Author Archives: Leonie Marie

Painting the Hills & Sky

31 Thursday Jul 2014

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My vision for the nursery walls included soft colors, rolling hills and a neutral sky with clouds. I planned out the landscape first, sketching the hills onto the wall with a pencil, several erasers and a lot of patience. The challenging part was in knowing how my lines were materializing on a 12 foot wall when I’m only inches away from it at any given time. To make this easier, I purchased a cheap art projector like the one below:

projector

Thanks to this little gadget, I was able to sketch my hills out onto paper first and then project them onto the walls and trace them. I definitely recommend this method for painting murals or other projects involving larger-than-life canvas sizes!

With this complete, I tackled the paint. I did the sky first and then the hills to ensure the illusion that the hills were on top of the sky rather than the other way around (trust me, it makes a difference). Two coats were necessary all the way around to ensure coverage of the original yucky mustard-yellow wall color. After rolling on the larger surface areas, I found it helpful to switch to a smaller-bristle art brush for the details.

 

Phase 1 of Painting Complete:

Special thanks to my good friend, Vanessa, who traveled all the way from Chicago to help me complete Phase 1 of the Painting Plan! I love you girl, and your fellow-perfectionist capabilities! ♥ ♥ ♥

Vanessa & Leonie

 

 

The Nursery Plan

19 Saturday Jul 2014

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As with most of my projects, about 80% of the work is in the planning. Well I’ve spent more than enough time visualizing and planning out my nursery theme. And with just a few weeks left to bring it all together, I’ve launched into full blown execution mode.

Here’s a quick reminder of what “The Before” room looked like before I got my hands on it: https://livelovecraft.org/category/operation-nursery/. It needs a lot of work from this point to be transformed into the baby room that truly captures my vision… SO here’s The Plan!

The Walls:

I plan on painting a sky with rolling hills on each wall. In the sky I will incorporate clouds, hot air balloons and other whimsical elements. I cut out some paper shapes here just to play with placement.

2014-04-30 19.39.55

The Paint Pallet:

Soft, calming colors will set the tone. I chose a pastel yellow sky instead of a blue one to help neutralize the space (instead of screaming “It’s a BOY!”).

Paint Pallet

Bookcase Bench:

I want the room to have plenty of space for books, toys and storage, so I’m enlisting my husband to build this built-in bookcase bench that I designed. I’m really excited about this piece. If he can pull it off, it will add a huge custom element to the room, plenty of usable space, and a nice little reading nook right in front of the window!

Bookcase Bench Design A

Textiles: 

I searched high and low for just the right fabrics to accent and compliment the room. I’ll be using them to make a window valence, as well as a seat cushion and decorative pillows for the bookcase bench. I’m going to have a lot of fun mismatching different design combinations from these patterns!

Textile Swatched

Pillows:

Here are some of my composition ideas for the decorative pillow designs using the textiles from above. I want to make enough of them to line the bookcase bench with across the entire length of the window sill.

Pillows Design

Valence:

The window will need to be dressed with something pretty, so I’ve settled on this design for the valence, (using my colors of course!). I like everything about this style, from the shape of the rod to the simplicity of its form.

Valence Design

So there you have it. The plans have been drawn! And of course, as my husband likes to point out, my projects can never just be simple. But what can I say… I’m up for the challenge. And I’m super excited to see how it will all come together!

 

 

Rounding Out at Week 33

07 Monday Jul 2014

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Dear Bundle,

We’re rounding out at Week 33 and things are starting to get really busy around here. Our doctor appointments have been bumped up to every two weeks. And by week 35, they will increase to once a week. Weight gain up until this point has been slow and gradual, but starting about now that velocity will ramp up significantly as well. To put it into perspective, you are only about 4 pounds now, but from here until B-Day (about 7 weeks away) you will probably double in size.

Week 33 Bump

At this point in my pregnancy and with the nearing of the much anticipated event, I am preoccupied with a palpable feeling of excitement and joy (you’ll be here soon!), coupled strongly with an equally overwhelming feeling of trepidation and anxiety (you’ll be here soon!!).

