Budget Nursery Art

Art is always very difficult for me. I don't quite know what I am looking for, but I know what I DON'T want. Many times, when I find something I like, it is too expensive or the scale is all wrong. For G's nursery, I took a casual approach, checking out thrift shops and second hand art sales over time and just grabbing things I liked instead of trying to make everything GO TOGETHER. I am pretty excited about the few pieces that we managed to find and wanted to share them with you. I added a few accessories in the mix as "Art" and I will include them in the budget breakdown.

Elephant Screen Print: $6 including matte and frame. I found this at a thrift store hanging on the wall. I debated using it since Baby G's name doesn't start with E, but I like the print so much I decided that didn't matter. I think it may be a screen print.

Colorful Boy and Girl Print: $2 framed ( I reframed it in an Ikea Ribba frame I already had)

This was professionally framed with brown paper backing but I didn't care for the frame. When I tore it open I found what I suspected all along. This was originally a greeting card- and it was written in! The writer mentioned a little boy whose name was eerily similar to my son's name which made me feel like I was meant to find this little treasure. I wonder who sent it and who received it and what they were like.

Fish Painting: Painted by my sister- she did a copy of a painting I saw in a catalogue. Hers is slightly different and her colors are brighter, but I love it. I framed it in another Ribba frame

Peter Pan Drawing Print (Or at least I think it looks like Peter Pan) I found this for $5 at a second-hand art sale. It was in a terrible frame and I stuck it in one of my trusty Ribba frames for about $16.

Pillows: These aren't really art I suppose, but I took a picture of our dog, traced him in photoshop and created an image which I uploaded to spoonflower.com and ordered as custom fabric. I really love how they turned out and since Baby G is in LOVE with our dog, I think it is fitting that he is a part of her room decor. The fabric cost about $18/yard- I used 2 yards of custom fabric for each pillow (there is a floral fabric I designed on the back seen in Baby G's dress from an earlier post).

Mirror: Again, this isn't art, but the shape of this mirror was so pretty and it helps add some girly whimsy to the space. We found it at homegoods for $20 and re-painted white to match the trim in the room.

I like that some of these things have hung in other homes and seen other children grow up- it imparts a little bit of history and nostalgia and definitely contributes some warmth and feeling to the room.

Hope you enjoyed the run-down. Thanks for reading!

My First Dress for Baby G!

I am almost finished making my first dress for Baby G. I didn't use a pattern and didn't really know what I was making when I started out, but I am very happy with the way it turned out. I even tried a few new details like the little front pleat. Is that a kick pleat?

The fabric I used for the bodice is some of the fabric that I used in her nursery for throw pillows. I designed it myself on Spoonflower. The rest I found in my scrap stash. I still need to try it on her and finish up the back (it is pinned for this photo). Once I can get it on her- I will post some additional photos. I may have to try making this again and doing a tutorial because it was really easy!

Extra Large Tunic Shirt Re-fashion

I bought this extra large tunic shirt for $20 at World Market a month ago because I liked the print so much. I am planning to turn it into an easy breezy summer dress. I am thinking it shouldn't be too hard- just closing up the side vents and tailoring/taking in the sides- maybe doing some sleeve pick-ups? We'll see how ambitious I am.

This pattern is all over World Market and if I could, I would get the matching table umbrella or the outdoor cushions or the trays or plates; or all of it. Did I mention I love this print?!?

Blog re-vamp

So now that I am back, I am thinking that I need to re-vamp what I am doing here. I still have my same design sense and style, but with the recession and raising two little ones- I just don't have the disposable income to spend on $300 boots and really cute lip gloss. Don't get me wrong... I still love this stuff-- it is just that I am not buying it at the moment, and focusing on all of the stuff I can't have seems like cruel and unusual punishment. So... what will I focus on? I will still be posting cute stuff that I am lusting over from time to time, but I also hope to produce some valuable content too. Maybe some tutorials, features on stuff I make, projects I am doing, and maybe even some helpful hints that I come across. I also plan to change up the look of the blog, so you can look for that to come soon as well. A new look for a new focus-- I am excited!