Framed Art

I got around to framing the "Princess Laundry Day" pictures last night. I got these frames and mats from Amazon. I thought the pictures were standard 9x12, but turns out they are really 8x12. That's an odd frame size, and I couldn't find it in stores. Of course, Amazon had it! Ha. It cracks me up that this is becoming such the Amazon nursery.

I love these pictures! The frame color is "country white" and the mats are "true white". Whatever that means, I like it though.

When these pictures were delivered and I showed Hubs, he laughed. He said he thought I had bought these dresses and the little wire, like it was a figurine or something. HA! That's funny.

 

And so the beginning of my girl's gallery wall. What to do in the other frames... tbd. Most likely a picture of Blakely or two, and another little gem I found on Etsy. We'll see.

I'm still on the hunt for a small side table. Right now, my lamp is just resting on baskets. Not so sturdy. I need something pretty small, like 16" high and 12" in diameter. Does it exist? I might have to just use a cute step stool instead.



For now, it's my favorite place to curl up at night and read my prego books.

Also known as flip through the ultrasound pictures again and again. But if anyone asks, I'm on my third copy of How To Be the Best Mom Ever and Never Make a Mistake, All While Curing Cancer and Losing the Baby Weight in a Week..... riiiight. :)

Nursery Curtains & Art

You know how you become unproductive after a vacation? At least that happens to me. That hasn't been the case this time though. I was staring at this fabric just sitting in a box on Monday night, and decided it was time to put together curtains for the nursery. The belly is only getting bigger, which makes it harder and harder to stand for long periods of time. My lower back has already started hurting some, which worries me a bit considering I'm only half way through this pregnancy. It's great motivation to get my butt in gear though and finish these projects before I get huge!

Reminder- I do not sew. I took a sewing class (ONE class) and hated it. I realized I have strengths, and sewing was just not going to be one of them. The class was meant to last a month, and I quit after day one, frustrated and in a panic standing in front of notions and what nots I'd need for sewing 101. Please- headache! But, there is hope for us non-sewers. Stitch witch and hem tape are my best friend. I've made curtains and pillows for a few rooms in our house, and all have held up great!

This is the antique rod I got from Amazon for $11.99 and one day shipping. I also got the white drapery hooks from Amazon. They were $6 for a 10 pack, I used two packs. The fabric I chose is Richloom Isis in Seaglass. Fabric.com had it on sale about a month ago, and I scooped up several yards to complete 96" curtains and a lumbar pillow (have to take advantage of 20% off deals!). This project cost roughly $170 total. That's pretty good for two panels and hardware I think! Hubs' eyes are probably big as saucers right now... men just don't know ;)

iphone pics...

The view from the glider corner. I decided to make the drapes long so that they would puddle the floor, no reason other than I just really like that look. I didn't line the curtains, obviously since I didn't sew them, but the fabric is a heavy thick linen. Hopefully between that and the plantation blinds we have, the sun will be blocked enough for some good zzzzzzs. I love the way it looks paired with the Waverly Cross Section in Honeydew (pillows).

I chose this fabric mainly based on the colors, and the fact that the flowers almost look like a watercolor painting. It didn't hurt that the fabric was on sale, either.

After completing the curtains, I had just enough fabric to finish out a 16x26 lumbar for the chair. I hope baby girl loves it all as much as I do! :)  Now, I just need to finish two floor pillows and a crib skirt. Other than that, my no-sew to-do list is just about done!

Ok, let's talk nursery art. I have to admit I found this art before I even knew I was having a girl. I am not really into baby-baby stuff, but I do LOVE anything and everything Disney. I decided to see what the Etsy talents had to offer, and found these photographs.

They are called "Princess Laundry Day". I just about died at the title. How cute is that?  I ordered them right after we found out we were having a girl. Each print is 9x12.

They came in the mail yesterday in the sweetest little packaging.

Now I need to find some frames and decide what wall they will live on! The photographer is Ana Pontes. She has several different fairy-tale like photographs, but she also has some beautiful flowers/beach scenes as well. I would highly recommend her shop!

Now you watch, I've got all this done and I'll find out at birth baby "girl" is actually a boy. Ha! Either way, I'll be happy as can be. :)

Reading Nook & Gallery Wall

It's Wednesday morning, I'm not even to work yet, and already it's been a DAY. Ahh! I spilled sugar all over the kitchen floor this morning, and got a piece of mail back to me I realized I didn't put a stamp on. FAIL! Hot mess Wednesday in full effect today already! I'm needing a Zack Morris Time Out moment right about now... yea I just referenced SBTB... deal with it! 

Onto happier things, like the progress on my gallery wall. It all started with inspiration pictures via Pinterest, blogs, and magazines.  Then last weekend I found a brass reading lamp at the Ballard Outlet... be still my heart.  I also found 3 gallery frames from Target that were on clearance... now we are talkin'. 

I love the light I found.. and for $40 after all the President Day sales and already marked down outlet prices, how could I beat that? 

I had all of the frames except for 3, and those 3 I paid roughly $30 total on clearance at Target. Don't spend an arm and a leg on frames.  Check the clearance section, brave the Ikea world, and go to Goodwill!

