:: out of the office ::

out preparing for baby (leave L&d playlist suggestions in comments if you wish..think Chris Tomlin, Chris Rice, Robert Plant & Allison Kraus;;)

..we will be back to posting soon..

thank you for your prayers and well wishes.

[image by lola b]

:: we interrrupt baby palooza '09 for .... ::

A stop on Kelly's home tour...today is ENTRYWAYS...mine is tiny but it is BROWN so i have to share..in fact it is coated with some very expensive paint so dont be intimidated..it is called "BROWNIE" and it comes from Walmart" excuse the shabby door paint in the pictures..i had just scraped the window part and was repainting..this hall is tiny, remember our home was built in 1941 and it has a door on each wall..i was hesitant to hang anything on the walls but i did and i am glad...it is my gallery..and i know the crosses are busy but i love those too..






ok back to baby palooza!

:: baby palooza...celebrity edition ::

This is about it for baby palooza '09..mama is getting tired and she needs to wash slipcovers today and PACK! So let's end with a bang..We talked about budget nursery decorating (a bit) so now lets look at the other end of the spectrum..


PomPom Interiors did a fab job on Marc Anthony and JLo's baby nursery--i mean really, it is so pretty. Hard to believe they also did Stella's room..a little scary. but very much like her mommy..i think i liked Liam's room better but cant find a picture..


And now a look at Brook Shield's first nursery by Wendy Bellisimo who also has a line at BRU..i dont hold that against her..Amy Coe does as well and they have some cute things available for great prices..just be careful with the "set.".anyway, i love Wendy B's styling or (stylists) more than her actual products..but look at this room, i just love it...vintage perfection.





I think that is it for baby palooza '09..if you have anything to add, please leave comments! Thanks for indulging me on this trip through babyland!

:: baby palooza break ::

This is our last day at home, just Drew and I, and I am feeling a little bittersweet and goopy. We are going to go here in a little while for some pictures and then home to just snuggle and watch movies..he has been taking such great care of mommy (well except when he is jumping on the bed when i am trying to rest, its like trying to relax in a bouncy castle! sigh, just keepint it real;;).. Back to the goopy...for nearly 5 years, it has just been us here at home, day in day out and for the most part, i have loved every minute and i think he has too..next week everything will change, he has no idea what is coming..and the one thing that will never change is how much i love this little boy.

Drew, you are going to make such a great big brother! How do I know?? because you already tell Henry good night each night and go turn on his night light and tell me how you are going to sing to him and protect him from dogs;;..and you kiss mommy's belly and "check on him"..I know you are a little concerned about your toys and I am a little concerned at how you will react to all of the crying but everything is going to be just fine. I love you, Mommy

[photos by K Gallery, Summer 08']

:: baby palooza continues...crib bedding ::

[image from post tots]

Baby palooza continues with..... CRIB BEDDING! Oh this is a hot topic..i get so many inquires and emails about this..these are SOME of the issues:

*custom or not? [i say, yes, no, both]
*is toile still in style? [toile has literally been around for centuries..not going out of style, just choose it carefully]
*may i use toile for a boy? [sure..just dont ask daddy]
*silk or linen? [linen is a strong fiber and soft and washable, silk is well silk] see what Joni says about the fab-ness of linen! I nearly did Henry's entire crib in beige and white linen...he does have a linen crib sheet (it is white and sooo soft..i wish i had a sheet this nice..i know i can use borax on it or boil in hot water if need be...linen is such a strong fiber!) and his interior bumper fabrics and crib skirt are linen as well..the other fabric is waverly sun and shade!
*bumper or no? [i say until they start standing on it as a way to escape]
*boxed bumper, fat or thin?? [i love fat and i love boxed]


[image from angie baker at design dazzle]

Moms seems to have a phobia of ready made, cartoon characters etc..all of which i can understand but i am hear to say IT CAN ALL WORK AND BE CUTE (and i have done it all except the character theme). The thing is, when you are pregnant and hormonal, decorating is a challenge, even if you are a designer (the fab Erika at Urban Grace admits this, oh how i cant wait to see what she does..no pressure Erika!)..simply put, there are a LOT of baby decor choices out their today...and being pregnant and feeling pressure, being tired..it all adds to that stress.. Now i know there are more important things going on in the world, but indulge us mothers..after all, it is Baby Palooza '09 here at HMI and if you are about to vomit, well click on away because we are about to really get in to it..

So lets get started...There are just so many sources to choose from: great online stores like Layla Grace, custom sites like Polkatot and Javis Davis, you can even find bedding on etsy..Or you can use a designer and workroom or a lady in your church who sews for a bargain..or your mother-in-law..just be careful and remember emotions run high during this time;;

And remember you dont have to spend a lot (that old cliche)..just take a look at the things posted below..which one to you think is from Walmart, Babiesrus, Olivine, etsy?? sure the styling may give it away but you could restyle some of these pieces for a fab look..mix the target piece with something more high end..





[first one is from Walmart,then the babies r us classic set, etsy and then polka tot design, last one is a "dwell look"from....walmart!]
Again, some of the styling may be off and may give it away (and frankly the quality and feel might too) but it is an option.


Pottery Barn is offering some of the hot new boxed bumper designs and they seem to run their solid white "hotel look" baby bedding on sale a lot..i really like that with the brown stripe..keep that in mind..

[elizabeth allen at layla grace]
and this Elizabeth Allen stuff is precious..you can find online at layla grace or in Houston at Olivine..love her french inspired fabrics..and though it takes the guess work out of mixing fabrics it doesnt have that "bed in a bag" feel..of course it doesnt have that bargain price either..but Layla Grace does run sales on their crib bedding..and free shipping on Serena and Lily and others..

