Some days when the terrihuahuas and I get home from work we have a visitor. Tiger (the Westie) lives across the street, but with the 2 hotties (Penelope & Paisley) that reside at our house he often comes a courtin'. It makes me smile to see him at the front door. We let him in and go out into the backyard and run and play. Then he goes home when he is tired.
In case you missed Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, and Chapter 6.
This is the chapter on ART.
Back in March I decided what would grace the wall behind (over) the crib... shadowbox frames filled with vintage Barbie outfits. A collection. So I started my search with Ebay and Etsy. Took the plunge on a couple of outfits... this being the first purchase, a 1970s Barbie outfit:
That teeny tiny outfit cost me $50. The second outfit also cost me $50. Who was I kidding!? I learned very quickly that vintage Barbie clothes are EXPENSIVE. I was burning up my budget waaaay too quickly. So one night in a first trimester fog I started brainstorming (not easy for a tired pregnant girl)... I kept asking myself "how can I get this look for less?"
So... I googled: "Barbie Paper Dolls"
And what did I find...
A set on Etsy. 1962 Barbie & Ken Paper Doll Set. I threw 'em in my cart and checked out faster than lightening.
What did I do next? I emailed my Decoupage Guru Annmarie (Boston client-turned-friend, whose kitchen renovation I have yet to show you - sorry) to see what we could trade for her to decoupage these Barbie Paper Dolls to plates for me.
Do you know how difficult decoupage is? It is extremely time consuming and difficult. Glue, bubbles, tiny detail work. It is not for the impatient... and I fall into the "impatient" category. But, before I asked Annmarie if she wanted to trade I asked her for tips - as I was going to try it myself, despite the anxiety I knew it would bring on me and my unborn child. I'm rather crafty, I figured I could figure it out. Her response was "you will shoot yourself trying to do it yourself, let me do it for you" (or something to that affect). With all that is on my plate (and has been on my plate) - no pun intended, I agreed... better to leave the decoupage to the Master.
The colors in the set of paper dolls worked perfectly with those in the nursery. I sent her the paper doll set and told her to pick her favorite 12 outfits and I'd order some plate shapes so we could decide what works best. Even though Annmarie lives in Boston and I live in Florida... not a week has passed over the past 9 months that we haven't discussed the plates.
We ultimately decided on oval 7" x 10" oval plates. When I went to Boston Annmarie had a prototype complete... here she is in her home office with plate #1:
See daughter Lucy's expression? Lucy is 1/4 of the reason (Annmarie has 4 kids 5 years old and under)why I feel so humbled/honored that Annmarie is taking time to make these for me. They are seriously going to be my favorite thing the nursery!
And just because my husband LOVES to play the "will you hold this up for me" game... here's he is getting in on the action... just so I can give it the ole eagle-eye.
We may have decided to change the background from ivory vintage grasscloth to a burlap... but you'll just have to wait and see the finished product later!
Other art in the room...
On the wall behind the rocking chair... I wanted a more grown-up art piece. Selfish perhaps, but I looked it as an opportunity for a piece that Momma could keep forever and move around the house later if need be. About a year ago I was helping a friend/neighbor with her home, when one day I showed up and saw an amazing painting. When I inquired about it she said 'my friend Amanda Talley did it'. So I googled 'Amanda Talley' and kept seeing more of her work pop up around the blogosphere.
I couldn't get it out of my mind. I knew I couldn't afford an oil painting. But everywhere I turned I was being teased by more Amanda Talley. [she blogs too]
One day I got brave and emailed Amanda. I unabashedly praised her work and asked if she had any options for a girl on a budget. I figured if she came back with some greeting cards or something it wasn't meant to be... but she didn't. She does drawings too. And they are in my budget. So I ordered a drawing.
Can you tell I'm excited about it? I went this weekend to get a mat cut for it... and found out it is oversized, would have to be special ordered, and might take weeks... just my luck. I don't have weeks. So Chance and I spent Saturday morning making our own mat. I had some leftover grasscloth from my pantry project... and we went to Home Depot for some fiberboard. My very exact precise engineer husband cut the 45-degree angles and I'm happier than I would have been had we gone with a plain ole mat board.
I ordered the frame from PictureFrames.com... but you'll have to wait to see the final results!
TGIF!!
PS- the PaperDoll set came from Etsy seller Kitschlandia!
photo from Elle Decor, September 2009
If you don't have a subscription to Elle Decor you are missing out. It is my favorite. Last week was so busy the September issue almost dry rotted as it sat on the front table begging me to stop and look every time I passed by. Over the weekend I finally dug in... and I spent a good hour soaking it all in. The unlacquered brass pulls and faucets... so delightful there are not words to describe them.
