8/29/09

My Current Fixation


Dwell Studio at Fawn & Forest.

1. I've been fixated on getting things ready for Ruby's arrival even more now that I'm into the third trimester and Nov. 4th finally seems FOR REAL! I've decided on a crib, crib bedding, and a general color scheme that work for a girl but that will also work well within the space she'll be sharing with Sebastian. However, I'm stuck at what to do for decor on the wall or above her crib in the form of a mobile. I love the way some have used bunting, decals, and handmade bird mobiles to keep things personal or modern but I'm itching for something a little less expected. Are there more important things in this world to dwell on? Not when the hormones won't let your attention be held by much else in the quiet moments between 3 and 4 a.m. when I seem to wake up most often!

We're headed in the direction of 'granny chic' lite with a sprinkling of modernity to keep things balanced. I love the idea shown above. Any suggestions promise to be thoroughly reviewed during my middle of the night brain storming sessions.





Fantastic color schemes on fantastic clutches from Nimli.

2. The colors shown above make me really happy. I love the bright pinks and oranges mixed with that peacock blue. This is sort of being worked into Ruby's decor as Sebastian's got a lot of blue and yellow already.



Embroidery patterns coming soon to RVA.

3. I'd love to have a small collection of artwork in her space but I feel like so many of my walls have small collections of artwork that I need something larger to balance things out. I've thought about purchasing a 3' x 3' canvas and going to town on it. I purchased this piece from Mary Kate McDevitt a few weeks ago intending for it to be the start of such a collection. Today I found myself using similar colors to complete a sample for my vintage chairs embroidery patterns that will soon be added to the RVA shop, and I wondered if I should do a gathering of work in this chair theme or yellow, cream and blue color scheme. Still, it feels like I've already done that.

I'm not trying to outdo any nursery decor out there on the world wide web. It's more like a personal challenge that must be accepted. I can't just throw a bunch of pink stuff together and be happy with it. The only problem is we've kind of got a deadline and time is ticking away, tick, tick, ticking away. (DC Talk anyone?) I'm writing all of this to share the state of my head these days and in hopes that your creativity might help me get one step closer to that idea that should be forming any day now. It's one of the elements of this journey that I'm allowing myself to indulge in creatively, understanding its place in the grand scheme of things, but also letting it be a source of hope and excitement when so many other parts of life can feel out of my control. Thanks for sharing it with me!

xoxo,
Rachel
P.S. August 31st is the best day of the month to have a birthday.

54 comments:

Lovely Kasey said...

August 31st is my dad's birthday! So let me be one of the first on the interwebz to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

i think you are definitely head in a great direction with Ruby. Maybe you could get a big canvas and paint some rubies? :)
actually, that'd be cute.

I'm sure whatever you come to will be what's best. give it time you still have a little over a month! The chair theme is great though, I LOVE CHAIRS.

Violet said...

Is is your Birthday?! how exciting! Happy Birthday, beautiful lady!

xo,
Violet

suzy said...

I am sure you will come up with something lovely. You are one clever lady. :)
Have a wonderful birthday Miss Rachel!
X

Anonymous said...

HaPpY BiRtHdAy!

I love the little chairs but I think a big canvas would be wonderful. Love the colors you are using.

Anne Esquibel said...

Will Ruby have a tipi too?
http://minichoo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/hipee-tipi.jpg

And love Amy Coe Decor..
http://thedecoratingdiva.com/images/nursery-design/nursery-amy-coe-furniture-decor-bedding-babiesRus.jpg

Hope this helps :) xxxxx

Whitney said...

Well! Happy Birthday! Yay!(Spoil yourself today.)
Can't WAIT to see Ruby. She will be beautiful!

Tiffany said...

Rachel!! When are the embroidery patterns coming to RVA? I'm so eagerly awaiting them!! :)

I didn't know it was your birthday! Happy happy birthday miss Rachel!

margot said...

happy birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! gawd that nursery is going to be gorgeous. can't wait to see what you come up with!