I have also been spiked with some sort of inexplicable energy that has me buzzing frantically about with a mission to clean, organize and obsess over everything in the house in preparation for your arrival- some things more random than others. The other day, for example, I fulfilled this incredible unfounded need inside of me to scrub all the baseboards, door jams and light switches in the house (what??). I suppose this is what they mean by the “nesting phase?” Evidently so, I have decided I need to harness this energy (which is undoubtedly fleeting) toward some much more focused and meaningful applications….

So Operation Nursery, get ready! Over the next few weeks I am blessed to have some family and friends coming into town to help me with this. We will be intently working on things like painting the nursery, organizing closets and assembling, well, tons of stuff! We also have plans to take my creative abilities to uncharted territories involving a sewing machine (… Handmade curtains and pillows are the vision)! In addition to this, your dad will be starting on a unique project to build you a custom built-in bookcase bench that I designed just for your bedroom! I can’t wait to see how everything will come together. Stay tuned, as Operation Nursery is well underway!

xoxo,

Mom

Bundle’s Blanket

30 Monday Jun 2014

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Dear Bundle,

Upon my trip to Albuquerque, I was presented with a very special gift. Well, actually, YOU were.

Your Grandma Rael has been working on your quilt day and night. It’s one of a kind and absolutely gorgeous! Like with everything your Grandma does, she put her whole heart and soul into this blanket. And it was made specifically just for you to love and to cherish.

If you’re anything like me and my siblings with our childhood quilts, this blanket is sure to get its fair share of mileage. From picnics with our stuffed animals to being dragged down the stairs and wrapped around us during Saturday morning cartoons, there are few occasions where we did not have them around.

My favorite childhood blanket was hand made by my Grandma Rael (your Great Grandma). When she passed away 2 years ago, my mother (your Grandma) took up the project to restore it. She carefully went over every stitch, even leaving the mistakes your Great Grandma had made to keep it as original as possible. When she returned the blanket to me last year, the special surprise was that she had enhanced it with new embellishments. These came from patterns that your Great Grandma had left behind, unfinished. Now even more precious and special than before, this blanket will forever be one of my most cherished treasures. 

Now we are honored to add your new blanket to our collection of family quilts, and I know that you will love it just as much as all the love that when into its making.

Love Always,

Mom & Grandma!

29 Week Bump… New Mexico Here We Come!

10 Tuesday Jun 2014

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Dear Bundle,

They say I’m carrying high. According to the old wives tale, that’s a sign consistent to your gender. Although according to medical research, that’s a sign I have killer abs (…hey, I’ll pitch both theories)!.

Week 29 Bump

Well my doctor cleared me for travel and I’m getting ready for my trip to New Mexico tomorrow. This was home to your father and I for many years, but to you it will be known as the Land of Grandparents! Soon you will be able to meet your 4 amazing grandparents as well as your many aunts, uncles and cousins who are all very excited to meet you. But for now, they get to meet my belly!

We have a moderate flight ahead of us tomorrow and comfort may not be the most possible of things, but I’ll be packing the pillows like a mule in order to try. I really wish I could bring our Snoogle along for the ride, but that would probably require me to purchase a second seat… In any case, please pleeease try not to kick and roll all over my bladder too too much (I hate having to pee on planes!). I’m also packin plenty of Pepcid and Tums… a few for the plane, and a lot more for the New Mexican food, which I’m wagering will give us a run for our money throughout our stay (but it’s sooo worth it!). Table for one and a half, please. NM, here we come! 🙂

A Baby Shower to Remember

07 Saturday Jun 2014

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Baby Shower Banner

I was elated when my good friend, Tara, took the reigns on throwing us a very memorable Baby Shower here in Maryland. We decided on a co-ed party to be hosted at our place, but Tara insisted that neither Tony nor I be involved with the planning or preparation of any of it (you have no idea how difficult this was for me and my husband!). So for the last several weeks, between Tony, the Hopeless Control Freak, and Yours Truly, the DIY Crafter and Party Planning Freak, we did our best not to intrude.

Come the day of the shower, even as much as we wanted to stick around and help with setting things up, Tara unceremoniously kicked us both out of our house with strict orders not to return until party time. Obediently, Tony and I left. We spent a few hours wandering aimlessly around town, but were eager to get back and see just what she was up to (Well, at least I was… Tony was more eager to get back and monitor the mayhem that was surely ensuing in his kitchen).