 I had our Stagger Lee print my friend Melissa made for me, and I had the canvas of my doggy Blakely as a puppy... I just needed to decide what other pictures would grace this wall.  I have a husband who despises stock art and demands everything mean something in our house- that isn't always easy and it takes a while to find something he really likes rather than running out and buying up all the botanicals I can (and I wish I could just do that- oh living with a picky man, ha!). 

Here we have a map of the US, an old drawing of The Citadel during the war (hubs alma mater), and a map of SC where we are from.

Stagger Lee print (our wedding song), and little Blakers beansie pup.  I love that doggy. 

A print of the original sheet music to "Take Me Out to the Ball Game".. my hubs is a baseball junkie. 

A black & white picture of the old Citadel location on Meeting St., the state seal of SC, and the Governor's Mansion where we got married finish out the gallery.

 I was initially planning to paint the big silver gallery frame gold, but now that everything's up on the wall, I kind of like the mix the way it is. Plus, when I can be lazy, I will be. Just being honest :)

And now my cozy reading nook and gallery wall is finally complete! I'm so happy.. time to curl up with a glass of wine. I would like to find a little foot stool and a small round end table... but no rush. 

For now, I'll enjoy the hunt and my reading nook as it is. Maybe I'll even let my hubs use it some. It's in his office, after all.

Speaking of good reads, I'm loving some local Atlanta blogs.  Go check these out!

http://www.howshedoesitall.com/

Melanie Snare is a friend of mine and she is absolutely fabulous. Check out her blog where she dishes about everything from being a working mom, balancing career and family life, interviews celebrities in Atlanta, and so much more. You will love getting to know her and hearing the latest entertainment news around ATL. 

http://lorimayinteriors.com/blog/

Lori May is a local interior designer who you may recognize from HGTV Design Wars. Her designs are awesome and you will enjoy her sweet personality.

You should also visit Design Indulgence, another local designer.  Sherry Hart is hilarious and I love that her blog is real life.. plus she's incredibly talented.

http://designindulgence.blogspot.com/

http://www.daykarobinsondesignsblog.com/

Dayka Robinson is a designer I stumbled across when I went to the Atlanta Inspiration House earlier this month. She shares her projects and gives tips and recommendations along the way. Her styles are vintage and modern and always refreshing. 

http://partiesforpennies.blogspot.com/

And finally, Parties for Pennies with Heidi Rew! You probably know her from The Fish Atlanta where she did the traffic reports.  She got me through so many traffic jams on my way home from work over the past few years, I cannot even tell you. Now she's filling you in on how to celebrate in style with cash left in your pocket. 

Go check these blogs out and read up in your own little reading nooks. I plan to do the same. Do you have any blog or book suggestions for me? I would love to hear them! 

linking to Savvy Southern Style

Gallery Walls

Ok, I know I'm not alone in this, but I love gallery walls.  I don't have one in my house, and I'm looking to remedy that sometime soon. As I started flipping through blogs and magazines, I noticed a few key things that I'm drawn to.

scale, scale, scale 

When putting together a gallery, I think it's so important to think about the size of your pictures and your frames. To me it makes a bigger impact (and looks less of an afterthought) when the frames are big and the mats are over-sized. You never want a gallery to feel overall wimpy. (size DOES matter, ha ha)

David Jimenez- via NYTimes

 organic and asymmetrical placements

I also love to see gallery walls like this one that are random in configuration. Symmetry is good sometimes, but for a gallery wall I think an organic arrangement gives added interest to a space. To me the less predictable the better. 

via La Dolce Vita

 pops of color 

Typically with a gallery wall, I like for the pictures to either be all black and white or all color. Otherwise to me it tends to look too busy. However, the following picture masters the pop of color brilliantly. I love the use of the simple black frames with white mats to display each photo. Paired with the white wall and black bench, each picture works together beautifully. 

via House and Home

 monochromatic themes

What's not to admire about the following image? The same wood tones throughout the frames pick up the peachy tones in the paintings, rug, and bench. 

Pinterest

 eclectic groupings 

Probably my favorite type of gallery wall is one that allows you to show who you and your family are. By combining family pictures, memorabilia and treasures, you can display a story rather than just artwork. Using different frame sizes/textures/finishes and incorporating other objects like mirrors and clocks gives this wall a nostalgic and vintage feel.  I love that. 

via Pottery Barn

  the use of texture and metallics

It's no surprise to anyone that knows me that I love this picture. I can't get enough gold and brass, really. I never caught the memo that brass was "out", but I'm glad it's back "in" because I could drink it up with a straw. An overall neutral gallery wall here gets pizazzed with the metallic finish on the frames. I love how the light dances off the frames just so, and the use of different color mats in one setting is beautiful. West Elm has similar gallery frames right now that I've been crushing over for a while. 

via Marika Meyer Interiors

Speaking of gallery walls, has anyone been to Target lately? I was there a few days ago (going in for only toothpaste and coming out with much more, oops) and noticed their frame collection is rocking right now. If you love gallery walls as much as I do, you should go check them out. 

Oh, and thanks to whoever nominated me and those who have voted for my blog on the Apartment Therapy dealy majig. How cool!

Hope everyone has an awesome weekend- oh and that reminds me.... It's SCOTTS WEEKEND again here in the ATL! Woop!