Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Artsing and Craftsing

I decided Andrew Thomas' room [/the guest room / the study] needed a couple more dashes of pizazz, so I pulled out those blue paints left over from my wall letters project and got to work.

First, I made drawer knobs for the dresser in his room. This dresser originally was my Aunt Cacky's and was passed on to me as a child. I think it later did a stint in the KA house with Brian. When Jacob and I got married and returned from our honeymoon, we drove a U-Haul of wedding gifts from Birmingham to Charlottesville. Just before we closed up the U-Haul and hit the road, I mentioned that we had no real dresser for our new abode. Mama and Daddy scrambled up into the attic and brought this one down. In Charlottesville, I painted its blonde wood white and added black iron drawer pulls and it served me very well for the past two years. Now, it's making yet another transformation to nursery furniture!
One knob, all primed and ready for paint:


All the knobs, with their first coat of blue paint:


And now, bespeckled!

In place, following hubby's installation!

After finishing the knobs, I noticed that the wall opposite the crib wall seemed rather blank. So it was time to make some "art." My dear friend Laura Ann gave us a beautiful white throw pillow with sailboat sketchings on it, which looks just perfect on the eggshell blue guest bed coverlet. Her pillow inspired me to go nautical. I found some coloring book pages online, with simple drawings of a sailboat, a captain's wheel, and an anchor. Unfortunately, they were too small to use as a stencil, so I had to freehand the design onto some heavy paper:

And then cut out a homemade stencil for tracing:

After pencilling the designs onto the blue-painted canvases, I filled them in, added a few decorative bits and...Ta-Da!

Now my baby's room has a theme! The canvases are very thin, with no obvious way to hang them, so I think I'll get some lengths of ribbon (or maybe twine?) to attach to the backsides and hang on hooks on the wall. Easy greasy, and made with supplies I already had on hand!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm so happy the dresser is being put to good use! It has come full circle and then some; it was wood; then I painted it white; then I stipped it back down to wood ......
The knobs and pictures are adorable!

Much love,

Aunt Cacky

EMILY said...

Love the polka dot knobs and the nautical canvases!! Cannot wait to see pics of baby Andrew! :)
Love, Emily

Anonymous said...

i love your nautical theme! perfect for baby boy!!! i never knew you were so crafty, very impressive!!! wow, i cannot believe you're only weeks away from being a mommy...so exciting!!

Wanting What I Have said...

Cute, cute, cute! My little guy (t3) is standing beside the computer pointing at the screen and shouting! He obviously is quite taken with your designs! :)

Anonymous said...

Joseph and Charles will definatly approve of the theme. You will need to get them to take Andrew for a sail on the Sea Jay II when you come in the spring. Lily is going for her first cruise on December 13th when we all go down for the parade on the river. Love your knobs and hangings they are verrrry cute!

EWP said...

Your arts and crafts abilities amaze me. Can't wait to see the room!

Anonymous said...

I am so glad the pillow inspired you! You are quite the ARTEEST! I love you and am SOOOO excited for you and Jacob!!! MUCH LOVE, LAB!

Anonymous said...

it's soo cute! I cant wait to get up there in a few weeks! the nautical theme is so great... Uncle Charles sends his approval and is anxious to get that baby boy sailing! I hope you are feeling well and dont let that baby come before the 18th... cant wait to see you then!
Kimberly and Charles

Laura said...

oh my goodness! you are so artsy and the room is adorable! i've been thinking of you guys lately as the baby gets closer. glad to hear you're doing well!

Anonymous said...

Elizabeth--quite impressed with your work! And so excited for you . . . not long to go! Love you! -Vir