When we returned, the house was alive with people. Colorful balloons, favors and decor made for a super fun entrance and as we walked around and greeted our guests, I took some time to notice all the adorable things Tara and her helpers put together. Everything from creative signage, food and beverages… the Pinterest world would be proud!

Plenty of games and activities kept us all laughing. Tony took home the prize (by a long shot) in “The Price is Right, Baby Items.” I was rather impressed that he somehow knew more about the price of formula, wipes and pacifiers than all the people present who already had babies of their own… but somehow, nobody was surprised! That’s my hubby!

Other fun games included a diaper modeling contest and, probably the party favorite, watching Tony and I race to change a dirty diaper.  P.S… If it looks like we have no idea what we are doing, it’s because we don’t!

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who made it out to celebrate this very special time in our lives. I know you all had a hand in helping to put this together. We love and appreciate each and every one of you! ♥

And a very extra special THANK YOU to Tara, who I know put a lot of time and effort into making this day extra special! We love you girl!!

IMG_1278H

Love Always,

Leonie, Tony and Bundle

Hail to the SnOoGLe

29 Thursday May 2014

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Dear Bundle,

Getting into a comfy sleeping position at night is becoming more of a challenge, and for the last couple weeks I’ve been tossing and turning a lot more throughout the night. So a couple days ago, your dad came home with a surprise…

Snoogle in Box Hail to the Snoogle!! Every pregnant woman I’ve ever met swears by these giant wrap around body pillows, so I was eager to put it into use and see for myself what all the hype was about. My first impression as I opened it up and rolled it out onto the bed was this is going to pose a bit of a space challenge. Me + Bundle + Snoogle = not a lot of room for Daddy. I envisioned myself trying to flip sides with it in the middle of the night and consequently smothering him or battering him with it in the process.

SnoogleB copy

But as I lay there wrapped in my own personal life-size nest of soft feathery fluffies, I must attest that this thing is truly a dream invention. Although it’s longer than me, it can curl up into various shapes and sizes. It’s also surprisingly squishy and wraps snugly around my body in any position I want to lay in. Adjusting positions during the night can be done easily without a lot of effort or chaos because you can leave the Snoogle in place and just flip yourself to face the other side of it. But to be honest, I barely need nor want to move at all once I melt into it! I even find myself wanting to go to bed earlier than normal just to indulge in my new pillow.

All in all, my review of this notorious body pillow is well-favored, and I will join the testimony of people who recommend it as a certain survival kit staple for any woman with a bump.  Comfortable rest is possible once again!

Happy Snoogling!

3 Months to Go!

22 Thursday May 2014

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Dear Bundle,

Grow, Baby, Grow! We have 3 months to go!

Finishing up the second trimester and boy, are we growing. You have literally doubled in size over the last month. I use to feel you hanging out on one side of my belly or the other, now you are taking up that whole space. I’m having to eat smaller meals just to fit my food in there without feeling incapacitated.

26 Week Bump

To date, it’s been a very textbook pregnancy. So far I’ve hit all the milestones and had all the typical (mild) symptoms.  I’m experiencing some discomfort here and there, and hormones are up and down. But all in all, I’ve been managing it well. I realize this may all change very soon! So here’s hoping for continued health and endurance. Grow, baby, grow!

Love,

Mom

 

 

Operation Nursery is Underway!

20 Tuesday May 2014

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Operation Nursery is Underway… Here we go!

When Tony and I first moved into this place almost two years ago, we had family on the mind. We fell in love with the town, the house and the idea of nesting up in this very suburbanite family-oriented community.

Since that time, we’ve been busy making this house our home. But for the most part, much of this beautiful house has remained closed-off and unoccupied, waiting for the right time to be integrated into our lives. I knew that one day the time would come to transform one of these rooms into a nursery…  and I’ve had my eye on this one.

Big beautiful front facing window, spacious closet and full attached bathroom. This room has some serious potential. But let’s face it… it screams MAJOR interior-design overhaul!

First thing’s first. Get rid of the sinfully outdated wall-length Star and Moon valence and drapes (along with any wall banners, hardware or otherwise matching adornment that came straight from this highly-popular and over-done “Starry Night” decor craze of 1995). Cool at one time, perhaps (?), but SO over this theme!

Thank you, Tony, for getting these things off the wall and out of my sight so that the REAL vision may ensue.

Stay tuned!