Colorful, Whimsical Nursery

Both times I've decorated our nursery I've avoided the typical pink.  Nothing wrong with that, but I'm of the persuasion that the nursery should really be more for Mommy than for baby.  After all, you're the one who is stumbling in with one eye open at 2am - might as well make it a happy place to stumble into right?  Charlotte's nursery was green and cantaloupe - don't laugh at my old photography skills..... 

but be thankful I've improved ;)

 

So this time I chose yellow and berry as the main colors, but more and more colors kept adding themselves...and I kind of love it.  It's really cheerful and baby appropriate, but also Guest-Bedroom-worthy.  Here's the tour - enjoy!

My sister created this artwork based on a print we had seen in Urban Outfitters.  She made sure Japan is in the picture, but Florida is so far away it didn't make it :(

 

She certainly is the center of our little world right now!  I'll be going on blogger maternity leave now, not sure how long I'll be gone but be sure to enjoy my archives - look at the top of the site for the categories.  Happy homemaking!

xoxo

jessica

{DIY} The Letter Pillow

Today's post is brought to you by...

the letter L!

I mentioned it in my last post - our baby girl's name is going to be Lila.  

Lila Marian to be exact (Marian is my grandmothers name).

Do you remember on the TV show Friends, when Rachel has her baby Emma, they have a large letter E hanging on the wall?  

I've always loved that - so I decided to make my own!

Thankfully the letter L wasn't too tricky - if you have a name that begins with S or R...I'm not sure this is the project for you, but you could always give it a try!

This project was fairly simple - it took me about 2 hours, and I was stopping to take pictures.  If you're game to make your own, here's the stuff you'll need:

My finished dimensions are for a letter L - 21"x17" (those are the long sides of the L).  

Your trim should be only about 3/8" - 1/2" wide.

Step 1: 

Go ahead and heat up your glue gun now - then, with your fabric folded in half, selvage to selvage, begin to take measurements.  From the top left corner measure 8 1/2" and put a mark.  From the center of the bottom edge, measure up 8 1/2" and put a mark.  From the bottom right corner measure up 8 1/2" and put a mark.  Connect the dots by drawing lines to complete the L.  Cut along those lines.  

The top edge of the L will still be a fold - cut along the fold so that you have a front L and a back L.

Step 2:  

Lay the front and back pieces right sides together and pin along the edges.  When you sew, you are going to leave 2 openings.  One at the top of the L and one at the bottom right edge of the L.

Sew along the edge using 1/2" seam.

Step 3:  

Cut every corner diagonally about 1/8" from the seam.  This will make the corners pretty when you flip it right sides out.

Also clip the inside corner of the L to within 1/8" of the seam.

(If you are doing a different letter with more corners or curves be sure to clip all of them)

Step 4:  

Flip the letter right sides out and press it well.  You may need to use a ripper to gently pull the corners right sides out.  

Be sure along the openings to press the fabric in 1/2" to prepare it for closing.

Step 5:  

Stuff the letter with polyfil.  You want to give it some shape, but not make it too poofy.  Another option would be to use batting in the shape of an L - but you would have to insert it back in step 3.

Step 6:  

Pin the openings closed.

Starting at the top corner, sew the opening closed - using 3/8" seam.  Continue sewing around the entire letter.  This little flange or ledge is what you will glue your trim onto.

 This is a little bit tricky.  

The key is to go slowly and really guide the letter through the machine - kind of squeezing the stuffing out of the way as you go.

It should look like this when you're finished.

Step 7:  

Starting at one corner, glue the trim onto the little flange you made.  Go slowly and just use a small amount of glue

 

Step 8:   

Lastly, hot glue little pieces of ribbon or rick rack to the back to use when hanging.  I put one in the center of the top edge, and one in the top corner of the far left edge.

That's it!!  A sweet little letter to hang on the wall or put on a shelf or toss on a bed!!

Happy sewing everyone!!

xoxo

jessica

Baby Nursery Sneak Peak

Well, I'm about 3 1/2 weeks away and the nursery is not done...but it's getting there.

It also serves as our guest bedroom.

I thought I would at least give you a sneak peak, just to give you an idea of my color scheme, etc.  My mom is bringing some of the things when she comes - such as crib skirt/sheets and some extra fabric for more bed pillows.  The main colors are yellow and berry - with a touch of turquoise thrown in.

Once it is completed I will give you a full tour - but this will have to do for now!

I made these drapes from a tapestry that I bought at Urban Outfitters.

I'm going to hang these lanterns above the crib.

The guest bed - needs a few more pillows.

This hand work was done my one of my aunts and was hung in my nursery, Charlotte's nursery, and now Lila's.

The Japanese good luck cat - and how cute are those tiny shoes!?!

This chandelier came from the house where Ryan grew up.  

It is hanging above the changing table.

So that's a little taste.

More to come soon!

xoxo

jessica

DIY Rug

When designing Charlotte's nursery, I decided her floor needed a rug. However, you know how expensive rugs can be. So I decided to fashion one myself. (I know it is hard to focus on the rug with such a gorgeous child playing on it)

I bought these four rugs (i think they are acutally bath mats) at Ikea for $4.99 each.
Then, I got out the trusty Duct tape and just taped those puppies together. Go really slowly and make sure your rugs are lining up and not overlapping.

Next, I got out my other standby...the glue gun... and hot glued the border on. I pressed under the edges so as not to have raw edges showing. The whole project cost about $18.00 and it has lasted two years. Okay, so it is not a family heirloom, but for that price, 2 years is a pretty good deal!