This particular article is on Mark Badgley and James Mischka's horse farm in Kentucky... ahhh my beautiful home state*. The photography is by Roger Davies. The horse farm is amazing. The kitchen above is one I could move right into and not change a single thing... that is rare.
The blurb on the photo says this:
The kitchen is sheathed in subway tile from Urban Archaeology; the pendant lamps over the sink are by Rejuvenation, the range is La Cornue with a hood by Broan, and the sinks from Rohl have fittings by Newport Brass. A selection of copper and stainless-steel pans and some of Mischka's many cookbooks.
I wish these guys would have me over for dinner.
Some of those sources listed are my favorites - here are some links:
Urban Archaeology, Rejuvenation, La Cornue, Broan, Rohl, Newport Brass.
*- where I spent a majority of my 'growing up years'
Yesterday my parents celebrated 35 years of marriage. Earlier this summer my grandmother (Mimi) sent me a stack of photos... a note on this one said "here's a picture of your mom and dad on their 1st Anniversary, they were headed to dinner in New Harmony". Dad might have his eyes shut, but I sure do like how he is holding up a #1.
We had a busy weekend. Had a delicious dinner at the in-laws on Friday night! Have I mentioned before that they have cows? I like these cows now more than ever, likely because I still feel small in comparison to them.
Saturday and Sunday it was full-fledged Nesting Central. Laundry, organizing, cleaning out... and wrapping up nursery workings!
Seen the infomercials for those Space Bags? I have... and I buckled, we have a local As Seen On TV Store- I bought them there.
More on the nursery later!
* About those pants I have on... a few of you asked in the last post where they came from. I bought them from Gap Maternity online back in January (the word "Organic" was in the pant description, but they are long gone now). They came in lenghts (I'm short)... and as soon as I received them (and loved them) I went back for another pair, but alas they were sold out. I have worn them a LOT. They are part of my uniform, they have held up very well!
I WON! I WON! I WON!!!!!!
I must admit I've grown very fond of elastic-waisted pants these last 9 months... but when I saw these jeans being given away over at Two Ellie... I had to leave a comment - I WANTED them BAD. They retail for $237... and I just can't justify that, especially with a baby on the way, so I signed up to win. When I saw the jeans... my little brain went off to daydream for a few minutes. I instantly wanted it to be Fall! I pictured myself in those jeans, boots, a sweater... pushing my baby in the stroller as I sipped regular coffee. I am so excited that I won... this totally turned my very long week into a very good one!
THANKS PAULA & DOWNTOWNCHICK! I am soooo grateful!
Sorry for the light posting this week, I have had very little time to spare.
I'm getting sentimental about this baby that has taken over my body for the past 9 months.
On Saturday I dropped my cell phone in the swimming pool. It survived. I grabbed it so quick the water barely had time to get past the surface. I was immediately reminded that I have not backed up any of the camera phone pictures since last September.
Here's a snippet of what I almost lost documentation of due to pool water.
Second doctor's visit... where we found out the sex of the baby...
A picture of her face that I immediately emailed to my sister after the ultrasound...
Chance was thrilled when Annmarie shipped the bassinet, booby-trap style full of peanuts... (and duck tape instead of packing tape!?)...
I've eaten my weight in fruit and I lived in those jeans for the first 4 months...
When I'd get home from work (in the first trimester) I'd do a lot of this...
And over the course of the past 9 months... I'd snap pictures for my sister, family, and friends in the mirror so they could see the baby grow...
(I saved 2 spots for pictures over the next couple of weeks)
I almost lost all these pictures, which would have made me very sad.
Went to the doctor on Wednesday, she scheduled an induction for September 8th... that's about 3 weeks away!? I can cancel it, and likely will. I'd rather not be induced, but because September is so busy she wanted me to get on the schedule... so I complied. I've been walking and swimming and praying this baby will come without induction. I've also been making mental checklists at 3am of everything I need and want to do before she arrives. It's rather overwhelming.
TGIF!
Almost too pretty to actually use... I love it. The awning style hood really seals the deal.
mick de giulio :: via Life in a Venti Cup :: via Decorati
Whoever came up with the phrase "working like a dog" did not know Penelope & Paisley.
I would like to be one of my dogs... maybe not forever, but just for a few days. Neither of them are pregnant, neither of them have to answer voicemails, emails, schedule appointments, estimate yardage, pay bills, nor cook dinner. They don't have to shower, nor shave their legs (which is increasingly difficult these days). No make-up to put on, no hair to dry. No laundry to do, no house to clean, no errands to run.
They don't have to do anything... except play, sleep, eat, and potty. That sounds really nice about now.
I'm a wife, a designer, and the mother to a couple rescued terrier-mixes.
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