Ruby's Painting

I get a gold star for finishing a project! My kids both get gold stars for taking unusually long naps this afternoon at the SAME TIME so that I could sit on the floor and finish this monster.

I've had this canvas for about seven months and have painted it four times. FOUR TIMES. Talk about indecisive! I put a lot of pressure on myself to have something sentimental and abstract that she could be proud of and maybe want to keep the rest of her life but then it also had to match the vintage sheets and not clash too much with Sebastian's colors and not be too girly since they shared a room, etc. I kind of made myself crazy with all the boundaries I was setting up for myself.

In the end I went back to an illustration I saved in my iPhoto folder awhile back and took inspiration from that artist's color palette and theme.

Unfortunately, it's been so long that I'm not remembering her name or where I found it but I'm sure someone who reads will recognize her so leave her name in the comments if you do please. I want credit to be given where credit is due.

I've also added a few little touches to Ruby's side of the room since she was born. I've got a mobile that is still in the works (read: sitting in one of my piles ) that was first going to be felt leaves hanging from an IKEA lamp shade that I almost threw out but then I thought it'd be nice to have colored wooden beads strung in strands and now I'm thinking I might do something with kite tails. We'll see as I seem to be lacking direction in this department!

I picked up this vintage fan in Ada, OK over Easter break because it was the Emerson brand and Emmerson is Ruby's middle name. The Liberty of London frame and plum lamp are from Target and the felted heart is from Vivianna of PDR.

I made the sheets (three different kind) from vintage flat sheets and the crib skirt from new material. The original crib was white but it got recalled and this one matched Sebastian's bed so we settled with it. The blocks are handmade and the crocheted octopus was a gift from a sweet online friend. Both my kids love it, Carol!

The painting on the other wall is an original from the talented Elsie Flannigan, one of my best friends. I love it so much!

This is a vintage dress that another online friend, RubyEllen of Cakies, sent me. She appliqued the fawn on the front and I can't wait for Ruby to be big enough to wear this. Vintage little girl dresses are so sweet!

These are stacks of books I've picked up at garage sales and thrift stores as well as about four smaller art prints that have been tucked away until I can frame them and decide where they should be hung. The chalkboard is vintage and has illustrations for each letter of the alphabet. Someday it'll have a place, too!

The blanket shown below is a quilt I made for a sewing magazine last year and is usually the one I keep handy for Ruby to lay on.

Thanks for letting me share! And don't tell anyone but the other half of the room is a total mess.

xoxo,
Rachel