I love the hunt for something interesting and cheap when I peruse estate sales. But I never considered this find one sunny Spring Saturday. I had stopped at an estate sale to see if there was anything worth returning for the next day when prices were reduced 50%. I passed through the house, the basement, then to the garage. Out the garage doors and around the corner was a pile marked free. It consisted of cardboard boxes stacked on top of each other. The top box had "Drapes" written on it. I peered inside. On top were some plaid panels, then a fluffy valance, and then I saw it. . . the flowers, those brightly colored, large print, bold flowers. I recognized it immediately, BARKCLOTH! And it was a wonderful semi-tropical print with great colors on a cream background. I started pulling them out and they just keep coming. Two full panels and a valance were soon in my arms. I held them up briefly for a quick look and they were in great shape, even the lining was intact.
I looked around, thinking someone would say "what are you doing with those barkcloth drapes?" I pulled myself together. After all, they were in the free pile. When I got home, I washed them immediately on delicate, in cold water and line dried. I ironed them carefully. They are fabulous!