Boy's Bedroom


Sooner or later Fox will need his own room, right? So we'll put him in the room that was our bedroom until the latest switch-a-roo. Though the room currently holds dismantled printers, out of season clothes, and an inordinate amount of fabric, one day soon we'll whip it back into shape and make it suitable for The Boy.


The existing wall color is Sherwin Williams Fawn Brindle.  It needs another coat, but nothing major. I plan on making the crib skirt out of a gray and white ikat fabric, them using the extra strips to embellish the curtains and to make tie backs for them.

Items we already own:  Navy blackout curtains (from Target), globe mobile (clearance from Restoration Hardware years ago), red striped storage buckets (from red envelope), Brainstorm biology print, Clever Fox wall art (a gift from my cousin, from Target).

Recently bought, need to buy, simply drooling over: Ikea Sniglar crib (recently bought), Java ikat fabric in Pewter (from Magnolia Home Fashions, recently bought),  hamper (Land of Nod, to buy),  rope knot curtain rod finials (Land of Nod, to buy),  Ferm Living molecule set (simply drooling over), chandelier (Serena and Lily...wayyyy out of budget, simply drooling over)

Going Mobile


Last week Charlie and I faced the realization that Fox is just about to outgrow the bassinet. We haven't put much effort into planning a nursery for him, just kinda went with the "cross that bridge" mentality. I guess it's time to cross that bridge.

Over the weekend we bought an Ikea Sniglar crib which is now set up in our room. It will stay there for a few months, maybe longer. I like keeping my babies close by while we sleep. The downside to that closeness is that we don't have visually stimulating decor for an infant.



A mobile seems like the perfect quick fix for that! Between daycare and his toys at home, Fox gets plenty of baby-themed visuals: the Winnie the Pooh mobile on his swing, plastic animal-themed noise makers on the baby bouncers, and the Non-sters thing that I never imagined he would love so much! Instead of another set of plush toys floating overhead, I've been thinking a mobile with a bit more graphic interest might serve him well.


A few of my favorites: 1. The Alison Show leather triangle mobile; 2. Flensted Regatta; 3. Baby Jives Co. Gold Star Cloud; Flensted Abstract Futura (small size).

Do you have a favorite?

The Play Room


After reading Simplicity Parenting (a few thoughts on it here) I went through M's play room (she calls it her downstairs living room) and purged about half her toys. It still looked cluttered, but I reorganized the layout and found a place for everything.  I've tried to teach her how to clean up her toys but those who know me know I have no business teaching anyone anything about cleaning.


Simply getting everything in its place took so long we both ended up frustrated and irritable. Throughout the process M would find a toy she hadn't played with in a while and understandably want to play with it. The first few times I gently asked her to get back on task, then I finally resorted to the ol' standby threat, "Mabel, if you can't take care of your toys we're going to give them to someone who can." I had a box in my hand to really drive the point home.

With that motivation she picked everything up, threw it all in the box threat and asked me who would get the toys and where we were going to take them. She didn't see it as a threat so much as an opportunity to share. Lesson learned.


Since then we've been tidying a little bit every day but the room generally looks like the toy monster vomited a rainbow of plastic all over the floor.

Yesterday I gave it a thorough once-over...it took a solid 8 hours.  Since it's clean, I took a few quick camera phone pics. I'm not one to miss the rare opportunity to brag about a clean room.

My system? I applied what I know about how Mabel plays:
  • she's more likely to play with her toys when she can see them; 
  • she won't dig through a giant toy box to get out one toy, she likes to peruse the buffet before deciding what looks fun;
  • she simply won't make a choice (i.e. she'll ask to watch TV) if given too many options;
  • she's much more imaginative if she has a place to park her rump and/or move around without obstacles; 
  • given a task she can do herself (e.g. hanging a jacket, putting away shoes) she rises to the challenge; it's a simple way to build her self-confidence and she loves knowing she can do something "by mine own self".

Going through the room, I made a small pile of toys to get rid of. Then I whittled the selection of books, puzzles, and art supplies to about half. Those went into a closet to use as back stock. I bought a few more baskets to organize the cubbies.  I like the clean look of those bins made fit these kinds of shelves and hide the clutter, but picked low-walled baskets so M can easily see what's inside. in loose themes like "things with wheels". At some point in the near future I'll add pictogram labels to each. I  moved a table in from another room, making a corner for crafting. Above the table are some cute little clips for an easily changeable display of her artwork. Just inside the doorway to the room are lots of hooks at her height for hats, necklaces and jackets. Below the hooks to the left is a sizable basket for shoes and slippers. Below the hooks to the right is a picnic basket sturdy enough she can stand on it and play with her nature shelf.




What's nature shelf? They're common to both Montessori and Waldorf philosophies. Generally it's an area dedicated to all the fascinating finds from the great outdoors. I took a wooden box some flash cards came in and made one (errr...asked Charlie to make one) for M. She loves collecting natural objects, examining them, and showing them off when other kids come over. This little area provides the perfect spot for that.


It's back to being a play room meant for play. At least for now.

A Big Shop Announcement



I've been debating over whether I want to reopen the shop, deciding how to balance all of my interests without falling prey to the need to constantly update the shop and maintain competitiveness of mainstream consumerism. (Anyone else feel like etsy no longer sets an independent pace but pushes shop keepers to stay ahead of the retail curve?) I don't have the drive to make items based on holiday themes, nor do I have the time.

All rants aside, when the shop reopens, I'm going to have a different structure and a different process: I will just offer 1 print at a time in very limited editions. The paper, the size and the time of availability will vary, but my goal is to have a new design every 2 months. If an edition doesn't sell out, I'll still pull it from the shop.

It's a way for me to keep pushing myself, stay outside that retail rush, and feel passionate about my product.


This print is nearly finished, and will be the first available in a 16 x 22" poster as an edition of 10 ($75). Smaller prints (8 x 10", edition of 20, $30) will be available through the fine retailers that carry Wolfie and the Sneak wares.