Tassels, fringe, and gimp. People, they can change your lives.

Okay, maybe that’s an overstatement. Perhaps they aren’t life changing. They are, however, room changing. If it’s true that the smallest details can make the biggest difference, then luxurious trims can certainly pack a big bang.

Want some examples? Check out this little valence. It’s one of the no-sew window mistreatments hanging in my breakfast room. I originally hung them up without the trim, but they were a little boring. I sewed on some cheap fringe trim and it totally dressed them up.

Here’s a closeup:

Trims can take a simple window treatment from ho-hum to fancy schmancy. Here’s one from my living room:

The close-up will reveal something really special I did with the trim on this panel…so special that my favorite fabric store stole my idea after I showed them what I was doing. 😉 I added a simple fringe trim to the top layer and then sewed a beaded trim on top of that. The panels would have looked nice with just one trim or the other, but the combination of the two really dials them up a notch.

Do you have really boring curtain panels hanging in your home? Maybe beige? Maybe some sort of tab top monstrosity from Target? Am I maybe describing the curtains I had in my old house? ::shudder:: Yeah, I am.

Target

Slap some fringe on the inside edges of those babies for a brand-new look! You don’t even need a sewing machine. You can literally use a hot glue gun to add the fringe (The Nester did it here if you need a visual). It’ll take you 15 minutes tops, and you’ll wonder why you hadn’t done that sooner. I wonder why *I* didn’t do that when we lived in the old house.

It really is that easy! All you have to do is add to the treatments you already have in your home. A little trim will go a long way in making your room feel special again.

Want to search from tassels and trims online? Try Fabric.com, M&JTrimming;, or Ebay. Just don’t use just the search term “tassels” on Ebay…you’ll find a different sort of tassel than what you are looking for – the type that comes in pairs and have sticky backs, if you know what I’m sayin’. 😉

Trims make me happy. Trims make me smile. I’ve been working on the window treatments in my bedroom this week, and there is tassel trim AND gimp on those bad boys. I get all giddy just thinking about them. It’s the little things that help you to live a more beautiful life. Check out the way others are living a more beautiful life by visiting The Inspired Room and reading how others have been inspired this week.

My mother-in-law absolutely loves nature – flowers, plants, birds, etc. She’s kind of obsessive about it, which is no secret to anyone who knows her (Hi, Linda!). I remember one time she had us pull over on the side of the road so she could get out of the car and get some mistletoe out of a tree she saw. Apparently, we have very different flora and fauna here in Texas than they have in Missouri.

This weekend, my in-laws were in town for DS’s birthday and we went down to one of the big parks to take him on the little train that goes around the perimeter. When we were leaving, my MIL found this really interesting ball of Spanish Moss (at least we *think* it’s Spanish Moss) on the ground. It covers the trees in this particular park, and I guess a gust of wind blew this ball out of the tree. She couldn’t wait to take it home with her. I was so jealous, because I wanted some, too.

As we were driving out of the parking lot, I shouted, “Look Linda! There’s more! Let’s pull over!” DH and my FIL sat in the car with the boy while Linda and I ran around picking up more moss. We even found a tree branch covered with moss, twigs, and beautiful lichens.

I ended up with the branch and then 4 or 5 moss balls, since Linda couldn’t take a bunch on the plane. Yay me!

I took three of the moss balls and added them to an empty urn I picked up not long ago at Tuesday Morning. How darling is this? Don’t you just love the little floral elements coming out of the moss?

I decided to use the branch as a centerpiece on my dining room table. I added some of the extra moss I gathered and some candles. I really like the rustic look of this when it’s combined with the sterling silver candle holder. The outside of our house is much more rustic than the inside, and since the dining room is the first room you see when you come in the front door, I’ve been wanting to do something like this for a long time.

It’s still a work-in-progress, as I need to add some other items to the display, but I’m loving the way it’s turning out.

What have you done to bring nature inside your home?

P.S. You’ll also be glad to know that I found the gator and supplies for making Valentine’s goodies for DS’s schoolmates today. It was a very successful shopping day!