Shelbee on the Rags: “Ratatouille” Rag Curtain
In my last raggery post, I shared my very first set of rag curtains which were the catalyst that launched Shelbee on the Rags into this passionate crusade of curtain creativity.
My most recent raggery project was a custom order for a kitchen doorway. The specifics of the order I received were measurements of 24″ x 60″ assembled on a curtain rod (not a tree branch) and “in all the colors” like the “Bohemian Ragsody” curtain that adorns that fitting room doorway at Solitary Consignment.
When I received the order, I had just finished cutting up 6 donated bags of unwanted clothing “in all the colors” so I was able to set to work immediately for a very quick turnaround of just a few days. Below are photos of all the scraps jammed inside a giant plastic bag and dumped into a baby pool. Actually, I had two large bags like this one filled with scraps. A little sidetone…I bought 4 of these plastic baby pools about 10 years ago on 90% off clearance (they literally cost me pennies for each one). I keep them in my basement and find so many different uses for them all the time. For now, they are being used for sorting scraps!
Once all my scraps were cut and sorted how I want them (no sorting was required for this style of curtain), I began the tying and knotting process to build the curtain.
My first “completed” curtain was not as complete as I had originally thought. Along the top of the first version, I added some fringy rag pieces from a variety of graphic tees to create a subtle valance effect. All the various graphic prints, words, and letters that showed up kind of made the “completed” curtain look shoddy and a bit, well, incomplete. So upon the request of the purchaser, I removed all those graphic-y pieces, which was super easy since they were all just along the top. Below are images of both sides of the curtain with those fringy pieces removed. Even that looks better than the straggly graphic pieces as shown above.
And then I created a new and improved fluffier valance effect with different colors and prints that do not include any graphics. Below are images of both sides of the curtain. Since this curtain was designed for a doorway, it is important that both sides look equally pretty.
The new and improved version is so much better, don’t you think?
As for naming my rag curtain creations, sometimes I name them before I create them and sometimes I need to create them first and allow the name to come to me during the process. I struggled a little bit with the name for this one because I wanted it to reflect “kitchenness” but I also wanted it to describe the abundance of vibrant colors and combination of all the prints and patterns. Finally, “Ratatouille” came to mind based on both the food and the Disney film.
The colorful French dish of stewed vegetables and the raggedy little rat character from the film are both wonderful metaphors for the vibrancy of this rag curtain.
And now I will start building a curtain for another custom order. I have all the pieces cut and organized but my vision of the final curtain is not quite clear enough yet for me to begin. The colors that she chose are so darn pretty that I am certain the final product will be just as gorgeous as all the others.
And there you have it, my latest raggery project is complete!
If you are interested in my other raggery creations, click here for the full list.
Keeping it on the edge,
Shelbee
Joining these Fabulous Link Parties.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.
8 Comments
Nancy
Amazing! It’s really turning into a business! Love the name for it and I think the new project would be fabulous with those gorgeous colours!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Nancy! I really am enjoying this whole process. It has become like a spiritual practice for me, too! Haha.
xoxo
Shelbee
Marsha Banks
Shelbee, you have really created a wonderful artistic outlet while saving fabric from landfills! I love the “all the colors” approach! How long does a curtain usually take you from start to finish?
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Marsha! I am really enjoying this creative outlet. It has become a very spiritual process for me, too! From start to finish, the whole process takes about 2 weeks. This one I finished in two days but that’s because everything was already done except the tying. It took me about 20 hours over 2-3 days to build the curtain. It was a rigorous attempt to finish it quickly which resulted in a wicked case of tennis elbow. I want to finish this new set I’m working on, but my elbow is insisting that I take a few days off from knot tying! But that’s okay because the weekend is here and I have to create 3 different outfits for next week. So that is my weekend focus instead of raggery.
xoxo
Shelbee
Joanne
Another beautiful curtain made! I am already loving all thoes shades of pink,red, and purple for the next one.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Joanne! I am really excited to see the pink and purple one come to life!
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
I so enjoy these amazing curtains. Kudos to your client for ordering “all the colors” 😁 Of course, it goes to show that art is subjective, because I prefer the first iteration of this curtain. 🤣 But I do love them both. Ratatouille is a perfect name for this work of art.
xoxo
Michelle
https://michellesuzanneartworks.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you so much, Michelle! I so enjoy making these curtains! And I am so grateful to Krista at the State Street Market for providing me with a place to display them! Art is definitely subjective and when you are making art for other people, it can lead you into some tricky territory sometimes. But I will keep making these raggery projects and infusing them with all the love and light in my heart!
xoxo
Shelbee