Nursery Part 1: Mobile and Curtains

Hello! Guess what friends?!?! I worked my last day on Friday this past week!

WOOT WOOT! 

I'm officially on maternity leave. Thank goodness. It was getting overly exhausting and there are just so many things to get ready for Baby Brown! 

I can't wait to spend the next couple weeks finishing the nursery, washing tons of clothes, and perhaps a little organizing of K-mans room too! Oh yea, and resting. Let us not forget that part=). 

Yesterday was my shower and let me tell you, it was so special and amazing! 

My family and friends are so cool. My BIL planned most of everything and he did an amazing job (so did everyone else who pitched in to help things run smoothly!!). 

I was so busy with visiting and such that I didn't take hardly any pictures! My mom and some others did though, so as soon as I get my hands on them, I will post them here. 

On to the nursery! 

I'm going to try to post several times this week, with updates on the DIY (or not so) projects in the nursery. 

Remember these? 

My crafty friend, Jay, custom made these houndstooth circles for this mobile project! 

He does such amazing work. I keep telling him he needs to expand and get on Etsy! The man does a bunch of craft shows, though, with his It's Saw Good business, and that keeps him busy. 

Thanks Jay! These were so perfect!

I started a month or two later assembling the mobile...procrastinate much?!?

First, I cut a 1 inch strip of fabric from the nursery colors/theme I had purchased for the quilt, crib skirt, pillows, etc. 

Then, I used a glue gun to wrap/attach the fabric to the inner part of an embroidery hoop. I used a medium sized hoop, but I'm sure any old hoop would work for this. I tried to smooth down the frayed parts...although fray check would probably have worked better...I'm just always in a rush=)

I assembled my parts next. 

 Here is the finished hoop in the navy houndstooth fabric, with the houndstooth circles. 

 These are my supplies.....kind of. I told my husband what to get at the hardware store....and it wasn't exactly perfect. I tried to use it (honest!) but the gold just wasn't cutting it, and the invisible cording was too large. I ended up using silver screw eyes and super strong fishing line instead. But thanks anyways Honey!!

 This next photo is terrible. Sorry. 

But I (and Willie Nelson, the cat) wanted to show you how I attached each circle. 

I just eye balled how much fishing line to use...yea no exact measurements here. Jay so sweetly put a tiny hole in the top of each circle, so I threaded the fishing line through that and tied it off with a super good knot. Don't want this falling on baby's head in the middle of the night. 

I then attached the top of the line to the hoop by again, tying a good knot. I cut off excess and voile! 

Repeat with the other 2! 

I just eye balled where to attach them on the hoop by splitting it (in my head) into thirds. Luckily, the fishing line, once tied, still fairly easily slide around the fabric so I could position it better. 

I also left varying lengths for each circle, so they would hang and you can see them all at once. 

Here it is!

here is a better shot...

there we go!

I also made the curtains here! I used the old curtains for a template, added a hem allowance to all edges, and made the casing for the curtain rod. I used home dec. weight fabric, which is thicker and more substantial than a regular old quilting cotton.  Sorry, I didn't take any pics! I was on a roll. 

I simply tied them back with some white ribbon and hung on a nail on each side that was there previously. 

Turned out pretty nice eh? 

 Just wanted to include this sweet action shot of my K-man assembling a vibrating/rocking seat for Baby Brown. He is going to be such a great big brother. 

http://easylivingmom.com/

Weekend wrap up...in Photos!

What a week! 

Craziness has abounded this week as schedules were uprooted and rearranged, and every free moment was spent getting stuff done! 

I'm pushing hard to get everything ready (with the house, garden, chickens, etc) before baby decides to make his entrance. 

It is exhausting, but I really want a week or two before my due date to just chill out and not worry about things being unfinished. 

I guess my motto is HURRY UP SO I CAN RELAX! =)

Z was out of town for a few days, so I rearranged my schedule a bit (went into work late...thanks boss!) so I could get the K-man on the bus. I used to be in charge of this task kindergarten and 1st grade. But then my job changed and I had to go in earlier, so my husband took it over. 

Here is dapper dan in all his coolness ready for a warm spring day at school! 

I'm totally not ready for this "swagger" that boys tend to try to pull off as preteens.....

Daffodils are blooming! I picked a bunch and decorated the table with my best chicken and owl wear. The table cloth is vintage and embroidered...picked it up at a yard sale for a buck!! 

I spent a good deal of time in the evenings this week putting together furniture in the nursery. 

A shelf, changing table, and crib! And almost all by myself! I was slightly impressed. 

Here is the changing table. 

 A sneak peek of the room! 

In case you didn't already know, the nursery is going to be in green, navy, and white. Geographic prints are the theme....I'm not much of a jungle, forest, baby color type theme. I wanted something that could easily grow with baby. 

Subtle stripes on the walls were created with the same white, just high gloss and flat paint finished. I am pretty pleased with the outcome...just wish Wal-fart was better at paint mixing....but thats another story.

My two fav things in the room...this print and monster! I picked up the monster at a craft show and the print, I've been eyeing the artist (click here to see her stuff!) for years on etsy....

After working hard at my job, then working hard putting together furniture....this is what my feet looked like.....

GROSS! Cankles galore and my actual feet were like marshmallows. 

I took this pic earlier in the week.

So proud that I can wear this dress because it is not maternity....lol. It's the little things. 

It is so hard for me to feel pretty and cute in maternity clothes, but this day, I loved my outfit!

We did take some breaks......

To visit with some dear friends!! 

It was so nice to hang and eat fried junk with two of my dearest friends, one who has moved very far away and out time together is so cherished! This photo shows K-man and Hud just chillin' and talking about cheese burgers....=)

Love you girls!

I'm off to pop some tags.

Happy Weekend! 

Babymoon

This past weekend we were so fortunate to be able to go on a retreat to seneca rocks! I've been calling this mini vaca our "babymoon". 

It was so relaxing and nice to be able to visit with my Aunt and Uncle who live this close!!

They are such wonderful people that I feel a special bond with for many reasons! 

Aunt Cindy made some A-mazing meals!! She was a rock star in the kitchen. 

Here is the river that runs beside the yard. The sounds of a river are good for the soul. My blood pressure went down several points these couple days=).

Here is a view of the house and the shed/building. I just love the rustic awesomeness and bright blue skys.

UB and AC are way into gardening, just like us! They have some cold frames and are in the process of setting up a hoop house, which is going to be so sweet!! 

I just love this quilt block painting that UB made and put on the building. Totally rad. 

We drove around and took in some sights while there. This is the view of Germany Valley from the overlook. Crazy Beautiful. Photos can not capture the feel and amazingness of this valley. 

I wanted atleast one pic of the both of us=). So my cuz, E snap some great ones. I am 33 weeks in these photos.

 I can't believe that is me in those pictures! My belly is huge!

And he is my super cool catbug cousin and his friend. 

Zach checking out the info at the overlook. 

Some other fun things we did (other than just chilling out, which was super fun in itself), was thrift shopping! We went to a few hardware stores and various places, but they thrift shops were my fav. 

I found these super cute wooden chickens! They were calling my name! 

Look what we found in the back room! UB was pumped about this.=)

Popping some tags.

Cool Cousin eating cheese puffs on a stick. Stay classy, that is our motto. 

We also shot some guns. I actually got a turn as well! The baby only jumped once=). 

It was such a fun trip with lots of visiting and resting involved! 

Thanks Aunt Cindy and Uncle Brian for having us!