The Encyclopedia of Window Fashions has over 21 pages devoted to the timeless swag. They look just as great today as they did 500 years ago.

With some of the newer fabrics that have come on the scene they probably look a lot better. Swags are one of those treatments that never looks old or out of date.

For as long as man has had fabric to fold or knot we have used the swag to decorate our homes and our public buildings as well as our meeting grounds and stages. There is just something about folded, gathered material that is beauty to the eye.

Swags come in many types:                                               

  

Turban
Wrapped
open throut
gathered
knots
Through Sconces
folded
boxed
There are as many styles and types as there are people with imagination. You can take a piece of fabric, wrap it around a pole or bed canopy frame and play , and play, and play till you are satisfied with the end result. When it shouts WOW, I'm awesome!

Or as shown on page 75 bottom right of the Encyclopedia of Window Fashion you can take decorative cord and tassels and work them in and around a gorgeous set of swags and create a masterpiece that's one of a kind and individually yours.

Need to dress up those blah verticals! In just minutes with a couple pieces of drapery fabric and 4 decorative rings you can create a set of crossed swags with 4 single cascades that will take a vertical to new heights and cause oh's, aw's and maybe a little professional jealousy from friends and neighbors. Shown on page 81 top right of the Encyclopedia of Window Fashion.

How about Swags and long Cascades over French Doors. The long cascades frame the French doors causing the natural beauty of the French doors to stand up and shout "look how gorgeous I am". At the same time the swag acentuate the the French Doors by taking away the harsh lines and adding beauty and grace to the whole picture. Bottom of page 84 in the Encyclopedia of Window Fashion.

When I sold my business I had somewhere over 500 different templates or patterns of swags. The great thing is that they can be combined with each other.

You can take big swags and incorporate little swags with them, formal swags and drape an informal one across them all,add bows, knots, tassels, rope , fringe, silk flowers or just about anything you can imagine to create that one of a kind masterpiece that will land you in the decorators hall of fame.

This holiday season get some seasonal appropriate fabric. Get out your copy of the Encyclopedia of Window Fashion and start swaging. Don't let your subconscious tell you it can't be done. Get some fabric, start and let that masterpiece come forth.

If you haven't gotten your own copy of the Encyclopedia of Window Fashion yet don't put it off any longer. Make it a Christmas Present to yourself.

Terry
11/18/2005

 ↑ Back to Top