtain stamped with a map of the world. I thought that a dark blue liner would be fab, providing the darkening agent that every child's room should have. Unfortunately, there were none to be found, and I refused to spend more than the cost of shower curtain liner. This left me with beige - not all that darkening, but at least it's neutral. The resulting look is shiny, fun yet educational and has turned out to be a whiz to clean since neither curtain nor liner attract dust. Woo Hoo!
The curtain and liner had to be cut in order to fit the window. It also had to be split in the center for opening purposes. I used a pair of craft scissors with a decorative pattern to give them pretty edges that won't unravel. Lastly, I used these great plastic shower curtain rings to hang my creation on the curtain rods. These fit the overall look pretty well and they allow the Puddin' to deftly open and close her curtains whenever she wants. Self-sufficiency is a beautiful thing!
  
I will say that I found the cost surprising. I spent in the neighborhood of $60 on the rods, rings, shower curtains and liners to do 2 windows. I was hoping to get away with closer to $30 - silly me. The greatest thing is that whenever the Puddin' wants to know where we live in relation to another family member, or she asks about where another country is in relation to the US, we just walk over to her window and I can't help but smile. Totally worth the extra $30.
This project gets a 5 Fingernail rating. Little effort, fairly low cost - no issues. 
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