With a little DIY and some repurposing, I built a nursery for our second little girl. With our existing furniture and paint color, plus a few key accessories John's "Yankee Room" was transformed (not without a few manly tears...)
Here are a few of the things I came up with...
DIY #1: Palette Silhouette
Theme-wise I was thinking hot air balloons, but the more pregnant I got and the more research I did, somehow it ended up being birds. They both fly, so they're kind of the same, right? Not really, but in the end I just couldn't figure out how I was going to easily make all the hot air balloon accessories and I couldn't really find the vintage-style balloons that I was looking for. Anyhow, I made this palette piece a long time ago and it was just sitting around waiting for the perfect place to be put on display. Here's the link to the DIY I previously posted: Bird Silhouette on Palette. It's now quite comfy above the changing table.
DIY #2:
Crib bumpers are pricey and to be honest, all the articles I've read about them being a suffocation hazard kept me up nights with my nose pressed against the video monitor screen to make sure Violet hadn't squished hers against the fluffy, fabric ones that came with her crib set. We eventually bought the mesh breathable bumpers that became so popular, but they were a plain, old brown and I mourned the loss of the pretty colors and fabric that added so much style to her bed. This time around I assumed 3 years later there would be more options for this mesh-style bumper, but despite my research I didn't find anything in the stores other than some polka-dots and stripes. Naturally, my next stop was Google and Etsy. When I searched breathable bumpers I found the image below.

"All Things Granny" on Etsy sells lots of cute, crochet stuff and at one time was crafting these bumpers made by joining granny squares together. Of course, I'm always up for some DIY, so I decided to start crocheting me some squares! My crochet skills are decent at most, and granny squares are pretty basic, so I started by following this tutorial and decided to go with 5 alternating colors (black, gray, peach, mint, and coral) ending in white each time for a total of 6 rounds/colors. I made about 25 of them just to be safe, but only really needed about 20 after they were joined together and edged with the peach. There are lots of ways to join granny squares, but I like this one that I found at Carina's Craft Blog. Once they were all joined, I edged the entire thing with peach to widen it a bit, and then trimmed it once more around with a white, single crochet stitch. It was easy to add some ribbon to tie them on, but make sure to buy a few spools because they are bit more floppy than the traditional bumpers and need to be fastened to the crib in a few more spots.
DIY #3: Fabric Birds
Aaand so goes the bird theme. Not the most original, but I blame it on these adorable fabric birds. I don't remember how I came across this mobile and fabric bird pattern, but when I did the whole plan for the room just sort of came together. I had hoped to make the mobile with actual branches and all, but I had been eyeing up those filament bulb string lights at Target for a while and really wanted to do some sort of light effect in the room since I did something like that above Violet's crib (below.)
The goal was to make the lights look like they were strung on the birch trees which are decals I purchased at Nursery Decals N More on Etsy. They went up really easily- I managed to do it myself 7 months pregnant! Each tree was 2 pieces and the branches, leaves, and birds (you pick the color) are separate. Anyway, back to the birds...I've included some pictures below of a bit of the process. Along with the directions as laid out on the pattern (follow the link above) and a bit of hand stitching you can probably complete one in about 40 minutes. With a sewing machine I'd imagine the time would be cut in half. I unfortunately have less than average sewing skills (did I ever mention that my mom is a Home Economics teacher? Yeah, I don't cook either...) so I opted to do a simple basting stitch all the way around. I even tried to do it with hot glue instead...(HUGE fan of the glue gun...make sure to stay tuned for a future post detailing the no-sew trim I made to spice up the black roman shades in Ruby's room.)
Eventually I made about 6 birds and started crossing projects off my list that I knew I just wouldn't get to- including the actual incorporation of the mobile with branches for the birdies to perch on. SO, that's when I decided to attach them to the lights with some wire, and I think I made the right choice.
John's "Yankee Room" man cave is no more, all that's left is the "Don Mattingly Dr .sign above the door that was too high for me to reach without a ladder. We've since decided it's a cute reminder of the room's evolution though- a little bit of Yankee love doesn't hurt, and though he misses his space, we both know there are many memories to be made there that will far surpass even the love of a devoted fan.
