apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I have been saving the clear cd disks for a project like this. Use a large size needle, heat it with a match or lighter and melt a hole into the cd

felt

counter top samples. Small squares and a multitude of colors!!!

No, felt will not be able to support the weight and will fold, wrinkle...etc...

The trick is to find things that are already round so one doesn't have to spend a weekend walking in circles cutting circles...

Coasters. Go to your local bar and buy a box of their cardboard coasters and paint 'em. Cork coasters would be nice but prob too expensive for a whome room of curtains...

A trip to Home Depot up and down the aisles looking for circles would be wise...

Badda bing- coasters!

Coloured plexiglas or polystyrene/polyurethane. Sure it's more work, but it's a doable weekend project and you could go for transparent or opaque. Transparent would add a nice colour effect in front of windows, but these curtains would make great room dividers.

it's a wee bit different (OK, a whole lot different!) but check out the link in my name for a similar idea. I bet that a really crafty person could do something with metal rings and fabric or paper to a similar effect as J Schatz.

I made something similar out of felt a few years back as a room divider and it worked out very well. I used fusible interfacing between two felt circles to give the felt weight and to prevent curling, bending, etc.

the pantyhose curtains in jennie's link are really cool.

and that is one sentence i thought i'd never type.

Check out this story from HGTV http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/dc_styles_modern/article/0,,HGTV_3524_4175764,00.html
They used cardboard circles, you could also substitute balsa wood for these.

Click on my name for a close-up.

I know this is not the price range you are looking for, but you must check these out:
http://www.higginsglass.com/index.php?m=4&s=1

Another suggestion is to get some resin and cast them yourself. I buy resin from Castin Craft in Michigan.(They ship) you can order colors to dye the resin and just use old food (clean!) container lids to cast with. Just be sure to keep a window open.

Maybe fun coasters?

Holly

At last! something you can use those margarine tub lids for...

The Washington Post's "Sunday Source" section did a DIY for a room divider with a similar design in May 2004. They used plastic and binder rings from a office supply store. It was a great idea. I can't find the article online, though.

This hanging circle thing is a big trend. Here's something similar (but not in these fun colors!) from Chiasso: http://www.chiasso.com/store/Item.aspx?DepartmentId=53&ItemId=46977

And a glass version in color from CB2: http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=587&f=2893&viewall=1 Also check out their round mirrors for another alternative, they would need to be wallmounted though since I think hanging them would not be safe.

Finally, there's a couple of choices from West Elm, in mid-century classic capiz shells and hammered metal http://www.westelm.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?partNumber=WE-PRODa255&storeId=17001&langId=-1&catalogId=17002&viewSetCode=E&parentId=WE-SH1ACCROO&retainNav=true&cmsrc=WE-SH1ACCROO

I chose the capiz shell alternative myself, to set off a bare wall behind my plasma TV that was not conducive to hanging art (too many rectangles). I've had it for five years in two different apartments and still love the look! Painting circles on a wall is an another low-cost, super easy alternative.

i did a similar project using all the CD-ROMs i got in the mail from internet providers. i supplemented these with CD-Rs that i had burnt and screwed up along the way. i sprayed the printed side with opaque paint and left the rainbow data side as is. i simply strung them together with hoops of heavy quilting thread and hung them from my existing curtain rods.

Canal Plastics. Need I say more?

Felt, Stiffy (of Stiffen Stuff), a similarly sized piece of wood painted metallic, small eye-screws (to hang from the wood), small grommets, and jump rings to connect each piece. Stiffy is a product you can spray on fabric to stiffen it so it holds its shape. Voila!

Industrial felt would definitely be sturdy enough. Another alternative would be powdercoated aluminum discs, if you can find them or have access to make them.

Did someone say "big!"?

I just bought Better Homes and Gardens' "100 Weekend Decorating Ideas" off the newstand. Page 12 shows how to make something very similar with old vinyl 12" records. Looks really cool. They used a 5 across by 4 down matrix.

Drill 4 holes in each record, connected them together with S hooks, and hang from a metal rod on wall brackets.

Thry this link- These would work great and they have some other materials which might make for some interesting DIY projects!


http://www.crazycardboard.com/shop/shop_showitem.php?id=21

I've been trying to do something similar with old 45's. I've managed to find a few colored and/or transluscent vinyls which i think will have an especially nice effect.

CDs!~!~!!!!!

plastic petri dishes

i have been saving AOL and other CD-Roms that come in the mail for JUST this purpose. i also save all the CDs that i mess up when making mixes for friends. i spray paint the label side and leave the data side with its rainbow effect. you could cover the CD with felt or vintage wallpaper too for variety. i actually turned my ceiling fan into a mobile using matte white painted CDs. of course i didn't turn the fan on . . . that would've been a disaster.

This would be great with thick felt! Soft, weighty and colorful! Aetna Felt, http://www.aetnafelt.com, has a new line of 3mm and 5mm thick felt in over 20 colors that would look fantastic. The felt isn't cheap, but compared to the $1250 for this curtain, it is very affordable. They have a 1 yard minimum order per color, so you'd also need to have aneed for either more than one curtain or a pretty large one.