Proud Grandparents Wall Shelf and Pillow

oh how I love my parents...

They are both very crafty themselves and made some amazing things for little Luke!

.truly blessed.

My father made this black wall shelving unit to match the nursery furniture

(and helped us hang it.. a definite chore)

My mother made as gifts some awesome pillows! We were having trouble finding 'vintage map' fabric in the right colors, who knew that'd be so difficult.  We ended up finding a BRIGHT green one and so my mom worked her magic with some 'color remover' and...

It works PERFECT in the room!

 Before we found the bright green (now perfect green) fabric my mom had attempted to print one offline and onto fabric.  She then 'aged' it and she wasn't as pleased as she had hoped.  So, as a Christmas present joke gave it to our little dog.  We, however, think it looks vintagey and perfect right where it sits! 



such sweet and thoughtful gifts

and they work perfectly in the nursery...what more could we ask for :)

{Kate}



"He's All Boy" Blanket and Cap {and Booties}

Thank you to This Momma Makes Stuff for some GREAT baby boy tutorials!

I made these very quickly over my Christmas break...the Cap and Blanket....and I'm in love with them.  Can't wait to deliver this little guy so he can try it on....eekk!

I'll show you in pictures, if you want to make it...go look at the wonderful tutorials from "Mamma".

4 fabrics {3 'manly' fleece and 'Minky-fur'}

Now. I machine sewed each strip down as I went, which quilted my blanky as I went...LOVE THAT!
The leopard print is cool huh! ha, it is the back of the minky fur.  I skipped the step of a cotton lining b/c of this 'leathery' leopard part.  This worked fabulously, and the leathery helped to keep the fleece in place as I went (as well as pins)

I worked left to right sewing down my strips and rolling/sewing the minky fur around
Almost done!!!

Finished: the back

the front!

Matching hat

I love the minky fur I added on there...so stinkin' cute!

ha...since I have no babies to try it on right now...ducky will have to do :)

Now, I also found a great pattern for little fleece booties at Things for Boys blog site!  I wanted to make a little set for baby {L} and again....love them!

Since he won't be walking when he will fit these I put the minky fur on the bottoms...eek!

 

10 weeks until due date and I get to try these sweet things on him!

Nursery "Mobile" Hot Air Balloon

In keeping with our nursery theme "Welcome to the World" I wanted to make a hot air balloon mobile.  After lots of researching, imagination, and inspiration I decided to base my design off good ole Martha.  So, for step by step instructions click on the link below:

{Martha Stewart Hot Air Balloon}

I will say I decorated mine different and of course made a different basket at the bottom!

I will let you take a look at the pictures of the process!

Paper Macheing the balloon
(this was on Thanksgiving Day and setting up Christmas..understand the background please!)

For my third layer I used triangular cut pieces of vintage postcard scrapbook paper

My dad has this beautiful collection (from his childhood) of stamps.....I used these for decor on the balloon!
I am one lucky woman! I loved just looking at these relics :)

Balloon is twined and 'stamped'

....Hot Air Balloon is flying..

Handmade Basket
{see below for instructions}

...Hope Lukas loves looking at this while rocking in the chair...

Basket Directions:

Now, I have to give my husband credit for original idea and aide, without him who knows what this would look like...for real!

1. Cut out an open cube net and fold design side in (so it will show when looking into the basket)

2. Starting at the base center glue down twine in a circular pattern.

3. When you arrive at the square sides: glue down twine while wrapping around the basket until you reach the top.

4. On each side glue down the twine in an "X" pattern.

5.  Attach the basket to the balloon (using hot glue) from the hanging pieces of twine. (this might take 2 people in order to make it easier).

6. Tie all 4 pieces of twine in a knot beneath the basket

DONE!

We love this piece of the nursery and it was fun to create. 

{Kate}

Oregon Advent Tree

As I have mentioned my hubs is from OR!

This year the school fundraiser prize was keychain rubberDUCKS!

The University of Oregon, where my hubs attended for his undergrad degree, mascot is the DUCKS!

Geoff and I collect rubber ducks (as long as it has some sort of meaning...we do NOT just buy rubberducks for the fun of it).  We store them in the shower/tub so one day our children will have TONs of fun ducks to play with at bath time ;)

Anyway, I was so excited when I saw all the bazillion little rubber duck prizes and with the help of my fellow co-workers and some students I collected enough so that I could put together a FUN advent for my dear OR lover hubs!

..Here is the final tree.. 

He loves it....and so do I....and I KNOW it will be great fun for our little ones someday to assemble!

..Topper.. (OR 'DR.')

Handmade Tree Skirt

..Finished Tree..

upclose shot

again upclose so you can see the different ducks...ha!

..Merry Christmas..

Thanks to my fellow co-workers for your 'duck donations'...we heart our tree!

{Kate}

Christmas Stockings {hung with care}

I've been wanting to make stockings for oh 5 years....

Last year at Targets after Christmas sale I saw these gorgeous white with ribbon ones...I knew I wanted to embellish them for our own! I, also, purchased the silver monogram letters then as well.

Supplies I had ready...Those are felted balls to the left

Stockings completed

Geoff's Stocking

My {kate} Stocking

To make these I used a fusible interfacing.  I drew (backwards) each design and then ironed it onto my felt.  Then I cut each piece out (mine was tedious...dear Santa) and with my mothers SMALL irons, I attached each piece to the stocking.  This was to not ruin the white pelt of the original stocking. 

To make the garland pieces, I used a special felted wool needle and strung my felted balls onto thread.

I adore them!

Now, Geoff's has a special meaning (in my opinion).  He was born and raised in the beautiful state of Oregon, which is known for its Douglas Fir Trees (which are gorgeous).  So, I decided it was appropriate to make his a douglas fir Christmas tree...and I love his (more than mine). 

..Merry Christmas..

p.s. I did purchase a silver letter "L" for our new addition next year at Target after Christmas sale ;)

{Kate}

Family Height Chart

I love the tradition of being meausured each year on your birthday (or other days really) and marking it down on the side of a wall/door/whatever!  So, I wanted to make a measuring device for our newest member arriving in March to start off right!  I, also, made one for my brother's family {Christmas Gift}  which looks very similar :)

I wanted to originally make a floor mat where we'd put all of our children's footprints, but that plan was foiled.  So, I decided to combine the height chart with footprints!

DETAILS:

I marked evey 1/2 in, 1 in, and feet.

I stained it with a wash (paint and water) I did a lighter color, let it dry and then a darker color.

I used a black sharpie for the markings and black paint and stencils for the #s

Ask me if you want details on how I did the quote :)

We plan on printing each childs footprint up the side as they arive home (we'll see how many we have...ha!)

This had to be custom created due to the light switch (as you can see).  I think it turned out with the best possible senario!
Love it! Now, if we ever move...lets hope the light switch height is standard...eekk!

-note to my bro- if you'd like a quote added to yours...let me know



Nursery Handpainted Mural {part 2}

ok...I wasn't totally pleased and had to still play with my mural :)

Yesterday, I finished it up and now I think I'll be done (we'll see...)

So, I dry brushed it with a darker brown to give it more of an antique look....hope you like it!

DONE! We've also hung a globe from the over head fan as you can see above!

Eastern Hemisphere

Western Hemisphere