Nesting Behaviour (?)

My friends and family think I'm in the nesting stage of my pregnancy.

Sure, I am organizing our storage area.  Yup, I'm cleaning our transom windows.  I'm fluffy and fussing all about the house.  However, this is not unlike my non-pregnant self (besides my gloriously impressive cankles). 

I am less sure it's pregnancy nesting, and more likely spring nesting.  An urge to purge and primp in the home, especially strong as the days lengthen and the flowers show themselves once again.

I suspect you are not unlike myself.  Afterall, I maintain that us bloggers nest best.  We show off our latest bit of prettiness for our home, as if it is a main event.  We all oooohhhh and ahhhhh over it and are so excited that there are others out there just like us, and that we have this amazing forum to share with people all over the world. 

Here's my latest bits of 'nesting':

Tulips replanted in a favorite urn.

Adding faux Cherry Blossom sticks to yet another urn.  I had to add a bit more pretty in the form of a flowing, gauzy bow.

Some new botanical and William Morris-esque pillows for the sofa (pillows recently purchased at Pottery Barn).

Planning a mini-kitchen project for my glass cupboards and area above the cupboards.  I basically put 'stuff' up there after moving in, that I wasn't sure what else to do with.  I've never been happy with how it's looked.

Here is a collection of pretties that I'd like to use: Think ironstone, transferware, silver.  My Mother is arriving next week to help with baby.  Today she called me to say she scored an amazing deal on some brown English transferware that she'll bring on her carry on luggage.  I'm so excited to use it for this project. 

We will also be doing a little beadboard/paint project for those cabinets, but alas, that shall wait until baby is here, settled, and I am over the shock of now being a mother of 3.

Ohhh, these pictures make me really want to get to this Welsh sideboard and refinish it!

So what say you? Tell me you're spring nesting too, cause I bet you are =)

My posts may become less frequent, the closer my due date comes.  I'm having regular contractions now, but I could still be a few weeks away.  I am still here, reading and commenting on your wonderful, inspiring posts, and will let you in on the news just as soon as babe is here.  Here's hoping it's a pain free, easy, fast labor (yup, it's my dream and I'm sticking to it!).

I shall call it: Farmhouse meets Rustic meets Folk Art...?

Whatever the style of this armoire is called, I love it. I have now banned myself from surfing Kijiji (for now =). Really, how much furniture can fit in this house without it busting at the seams?

But this one called out to me. I had to have it.

I have yet to style the top, and we have the other pull from the lower drawer.....just have to put it on.
It looked like a piece that someone painstakingly chalk painted and distressed to look old.

The best part? It actually was already like this. Not trying to look old and chippy....is old and chippy. Oh that's the best type of chippy out there!

It was bought at auction in New Orleans by a furniture refinisher here in Alberta. She brought it back up with her, using it for storage in her shop, but decided to sell it (lucky me!). Ironically, she's the local chalk paint dealer, so I had seen this piece before when at her shop, and admired it longingly (before it was for sale). She was told it was 80 years old, and while this paint finish isn't original, it was done many moons ago.

Love the funky colour, love how rustic it is. We had a young girl over when my hubby brought it into our basement. She looked at it like I was crazy to want this old, chipped up armoire. I explained to her, that when I was 13, I would have likely agreed with her, but my tastes have changed and I love  'cool old stuff'!

How about you? Have you always loved old and rustic with patina, or has your taste evolved over time (or do you not see the appeal of vintage even now?).

Linking up to my Favorite Parties!




Linking up my old, chipped up armoire to Nester's Perfectly Imperfect party.

Sweet Silhouettes

I am so anxious to show you the nursery! It is my favorite nursery from the 3 that I've been lucky enough to decorate for my 3 girls. Very girly, very pretty.

However, I really want to wait until it's 100% complete before I do a full reveal, and since the last two projects are a bit time consuming, I'm not sure when this will be-could even be after babe is born. The nursery is basically ready for baby, though, with all her little clothes washed and put away, diapers bought and arranged in baskets, and pictures hung.

In the meantime, I thought I'd show you a silhouette project that I made for the room.

I bought these wooden 'frames' from Michael's for around $3 each. I then painted them Antique White with regular ole acrylic craft paint, and gave them a soft gold glaze.

I found the silhouette pictures at The Graphics Fairy site. I was originally looking for more of a baby theme, but I'm actually happier with the children theme as this way I won't have to replace them as soon. One of the last two nursery projects I refer to above is a decorative, narrow ledge for the top of the board and batten.  It will really finish it off.  Looking at this picture, I realize just how much it needs this =)

I placed a pewter coloured bow on the top (which you'll see I've used this ribbon throughout the room) and hung them between the battens.

Today we're doing some simple last minute Valentine's prep. Nothing at all elaborate this year, just a favorite homemade dinner and dessert and of course a few chocolate goodies =)

Hope you have a wonderful Monday!

Linking to my Favorite Parties!

A nursery sneak peek (and a big belly)

These past few weeks, we've been busy working on the nursery.

First, my husband installed board and batten, and the same colour scheme as my older daughters room. We still have the top trim to do, but for the most part, it's done.