Christen E. Krumm said...

Happy Birthday!!

Prior to moving into a one bed room apartment, we had a awesome house that had a room that was going to be for baby. Instead of a mobile... I was going to get huge paper circle Chinese lantern thingys and hang them above the crib.

But now we live in a one bedroom apartment, so baby has been downgraded to a pack-in-play... or maybe the whole apartment... haha!!

Good Luck and have a wonderful day!!

Loves,
Christen

Vanessa said...

Happy birthdya gorgeous!

nicole said...

Loved that DC Talk album :)

Jamie said...

Happy Birthday, Beautiful!!! Hope it's a great day!!!

RachelDenbow said...

Thanks for the birthday wishes, everyone! Brett is taking us out to breakfast at Galey's when he's back from an on campus meeting! Best way to start the day!

Kristi Drennan said...

Hi, blog stalker here! I'd love to give you ideas but I always steal them from you! But I love the idea of going to town on a canvas!

Happy Birthday!

Cait said...

Happy happy Birthday!! It's my little sister's sweet sixteen =)

Kristin said...

Happy Birthday! I would love to see what you come up with for a large piece of artwork, you could always do a couple of small groupings of artwork elsewhere in her room, i.e above the dresser or by a chair. Also I just wanted to suggest for a mobile, Old wire lampshades hung together with little bits hanging from them, doilies, birds perched etc... I hope you have a wonderful day.

jessica said...

Happy Birthday!!! Love the colors you have chosen for Ruby's theme... I'm inspired to go embroider something!

Katherine said...

happy birthday, rachel!! eat lots of cake.

i looooove that first nursery, and i totally get your obsession! i have never been one who is able to just throw stuff in a room and call it a day, either. i know that however ruby's nursery ends up it will be gorgeous!

my friend is preggers with her first baby (due late november) and i think that little embroidery piece is a MUST.

have a great day!

Caitlin said...

happy b-day!
good luck with figuring out Ruby's side of the room. i know it will look fab no matter what yo decide to go with

jadie said...

happy birthday lovely!
as far as the mobile is concerned, i think it would be super cute to use doilies in some way. maybe pinch them in the middle and just let them hang on fishing line? or make little flower shapes or something? like floating doily flowers.
i think using doilies (or really anything knit/crocheted) in modern shapes/colors/ways would be perfect.

Suzanne said...

Hey, today is my birthday too :) Hope you have a wonderful day!

Mandi Johnson said...

Happy birthday, dear!!! :)

I would so be going crazy if I were you, not having an idea yet for above the crib. :) Totally get it.

I still think something fun (like some kind of installation or hanging piece) with funky teacups could be cute!

Unknown said...

Happy happy birthday! :)

Rachael said...

You should let me paint you a piece!
www.speirsart.com

Leigh-Ann said...

Happy Birthday Beautiful!!! :)
Love LA

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday! I can't wait to see what you do with Ruby's space. You have such an eye for amazing decor.

RachelDenbow said...

Suzanne,

Happy shared birthday!

Thanks for the wishes everyone!

Dallas Shaw said...

fawn and forest is great! Wanted to let you knowI'll be doing a what to buy for kids and babies Nov through dec! hope you'll remember to check it out
dallas
http://dillydallas.blogspot.com

Olivia said...

Happy Birthday! I can't wait to see what you end doing in Ruby's space. I just love that name...so cute and original!

Melissa Mann said...

beautiful picture for inspiration for Ruby's room!! i'm sure you will think up something just as spectacular!

Melissa Mann said...

Oh, and Happy Birthday!

Katy said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I guess the only way to get a hold of you :)

Have a wonderful rest of the day!

- katy

Krys said...

Happy Birthday! and I agree Aug 31 is the best day to have a birthday Its my Birthday as well!

flying scissors said...

Happy Birthday Rachel,

i wish you a great evening and many ideas for Rubys art & style.

chelsey. said...

happy birthday!!

