Monday, July 21, 2014

artsy craftsy

As I predicted, it was cool and rainy all weekend. I loved every minute of it. I didn't even mourn a weekend away from the pool. I feel like this illustrates that I've grown as a person or something.

Matt and I got up bright and early Saturday morning, because apparently now that we are old we are incapable of sleeping past 7:30 a.m. even when there is no reason on earth to be up that early. Ugh. But I'm awake, so I get up...even though then I'm grumpy and tired all day. Isn't this how it is with babies? Should someone try to sleep train me? Maybe I should cry it out? Something's gotta give. Anyway, getting up so early means that we were able to accomplish a lot on our rainy day. We headed to town and did some serious shopping, mostly for lovely touches to add to the nursery. We also hit up Michael's and got all the supplies we needed to finish (Matt) and start (me) some art projects we've been procrastinating. After we got home, we covered the dining room in newspaper and spent the rest of the day channeling our inner artistes


I found these prints on Pinterest several months ago and knew I wanted to recreate them for the nursery. The colors and style were totally perfect for the room- and completely 'me.' So 'me,' in fact, that I already have a canvas in the living room that I made several years ago that is basically the exact same style! That's why I figured I'd just make these myself instead of ordering them. Plus, I just like to do things the hard way.

Before I show you the finished art (which is not hung on the walls yet because it is going to go over the crib, which has not yet been purchased), first please admire my Corner of Happy: the glider, ottoman, and super fabulous blanket (crocheted by Jennie) and pillow (Target, several seasons ago). Matt and I basically fight over who gets to be sitting here at all times. Whoever doesn't win a spot in the chair just lays on the floor next to it in order to be close to the happy. 


Now you can see the colors for the nursery, so you will appreciate the artwork more fully. Since the crib stuff is all shoved in the closet, you can't get your color cues from it...so anyway, hope that helped. (Also, for a small fee, you are welcome to come sit in the Corner of Happy yourself. It's worth it.)


Aren't they lovely??! I am so happy with how it all turned out! And the melon-y colored one is much more melon-y than the red it appears here. It was at night, iPhone, blah blah blah colors didn't turn out right. It matches the other orange/melon colors in the pillow, promise. Each canvas is 16" x 20", so I think it will nicely fill up the space above the crib! I originally did the flowers in white, like the Etsy shop, but then I decided it was a little plainer than I liked. I went back to Michael's Sunday and found these coordinating papers that matched my colors and had a fun honeycomb print and went with that. I'm happy with how it turned out!! Unfortunately, my back was not pleased about being hunched over a table all weekend. Have I mentioned that growing elderly really sucks? Yes. It does. I can't craft because my back hurts. I am too lame for life.

Matt was finishing up a project he started for me for Mother's Day- a painting of a hydrangea! He's had it all sketched out for months, but finally got the painting part done. I am SO impressed with how it turned out!! It's weird-- I've always known Matt is artistic, but I've rarely seen him do more than a quick doodle in the margins of a notebook or something...so now I have a huge painting to remind me of his skill! And my favorite flower! This picture isn't going to do it justice- again, at night, my shadow is obscuring the bottom, etc. It looks way better in real life, so you'll just have to look at it while you're over at the house sitting in the glider. But this isn't going in the nursery. Maybe in the bedroom. Or somewhere. 


I feel like we accomplished enough art to cover us for the next couple of years. And to top things off, I even got all of the supplies cleaned and put away before we went to bed last night!! Painting like that makes a gigantic mess out of your studio dining-room-turned-work-space, so I'm glad it was only an Art Store Explosion for 24 hours and now it is all gone.

In other Rainy Weekend accomplishments, I must admit that 'reading parenting/baby books' did not make the list. Despite all of yall's amazing recommendations and advice on Friday's post...I pretty much just kept reading fiction. I bought The Time Traveler's Wife at a yard sale a couple of weekends ago. I've heard tons of people recommend it over the years but have never read it (although I do think I've seen the movie...but don't remember what happens), so now I'm knocking it off the list. So I may not know why my baby is crying, but if she ends up being a time traveler, I'll know how to deal...we'll call it a win.

27 comments:

  1. I'm impressed! Your art looks fabulous.

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  2. WHOA Matt! I took painting in college and never had anything turn out that well! That's beautiful!