Speaking of Serena and lily..they are everywhere..very popular. look around there site and you can see why..in Houston i think you can find their things at Nest & Cot (in Rice Village which you must visit for ideas if nothing else)...SOOO back to Serena & Lily, i love this "Rye" look and look how they name their collections (you know i like the "Henry") now there is a concept, wait until your child is born, learn its personality THEN decorate...can we say more STRESS! But seriously, everything they do is darlin.love the "kate" below too! and always styled to perfection!



[above images from Serena & Lily]

[crib bag from leontine]

So that is my advice: Mix fabrics, mix off the rack pieces and custom--maybe the leontine crib bag with a polka dot dwell crib skirt from Target..this takes confidence just like dressing your self, and may involve lots of returns but if you are interested you can create a great look without spending a ton..

UNLESS this all just stresses you out..then do ALL white and keep it simple and pure.. or dont do a thing at all..just love that baby! After all, as much as we love this stuff, we mommies have to remember, this is all going to get vomited on (or worse) anyway, assuming your baby even sleeps in this crib..so maybe scratch the Leontine idea, make one out of Hobby Lobby linen and have monogrammed in your local stationery shop;;; Just remember, like the nester says, it doesnt have to be "perfect to be beautiful"..enjoy this special time whether it is a perfect nursery with chandelier or a pack and play from Walmart..babies are such a gift and in the end, stuff is just stuff!

He settles the barren woman in her home
as a happy mother of children.
Praise the LORD. Psalm 113:9

:: favorite things, baby edition ::

Babypalooza '09 continues with HMI's favorite things list for baby..these are all items i have either used in the past and love, things i have heard rave reviews about and intend to use this time, or just simply things i think look divine but cant afford (can we say Serena and Lily sling)..please be sure and give your input and opinions in the comments...

So let's jump right in with Lisa Leonard and something totally non-essential but precious..


I've received a silver rattle and cup in the past and i love those nicer things but this lisa leonard spoon is reasonable AND precious. also her necklaces- i just love (would make a great push present..who needs diamonds, this is wonderful!..hint hint;;)

and...

praise baby CDs..i loved these with Drew..both the audio and dvd once he got a little bigger (loved that exersaucer) the images and concept are similar to Baby Einstein which i like ok but the praise Songs on praise baby are just wonderful and uplifting for baby AND mama!

**on to layette..



babystyle onesies are out this time(they declared bankrupcty you know) but i love that these classic gerber onesies now come in organic AND brannan bear gap onesies are always great too..i mean they come in button downs even! and these for winter...who says little boy things are boring..
and i am a sucker for these..love love the classic feltman.

**footwear..
i love bare little baby feet at first and then robeez for a little later, or these stride rite prewalkers..i loved those with drew..


and then these when walking or little guppy fisherman sandals (notice i am just doing boy stuff)..i just dont get in to the little socks that look like shoes..maybe if i had a girl i would like the mary jane ones;; maybe.

**blankets..

aden +anais muslin blankets..so excited about these.. i hear the Miracle blanket is really the bomb though..but these from Aden + Anais are huge and great swaddling AND for hot texas weather..i will let you know how they work..i have seen them cheaper at gap and Land of Nod carries them too...regardless of what blanket i use, i am determined to be a better swaddler this time around..WE WANT SLEEP!


**diaper bags..just cant go there on the diaper bag though i do admit i SWOONED the first time i saw it..i think skip hops are great especailly for boys and they even have them at target (I saw one for $29!)..though i admit you may see Henry with this, yes monogrammed and all..dont be sick;; I know there are lots of opinions out there about diaper bags...thoughts??

**dr brown bottlesdr brown bottles now come in glass..love that...just cant go for those huge born free things..sorry..;;


**nursery....

this from babies r us..literally one of my fave things in the nursery..in choc brown..4 years ago this would have had to have been custom made now just off the rack.love that..and minky dot fabric is so expensive..just the amount of fabric in this cover is worth the price.

**and i am not a slingy girl (maybe it is my build or the lack of openess in my home..i feel like i might hit the baby against a door jam when i sling)

BUT this from beautiful sling from Serena and Lily almost takes me there..

**and oh the stroller debate..

bugaboo, bob or snap and go or maclaren??! for me, a snap and go is perfect (and cheap) the fit in my car trunk and leave room for other things..they are small and short (good for my height) and they maneuver well in antique stores..they just dont take up more space..now later, after we get a larger vehicle and have more room to tote and once Henry is out of an infant seat and we are exercising in the park more (yall remind me i mentioned this), THEN maybe we will get a bigger stroller...but dont get sucked in..if i can resist, so can you! (spend that money on really useful things like bella notte crib sheets;;)

and if you want to read more, stamford wife recently gave her great list..i think she makes a great point about spanx (even in Texas heat this support feels good, not every day but for a special occasion out)..and those belly belts are great too i hear..c section or not! But I disagree about the diaper genie...i think they are gross and a hassle, but people either love them or hate them..i prefer this (but it cant stay in the nursery, best by the back door or even in the garage but it keep them in their own little place and not mized with all of the trash)..



last but not least..be sure and visit Danielle and see her thoughts on baby wants and needs..isnt she just THE most gorgeous pregnant woman ever?!

ok, time for yall to chime in..what am I missing, any suggestions??? Of course we all know, all you really need for a baby is a lot of love and a package of those gerber onesies!

