Name: Isabella Rose

Occupation: Student and works at the Faire.

What is your duty at the Faire?  "I serve in her majesty's household."  Isabella was hard at work when we stopped by to say hello.  Working at the Faire seems like a fun job in a great environment!

Are you wearing a hand sewn costume? Isabella is wearing a costume provided by the Faire.

Is your dress made of linen? "Yes!"

What is your favorite dessert? "Anything chocolate." Chocolate seems to be a very popular choice around here!

 Name: Rapunzel

Years at the Faire: 15 years

Duties at the Faire: Participates in four parades and serves tea for the queen.  Rapunzel also makes times to run two fun workshops!  She teaches the "Sweet Dreams and Sachets" and the"Mortar and Pestle" workshop.

Did you sew the lovely outfit you are wearing? "I purchased everything except for the bodice."

Are you wearing any linen? "Yes." Linen is featured throughout her beautiful attire.

What is your favorite dessert? "Dark chocolate.  But it has to be at least 70% cacoa!"

 Name: Becky

Occupation: Works at the feathered arts booth at the Faire; Student.

Is this your first time woking at the booth? Yes, but I've been coming for about 10 years now.

Handmade costume?  Becky's boss at the booth gave her the outfit she is wearing. But she says "I am working on one right now."

What is your favorite dessert? Cheesecake.

*More interviews with the some of the wonderful people we met at the Renaissance Faire are coming!

 Name: Matt Graves, aka Mortimers Skully
Occupation:  Plays with the Belles of Bedlam at the Faire.   A massage therapist outside of the Faire.
How many times have you been to the Renaissance Faire? This is my fourth year.
Did you make your costume? No, actually my costume was made by a friend.
Does it incorportae the use of linen? Yes, for the shirt and other parts.
What is your favorite dessert? Creme brulee.  (Mortimor also suggested we try the "Sin on a Stick" sold at one of the food booths.  It is chocolate covered cheesecake on a stick. Yum!)

Name: Katie
Occuation: Plays in the parade at the Faire and is a retail associate at JoAnn's Fabrics.
How many years have you attended the Faire? Ten years.
Did you sew your own outfit? Yes.
Did you use linen to make some articles of clothing? Yes! (Katie is actually a huge fan of Fabrics-store.com and used some of our linen in her ensemble.)
Why do you like shopping at Fabrics-store.com?  Because its cheaper than anywhere else and it's all 100% linen!
What is your favorite dessert?  Chocolate mouse and German chocolate cake.

If you like to sew, you probably gathered quite the collection of scrap pieces of fabric.  Easy to make coasters are a great way to make use of those smaller pieces of fabric.   They make thoughtful gifts and are useful for every home.

Linen is an ideal choice for making coasters because it is durable and easy to clean.  In fact, the texture of linen becomes more desirable after each wash.  There are also plenty of color options at Fabrics-Store.com if you find yourself without any scrap fabric. 

Making coasters is a great project if you are a beginner at sewing because you are only sewing a square with straight edges essentially.  More experienced sewers will be able to whip this together in no time and can even add more decorative details.

For your coaster, all the materials you need are two 4 ½ inch square pieces of linen and a square of cotton baiting (or Insul-Bright) of the same size.

Sandwich the cotton baiting between the two pieces of linen.  Next, quilt ¼ inch from the edge around all until all sides are sewn.  That’s all there is to it!  After a few minutes of sewing you are left with a beautiful and simple coaster to rest your cup on.

A sheer white panel is a clever way to cover your window while stil allowing some light to shine in.  You can sew smaller pieces of linen to get a patchwork look like this, or hang a single piece.  Either way, it'll look great!  You can even just tack it on with some pins if you don't feel like using a hanging rack.  This is a nice trick that allows you to easily remove your curtains whenever you want.  A great linen for the job is IL030 because it is so light and airy.  These sheer curtains are great in the summer as a way to quickly decorate any room while letting some natural sunshine in.

Buttons make curtains easy to put up while adding a lovely little detail.  Using buttons is an effortless way to get creative with your home decor.

Hanging curtains can't get much easier when you use clips.  Try these office clips for your workspace or some clothespins for your kitchen window.   It is a clever and functional way to add some character to any room.

This week is all about linen curtains at Fabrics-Store.com.  Check out our blog for quick and easy tips for creating linen curtains for your home.  Also, feel free to share any ideas or advice from your own experience in working with curtains!

As I get ready to move into my new apartment, there are a number of things for me to take into consideration.  Once the issue of a bed to sleep on is dealt with, I find myself eagerly searching for ways to liven up my small, yet cozy new home.  I can worry about the rest of the furniture later….

I began thinking hard about what could make my apartment look more like an actual home.  Then I realized that curtains do add a certain something to a room.  They are so simple but can enhance the feel of a room in an instant.  I’m not talking about some heavy, tacky tapestries to block out all source of light.  What I mean when I talk about curtains is something to dress the room up without overtaking it.  What I want are some curtains that let in enough light to make the room fresh, not drab.  After browsing the Internet for the best option, it appears that linen curtains are exactly what I have in mind.

Linen is perfect because it lets in just the right amount of light.  I really like the sheer white linen curtains because they don’t take away from the characteristic of the room.  Instead, linen curtains look clean and simple, but with a certain element of class.  I think they prove that something elegant doesn’t have to be gaudy; rather, it can be an understated touch. 

Linen curtains are more than just aesthetically pleasing; there are tons of smart benefits to choosing linen! Here are some practical reasons that won me over:

• They are made from flax, which uses fewer chemical fertilizers and pesticides than cotton.

• Provides protection against UV radiation.

• Can keep your house warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

• Cause zero irritation and allergies when used in furnishings, curtains and clothing.

• Antibacterial and anti-fungal.

• They are highly durable.

• After each wash, linen fabric curtains get stronger and enhances in texture.

Making your own traditional curtains is no big deal and requires minimal effort.  But, if are still finding yourself a little hesitant, just check out the easy-to-follow video series on eHow.  There is no way to mess up now!

In rooms with smaller windows, such as bathrooms or kitchens, you can create curtains without even breaking out the sewing machine.  You can create a home touch to any room simply by draping a piece of linen over window rod.  I find that old handkerchiefs work great, as do small cuts of linen.  Also, try using clips or buttons to attach your linen to your line.  

There are so many easy ways to decorate your room in no time at all! This week we will share more creative linen curtains ideas with you.  Share your suggestions and ideas by leaving comments or posting on our facebook wall.

*Tip* If you want more sheer or light curtains, we suggest you use an IL020 or IL030 linen.  IL019 is perfect if for the standard mid-weight curtains.  If you are looking for thicker curtains, then 4C22 works wonderfully.