Bedroom Inspirations

So I really want to tackle the master  bedroom, but there are certain parameters that are keeping me from really making it the room of my dreams.

1.  There is no true closet.  There is a weird little alcove with a door that goes outside to a patio that we never use (for various reasons), and I think I'm going to turn that into a sort-of closet via tension rods; there are a few (very narrow) built-in shelves that don't hold all of the boyfriend's clothes, let alone mine.

2.  There are some things in there that the boyfriend won't let me move out, like his tv and exercise bike.

3.  We don't have the kind of space that all of the designers seem to be working with.

4.  Our windows are really odd and the ceiling is really low.



This gives me certain objectives.  I want to hide the makeshift closet, make the room look taller, and make it look somewhat more pulled together.  I think I want to use floor-to-ceiling drapes, in white (because I'm way too into white right now) but I am trouble deciding exactly what kind I want.  I'm having issues deciding between style **and** fabric; do I want tab-top, grommeted, or rod pocket?  Crisp and nautical, or flowing and romantic, with puddles on the floor?  Argh.  The same fabric will drape the walls and the windows, so I can't use sheers.  It's hard to start here, since I want to change practically everything else about the room.

Here are my inspirations:

for the flowy version, though less sheer.  I would want them long enough to puddle and they would probably have a tie-back.

Or this:

http://www.decorpad.com/viewThread.htm?messageId=37224

For a more crisp look.  Once I decide the style and fabric, I can figure out to hang them (ceiling-mount rods, or a wire cable system?) and then I can finally photograph and post.

Christmas Crafting, Vol. 1 (Geneaology Edition)

I know that it seems early, but for a crafter Christmas sneaks up a lot earlier than a person realizes.  I recently drafted my first "Crafting Wish-List" with miscellany that I turned up on the innertubes, and let me tell you--there is so much awesomeness out there waiting to be made that I don't really know where to start.

I, of course, got tons of ideas from Martha Stewart.  Her website is really what started it all.  I found this beautiful framed family tree template on her website, and immediately knew that I wanted to make this.  Since I can never justify making pretty things for myself (and it seemed a little rude of me to make this just for my family since I live in my boyfriend's house) I thought I should make it for my parents.  One subscription to Ancestry.com later, I know that I am descended from Ragnar Lodbrok and some guy named King Gandolf, which I think is the freaking coolest thing that has ever existed, ever.

My problem is that I have found more things that I want to make than I have people to give these things to.  These cufflinks are rad--but I don't know a single person who wears cufflinks.  Maybe I should give the boyfriend a set, along with a gorgeous French-cuffed shirt and some sexy suspenders, and my Christmas gift to myself will be reveling in my Mad Men fantasy (did I mention I carry a subscription to Esquire just for the overcoat issue?)

(Note:  for some reason the link to the family tree template isn't working.  Here it is: http://www.marthastewart.com/267157/family-trees)