:: Baby Announcements ::

Baby Palooza '09 continues with baby stationery!


[Nest invite from Tiny Prints]

Dont you just love stationery?? maybe you are thinking "uhhh where does this fit on a decorating blog??" But i really want this blog to be about all things "style, comfort and HOME" so that covers a lot AND after all, it is BABYPALOOZA '09..so lets talk baby announcements, shower invites, thank yous...all of it!..
[from Crane with Kate Spade]

Like i said i love stationery..everything from hand made, things off of etsy (like Sarah and Abraham which i have mentioned a lot lately), plain Crane (they even paired up with Kate Spade to do this cute elephant card), to Whitney English (really cute for thank yous for both mama and kids of all ages but they can be used for invites and announcements)..this girl is awesome, from Oklahoma and she even has wrapping paper!
[from Whitney English]

[Lauren G. Design]
andd Lauren Goessling, oh my!

When Drew was born I really wanted to go in to a store and really look and feel everything (which you may still want to do) but to be honest you can find so much more online now..For instance, you can find just about anything from Stacey Boyd Claire, Crane, Sweet pea and others at Fine Stationery.
..and while i like the classic flat cards i do have to admit i am really drawn to the photo cards. Keep in mind (here is the decor tie in;;) that if you want to eventually frame one of your announcements you might want to consider a flat card. Drew's announcement was beautiful (the exterior had a monogram and the inside had a beautiful photo..i should try to find and scan it..) BUT when it came time to frame it seemed complicated and so i have just never completed that little project..
{from In a Baby Carriage]
Speaking of which, great source for photo cards is, IN A BABY CARRIAGE, i considered her papers when Drew was born and she is still around offering beautiful cards..check it out, a great selection!

...and some Doc Milo for fun!

i just love Doc Milo for shower invites and thank you cards for mama..their new graphics with "mama shopping" and "mama decorating the nursery" are just so adorable..

So many choices, but at the end of the day, I have to admit, i really do love TINY PRINTS...i know everyone uses them but i really like their designs and i am also happy with the quality and just anything i get from there..they have a great variety of designers..

[all from Tiny Prints]

So what about YOU?? what stationery designs do you prefer, online sites or brick and mortar stores???? Fun, modern, or classic styles?? Because as much fun as it is to choose, the thrill really is in the hunt! and while i had my choice made WEEKS ahead with Andrew, with Henry i am waiting to see what kind of newborn photos we get, his personality, i definetely wont be in as big of a rush this time!

:: Henry's sweet baby shower ::

Well am going to kick off Baby Palooza with a look at Henry's baby shower held last Saturday. My sweet friends Missy and Lynsey did such a great job with the food and decorations as you will see but mainly there was just such a sweet spirit of love for my family and baby and that is what I appreciate most! Missy is a busy mom with two little boys under five and one in the process of being adopted from Korea..plus she has a thriving flower business..so she is a busy woman. Lynsey has THREE girls (one is only 5 weeks old) and helps her husband run the family business--an organic farm..so they both have very busy lives but are full of hospitality and fun..thanks again yall for taking time to bless me in this special way!

OK so on to the photos (which Lynsey took..she is a great photographer)...the shower was held in Missy's home which is so warm and inviting..this greated me at the front door so i was beaming before the door opened!

Once you got inside there were the cutest party favors piled my Missy's entry table (notice the lesser quality of this picture..because it was taken my yours truly;;) what were the favors?? rye grass in little terra cotta pots, wrapped up in paper with these precious tags..you know i was swooning! The funny thing is Missy knows that i love to grow rye grass..i was always begging her for seed back in the summer.


and then the cupcakes..oh the cupcakes..by Haley at The Muffin Top...so yummy and PRETTY! They had a big, beautiful cloche on the table, gorgeous nests, and the cupcakes all had one of my free fave three things on top..a monogram (H), little dots, or birds..they even had little mini nest "saucers" to serve them in..


But of course there werent just cupcakes...they had so much wonderful food (check Lynsey's blog for the Paula Deen french toast recipe and others..)including chicken salad, Lynsey's yummy pear salad i love, quiche, fruit, etc..YUMMY..of course what i really loved were the VINTAGE little ducky picks in the strawberries..so adorable!


and the flowers...Missy is a florist so of course they were gorgeous..white roses and more nests tucked here and there..i love how she always puts her flowers in vintage containers!

During the shower, we had an awesome prayer time for the baby's life (and my labor and delivery) and they had these cute cards (more silhouettes..i loved how they had nests and birds AND silhouettes..i love it all..why stick to one theme when you can mix it all up..oh and did i mention there was lots of vintage linen and even some burlap!;;) anyway, arent these little cards so sweet tied on this little tree (and isnt Missy's living room so pretty with the wood walls and black lampshade;;) I got some great advice on the cards too..like time outs are great, for mamas too!


It was such a lovely day..so many special friends from different areas of my life all in one room, i will leave you with a picture of yours truly and MY mama who came for the day..isnt it fun to prepare for a new baby..whether it is the first or fourth!

Tell me about your baby shower or share ideas about a special party you have given for a baby and mama..we want to hear!

:: Baby Palooza '09 ::

OK, so if I dont go into labor next week (I am feeling like I might but it is still a bit early--but are we are going to induce the next week for certain) sooo if I am around each day next week, We are going to have a baby PALOOZA here at HMI! Yall might think I should rename the blog HENRY MATHIS INTERIORS with all of the baby talk.. I promise there will be a respite soon but for now, hold on to your baby booties because here it comes....

here is a sampling:
*Henry's baby shower!
*Baby stationery--shower invites, announcements, thank you cards
*Baby must haves--diaper genie or petite (and cute) galvanized bucket?
*Baby bedding--custom, semi custom, silk or no???
*Baby faves list--onesies, robeez, glass bottles, rockers
*and maybe more (or maybe just a picture of me on the couch eating Blue Bell ice cream under a fan!)