Secondly, we put in the antique dresser set which I refinished for my youngest daughter. We are sorta doing a big room share. The nursery is technically shared with my 4.5 year old, but there isn't room for a bed and a crib. Since my 4 year old sleeps each night in her big sisters bed, this isn't a problem (although I was sad to move her beautiful antique iron bed downstairs to make room for the crib!).

My nursery inspiration is this gorgeous nursery created by Jennifer at Dear Lillie. Isn't it amazing?

What I love about it: The neutral colour scheme, the antique crib, the decor, well, everything =)

One big difference between my room and hers is that I will need to use my old crib, which is a brown Sears special. Certainly not what I would pick, but it was bought for me when my first daughter was born, and was a generous gift! I don't want to have to spend the money to replace it now, especially since this is our last baby. I hope to dress it up (or hide it?) with bedding and accessories. I thought about painting it, but in the end decided I could resell it better as is, so I'll work around it.

I also didn't want to spend a lot on this room, but use mostly what we already have, and include some projects to make it special.

Here are a few sneak peaks so far:

Antique furniture that was stripped (it had leaded paint), and repainted in a creamy white. I lightly distressed it and applied a very light glaze. We still have the mirror, stool and dresser doors to finish before I show you the full pieces.

Accessories in silver, and creams and pinks.

Handmade pieces and craft projects, such as this handmade Bunny that I made for my 2nd daughter. I also have a pretty silhouette project in the works.

Inexpensive curtains, embellished to spruce them up. I also made these pretty pillow cases. The room will have plenty of pretty trims and ribbons, and while keeping a neutral base, I seem to be incorporating some pink in as well.

I will be sure to share the entire room once it's completely done! One thing is forsure, I sure hope the ultrasound was right about this baby being a girl, otherwise, if a boy, he'll grow to love pink, lavender and pretty =)

A now for the big belly part:

Now that's a belly! yikes!
Linking to my Favorite Parties!

Some Lovely Surprises at Ikea

This past Sunday, we took a trip to Ikea for a few things for the nursery. Now, I don't want to be an Ikea snob, and I've talked about this before on my blog, but I always associate Ikea with a more contemporary style which isn't exactly to my taste. Having said that, I do think they have some great buys. For instance, I buy all my feather pillow forms there. The price can't be beat. There is also that little detail of my entire craft room being outfitted with Ikea furniture. I love it, and could not have done it any cheaper.

When waddling down the Ikea isles, I was shocked at how many designs they have out for spring with a more traditional twist. There were pretty toiles, country stripes, even chintz!

Here are a few things I picked up:

Love these embroidered pillows, and at $25 each (including the form), you can't afford to leave the store without them!

I added pom-pom fringe and the sweetest fabric to embellish these Ikea white basic curtain panels. $19.99 for both panels, $29.99 for the rod.

I hope to have a Nursery update for you soon. It's coming together nicely, but still needs those special touches before I call it done. Looks like I'll be spending a lot of time at the sewing machine this week!

These country stripes are just what I needed for this sofa. I had no pillows on it previously (it was sadly neglected) and the casual stripe is great for the Family Room. $14.99 each for the covers (I already had the forms).

Been to Ikea lately?

Have a wonderful day!

Potty Talk

Our new home has a bit of an odd feature. The one and only guest bathroom on the main floor is also the girls bathroom. Also, it's teeny (making for a very difficult photo shoot, especially since I'm rather rotund at 8.5 months pregnant).

This has posed a high degree of stress for me (seemingly, I stress out easily). The bathroom needs to be kid friendly, but heaven help me if it's not also super posh for our guests. We don't want to get the guests talkin about my less than posh potty, now do we?

Here's what I came up with:

The walls were previously a mustard yellow. We repainted in the same colour as most of the main floor, Horizon Grey (Benjamin Moore).

A pretty ruffle shower curtain, from Pottery Barn. Peek behind the curtain, and you will see a plethora of bathtub toys.

The sunburst mirror is from a small local store. I love the combination of silver, white and black against the Horizon Grey walls

I love this silhouette and the quote. It's also from a local decor store.  The quote says "Whatever you are, be a good one." Abraham Lincoln.

I picked up these hooks from Pottery Barn for $6.00 for both, on clearance. Unfortunately, they only have No 1 and 2, so kid No 3 will have to use the hook on the back of the door =). The hooks are tucked behind the door so as to make the Tinkerbell towels less obvious. My girls love their towels, so changing them to something more 'decor' worthy was out of the question. Just be glad that I talked them out of Justin Beber. Tink is far cuter.

Finally, I spent way too much money on the blue and cream towels from Pottery Barn. Unfortunately, us Canadians pay a premium for ordering from their online store. Not only are the prices far more expensive, but add duty and shipping, and these are some precious towels! I looked around for weeks trying to find a less expensive option, but in the end, I knew these were exactly what I was wanting, so I splurged.

Up next is the nursery (almost done). After that, while we have many more projects lined up, it will all depend on when babe decides to make an appearance. While not due until March, the Dr. thinks it will be anytime now. That may prevent us from starting any big projects (however, when our second was born, we did tackle laying hardwood flooring in our previous home since hubby had time off, and we did it while baby slept. They mostly just sleep for the first few months anyhow =)

Linking to my Favorite Parties!