Nursery artwork

So as some of you may know, when I lived in Raleigh I used to paint children's furniture. Through word of mouth, I would do pieces for various people (but mostly for friends or as gifts). I was just starting to gain a little momentum and then life hit and I eventually moved away. It is still something I love to do but just haven't focused on it...until now when I needed my own!

Not long ago I was searching for artwork for the nursery and found some really cute pieces but they were SO expensive! I decided I could paint them just as well so I took a few snap shots for inspiration and went to town. Below are the results...what do you think?

And yes! I'm still painting so if you know of anyone who would like some custom artwork for themselves or as a gift, please let me know. Will ship (but not furniture)! The ones below are all on basic canvases and easy to hang with a ribbon (which I can attach) or by a nail in the back.

A new living room...

I don't know if you've ever watched the show "Sarah's House" but Sarah Richardson, from Canada, is my favorite designer on HGTV. I watch and record her show religiously and love to watch them over and over. A few months ago I put up valances in my living room because my husband refused to have curtains. He considers them dust collectors. I lived with them for a while but they never seemed quite right. I've decided I'm not a valance girl unless it's in a kitchen or on a small window. I also decided not to listen to my husband's opinion when it comes to decorating.

Anywhoozle, while watching Sarah's House, I was inspired by an episode where she redesigned a new bedroom in the country house. She mentioned that if you had a fabric you loved but it would be too much to have as panels you could put strips of it on either side of a neutral fabric to lessen the impact. I realized it was the perfect solution to my living room since we have so many windows. I started with a fabric I found on discount (see big pillows on couch) and then matched fabrics from there to devise my color scheme for the room.

So per my friend Melissa's request, I'm posting pictures. I made the curtains (thanks Jenny T for the sewing lessons!), painted the living room a warm khaki, recovered the wooden couch and made some new pillows. I think it is perfect for the room and really helped make everything seem warm and cozy but still allowing plenty of light in the room.

On a side note, this room led to me painting the hallway, redecorating the MBR and guest/man room as well. The nursery is well under way and pics of that will follow soon. I'm currently finding creative ways to make art work for the walls. I've already refurbished almost all the nursery furniture, another inspiration from Sarah.

So be inspired! Find a show, a designer, a cool fabric or fun pictures and let your imagination take over to pull it all together!

Happy decorating!
~Anna

P.S. you can also play "Where's Stella and Jackson" (like "Where's Waldo") in these pictures :)

Preparing for baby...

So yes, I've been a HORRIBLE blogger. When I started this blog I had full intentions of documenting my random thoughts...well apparently that's easier said than done. Time seems to slip away, especially after you spend your first 8hrs of the day on a computer at work so the last thing you want is to come home and get back on it.

Anywhoozle, so a few updates on our end. I'm about 26 weeks along now so very close to 6 months. Belly is definitely growing and I'm just starting to get uncomfortable. Daniel says I need a graveyard of pillows at night to get comfortable, which basically puts him on the edge of the bed hoping he doesn't fall out.

In case you haven't heard, the baby's name is Charles Elijah Schrall AKA "Charlie". I released control and let Daniel name him so he picked Charles, from his dad's name and Elijah since it's his favorite old testament prophet. Our goal is to finish the nursery, or at least most of it, by the end of the month so we have a whopping 2 weekends left! I am using an unusual pattern for the curtains - sort've a funky paisley - floral pattern - so it lends to funky colors in the room but I think I can pull it all together: olive green, lime-ish green, light blue, cream and red. There are some skeptics out there (Jenny) but I'm sticking to my design plan and hope it looks cohesive. I'm not much of a "theme" kind've gal so we'll see how it turns out. Pictures to follow in a few weeks...

We also registered yesterday. PHEW! Who knew there was so much STUFF! Daniel was a trooper and didn't complain one little bit and was very helpful. He even carried my purse around since my back was hurting. Thanks, honey! :) So we are officially registered with Babies R Us and Target. I have a few things to update but otherwise that's one thing off my "to do" list. We have our first shower in September and another being planned as well. Two others have expressed throwing showers but we haven't firmed them up yet. I already feel blessed that so many people are helping provide for Charlie!

Well, those are my updates for now. Time is flying by! More to come as the belly grows...

Month 2...done!