The goal was to make the lights look like they were strung on the birch trees which are decals I purchased at Nursery Decals N More on Etsy. They went up really easily- I managed to do it myself 7 months pregnant! Each tree was 2 pieces and the branches, leaves, and birds (you pick the color) are separate. Anyway, back to the birds...I've included some pictures below of a bit of the process. Along with the directions as laid out on the pattern (follow the link above) and a bit of hand stitching you can probably complete one in about 40 minutes. With a sewing machine I'd imagine the time would be cut in half. I unfortunately have less than average sewing skills (did I ever mention that my mom is a Home Economics teacher? Yeah, I don't cook either...) so I opted to do a simple basting stitch all the way around. I even tried to do it with hot glue instead...(HUGE fan of the glue gun...make sure to stay tuned for a future post detailing the no-sew trim I made to spice up the black roman shades in Ruby's room.)
Eventually I made about 6 birds and started crossing projects off my list that I knew I just wouldn't get to- including the actual incorporation of the mobile with branches for the birdies to perch on. SO, that's when I decided to attach them to the lights with some wire, and I think I made the right choice.
The fun doesn't stop there...
Thus is the beginning of my detailing all the DIY fun I had decorating Ruby's room. Granted I did spend about $200 on supplies and some decor (Home Goods anyone?? Don't even get me started. I could spend an hour in the pillow aisle alone...) but overall the whole thing was done by reusing, repurposing and crafting- and there's more! The next few posts will cover an EASY 10 minute makeover on a cheap particle board bookshelf (preview below!) Also, the fabric "R" for Rue's door I made to match the Violet's "V" I purchased at Anthropologie, but could no longer find on sale anywhere, as well as the trim I mentioned for the existing roman shades, and the burlap "Ruby" banner.
**Update: DIYs #4 and #5 posted for your viewing pleasure:
And look how comfy she is!
Hop along with us!

This is so beyond adorable and DIY Awesome! I can't believe you can crochet even you you only rank it as 'decent' my grandmother tried to teach me and my grandfather even bough me and entire book with needles and How To Kit when I was like 10 and I like "Uh this is for OLLLLLD People!" Now I sooo wish I took the time to learn...Kudos To You!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! Honestly, I'm just barely a beginner but I tend to pick things up pretty fast. Still, no one is more surprised than me when any oft crafts actually turn out the way I envision them!
DeleteHomegoods and Hobby Lobby are my crack. I love the crocheted bumper! I haven't seen that before. And I love that you threw in the stuffed bird tutorial! All in all, I think Ruby's nursery is just beautiful. You did a great job! Thanks for visiting www.whenthekidsarebored.com today.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!! I haven't actually been to a Hobby Lobby! A few people have mentioned it lately though and I'm kind of afraid of what I might do if I go there...My check book thanks me for abstaining for now- or at least my husband does anyway!
DeleteThis is SO awesome!! I love the mixes of patterns! This is completely the look I love! Awesome job! (Although now it makes me want to have another baby so I can design another nursery!)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Beth! I love trying to mix lots of crazy patterns and textures. I a firm believer of see it, love it, buy it and figure out how to make it work later. Thanks so much for stopping by
DeleteGreat job! My husband dreams of having a Yankee Room, we have never lived in a place big enough for that to happen but he would be jealous to know that at one time your husband had one.
ReplyDeleteI love the colors and all the DIY.
Thanks! The Yankee Room was great while it lasted. Unfortunately all his paraphernalia is relegated to a box in the basement, but maybe we'll find a new home for it one day! Thanks so much for stopping by!
DeleteHey - just found your site through SITS and am already in love! Your style is absolutely gorgeous! Your baby has one of the most beautiful nurseries I've ever seen - I really love the palette silhouette. I'm a new follower and will be checking back lots for more inspiration (although I'll mostly be just dreaming since I'm not much of a DIY-er! haha). Blessings to you and your family
ReplyDeleteWow! Thanks so much for the amazing compliments! I hope to get much more up soon and would be so happy to have you come and visit again!
DeleteThat baby is so sweet! I wish you could decorate MY house! omg you are talented!
ReplyDeleteThank you!! I wish I could too!! I love interior decorating. I should have gone to school for it. It's so fun for me to try and translate someone's personality and taste into their decor. It's easy doing my own, but it would be a whole new challenge to do someone else's! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteOh my goodness, you are so crafty! I love all of these and they actually seem simple enough to do myself, so thank you!
ReplyDeleteWow! The stuff you did was amazing!! The best part is I think I could do some of those myself! Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteThose are lovely. Wish I was good at interior decorating.
ReplyDeleteThis is just awesome! I love it, wish I had interior decorating skills!
ReplyDeleteThis is gorgeous! I'm a little jealous...
ReplyDeleteI've always blamed my lack of design in the baby(s) rooms because they were both boys...but really, I'm horrible at decorating.
So, so cute. Great job! I love all the little birdies. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful! Love the use of the Granny Squares
ReplyDelete