OWLS!

More than a month ago I ordered an owl mobile to match the nursery. I found a seller on Etsy who handmakes baby mobiles out of felt in really cute shapes. She made this one to match the colors in the fabric I'm using. The tree in the center is perfect to go with the room too!



She also made two little owls to be the pulls at the bottom of the ceiling fans in the room. I had to replace the football pull that was on there.

More Decals!

I added some animal wall decals to the tree scene. They're from Pop and Lolli and the best thing about them is that they're repositionable. They're easier to apply than traditional decals. I got an owl and bird set for the trees and clouds, and a forest animal set to put underneath. There are a lot more that I haven't used yet that I'll be able to put around the room. They are super fun!

Heinz asked why so many of them are wearing glasses. My answer is that it shows that it's okay to wear glasses and it's nothing to be ashamed of. I was the first kid in my class to get glasses, so I'm sure Alex will be too.

Tree Pillow

I am a big copy-cat. First I made the book slings that Katie made, then Ribbit, and now this tree pillow. I love how it uses up little bits of scraps. I would love to make some to match my living room. The tutorial is from here. I love how it goes with the tree theme in the room.

It's a Glider AND a Recliner!

Last week the chair I ordered for the nursery came in. When I first started looking at chairs, I wasn't sure what to get since I didn't know if I'd want a glider or a recliner. Then I happened to find one from Little Castle that's BOTH! Besides being both, it's cheaper than the ones from Pottery Barn, and it comes in tons of fabrics. Pottery Barn didn't even have a single fabric that was brown. There are several retailers in town; I got this one from Buy Buy Baby because I was able to order it with 20% off coupons.

It's really comfy, but I think it works more like a rocker than a traditional glider. And once I'm done using it in the nursery, I can put it in our bedroom for a seating area. Although I think that Alex may want to use it as a reading chair for a long time to come.

Wall Decals

I ordered some more wall decals from Dali Decals. There are a lot of tree decals out there, but I really loved this one because of the circles. It made it seem more childlike and playful. Then for underneath I got a green shag rug to be like grass. I got it from Rosenberry Rooms. It's supersoft, not like shag carpeting from days of yore.

p.s. The clouds are from Dali Decals too.

Meet Ribbit

I've been working on a baby sweater for next fall, but I decided to take a break and knit some toys for the nursery instead. First up is Ribbit. This is a free pattern by Susan B. Anderson on the Spud & Chloë site. This was a fun knit, and the coolest part is that the frog body is a tennis ball.



I had 12 appendages to sew on. This is the first one I did. It makes Ribbit seem, well, punk. It definitely belongs in my Sarcastic Crafts collection.

Pillowcases

I made three standard pillowcases in the Hooty Hoot fabric collection for when Alex gets a big-boy bed. The one on the left is flannel and the other two are regular fabric. They didn't take very long to make.

Look What I Found!

Awesome, right?



It's especially cool because it's on vinyl. I need to get out my old record player.

Travel Diaper Pouch

I saw this tutorial last week and I just had to make one for me and for a friend. Katie had some leftover scraps from the quilt and pillows she made for Julia, so she gave me some for this diaper holder to match. I didn't use any of my matching fabric because I thought it would be a good chance to use some other cute fabric in my stash.

They were easy to make and I learned some new techniques as well.

The Curtains Are Up!

Heinz just put up the curtains in the nursery. They were the first thing I made for the room, but I had to order special rods that stuck out far enough from the wall because of the new blinds we had ordered. I was going to do white panels with tiebacks underneath the valance like I did in the guest bedroom, but I decided it wasn't necessary and that I'd keep it more simple in here. For some reason, I really love vertical stripes for a valance.

Book Slings

A couple of days ago I made these book slings for the nursery. My friend Katie made one for her son earlier this year, and I filed away the idea. When I started planning the nursery, I knew I had to make some using the fabric collection I had picked out. The tutorial is from Penny Carnival. They didn't take very long to make, and they would have been even easier if I had used one big piece of fabric like in the tutorial. I realized that my print would show through when it was doubled, so I lined the inside with a cotton solid. That ended up being a bonus because I now have extra of the more expensive prints.

I love the concept behind this, which is that it's easier for toddlers to find their favorite book when you can see it face-out instead of trying to find it from a bunch of spines on the shelf.

p.s. Yes, the bathroom is VERY green!

Sewing for Baby

I've finished two sewing projects for the nursery now. First, I made curtains. I can't show those yet because I had to special order some rods today that would extend past the new blinds we ordered.

This is the crib skirt. It was a lot like making curtains: you just make panels and sew them onto a sheet of muslin. I still have to serge the seams (or I may just use pinking shears). The pattern is from Amy Butler's Little Stitches for Little Ones. Right now the mattress is at its highest. Once we lower it, I may have to tuck the bedskirt underneath the mattress or something.



I like how the panels look modern and aren't frilly. The long side has two panels plus an insert in the center underneath. The directions said to make panels for all four sides, but why would I do more work than I had to? So I just made panels for three sides.

Something Old, Something New, and Definitely Something Blue

We have already been working on getting the nursery fixed up. The walls are painted, which is a huge relief. And there are already a few pieces of furniture in the room.

First is this little rocker, which I used when I was little, and my dad, and my grandma and her siblings. Since my grandmother's oldest sister is almost 91, it's safe to say this is at least 90 years old. It's the only old furniture that I don't mind using. My grandma tried to get me to take a 100-year-old wicker baby carriage to use, but I declined. I think this rocker will be cute with a little pillow in it.



Heinz already put together the crib and changing table for me so that I can plan the decor for the room. Draped over the crib are some of the fabrics I'm using in the room. I'm almost finished making the curtains and then I'm going to start on the crib skirt.