Not sure how this interiors blog turned into a baby blog--but dont say I didnt warn you before Babypalooza begins!;;; and if you have topics for discussion, something you would like to share from your own blog or experience, or questions just leave a note or link in the comments.

[image by Doc Milo from here]

:: My Shabby Yard ::

Today Kelly is hosting a yard and GARAGE tour...i hate to not be a good participant but i dont really have much to show of either. So when your yard overwhelms or life or budget doesnt allow you to do your entire yard, work on your porches..i am going to show some pictures of both my front and back porch. Remember, I worked on the back porch a few months back when rearranging the house for baby...and Meg has been talking about this too..check her out..she has wonderful ideas..
We actually have a beautiful yard, especially the back yard but it is so hot and already "crispy" despite watering attempts. Our little home sits on three lots so the yard is always a bit overwhelming for me..plus i am really just an inside person. We do have nice, big pecan trees and lots of shade out back. My husband enjoys working out there when he has time but he is just soo busy....SO, I am going to show you the front porch. During my pregnancy "nesting" fits, i have wanted to totally redo all of the flower beds, well that is just not possible, so i have tried to focus that energy on just sprucing up the front porch with my fave things..caladiums and glorious green potato vine..it has helped..i also dug out my husband's "vintage" tricycle for summer looking decoration and i love it..it says "boys live here..get ready for rowdy and crazy before you knock on the door!" Enjoy..happy Fourth of July tomorrow and STAY COOL!
[notice the water hose in the last picture, and the water tower and i have to admit the big pot in the front i did not do..my friend missy made it for me, she has a green thumb and it looked MUCH better when i got it, sorry missy, really i have been watering it, in the back it has white plumbago but it has just fizzled for me;; but i love mixing different things in one pot!]

:: Henry's nursery ::

Well, here it is...Henry's nursery is finally finished which is a good thing considering he will be here SOON! I still have not blogged about the bella notte bedskirt "situation" but I will eventually but without further delay, here it is...

Keep in mind this room is super tiny..10/11 i think and it seems even smaller because there is at least one door or window on every wall..like the funny shutter "cubby" that i should have had sheetrocked over when we moved in (this house was built in 1941 and it had wood plank walls with cheesecloth wallpaper IN EVERY ROOM..so we had to 1/2" sheetrock over everything downstairs and left the bare wood walls upstairs) anyway that was my chance to cover the cubby but i didnt..it is good storage but hard to decorate..i left the area above it fairly bare because i wanted the focus to be on the monogram over the rocker and the crib..you just cant have every wall filled to the brim, i am trying to learn to edit and it is hard because i love stuff but it is a lot nicer..

So over the rocker (thanks for the rocker Nana!) is the monogram piece from Smallwords..Kim did an amazing job, I highly recommend her..it is 20x20, great size. Then the little stool that I (yes I) slipcovered in linen (not burlap like i had intended..too rough, we'll talk about burlap for wimps later;;) dont look too closely but i love it) the dahlia fabric on the pillow and blanket are from calico corners.. the crib and most of the furniture i used in Drew's nursery 4 years ago..same basic bones pretty much but a much different look.. i wanted this nursery to be cottagey, a touch of vintange AND modern..i didnt know if that mix would come off at all but i am happy with it.

Above the crib is the print from Sarah and Abraham, i love her stuff, ironically one of my shower hostesses new about her before i did and they even ordered my shower invites from there without my knowing, they also used some sihouette cards on the shower favors..loving that look right now! more on the shower later..back to the room.


On to the bedding, my seamstress here in town did a great job..the inside of the bumper and the bedskirt (no i did not use the bella nottie bedskirt, more on that later, prepare to laugh) is a linen dot from Calico corners too..the exterior of the bumper and the white linen on the ties and welting are all from fabric.com. In fact the blue trellis on the curtains and the stripe are both waverly OUTDOOR fabrics, love that, they washed up so nice and soft suprisingly. And the stripe was too bright, i wanted a softer look so i just had Susi (the seamstress) use the verso (back side) of the fabric for a softer look..turned out great. The brown pillow is from Target and the polka dot doggies is from Toys R us!..dont rule out Toys R us!;;; the crib sheet is plain white linen from Bella Notte, i purchased it back in December when i was just weeks pregnant (at Wildflower in Austin, love that store)..it is sooo soft..with the black out curtains, new mattress, and soft sheet, hopefully little Henry will love to sleep in this room!
The little coat rack is from Target, the polka dot toy bin is from Pottery Barn kids.. I love having some of his sweet little outfits, most were Drew's, in fact the first one is the outfit he wore the first time he went to church..vintage feltman, someone gave it to me when Drew was born, they bought it from an estate sale and repaired it..so precious.



