Meta Monday - Nursery Art

Let me just start by reminding you of my one year blog anniversary giveaway. I have quite a few names to draw from but I would love to add yours to the list! Just let me know you'd like to enter and make sure I know your your blog or e-mail address to contact you if you win. I'll draw the name on March 8 and announce the winner of one of my own watercolors on March 9.

When my daughter was pregnant both times I thought I would lose my mind I was so excited. I was born to be a grandmother! I could hardly wait to get in the nurseries to paint. Julie found out during both of her pregnancies that was was expecting girls at about 20 weeks. We thought we had loads of time but her first baby was a preemie. They didn't have a stick of furniture or as much as a diaper, but by George, they had wisteria and butterflies on the walls! We were much more prepared for the second birth, though she was late...go figure! I'd like to show you some pictures of Sydney's and Isabelle's nurseries for today's Metamorphosis Monday. I had such a wonderful time doing them - and YES, I DO realize how blessed I am to have a daughter and son-in-law who share their lives and children with "Mimi and Papa" so freely. Julie wanted both girls to have different rooms. We had already done a romantic style nursery for Sydney with pink and lavender wisteria and vines along the upper border of the room. I added butterflies and nests among the vines. So we decided to create for Isabelle an outdoor scene, with a low wild flower border and a large tree laden with nests and bluebirds of happiness. For some reason I didn't take pictures before I started painting, but both rooms were basic solid beige/antique white rooms.

The first two pictures are of Sydney's room...

The rest of the pictures are of Isabelle's room...

Don't forget to visit Susan at Between Naps On The Porch. You simply will not believe the creativity of the amazing ladies who are posting for Meta Monday!

2008 Project #1 - Meta Monday

Take a minute to click on the birthday cake graphic at the top of my right side bar for details of my one year blog anniversary giveaway! I would love to include your name in the drawing on March 8!

In May 2008 our son moved out of our house into his own home. The first picture below is the nearly empty "Detroit Piston blue" room with black trim the day he left. Hideous! He came back for a visit a few days later and the room shown in the rest of the pictures was what he found. I wish I had had a camera to capture his face when he saw his "manly" room, now a pretty silvery lavender guest room! Though the room is still not decorated completely, the real work is finished.

First I primed the walls, then I painted them with lavender. The next evening I painted the white wisteria border. Hubby and I were finally ready to order new furniture! We found this white set with carved roses on the headboard, footboard, and mirror. I love it! While we waited for the furniture delivery, my husband and I spent hours one evening scrubbing the floor by hand and touching up any paint needed. Finally the furniture arrived and I loved it even more than I had in the store. Next, the search began for bedding. I decided on an all white down comforter, dust ruffle, and four large white pillows. I found a couple of gorgeous Vera Wang sheet sets in exactly the same shade of silvery lavender. Love 'em!

All that was needed to complete the room was window covering, some things to hang on the walls, lamps, ceiling fixture, and closet doors. I remembered two matching lamps that my mother-in-law had given me which matched perfectly in color and style. Perfect! I couldn't find anything I really loved for the window so I made a valence using the same silvery lavender satin. Then I bought long soft cotton Shabby Chic "dotted Swiss" curtains. I'm still not quite satisfied with the results. I'm thinking of making a second curtain in a coordinating muted print to go over the white...what do you all think? The closet doors were easy...Hubby installed a new double sliding mirrored pair. I am still working on finding things to hang on the walls. I bought two 11x14 inch frames with a 4x6 inch opening in black, because that's how they came, then painted them white. They have a pretty raised vintage looking trim. I found two vintage postcards in lavender to place in the frames. Love it. I hung a wide frame over the bed that has 6 openings - that are still empty! I want to press purple flowers to place in those openings. There's only one wall remaining to hang something. I know what I want to do - a vintage collection of my grandmother's items, all in whites and purples. I have been gathering items to frame but I'm not quite there yet. I'll post it when I'm finished. The one last remaining search is a chandelier for the ceiling. I painted the ugly faux wood fan blades white and painted a lavender design on, but it's a chandelier I long for! I would also like to cover a stool or a very small chair for the room so guests have a place to sit other than on the tall bed!

So that's one of my big projects of 2008. Who was the first guest to stay in my new guest room? CeeKay of Thinkin' of Home when she came to visit in October!

Do head straight to Susan's where you will find links to many wonderful Meta Monday posts! I can't believe how creative you blogging ladies are!