People rarely use whisk brooms anymore, when I was growing up in the 60’s it was the only way we swept the dirt out of car! Since changing my decor to a more primitive look (not that growing up in the 60’s makes me primitive) I notice a lot of whisk brooms in the decor. I’ve been lucky enough to find a few at Goodwill for 50 cents and 99 cents, and I also bought 4 of these from Ohio Wholesale with the intent of selling them, but decided to make this whisk broom valance instead.
Since my kitchen rod is just a plain white rod, I decided to cover it with jute twine. A trip to my favorite place, Tractor Supply, and I got 520 feet for $3.18. This roll would cost about $9 at a craft store.
The rod slides to fit different widths on a window, so I took a Sharpie and marked it where the one rod overlaps so when I removed it and it slid shut or open, I would know exactly what length mine would be, this is important because once you start to wrap it you won’t be able to change the width. I hope that all makes sense to ya’ll.
I threaded one end of the twine into the hole at the end and just began wrapping until I got to the other end and threaded it through and tied it off.
This broom I bought today at Goodwill for 99 cents plaid ribbon glue on it with a pink bow. (yuck). I removed it and I am going to make a NO SEW, NO GLUE, muslin “apron” for it.
Take your fabric and fold down the top (this gives you a smooth top that looks like it has been hemmed) and wrap it around to the back, do the same on the other side- overlapping slightly and trim.
Take a big safety pin and pin through all layers of the fabric.
Once I had the fabric on, I took two straight pins and used them to marked on the front of the fabric as guidelines where I am going to place my stamped image. I unpinned it and opened the material flat.
I have this checkered stamp I paid 50 cents fpr it at a yard sale and I inked it with black ink and pressed it onto the fabric.
These birds on a branch is one of my favorite stamps, so lining it up with the checkers, I want the birds to look like they are sitting on top.
Once the ink dried, I again pinned the apron back on to the broom.
I added a homespun ribbon and a paper key ring that I distressed with distressing ink. I wrote “broom 10 cents” on it and attached it to the ribbon. Taking a matching piece of material, I added a hanger to the top.
Now, it is just a matter of putting the whisk broom onto the curtain rod and hanging them! It just adds some interest to my primitive looking kitchen and makes for great conversation. You can just keep adding to it too!
Window with blinds pulled up (I like it this way the best)
If you get tired of using the brooms here, you can always put them a basket. I also have a wrought iron basket hanger I was planning on putting them on…you know how I like to change things up!
Thanks for visiting, I always enjoy it when you stop by. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think, if you don’t like it, that’s ok, you can tell me that too! Or, if you have some additional suggestions on how I can make it better, I’m always open for ideas!!
Terri