Congratulations on your fabric! Please show us!! We want to see pictures!

Hope things work out with your DH!!

Can't wait to see! Sorry, I can't help with your DH!

Will you be making the items you need with the fabrics? If so, that's a bargain and he shouldn't be upset. It would cost that much or more to go buy nice ready made things. Right? I'm good at rationalization with the DH. LOL Can you post some photo's of the fabrics you are risking your life for?

Quick! use your- Look How Much Money I Saved Honey Math Skills! Total cost of fabric divided by total number of rooms = X Then mention how you can use the leftovers for pillows table runners etc. And the money THAT saves.
And if that doesnt work, if you are dead, at least you will have beautiful windows to enjoy!
And he will get over himself ;) when he sees how much beauty and value they add to your home.

Ack! I can't believe I didn't post pictures. Well, I decided to go with the lighter colored fabrics. I just matched my whole house better than the blacks.

I always said I was living in an easter egg :) Who has ever seen a black easter egg??

Anyway, I went with the paisley in the picture that I will use in the breakfast nook and as roman shades in the LR. I was going to do panels in the LR, but I really think it will shorten the wall too much, since the windows have the arch and are close to the ground. And I didn't want to put curtains above the arch. I just don't love that look.

The other fabrics in the picture, but found a gorgeous plaid for the DR.

Hey, we saw photos of your hubby here, and he looks like a real sweetheart! (Tell him we all said so -- maybe that'll butter him up a bit!)

Congrats on getting your fabric! :-)

I don't see a picture???

Ack again :)

Okay, you can see the lovely paisley below. But the other fabrics aren't shown. Sorry! One is a gorgeous plaid with PERFECT colors for long panels in the DR, and it will also be the trim for the valances in the nook.

I also bought an awesome "pebble-like" textured fabric that is a deep aqua with some natural colors dots on it to use to recover my DR chairs and a stool in the LR.

All of the colors mesh so well together and I am just so excited to get them!

OH - and Joann's was having a 50% off sale on their decorator fabrics, so I actually SAVED $485 :) But I don't think he will see it that way...

Look at how happy you are !!! your dh has to get with the program, that's how much fabric costs, a lot of fabrics for a lot of projects.

Be positive and firm with the way you announce this, he won't be able to do anything but be excited if you set the tone; but honestly, cut fabric on long rolls is not something most people get highly enthused about, seeing the end product will make it happen hopefully.

The fabric is beautiful, and will look wonderful when done.
Congratulations on saving a ton of money for your hubby!

None the less, you better come up with another plan cause
no matter how you rationalize it, slice it or dice it...the man is going to suffer severe 'sticker shock' when he sees that a 491 debit in the checking account for OMG fabric???... after all it's not like making a sound investment in something like new golf clubs, is it ?!?
Joann

Well...I do have a plan. And that plan is to hide the bank statement for a while. And then sneak it in as if it was a whole bunch of christmas presents all together.

I doubt he knows what Joann's really is.

And I handle all of our online banking stuff and budget. And I *did* budget for house decorating...this just blew my budget for the next five months. And that's okay :)

Since I already said I loved that paisley, I'm glad you got it!

BUT as someone who has been (a) married for 14 years and (b) guilty of having ebay winnings delivered to her office (ahem), I think you might be better off just fessing up to the cost and letting him know that your monthly decorating budget for the next several months will be reduced accordingly so that you didn't actually "blow" your budget and that you are being responsible about the whole thing. Otherwise, it comes across a bit to much "I Love Lucy," IYKWIM.

Your fabric looks beautiful and for all you're going to do with it, the cost isn't really that awful. I rationalize to myself but I refuse to rationalize to DH. We have an agreement that nobody plays hiding games with the purchases and the money and neither does anybody raise any eyebrows when they see the price tag. We're both big kids now and we both know what's in the bank account. As long as you're in budget and both responsible about the money it's soooo nice to know you won't get any "comments". I grew up with that from my dad and refuse to do it in my marriage. Ok off my soapbox, it's just one of my "buttons" LOL. I can't wait until you get these all done and can show us pictures. I'm a sucker for paisley and yours is awesome.

That fabric is absolutely gorgeous!
Since you already had it in your decorating budget- announce that the cost is already calculated. done deal. :) almost.
I always tell my husband about what I buy, and he trusts my ability to be prudent as I trust him. And saving half the cost is very prudent.If you can't eat for a couple weeks, not so much.
The reality is that quality fabric is expensive. I think you did really well, 3 rooms and bought it half price, good job.

that was my favorite when you showed the samples before, they're soooo pretty. Can't wait to see the finished product. Good Luck with DH, just break the news gently.

It's beautiful fabric :) I can't wait to see you get to work on it!