Mandy Ferrugia said...

happy birthdayyy dollface!
i hope you had fun today :]
xo.

Michelle said...

Happy Birthday! Hope you had a great one!

robin said...

well happy b day miss rachel!!
( the most stylish hippish mom online I know..and mom to the coolest little dude online I know..that would Mr."S"..hope you enjoyed your evening!!

Amber said...

Happy Birthday Rachel! Hope your day is filled with magic!

Oh...got my fabric scraps from the giveaway today and they are beautiful. Can't wait to use them! Thank you so much!

Lisa said...

I love the bright pink and oranges and peacock blue! I was thinking of doing the same colors for little Scarlett's room ha ha. And Happy birthday! Hope you have a wonderful day! <3

Melody said...

Happy Birthday Rachel ! I hope you had an awesome day. I'll be back later to check out your latest entry. I just couldn't go to bed without wishing you a wonderfully blessed day.

Michelle said...

Omg. I totally had a DC Talk tape back in tha day...lol. :) Happy birthday to you!! I hope you had an fabulous one and got spoiled silly - and I love your nursery design ponderings, but I can't think of anything cooler than those awards - they rock!

Happy day!

Paz said...

Happy Birthday!!

I have been on the lookout for a fun mobile for a friend's baby. Here are some I cam across(as well as great sites)

Love these mobiles:
http://www.fawnandforest.com/categories/16-mobiles/products

This butterfly mobile:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29191256

Alot of great ideas on here:
http://indiebabies.typepad.com/indie_babies/nursery/

recycled mobile:
http://tliddiard.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/07/13/mobile.jpg

Love the whole granny chic style you are going for:)

Heather - Dollarstorecrafts.com said...

Ha ha to the DC talk reference. :) I have a baby due in October, so I'm right there with you on the sleepless early mornings!

Love your inspiration photos, specifically the handbags.

Tin said...

Happy Birthday!! :)

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday !!
I hope it was an awesome one :D

...on the brink of something beautiful said...

happy (beltaed) birthday!! hope it was wonderful!!

Lacey said...

My sister in law got a large canvas and let my 2 year old nephew finger paint on it with acrylic paint in her living room colors. Then she went back in touched it up in places and it looks amazing! It's hanging over her couch. Homemade art and a keepsake in one. Just an idea.

letter A studio said...

I saw on Elsie's blog that it's your birthday. I hope it's filled with fabulousness :D

Rubyellen said...

happy birthday!!! i think i am a little late.

and oh room decorating. so much fun! i am not going to even worry about it until Brave officially moves in with True and there is a free room. and i love the embroidered pieces, i have been working on some too!

i hope ruby's birthday is a day earlier than her due date because then she can share a name and birthday with me!!! November 3rd is the best!!!

RachelDenbow said...

Lacey,

Ooh, that's a great idea for Sebastian to be involved with. I may do that over his bed!

Anonymous said...

Hope you had a great birthday. Ruby's room will be adorable, just like the rest of your house.

And I loved that dc Talk album!

joyce rodli said...

Hi Rachel, happy birthday.
What if you get the biggest canvas your wall space can afford[and tiny fingers won't play with] and paint a nine patch/mix up the size of squares quilt on it in solid colors like the grey you have in the hoop, that peacock blue and even a little red and maybe some pink and blackberry and then as time goes by you can add smaller things and patterns as you collect them/make them[like the chair,I like that painting some rubies idea-that one might be nice in layers/rubies on wood/wood on patterned fabric on wood or canvas?, etc]. Happy happies.

Anonymous said...

I love the armoir you have in his/her room. So perfect in every way! Love the bright colors, they make me so happy! I did my daughters room is lots of bright orange, yellows and pinks. I just wish I would have found some more peacock blue to go in there. It is such a wonderfully happy color! Pics of her room here http://pinksuedeshoe.com/2009/10/28/pearls-and-jam/