![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.janicefergusonsews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/Retroflamingovalance.jpg\" "\\"Retroflamingovalance\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nHome\u00c2\u00a0dec sewing is always fun. Unlike clothing, the fruits of your labor is usually seen everyday, \u00c2\u00a0so the return on the investment of time is greater.<\/p>\n
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When sewing for this retro \u00e2\u20ac\u02dc50\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s kitchen, I was\u00c2\u00a0enthusiastic but a little leery. Several months into their courtship, my son-in-law Harvey purchased this house, a few miles from my daughter\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s career girl house. It looked like they would soon have a more permanent relationship, but when they both asked me to help decorate\u00c2\u00a0his \u00e2\u20ac\u02dc50\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s retro kitchen I wondered just how much design leeway I would have. I knew Rebecca would give me carte blanche to do as I wished, but I was not so sure the new homeowner himself would be as liberal.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0Frankly, I was not much interested in a sewing project that had limitations on my creative expression.<\/p>\n
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There was another concern. Much as I liked this young man and thought he would make a\u00c2\u00a0wonderful\u00c2\u00a0husband for my daughter (I WAS SOOOO RIGHT!!!) I was reluctant to invest much time in what\u00c2\u00a0could end up as his long-term bachelor pad. But they were both so enthusiastic about the project that I decided to gamble on a long-term investment. Three months later, they were engaged and in 10 months more were married. I wish our\u00c2\u00a0investments\u00c2\u00a0generated dividends so quickly and so well!<\/p>\n
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The house and neighborhood remind me of where Wally and The Beaver grew up. The homes are all\u00c2\u00a01950 vintage, with well kept lawns\u00c2\u00a0and laughing children\u00c2\u00a0riding bikes and playing in the tree lined streets. For all its charm, the kitchen’s pink and black color scheme posed a significant challenge for a man\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s kitchen. Even then, it was clear that this would be gourmet-cook Harvey\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s kitchen even if and when they married.<\/p>\n
We decided on a flamingo theme, because we had to work with pink and black and it was better than French poodles.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 We found\u00c2\u00a0three nice coordinating pieces of decorator fabric: black with pink flamingos, a multicolored stripe and a polka dot in the same colors.<\/p>\n The window valance was very easy. A simple straight piece of stripe, lined with the flamingo fabric is tied up with the polka dot. I thought it was\u00c2\u00a0contemporary and yet masculine.<\/p>\n The bar stool pads are just remakes of the original faded nondescript cushions. Pot holders, oven mitts and dishtowels were embroidered with flamingos.\u00c2\u00a0 Embroidery Library www.emblibrary.com<\/a> has a cute collection of seasonal flamingos featuring their character Flamingo Floyd.\u00c2\u00a0 Rebecca always keeps one of these timely towels on the counter.<\/p>\n Flamingo Floyd April showers<\/p><\/div>\n I was especially pleased with the place mat frames and napkins\u00c2\u00a0of which I have no picture.\u00c2\u00a0My earlier placemat attempt was made of the flamingo decorator fabric, but they faded badly.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0Home\u00c2\u00a0 fabric is not meant to be heavily or even regularly\u00c2\u00a0laundered.<\/p>\n Flamingo Floyd dishtowel<\/p><\/div>\n So I made what amounted to a place mat holder out of the striped fabric. It was about 1″ larger than heavy, washable black placentas. The edges of the holder\/frame were folded over about 1 1\/2″ and mitred at the corners. The placemat then slides into the frame and is easily removed for washing.\u00c2\u00a0 Everyday black napkins were embroidered with a small pink flamingo.\u00c2\u00a0 Along the stitches of the 1\/2″ hem, a jeans stitch was worked in bright pink thread.\u00c2\u00a0 The bead-stitch look was effective.<\/p>\n Later, at an antique shop, I found a row of hooks mounted below pink flamingos.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0Household keys hang on this. With the very heavy retro chrome waffle iron, blender and pink MixMaster, the addition of seasonal flamingo dishtowels add just the right touch to what could be June Cleaver\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s kitchen with a dollop of testosterone.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Home\u00c2\u00a0dec sewing is always fun. Unlike clothing, the fruits of your labor is usually seen everyday, \u00c2\u00a0so the return on the investment of time is greater. When sewing for this retro \u00e2\u20ac\u02dc50\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s kitchen, I was\u00c2\u00a0enthusiastic but a little leery. … Continue reading <\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>