Blue Skies Downstairs

Although the basement facelift is well under way, I am still trying to figure out the ceiling -- that is, what I’m going to do to hide the beams and ducting. I am still leaning toward some sort of draped fabric. It would really be great if it looked something like the sky. But how to achieve that look?

I spoke to a neighbor who is a well-known fiber artist. She agreed with my idea of using flat bedsheets and suggested hanging them with a staple gun. We talked a little about tie-dying, but not enough that I had a real plan for doing it.

After my seeming unsuccessful search for white sheets, I had another idea today after locating very inexpensive light blue sheets at Target.com (thanks, Steve!) I thought about using a weak Clorox solution and bleaching clouds onto the blue background. My fiber artist friend said eventually they might fall into holes where I had applied the Clorox. She also suggested that I do this outside and use a mask and eye goggles because of the fumes.

Then tonight I came up with the idea of making stencils and spray-painting white clouds, stars, and moons in a random pattern. I would still do it outside, but it might be a little easier and more permanent than the bleaching approach.

I could probably achieve the same effect with white fabric ironed on with Stitch-Witchery or a similar product.

I’m not sure exactly what sort of expert to contact to help me make decisions. I suppose I could purchase a sheet and try all these things to see what works best.

Fortunately I am under no time constraint and this project is keeping me busy as I think about how to do each piece.

Let me know if you have any ideas on giving my basement a blue sky!