Amelia's New Nursery

Last Saturday, was the day I decided to do Amelia's Nursery Makeover!!  I painted the room "Lincoln's White Sash" the night before but it only took me 9 hours total to complete the entire makeover.  Besides the crib, book shelf, and changing table, everything else in the room is completely different. 

Are you ready for the tour?

Here we go!

I went with a "black and white and bright" theme.  As I mentioned before, I really wanted to streamline her room and make it more practical for a little one on the move.  Less clutter, more cute.

Since I am sure I will get questions about where I purchased things, I will link the items that stand out.  I am going to link the original sources to buy each of these items.  Most of them, I got from those shops but others I bought second hand for a way cheaper price :)

*  Blanket

* Mobile

*  Neon Crib Sheet

Some items, like these two plushies, were things I had forever but never pulled out for Amelia because she was too little.  This was the perfect time :)

* Doll

*  Massachusetts Plush

This little corner holds all of Amelia's toys and will hopefully someday be a little reading corner for her as well :)

* Hang-All

*  Panda Backpack

Here is another little view if you are looking into the nursery from the door.  This gives you a better idea of placement plus it shows the amazing lamp that my sister found on clearance at Target for $4.97.  Score!

This is Amelia's little wall of art.  I hope to build on it as I find more things that I love or as she creates more art.  Most of these were prints that I had collected throughout the years for her and didn't pull out of their envelops until now :)

*  Mustache Girl Print

*  I Lovely Love My Family Print

*  Home is Wherever I'm With You Print

*  This is the start... Print (I can't remember where I got this! If you know, link me)

*  Child of God Print

*  You are my Sunshine embroidery

*  Super Hero Print

*  Painting by Amelia

*  Painted Spoon by me :)

Her bookshelf full of books and little special toys :)

*  elephant hamper

* weiner dog lamp

Ok, here is the other side of the room.  Here we have her changing table area, a new chalkboard wall, and a vintage school desk that serves as a table for misc. items :)

* Pear Print

* wall organizer

I am in love with this curtain.  I thought it was sooo cute and perfect for Amelia and her room.  The little vintage green box was from a yard sale and holds misc things like Amelia's earring care solution, neosporin, lotion, etc.

The jars were a quick and easy DIY project with mason jars, plastic toys, and spray paint :)  Easy peasy and oh so cute!!  The large jar houses Amelia's hair bows and the other three house chalk, crayon rings and crayon gems!

Every room needs a chalkboard wall right?!  Espeically when your mom and aunt are art teachers!!  I can't wait for her to be able draw all over this wall.  It makes me so happy just thinking about it.

My sister also scored that cute chevron pouffe somewhere on ridiculous clearance and is letting us have it for the time being.  The chair is a vintage school chair, the rug is Dwell. 

That is it!! I am so happy with the way it turned out. I was super excited that my vision became a reality with this room in 9 short hours too!

It fits Amelia's bright little personality perfectly as well.

Thanks for checking it out :)

xo

janel

Guest Blogger: Kim Smith

Hello everyone! My name is Kim and it's a pleasure to be guest blogging for Janel today. 

One of my favourite hobbies is collecting vintage craft books (see collections of all my hobbies on Hobzy). 

I love looking through second hand shops, and finding gems hidden in-between all the patterns for fluffy 80's mohair jumpers. I collect a whole bunch of different types of craft books from patterns to instruction manuals to big books that were supposed to all a 'good housewife' needed. But my favourite by far are the ones with impeccable design inside & creative layouts!

This one, 'The Collins Complete Book of Needlecraft' is probably my all time favourite example. I thought I'd share a little section about sewing kid's toys (seeing as Janel has a little one).

I am completely in love with the use of colour & simple shapes in all these projects- and how the book encourages us to be creative & think of new things to make- not just to follow the pattern (although they do give great directions).

And those cute dolly faces! So sweet. And you'd only have to learn how to do one shape- and just add different accessories for different personalities. And even though this book was made in the 70's, all the designs are completely adaptable for modern day life.

Thanks for letting me share! Have a good day, Kimxo 

happiness is...

Happiness is... Amelia wearing the outfit that my mom brought my sister and I home from the hospital in (I only wish I had this back when I did bring her home).

Happiness is... capturing the first time Amelia held her arms out to someone to be picked up!

She loves my dad so I am not surprised it was for him to pick her up :)

They are best friends.

Happiness is... seeing my dad dancing with Amelia.

Happiness is... watching her grab my dad's glasses off of his face and then laughing at him.

Happiness is...seeing my dad rocking out on a Phineas and Feb guitar while making up songs to sing to Amelia.

Yesterday was full of happiness.

xo

janel

Catch-All Room Turned Playroom

While Adam was away in Massachusetts a couple of weeks ago, Amelia and I stayed with my parents.  They were very generous to let us stay with them, and take advantage of some extra help while the husband was away.  

We stayed in my parent's spare bedroom/catch-all room.

This room has been used by everyone in our family for the past 30+ years and it has collected bits and pieces through all of it.  This room was filled with spare/mix-matched furniture pieces, a ton of random toys, a day bed, a TV, and anything else that didn't have a place.
In fact, here is a before photo:

  There was so many cool things in this room but they were lost because of the clutter.

If you know me, I am always up for re-decorating. 

With Jack on the way, and Amelia getting more and more ready to play with toys, I thought it was time Amelia and Jack had a playroom at grammy and grampy's house :)

With three short days and a very VERY small budget, I had my parent's permission to transform this little room :)

I knew that I wanted the room to be gender neutral but not "cookie-cutter" gender neutral.  I wanted the colors to be primary based but not just primary colors. 

We started with this Orla Kiely bedspread and used it as color inspiration for the rest of the room!

Another thing I knew, is that I wanted a little reading nook in the room.

I made a bunch of tissue paper flowers to hang from the ceiling in a color pallet that I think worked well with the bedspread.  I ordered the vintage letters "Read" from this easy shop, and my mom had these floor cushions already on hand (which I will probably re-cover sometime in the future)

Another must have was the flashcards.  I remember learning to say my ABC's backward from looking at flashcards that hung in my sister's nursery.  I used twine and clothes pins from the dollar store to make this lovely and educational wall art!

These are the flashcards we chose.

Target has these adorable little accessories right now for dorms.  The stuff totally reminds me of Urban Outfitters. I scored this chihuahua pillow, the balloon animal lamp, and the sweet yellow cuckoo clock.

My favorite part of the room is definitely this chalkboard wall!  What child doesn't want to draw on the walls? I know I did :)  We also took my mom's bedroom furniture (and gave her Adam and I's old bedroom furniture) and placed it in this room to showcase all of the amazing toys and books that my parents, sister, and I have collected throughout the years.

The bookshelf was once mine, and then was stored in my parent's basement and now it has a perfect new place in the playroom.

Finally, we scored the PERFECT rug from Urban Outfitters.  The color and design were perfect.  Not too bold, just bold enough for this room.  The smallest size worked wonderfully for this room.

This room is by far, my favorite spot in their home now.  It's colorful and happy and fun, which I think is the perfect recipe for a playroom.  I know Amelia and Jack will both be enjoying this room really soon. In the meantime, it's Catalina's new hangout :)

xo

janel