Bamboo As the Romans Do
With the big yoga craze, bamboo mats are as common as downward-facing dogs. Look for them at the 99¢ Store or other discount import markets and make yourself a Roman shade with Asian flare.

What You'll Need: Bamboo mats Yarn or string Scissors Embroidery needle or crochet hook Curtain rod Self-adhesive Velcro dots

1. Cut five 10" pieces of string or yarn per mat.
2. Use an embroidery needle or crochet hook to attach and knot the strings along the top edge of the mats, equally spaced.
3. Tie the strings (and, hence, the mats) to the curtain rod and hang above the window.
4. Place two sets of self-adhesive Velcro dots on the back of each mat. Put the soft sides on the bottom corners, 1/2" up from the bottom and 1/2" in from the sides. Position the hard sides halfway up the mat, 1/2" from the edge.
5. Want some light? Fold the mats backward and let the Velcro do all the work!

	Bright Idea:
	Since the mats are so cheap, buy a bunch and tie them on top of each other for a layered look. Experiment with the placement of the Velcro to allow each layer to fold at a different length.