And then what i like to call the "service area"...the changer is actually an old desk/secretary..where the baskets are there was a drawer with cubbies and a fold out writing desk, i simply removed that part (is in the attic if i ever want to use it that again) and added the baskets, the chalk tags are from Pottery Barn kids..the glass knobs are from Nell Hills which i bought on my pilgrimage there when i was pregnant with Drew in 2004!;; The flash cards are from Land of Nod and i simply punched holes and hung with ribbon..i may eventaully put a large black and white picture on canvas here..but i like the cards because once he gets bigger (and rowdy when being changed, hey i know how boys are) i dont have to worry about him pulling them down and hurting himself, they are just heavy paper..and i didnt want to spend fortune on the perfect frames... the little ladder is from Ross..it was ugly wood and i painted it for Drew's nursery, it is perfect for baskets of blankets, and diapering "stuff" (notice the Boudreux's in the back;;)





So that is it, i kept the plain brown rug from Target, i tried the dash and albert and it was cute but seemed slippery and in the end the rug is not the focal point after all..i removed the original mobile which was cute but too big for the room and our "not very high" ceilings...the tree works much better, is safer and mirrors the organic feel in the dahlia fabric on the crib blanket and rocker pillow.

I love that i was able to use so many of the vintage things from Drew's room like this old clothes hamper, all of the furniture, the awnings, and the little feltman things like this sweater..for months i have obsessed over how this room would turn out and look, now i just want to see this little baby and welcome him home!

When i moved Drew's little wooden rocker (a gift to him from my grandmother who has since died and wont get to meet baby Henry) into the nursery just for these pictures, Drew said "Oh that is a great idea mama, i need a rocker in here too so i can rock with you and Henry when he crys..i can sing to him"..so the rocker may stay;;; can you tell i am hormonal and goopy!?;;

thanks for looking..i will talk more next week about making the stool cover,etc..in the meantime, email or leave in comments with any questions about sources..i really appreciate all of the interest in our humble little abode. Yall are awesome readers!

::oh yall..it's Eddie & Jaithan & JONI!!!! ::

This should be great..i mean just look at the picture..better than the Real Housewives (not that i watch that trash!)) Enjoy! Seriously, Joni and Co really have a great thing going at the Skirted Roundtable...and the funny thing is my dinky computer only plays the audio in chipmunk voices..but i have to hear every word they say so i listen to it that way, anyway..i dont care and it is actually hilarious (with all due respect, oh great design divas!);; SO get on over there..NOW!

:: Heather Chadduck alert ::

I got a tip that "Heather Chadduck's work" is "all over" a new before and after book (or magazine or magaz-book) that Southern Living has published..i guess Cottage Living and SL had the same publisher?? both in Birmingham right?? anyway, FYI..i wish i knew what the cover looked like so i could show yall..if anyone finds it or has more details, let us know.

God bless you Heather, wherever you are!;;;

and thanks for the tip, Tracey!

[image from Cottage Living, her Dallas "cottage" as she called it..i loved that house!]

:: Emma Bridgewater::

I just love Emma Bridgewater Pottery. I dont know if it started when i visited England or simply by seeing her things displayed in kitchen photo shoots BUT i love it all..especially this pattern and..oh how i love the polka dots.

and if you have little boys...oh my! this is precious..i've always wanted to get this for Drew because of his love for tractors and let's face it..john deere plastic in my sink is just NOT beautiful living for mommy! I love the way it says "lorries"!;; BUT, Baby Henry just received the Royal Doulton Bunnykins set on Saturday and boy it is precious too.. even little boys need special things, right?! of course!

BUT as much as i love Emma Bridgewater (i have two 8.5" plates that say bubble and squeak! love that..thanks honey) and a big cake plate..i also have some knockoffs from Marshalls and Cost Plus..i mix it all together and while i love the shape, quality and weight of the the Emma B pottery, it is not WHITE, my other stuff is WHITE..do any of you have her pottery and notice this??? of course it all still mixes great together and with plain white dishes too which is my favorite thing to do.. Also it is not cheap or easy to buy stateside..so if anyone has a good source, please share with us...i just love "dishes"..old and new, fine and utilitarian!

:: the muffin top ::

Yesterday, my friends blessed me with a precious baby shower. Cant wait to share pictures..but until then, check out this great pastry chef.. .HALEY GLASCO of the Muffin Top (isnt that a cute name?!) she made BEAUTIFUL cupcakes (think nests, birds, little fondant letters..so cute)and if you look on her site, she does much much more..SOOO if you live near Brenham, Texas, you need to check her out..she is very talented and SWEET! (get it, sweet;;;)...stay tuned, more pictures coming soon! get ready for baby-fest the next few weeks..this is your warning!

::master bedroom tour::

today kelly is doing her master bedroom home tour..i have missed most of her rooms but i will try to participate in this one...except, i dont really have a wide shot of my room! I mean i know i do, but i cant find it..so i will give you little closeups and try to post a wide shot later or find my old BHG pictures which are much better...

first off, our bedroom is really long, like a bowling alley, so we have the king size bed at one end and a comfy chair (ektorp from IKEA slipped in white with a garage sale ottoman (big enough to change a baby on) also slipped in white) and a desk and computer. The walls are SW urban putty which i love..the furniture is SAD yall, SAD! seriously i need to take a picture of this place in town where i bought our tv armoire, but it is awesome..it has FAUX chinoserie fretwork on it, a la 1970! looks great painted black, as does my Marcia Brady dresser, and even my broyhill college bookcase (all black) along with the extremely expensive Bombay Company nightstand and Hepplewhite chest of drawers;; Its all about expensive antiqus in this room!.. Seriously, I love this room but it is a hodge podge which is fine. For instance the headboard is my parents OLD jenny lind headboard that my mom had "made" in the 1970s from a full size..YEP she had it PIECED TOGETHER and behind that to give some height i have a SHABBY screen filled with leftover fabric from my bedding.

