Pottery Barn Grain Sack Runner

Just when you think life is smooth-sailing, the waters get rough again. There are some home repairs and other things we need to get in order at the CC Homestead, which kind of has feeling a little overwhelmed.* It's been rainy (which we need!) and a bit dreary here for most of the week. Today, it fits my mood. Anyway, not to be a downer, I thought the least (and I'm really going for "least") I could do was get this post up. *Things got so desperate today, that I went into Publix for a newspaper and also picked up a Lindt chocolate bar (usually it would be dark chocolate with orange and almonds, but today I went for milk). I informed the cashier that it was either that, or a something with hard liquor!

A few weeks ago I was shopping at the thrift store and was looking at the draperies/bedding along the wall. I kept going back (and back and back) to this drapery panel, it looked so grain-sack like. I checked the price. It seemed rather high for the thrift store... Then I looked at the tag and discovered it was from Pottery Barn! Okay, "high" price forgiven. Well what can one do with only one panel? Glad you asked. 

You know I can never leave well enough alone, so I made not one, but TWO table runners. The fabric is a nice, I'd even say "luxurious", weave 100% cotton that is quite heavy. First I made one with ruffled ends, then wasn't sure I was feeling the ruffles, so made one with pleats. Now, I can't decide which one I like best!

 I used the existing hems and made the other end and side hems to match.

 

 I really like how it looks with the transferware.

Oops, don't let the dishes slide off the table!

So do you think I'm a bit crazy? What would you have done if you found this great panel? I'd like to keep one of the runners for myself--so I don't have to decide, I thought I'd put them both in my Etsy store. Whichever one sells first, I can keep the second one.

This is what else I've been up to:

 I'm even quite a bit further than the photo shows!  (The Thomasville lining is deceiving because it's more/less the same color as my linen.)   I'm also working on two sets of draperies and slipcovers.  Never a dull moment!


  
P.S. Strapping Lad is starting an internship next week, in Seattle of all places.  (Not that there's anything wrong with Seattle--it's just about as far as you can get from FL and still be in the continental U.S.!)