I once showed my DH the cost of silk curtains hand made with liners and black out from an internet custom curtain place. They were something like twelve hundred a window. I spent six hundred on all of the fabric for our entire house, all silk (120 inch wide...which I love to work with). So the savings on my custom windows will be spectacular since I know I can do the same quality (I've done them many times).

That being said, I never keep a secret from my DH what I spend if he asks. We are at a more comfortable position than I was when I was first married to my starter husband, where that five or six hundred bucks would really have hurt us. So we don't actually discuss what we spend on items terribly often, unless it's an extra ordinary expense. With my starter husband, I used to purposefully not discuss things like this, (he did the same) and it wasn't good for our marriage. In the end, our ability to discuss money without arguing was a contributing factor the the end of our marriage. I made a vow with this husband that we could discuss money any time we need to, and we occasionally do, without hating each other's extravigences (and he has PLENTY!!!)

Okay, okay, you guys are right. I just need to put a positive spin on it - "look honey, I got it at half price! And I've even budgeted for it!"

It's all very true, but he will still take it hard. He struggles with the smallest spending of money, so anything is difficult through him. Luckily, his mom has laid a great ground work for me. She is the queen of spending. Well, that sounded bad. She is the queen of loving the expensive stuff :)

HOWEVER, my FIL also loves to spoil her at times. For example, for Christmas, he gave her a poem that said "get a new kitchen, so you'll quit your b*tchin'" And his gift to her was unlimited funds to renovate her kitchen. And he cried when she opened it. It was so sweet.

Your fabric is beautiful.

When my DH found out how much I paid for the bed sheets he said "we're not rich you know." I told him no, but we'll be alive since we won't be sleeping on sheets treated with chemicals. I told him to hush, that those were on sale. Then he really let out a huff and sigh!! LOL He's over it.

I have that same fabric sitting in my hall closet right now. I also ordered it from JoAnn's when it was 50% off -- still expensive in my book but so beautiful. I don't sew but my mother does and she is coming to visit in a few weeks and will be making me some kitchen curtains out of it. I can't wait! I will post pictures when they are done. What style are you doing?

"For example, for Christmas, he gave her a poem that said "get a new kitchen, so you'll quit your b*tchin'" And his gift to her was unlimited funds to renovate her kitchen. And he cried when she opened it. It was so sweet. "

That's the sweetest, most creative Christmas gift ever!

I also love your fabric. :)

The fabric is beautiful! I can't wait to see the finished product.

igloochic - do you have a source for 120" wide silk fabric? Please share if you do!

I love your fabric choices. They are going to look so wonderful. It will really pull everything together.

I had a cruise planned but then my mom got sick so I canceled. Well, DH wants to go pheasant hunting in South Dakota - guess what? I get to do the tweaks to my kitchen that I wanted. He was feeling bad about taking a vac when I didn't get mine so I took the opportunity for negotiation!! Isn't that bad of me:)

Of course, I wouldn't do it if I didn't have the $$ for it.

Smiles:)

Thanks for all of the responses. He found out last night. Here's how it went down.

1. He grabbed my receipts out of my wallet to input into the computer.
2. He looked at the Joann's receipt.
3. He looked at me.
4. He inputed the total and moved onto the next receipt.

Done.

So glad he's over it - and you got your fabric. I loooooove that fabric!

I am with igloochic. If I ever have a huge purchase to make that I don't think dh will agree with, I start off with the most expensive option first. "Look honey, a new couch would cost $2000. I think I can make a slipcover for our old one for $250". Suddenly $250 seems like an absolute bargain.

And you did get an absolute bargain. Even buying cheap ready made drapes would have cost you close to that much and yours are going to be drool worthy.

Can hardly wait to see pictures.

Thanks, budge1. It will be awhile before pictures of the actual curtains. I'm going to try to wait until after Christmas to have them made...especially since I just blew 5 months of the decorating budget :)

But that's okay! I'll take pictures of the fabric when it arrives. I can't WAIT!!!!!!!!

Funny thing...I can anything I want, and don't have to ask or consult my hubby. Of course, aside from being a wage earner and contributing to the household income, I am also frugal and good with money and decisions regarding money...I have been accused on more than a few occasions of still having my communion money :) ...thus, I do realize that does make a difference and factor into the equation.
One other point, my daughter can buy anything she wants as well, and doesn't have to justify it with her hubby...She as well, is gainfully employed. The reason I mention this is cause they say, you marry your Father...in this case it's true.
Joann

That is gorgeous fabric. I once had a sofa done in a similar Jacobean pattern from Ethan Allen (If I told you the year, you would ask me if I am still able to get out of bed in the mornings). :-)

It is gorgeous and I think you made wise choices and a bargain is only a bargain if you really love it and I can tell you do. What makes you happy is a savings to your attitude and marriage.