Modern Fairytale Posters

Thank you Cup of Jo for posting these wonderful modern fairytale posters.

The artist is Christian Jackson and you can buy them here.

Industrial Kid Stuff

I'm pretty sure there is not anything I don't love about industrial design. (Are there enough double negatives in that sentence for you?) Well, thanks to Restoration Hardware, we have it for kids! Woohoo!

Are those vintage boxing gloves? Also, the striped baskets! Please. These shelves are just perfect for a little dude's room.

I'm getting giddy just thinking of kids hanging out at these old fashioned chairs and tables.

This is a locker style dresser. Um, hello wagon wheel lamp.

The Baby & Child Restoration Hardware line has oh-so-much more than this! In just about every style, too. Check it out!

*Martha

Hot Air Balloon Canvas

I'm almost finished with my boy/girl nursery, and this hot air balloon canvas is one of the final projects. It's been hanging over my head for a long time because I knew what I wanted but couldn't find a way to execute it. I have been searching for some old book with big pictures or drawings of hot air balloons to cut out, but that never panned out. Then I saw a post by Stephmodo; she had done a hot air balloon party for her daughter and used this wrapping paper from Clover, a kids' store near my house. Isn't it adorable? Vintage looking and everything. 

I thought it'd be perfect until I started cutting each balloon out and putting them all over my 24 x 30 inch canvas I had already spray painted blue. The scale wasn't working; the balloons were just too tiny. So, I started doing my own thing. 

I cut templates for three different sized balloons and baskets and used them to cut simple balloons out of my own paper.

I added some frills. Hopefully they are still boyish-enough frills. Are they? I kept having to remind myself that this is for a BOY and not a girl. I don't know - maybe when I meet him, I'll realize the error of my frills and tear it down and try again. But for now, I actually really like it. I incorporated the tiny, vintage balloons from the wrapping paper and the canvas looked like this:

I stared at it for days because something about it was BUGGING me. I tore off the tiny balloons because I feel like they were trying too hard to fit in, plus it felt a little too busy with them there. 

And now it looks like this:

I like it sooooo much better. I realize it's very kitschy, especially those hilarious clouds. But I like it; kitschy works for me, and it'll go better with the hot air balloon mobile, too.

What do you think? Were the tiny, vintage balloons working? Or was I right to rip them off? 

And what about you - have you attempted your own artwork for your children's rooms? Is it something you're proud of and love to see every time you hang out in the nursery? That is my one criteria for things in the nursery: do I love seeing it every time I go in? Or does it just BUG? I will hang this thing up and know soon enough if it bugs ... and if it does, I'll tear it down and start over on something else.

*Martha

Slipcovers for Kid Chairs

My friend, Miriam, posted about her reupholstering project of her kids' foam chairs. Goodbye Dora!

Hello tasteful! She has a son and a daughter and I love how she found the perfect fabric for each (good boy fabric is hard to find, methinks).

She even made a sweet little pillow for each.

Read more about her process on her post here.


*Martha

Organizing Children's Art

This article got me thinking about the many ways to organize and display children's art work. May I share with you my personal favorite: the clothesline/cable system. Not that I have put it to use just yet. My daughter is only 21 months. But I hear once the kiddie artwork starts coming, it doesn't let up. 




Here's why I like the clothesline as the first line of defense in dealing with artwork. 


1. It's not permanent. You can quickly put up a new piece of art whether you love it or hate it and constantly edit and rotate as the child brings more home. 


2. It changes up the decor on a regular basis and adds new pops of unique color and design to the wall. 


3. It can work in several different places in the house. I like the kitchen (because it gets it off your fridge and can become a conversation piece around the dinner table), the hallway (think of it as a gallery, maybe install real gallery lighting to make it more special), the playroom or child's bedroom (where the child can take control and rotate it as they choose). 


After the art moves out of the clothesline rotation and you and/or your child have chosen the favorites, it could be put into frames and moved to a more permanent art wall. Then when it's time to let it go, decide what to keep and what to trash, and put the keepers in a long term file folder for each child.


Here are a couple photos of the clothesline approach.


You could easily work with what you already have to create one; pictured above is twine and office clips, below is string and clothes pins.

Or Etsy has some cute supplies to made your own, like these colorful tiny clothespins and baker's twine. Secure the ends on the wall with faux metal Command hooks.

These colorful clips come from The Land of Nod.

 Here's a crisp look with the IKEA curtain rings and clips.

Pottery Barn Kids has several cable systems, with a variety of gender specific versions.

What do you think, readers? Have you put this to use yet or do you go for another approach? What works for you in managing and organizing your children's art?


Happy Friday!


*Martha


images 1. Hybrid Simplicity 2. houzz 3 & 4. Bella Creationz 5 & 6. Land of Nod 7. OhDeeDoh 8 & 9. Pottery Barn Kids 

Nursery and Kids Rooms

I am working on helping my mom ORGANIZE and re-DECORATE her play room (I will show the progress later in November), and I was searching for inspirational images and came across this AMAZING website with BEAUTIFUL nurseries and kid rooms.

 

Oh my goodness...all these rooms are so inspirational! It makes me want to have 50 more kids ;) Or you all could hire me to decorate your kids rooms so I don't have to pop out that many babies ;)

I hope these pictures inspire happy thoughts! Check out this LINK to see some more pictures of these rooms and some ADDITIONAL rooms that are also amazing.

Peace OUT!
Cyndi