On to the bedding, Kelly mentioned white in the bedroom. Now we dont have dogs but we have a four year old and he had colic and reflux BAD! and well i love our white matelesse coverlets, sheets and slipcovers. WHy?? becuase they can be bleached and boraxed! I've had the Ralph Lauren guinevere floral bedskirt and shams for over 10 years (In fact the bedskirt is a queen that i "retrofitted" or mistreated as the Nester would say to fit our new king"..so for ten years our bed has been the same, i just switch out the white mattelesse every 3-4 years or when i find one for $29 at TJ Maxx, they usually shring from washing before they even get too stained. and i occassionally update the center throw pillow and thats it.. YES it is a tad tired but with another baby on the way and more spit up ineveitable, i think i will wait a few years before i invest in this direction;;

Oh and i used guinevere flat sheets for panels to cover the sliding glass doors at the end of the room..i will try to find a picture! For those of you who love Guinivere (there is probably a fan club on facebook i get so many emails about this fabric) it is discontinued from Ralph BUT you can still get it on ebay..just be careful..some of it is "weird"..they also made this print in an upholstery fabric.

thanks for looking!

::guest room update::

here is another "in progress" sneak peak from my own home. With the addition of another child under age 5, we really have had to switch around rooms and beds because I am not ready to put "big brother" upstairs..
our house was built in 1941 and the upstairs is very set apart from the rest of the house..so mom was not ready to have her "big baby" up there..so we moved him in to the dining room, moved the dining room onto the porch, baby into brother's room and brother's "toddler" bed (which is twin) upstairs...which meant getting rid of the pretty iron bed in the BHG shabby room..but i was ready to let go of some of that girly stuff

..it has been liberating to de-pink the room and add lots of linen, blacks and white..it is stil in progress, in fact i am working on some burlap cafe curtains as we speak (to cover the window unit behind the bed..yuk) with cute ivory twill ties. Isnt that textile piece on the end of the bed so wonderful?? from a friend's time in Uzbekistan! so stay tuned for more on this room and more on using empty frames and getting the right mix..enjoy [p.s. in case you are wondering the before shots are up top and i know many of you shabby girls willl like them best, they are after all professional photos by Colleen Duffley but i promise the bottom images will eventually yield a more updated look!;;;;) i hope! ha!

::baby girl Spencer::

baby girl spencer2 by shabbymama on Polyvore.com

I am working on two rooms via internet right now..which works out great for me since i am rolly polly pregnant and it is getting HOT here in South Texas..so YES i do online consultations (email with any interest) and here is another example..everything on this board will not be used, that is sort of the point, brainstorming and then we will refine..we need to edit the fabrics (the pink houndstooth will be going probably as will the darker minky dot I am sure) but it really helps to see everything pulled together..some things like the clock and tiara are just for "mood" and we may never put in the room..and the christening gown may end up being white smocked Feltmans hanging on a peg board, surely we can find several china plates with pink flowers for a grouping and the silhouettes will probably be pink on white to go on the latte (actually it is Ashen tan from Ben Moore) walls ..so it will not be exactly the same but gets us on the same page to start off and move forward..the pink toile is Cental Park from fabric.com and it is going to be long panel drapes..for sure because mom ordered the fabric;; AND see the fabric "stack" in the top left corner..that is a grouping of yummy fabrics that the mom is making into a quilt.love that!..SO click on the image to go polyvore and see sources for everything else...and yes i know i use a monogram and brown polka dot in every kid/nursery room..i am aware of this problem;; "its my thing" as Little Bill says.. thanks for looking!

::Hudson's big boy room::

hudson's room by shabbymama on Polyvore.com

Hudson's mommy and I are just getting started on this (actually she's been at it a while, SHE painted those stripe walls, arent they fab?!) We are narrowing fabrics..here is a first glimpse mom...let me know what you think..and yall let us know if you run across anything interesting with a dog motif..vintage, labs especially..we want be careful what we choose but Hudson loves his dog and his room is going to be darling!

[sources: click on image to go to polyvore and view sources. all fabrics from Premier except plaid which is from Calico Corners, monogram image is from Leontine and silhoutte is from Patty Cake Press. Basket is from 1stdibs.]

::i love mr. clean:

OK, believe it or not i am going to post about something NOT baby-related (except my being interested in cleaning is probably only because i am nesting but dont panic..i wont post a picture of a nest)..instead PLEASE tell me you have seen these MR CLEAN MAGIC ERASER Mops...supposedly they exist..i MUST have one..i have these black and white linoleum floors and they are AWFUL to keep clean..especially the pure white tiles (who cares what ecoli is growing on the black tiles, i just want the white ones CLEAN!)..before i would just get down on my hands and knees and scrub with the magic erasers (not that often but if i wanted it really clean it worked) yesterday i thought "wow, i wonder if i could duct tape the magic eraser to my swiffer wet jet (which really does nothing but get off sticky when it comes to my floors)..then i realized "duh, just google it, this probably exists" and sure enough i found MENTION of the magic eraser mop but no place to buy (not at drugstore.com and amazon.com says unavailable...panic!) i am hoping when i walk in Target tomorrow they will have them in stock..have yall had any luck using or finding this product??! If not, there is always duct tape! (or i can join the Magic eraser fan club message board (yes it exists) and surely they wil know;;

p.s. I did find this on the main Mr Clean site..maybe this is it?? but it does not look like what is pictured to the left (that i found on the amazon website)?????? such a mystery!;

and isnt my cute vintage-y Mr Clean poster cute?? from art.com!

