Family Room Art Work

The great dining room / playroom / family room renovation of 2011 is getting close to completion. I am off to ikea tonight with hubbie reluctantly in tow (I need him to tie the boxes to the roof racks) to pick up the shelves and dining room table, then one final coat of paint to the windows and we are all done! Just in time too because the bathroom renovation is starting tommorrow!!

So - now the fun part - wall decorations. We have photography throught the rest of the house, but as this will be predominently a play room - I was thinking something more along the kiddie line.

Loving this "dreams for your boy - duck egg" by Harper Grace on etsy

and this great DIY alphabet art DIY poster by the Mother Huddle via Design Mom

I would also like a large black and white photo of my husband, son and I - unfortunately i am usually behind the camera so we don't really have any. May need to enlist my parents help for this one on the weekend.

I would love to hear what you have on your children's playroom wall or any suggestion for mine?

Pretend Picnics

Have I mentioned I love Ikea? I can always find something I need at ikea. Ok maybe not need, but definitely want! And these cute soft food sets are definitely on my want list. They would be perfect for a pretend picnic!

Breakfast set

Fruit basket

Vege basket

And while I am suggesting things from Ikea – this set of three tins would be perfect for homemade Christmas cookie present.

Set of 3 tins with lids

Wall Decorations - Bit of This, Bit of That

For today’s blog I thought I would share with you my efforts at decorating my son’s bedroom walls. It has probably taken me over a year to fill it all– but I have to say I am very happy with the end result (no prizes for guessing my son’s name!)

The short wall has a green painted jungle sillouette (cost less than $5) which I finished before Ollie was born

The window wall has two aqua bump pics which my very best girlfriends gave to us for our engagement and one of my "peg it up" lines which i rotate pictures on (blatant self promotion - you can buy them here in packs of 7 or 10 pegs!) 

The final (long) wall is the one I have been working on. From left to right:

 

1.      Handmade name sign

2.      My Sweetprint Counting Poster which the lovely Janette kindly changed to Portuguese for me - so now was can count to ten in Portuguese when changing nappes

3.      Handmade Ollie’s first shoes – see my blog post about how to make these here

4.      (top and middle) framed postcards from Inaluxe (purchased in a pack of 8) 

5.   Oliver name – artwork by Paul Thurlby

6.      Prints by Red Letter Studio – these were originally greeting cards, but the very kind Samone re-sized them for me to frame

So that’s it. What do you think? I have to admit it makes me smile whenever I go in (maybe not first thing in the morning at 6.30 though).

What great decorating ideas have you seen for little ones room?

The Ol' Bronzed Baby Shoes Gets a Revamp

I am getting a bit creative with my wall art of late and steering away from my usual “photographs on walls only” in my son’s room. My latest creation – “Oliver’s first shoes” - a revamp of the ol “bronzed baby shoes”.

I love the fact that they aren’t in pristine condition as it shows he actually wore them. I can imagine this frame one day hanging in my son’s children’s room (now that’s a scary thought!)

What do you think?

Housewarming Present – inexpensive and practical – yet pretty

Are you looking for a quick and easy housewarming present that has a little more personality than a bunch of flowers or a bottle of wine? Well this one can be whipped up for less than $10.

What you need:

1. One small potted herb plant or flower pot from your local nursery or bunnings
2. One small plant pot from ikea
3. Clear gift wrap and ribbon from your local $2 shop
4. One small gift tag – another donkey design ones available on "made it" are perfect (!)

And voila – a cute, personable housewarming present. Also perfect as a thank you present for your lunch host.