Hey DIYers! This isn't so much an instructional since it was making do with what parts I had, but more like inspiration to look at the things that you already have to accomplish your projects. I think most middle class Americans generally think in terms of, "I want to do this, so I need to go buy those parts." Well I was always working class so my thought process is, "How can I do this with the random bits and bobs I already have?" You know the stereotype of the tinkerer or crafter who saves things "just in case," but they never use them? I'm the one that actually uses them. LOL
This is what I wanted to accomplish: hanging my tapestry up over the closet doors to break up this big blank wall. But I wanted it to be moveable like a window curtain, so that when I was digging around in the closet, I didn't have to work around it. So I couldn't just pin it up, or it would get in my way all the time.
I had an extra closet rod, because when they remodeled these apartments, they made the rods and shelves adjustable, and the rods were more than I needed. I also had two of these brackets, that I had used the other two to be where I could park my cane without it falling over all the time (I only need it on bad pain/balance days, so that makes it difficult to pick up off the floor when I need it). They are actually meant to hold your brooms, mops, or garden tools up on the wall, and originally I wanted to do that, but where I park those, hanging them up off the floor would actually interfere with the bathroom cabinet, while them being on the floor is perfect. So those became my curtain rod and holders.
Since the tapestry and doors are a bit wider than the rod, in order to bring it all the way out to the sides, I put in a couple of cup hooks and clip it in place with clothespins. So when I want to move it, I unclip the clothespins. The tapestry is hooked around the rod with safety pins, so it slides.
To tie it into a bundle, I hooked this yellow cord (it's an honors cord from when I graduated medical assisting school - reuse everything!) to the rod using a bracelet and a carabineer. So when I tie it in the middle, it looks like this:
It took some time to poke around and figure out what to use, and try some other things that didn't quite work, but in the end I accomplished my goal by using what I had!
Take a look around your home and see what you could use instead of buying more supplies for your next project. You might save some money and resources, and feel satisfied with your creative results!
Have a great week, everyone, and happy new year!