::the nursery tree::

Well i finally got it finished so here is a sneak peek..by the time i "reveal" the nursery it is going to be very anti-climatic because i have shown so much already..oh well. First off, let me say I am not much on vinyl decals (just me, no offense to those who love them), and i would still like to trace and paint this tree BUT for the cost and ease of installation, it really does look great and much better than the big mobile i had there, the mobile was a steal from PBKids but just not the right scale..i got this tree from www.dalidecals.com (in good ol' Asheville, NC!) and the white vinyl is matte and looks great. The shape of the tree mirrors the botantical (we dont say floral yall) accent fabric so well..I never knew i was going this direction but here it is and i love it! And the really cool thing is I love Isaiah 61:3 and so this tree is sort of a symbol of our prayer for Baby Henry..that he will be a planting of the Lord for God's glory! In fact, i think i will write the scripture in white paint pen up the tree trunk!;;.

[tree-dali decals, crib fabrics, inside bumper-linen dot from calico corners, exterior of bumper and white linen ties and welting from fabric.com, brown pillow from target, dog pillow is Amy Coe from Babiesrus, monogram pillow from a now closed monogram shop (a lot of monogram shops sell this basic smocked pillow i have noticed), pooh bear from target ca. 2004;),drapery fabric from fabric.com too, the pillow with the brown rick rack trim(hobby lobby trim) is made from a THomas O'brien tea towel from Target and last but not least, the white bella notte bed sheet from Wildflower--i will tell you later what happened to the cribskirt that matched it..still getting over it;;)oh and paint is Laura Ashley Stone 2 from Lowes]

"..that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD,that he may be glorified." IS 61:3

::tacky or great solution::

I am not joking, maybe i should be..but what do you think of this..for a baby girl's nursery..there must be a fan..smallish room so not a lot of extra corner space for seperate little chandelier to hang and of course the mom and I want her to have a cute little light?? a part of me screams NO!!!!!!!!! another part thinks "well we could cover the shades in a little tan stripe and add a very simple strand of bling, nothing diva-ish" thoughts?? am i losing ALL credibility?? if so, i blame it on pregnancy!;;

::35 weeks::

35 weeks and growing! This should probably go on my "personal" blog but i am having a hard time keeping up with both so here it is! Can you tell Drew is both tired and hungry (we just got out of church and he is ready for lunch!)

::nursery STILL in progress::

I have about four more weeks and i really wanted to be completely finsihed by now but things happen;; I had a change of direction with the bedding (I will have to post about that later) so i am waiting on the seamstress to sew the cribskirt and then ALL will be done..i got the Tree (yes tree) finished yesterday (behind the crib)and just about all is done (well i have to finish recovering these shades, can you tell the "forms" have been used and reused, like my SPJST paper pattern;;) and do a little hand sewing here and there..but here is a preview!

::bathroom tour::

Kelly has been hosting a home tour of bloggers and YALL, it is huge, i cant believe how many people link to it..i can never look through them all but it is fun. I have missed nearly every room in the house but i am going to jump in on the bathroom tour (not sure what that means)...i tried to find or scan a picture of how my baths looked for the

Better Homes

pictures in 2005 but no luck (with the scanner or a picture) but the master bath (which is the non toile one) was a mint green and had CARPET (not to mention the PAINTED formica counter tops, yes i am serious and still no tile)..i was horrified they even wanted to photograph it, i was like "uh really??" amazing how they did not "cover" things i thought were great and then focused on areas i was not really comfortable with;; thats showbiz i guess...ha!



After Drew was born, i painted the master bath SW hopsack and I LOVE THIS COLOR, i have used it in several clients spaces since..it looks like caramel candy being cooked-yum!

So i am posting two baths, neither fancy, both have vinyl square floors from Lowe's which are impossible to keep but very cute..the ruffle shower curtain is from TJ Maxx (it is a calmer version of the ruffle shower curtain they used to have at Anthropologie;;) the matelesse shower curtain is peacock alley and is 10 years old..it was such a splurge when we were newlyweds but it has really held up..love it (again with the borax;;)(and the checked ribbon lowers it to the floor to cover the tub)



people always ask me about toile being trendy and "on the way out"..this is the basic "country life" toile by Waverly..i had it in our very first house 10 years ago and again here (and i have drapes out of it in red in the living room)and i never get tired of it..maybe just me.


sorry for the lack of good pictures, this "dirty mirror" picture shows the light in the little toile bath..no wide picture in my files;( ...and no that is not a current picture of my face, it is much "fuller" now at 8 nearly 9 months pregnant!;;
enjoy!

[nursery update: still in progress, waiting for the seamstress to finish the crib skirt and then i will have pictures of the finished room! check back!]

:make it lovely, yall::

I am going to stop apologizing for the baby posts..after all the motto here is "style, comfort, HOME" so i am posting away, hold on tight.

I ran across a great idea this morning from Making it Lovely, darling little girl nursery and montly picture idea (you know how a lot of people are taking pictures of their babies with the same stuffed animal or in a chair to show growth) well this ads to the charm..Isnt babY Eleanor just adorable..check our her mom's fab blog when you have time and enjoy!

:things I am lovin:

several things i am loving this morning20 MULE TEAM BORAX (yes I am serious) and this little diaper cover..non-frilly, ruffly diaper covers are so hard to find but a July baby needs the diaper cover and tee for his wardrobe dont you agree?? (and i am not into ones that look like little wrangler jeans;;;) this cutie is from the Monogram chick.