Well, for those of you following that don't know...I'm pregnant! :) We went through some fertility treatments at the end of January and by God's grace it happened the first time for us. Currently I'm a little over 9 weeks. It's still early but so far so good. A few random thoughts:

I am extremely shocked at how fast I out-grew my pants this time. Technically this is my 3rd pregnancy (but our first child together) and my poor pants buttons get further and further apart by the day. Jaime may be right, I may be in maternity clothes shortly after my first trimester! YIKES! But can I just say at how much I love the clothes in Ann Taylor Loft this season? All flowy and long - perfect for a newly prego who doesn't want to go into maternity clothes yet. I have plenty of room in them to last hopefully till at least mid-summer.

While I have been nauseous morning, noon and night...water gives me heartburn along with most everything else...I have the nose of a bloodhound (not good in a public restroom by the way)...I live to sleep on the weekends...and maybe just a LITTLE (and by little I mean alot) moody - it's still an unbelievable blessing. I'm very thankful God chose to bless us on our first try.

Daniel has been so supportive, even though he has no idea why I dry heave at random times or why it's triggered. Glad he wasn't in the Publix parking lot yesterday when everyone was staring as I was doubled over! He even got up at 4:30am the other morning and got me cranberry juice from the grocery store when I got a bladder infection. He's going to be a good daddy.

My friend, Missey, is 2 days behind me so we talk at least once a week comparing our sad little symptoms. We pretty much mirror each other so it's sort've comical.

Well, that's my only update this week. Maybe I can write more when I stop sleeping so much!

XXOO

~Anna

Lost

I don't really watch alot of TV...I have a few shows that I really like like The Mentalist, Criminal Minds, Grey's Anatomy, CSI NY and Castle. Mostly crime dramas. However, there is one show that I absolutely cannot miss - LOST. Is anyone else obsessed like I am wondering who the "others" are or wondering each episode what the heck is going on? I highly encourage you to start at the beginning of the seasons if you haven't seen them. They are a little cooky but go with it...it's really good!

~Anna

Paintballs and Candy...by Stella

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Stella...Stella Marie if I'm in trouble, which is fairly frequently even though I try really hard. I want to share with everyone this great new candy I discovered called paint balls. Ever heard of them? I hear my dad uses them in a gun to shoot at people and they go "splat" - such a waste if you ask me. My big brother, Jackson, and I have even chased after them when he shoots them in the backyard at a box - although we never seem to catch them.

Anyways, I have FINALLY found where they hide them! Score! It's almost like when my dad finds the hidden cookies or ice cream in the middle of the night that mom hides. I found them in the "man room" in a bucket. I had to really work hard to reach down in the bucket and pull the bag out. But once I got it, I tore a hole in it lickety-split! These paintballs are like yummy little candies but they have this rubbery shell over them that I have to bite through, then the delicious liquid center squirts through. I got in trouble the other day when I found them and ate several. The liquid center sometimes gets all over the floor because it all won't fit in my mouth...so I bite them and move to the next one. A little messy but delicious! Blue is my favorite but I'm not picky! Try them!

~Stella, The Pug

P.S. my mom wishes she had taken a picture of me when my face was covered in blue streaks but I escaped her!

Best design tip...

I learned this trick from watching various deisgners on HGTV and specifically Karen McAloon's show. So if you are trying to decorate any room, use these tips.

1. Pick a main color. This color will be your primary color and usually is your wall color since that is the largest space it will cover. This should be a color you love, not something you think you will love.
2. Pick an accent color or two. This color will compliment your main color. The best accent colors are those that are either on opposite sides of the color wheel or adjacent to your main color on the color wheel. You may opt for just one accent color or you may opt for two (or three if you absolutely can't narrow it down...but any more and it can look too busy or disjointed)
3. Pick a metal finish. This metal finish can be brushed nickel, bronze, wrought iron, silver or gold. This will be the finish of any metals you pick for the room.
4. Pick a wood grain/tone. This will be the shade of all your wood tones for the room. The easiest way to pick this if you don't have samples is to go to your local hardware or home improvement store and look at the stain samples.

Viola! You have everything you need to go shopping and decorate your room! When you are shopping for furniture, accents, rugs, fabrics, pillows, lamps and other items, make sure that they fit in the parameters you have selected. It's helpful if you take samples with you shopping. For example, my living room choices are: pumpkin orange or brick red (similar in shade often times), sage green, dark wood, bronze metal finish and light khaki. My bedroom is blue, green, black/wrought iron and white.

Never buy anything you don't LOVE. If you like it and buy it because it "matches" then you won't love it later and will likely get rid of it if you change your room. I have a variety of fun prints in dark wood stained frames. The dark wood frames match the wood grain I have in the room. All the prints are my tastes and I love them but they still go with the room since I kept the frames similar in shade.

Happy decorating! As always, you know where to find me if you need specific advice.

~AWS