    I'm LOVING the nursery! The Corner of Happy looks amazing! I think your paintings will look great over the crib! Just make sure you hang them properly... you know, less someone like "anonymous" freaks out about canvases falling on your baby causing suffocation on bumper pads. : )

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  3. You are both quite talented! I've booked my flight and I'm hopeful you'll be gracious to your guest by allowing my the comfy glider!

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  4. Wow! You guys are both impressive. And you did successfully complete my reading list if parenting books this weekend: none. I think the 7:30 wake up is juT slowly preparing you for the sleepless nights ahead!!

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  5. Gorgeous artwork....way to be productive this weekend!! :) And I'm totally scheduling a time slot in the Corner of Happy to rock that sweet baby of yours! ;)

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  6. Wow, wow, wow! I'm so impressed! And I just love that everything is coming together in the nursery -- it looks great!!! But now that it's getting close to done, if you could send some of that creative energy in this direction, I would so greatly appreciate it. Please and thank you. :-)

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  7. All the art looks so great!! I love that you got your craft on. And that the blanket goes well, too! Hopefully you use it - they are meant to be worn, tattered and loved throughout childhood. I'm disappointed if I see a blanket 5 years later still looking perfect on the back of a chair. :)

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  8. I love the art, super impressive!! How did you do the flower part, with paint or rubber stamps? I really want to try this because I need a couple to go above our bed.

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  9. Okay, so I totally take back what I said about it being Gator-y. It looks great!!!!

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  10. Your creations are beautiful! Love your Corner of Happy, too--that glider looks like it wraps you up like a warm hug, and the blanket is a lovely touch. No wonder you fight over it! Can't wait to see the complete picture in a few weeks :)

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  11. Wow, I am so impressed! you two are quite crafty! The nursery is going to look amazing! I absolutely love the colors! Sounds like you two had a fantastic weekend! :)

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  12. Looks like the whole nursery - baby-to-come included - will be a labor of love :)

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  13. First off I love the colors - same color scheme as Camille's room - except my iPhone pics of the nursery are horrible so it is hard to tell the resemblance. :)

    Secondly, y'all should totally open up your own Etsy print shop because those look amazing! I would order them b/c unlike you - I am lazy. :)

    But I will say this weekend I tapped into my inner artist and made a wreath for our front door. My one craft project for my entire life. Check! :)

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  14. The art for the nursery looks awesome! Not that you needed to hear it from me, but, wow! Really beautiful! And the hydrangea painting? Go, Matt!

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  15. Pretty nursery! What is the make of the glider? We're looking at one from Little Castle but it's really pricey for the fabric I like, so I'm looking for more reasonable alternatives!

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    1. Thank you! The glider is by Babyletto- we got it from Amazon! It was a total gamble, but it got great reviews, was SUPER reasonable, and would supposedly be a breeze to return if we didn't like it, so we went for it!! http://www.amazon.com/babyletto-Madison-Swivel-Glider-Mocha/dp/B0077P3U8A

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  16. I love the recliner! You two are so artistic, I love it!

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  17. I love your nursery colors! And holy impressed with BOTH of you!! Nice work on the art projects :)

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  18. Love the art and LOVE that you are getting that nursery ready! wahoo!

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  19. Love that Corner of Happy so much I want to make it my screen saver! I knew you were artistic, but wowza! Those paintings are awesome and I can't wait to see the nursery reveal. Way to have a productive weekend! All I did was catch up on PLL and eat lemon heads til I couldn't breathe. I was feeling so accomplished until I read this post!

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  20. Love the crafts and am jealous of your peaceful weekend!!

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  21. I've done that craft too!!! It was really fun and now you're making want to do it again :) I love Matt's picture too - I wish I was that artistic!

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  22. You're far more of an adult than me at the loss of a pool weekend. I probably would have been even more irate about its loss if I hadn't been passed out on the ground for most of the morning.

    And this artwork is lovely.

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  23. Wow!! Both of you guys art work is awesome!! Props to you both!

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  24. Love all of the paintings!!

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  25. I love all your artwork! When I saw the picture of Matt painting on Instagram, I thought he was making a collage of tiny elephants. The hydrangea is way more beautiful :)

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