Back to the Borax..it is awesome..you can boil old linens with it and you will be amazed..i used on an old feltman sweater and bubble suit and it got out age spots and formula stains..very impressed and it is gentler than bleach! i hear it is great with cloth diaper and many other uses.. for instance,I have some thin white valances in my kitchen, i was ready to pitch them, they are 8 years old and just look dingy, i still like the look though so i tried the borax..totally worked!

and back to monograms, i found this wonderful picture on Harrington House, love her blog, a new mama who is so creative, not sure if this photo is from her party or somewhere else but i love the use of the burlap, gourds, sam's cheesecake bites i LOVE, and of course the monograms;; (and brown did i say brown)

last but not least, look what Brooklyn Limestone did with grapevine wreaths, so many of us love NESTS and this looks reallly easy and could be used for an event other than a shower even..so cute!



HAPPY TUESDAY!

::nest & cot::

I went here yesterday and it is just so sweet..love this store..they offer fab custom services but also a lot of great off the rack things from carseat covers (who would be interested in such a thing) to Dwell toys (some dwell items were on sale in fact including the infamous polka dot giraffe), those Dash and Albert rugs, sweet layette items (I bought Henry a little onesie with nests and birds..sigh), etc...so if you are near houston, interested in baby things, then RUN to Nest & Cot in Rice Village..you will love it!

and let me just say, I am sorry this has turned into a baby/nursery blog..but please just bare with me a little longer..i promise at least to never ever post about nursing here (though i did find a nursing cover in a cute fabric last week....;;;)

::more silhouettes::

oh my! i found another wonderful silhouette place on etsy...Le Papier Studio! they also have a fab website and blog..they have stock silhouettes, will do a custom design and even pets.. i love the pillow..well i love it all..they even have cuff links and lockets..enjoy!

::etsy love::

i love this etsy seller..really cute artwork and even pillows! just wanted to share!

::more fabric decisions::

not exactly "interiors" but I know several mommies read this blog and i would love your carseat input..


















I cant believe i have not posted in so long and now that i am finally posting, it is about this...but, the clock is ticking and less than two months little Henry Brooks will be here and so I am thinking about things like sheets, onesies, carseats and THE TEMPERATURE! I am not just worried about ME being hot as the time approaches and I get bigger and more uncomfortable but I am also worried about him being hot in his carseat once he finally arrives. It seems like every infant seat review I read includes a review from Texas (or another Southern state) staying "my baby got so hot in this seat"..apparently that yucky fabric is just well hot.So i am thinking I will get the safest carseat (despite the "hot" reviews) and then add a carseat cover...problem is many are made out of minky dot (and i in fact have some extra minky dot leftover from the baby blanket) so i might use some of the minky dot on the top cover or outside but NOT on the inside edges..i will use a soft 100% cotton fabric on that area..
of course this means MORE FABRIC DECISIONS..darn;; so what is your vote (remember, it will probably be coupled with the brown minky dot)?? and more important, do you have any infant seat recommendations?? I am not a big stroller system person so i will likely just pair whatever infant seat I purchase with the snap and go..it is the perfect height for me and so easy (and cheap!)

Next time I need to post a belly shot..it is GROWING!

::small words & Ruthie Clare::

I am thrilled with how this has turned out for the nursery..Kim at Small Words is really great to work with..check out her cute site here. As the little girl on the old Ethan Allen commercial says, I think this "will tie the whole room together" troublesome brown rug and all.

And God is so awesome because while i have been working on my baby boy's nursery, I've also been helping a friend prepare for a baby GIRL..awesome how i got to use a lot of ideas I had in Miss Ruthie Clare's new room..I cant wait to meet her and see if she approves;; {note to design "experts" YES i realize there is a TON of STUFF on Miss RC's walls BUT the mama wanted it ALL, i tried to sneak a few things back in my bag and she would not let me take away a thing..MORE IS MORE!}

I just noticed how I used brown polka dots in both rooms..funny.

::dash & albert::

I love these Dash and Albert rugs, I bought a small one while in Fredericksburg this weekend....i think one of the patterns MIGHT be great in the nursery BUT they are light and slippery (but soft, durable and easy to clean) the more substantial solid choc brown (pictured) is more practical probably but i love the stripes..thoughts???

The stripe comes in a foot smaller in width and two feet smaller length and then the size option jumps to a foot larger on all sides ((but really jumps in price) i dont want it to look skimpy but thinking i could live with one/two feet smaller than the brown footprint..what do you think?? and a rug pad might fix the slippage..sure dont want slippage while carrying a newborn, no matter how cute..such tough decisions!

Hopefully i will get the bumper back this week from the sewer and more accessories up soon and i can make a decision, trying not to be hasty or hormonal but it is definetely not there yet for me..luckily we have EIGHT more weeks!

::Brenham Garden Show::

This year it was called the "Country Flavors Festival" I believe, there is always some kind of festival goig on this time of year in our area...SO, my friend Missy (a florist..a name that really does not do her justice, she has a masters in horticulture!) and I set up a booth this weekend at the "festival"..it was on the square and a bit windy but a great day. We did not have a ton of customers but I finally sold two big items at the end of the day so I was happy. Mostly it was fun to just hang out with friends, eat the festival food and let our boys play! Missy had some great plants and gardening accessories.notice her porch swing display!..enjoy the pictures!

::mod green podge::

I *heart* Mod Green Podge! I recently read about them in Texas Monthly's Closet Case Blog and on Pink Wallpaper..and now i am in love with their Aspire Fabric in Peppercorn (shown here on this darling sofa)..their products are organic (not just organic either, that's TEXAS COTTON yall!), made in Texas (can you tell I like that little point;;) AND they have cute totes too(on sale right now)! Enjoy!