the nursery...

....or should I just say it?!  AVA's ROOM!!!  It's so totally cute that I go sit in there daily.  I've had some good excuses though, like putting away all my wonderful baby shower gifts and hanging up a few things, moving things around and just staring and more staring.  We all just LOVE IT!  We have a few odds and ends to still take care of, like the baseboard trim and another coat of paint on one wall, hemming the curtains and sewing the ends of the crib bumper together.  I'm sure it will be a work in progress too as I add new little things and move things around.  It will be essentially, Ava's Room and my PLAYroom.  The girly-ness will now be pouring out of me folks!  But what do you expect?  So, on with the pic's! 

First off, the view from the doorway. (above)

Crib bumper made by me and crib quilt made by my sister-in-law, Kerri.  She knew what colors I was doing for the room and also knew which fabrics I loved because of my Etsy Favorites, that is how she was able to coordinate it so well.  Not to mention the fact that she can't keep a secret so I knew she was making it.  A couple times she asked me about different fabrics for the quilt.  It got me off the hook for making one myself for Ava at the moment.  I still plan to make one too, but at least I can take my time.  I have a lot of the same fabrics that Kerri used so everything will coordinate, but still be different.  I am also so happy to finally have a place to hang the peg rack from our old house in Tacoma.

AVA letters painted, distressed and glittered by me!  Letters from Joann's for cheap.

I had a berry garland that wasn't being used so I bought a super cheap grapevine wreath at Joann's and added some pretty glittery butterfly's that were actually sold at Target in the Christmas tree decorations.  I didn't know what I would do with them at the time, but I think they found a perfect home!

Closer view of the bumper and quilt!  I LOVE this beautiful quilt!  As you can see, I am still waiting on my crib skirt I bought off e bay.

I am so happy I decided to paint the dresser a light aqua instead of pink.  We still have the little nightstand to paint as well.  And I need to find some cute pink "glass" knobs for the middle drawer. 

A little closer view of the dresser.  Remember this was a $40 Craig's List find!  I sanded it first to rough it up, then Pete did the first couple coats of painting.  I did the final touch ups and then sanded the edges.  It's so cute!  I am happy that one of my drawings matches perfectly and I love the little doll that Kerri made. 

I love this adorable lamp the Kerri found at an antique store...it's perfect!  I made the round box from a paper mache box from Joann's and some vintage wallpaper I bought off e bay.  The trim is vintage from my mom's old stash.  Kerri also made the sweet little booties in some of my favorite fabrics. 

How sweet are THEY?!! 

I am thrilled to finally have a chair for one of my baby's rooms!  I found another Ikea Ektorp chair on Craig's List for just $90.  (I did put in a wanted add and got several replies!)  The chair we bought was in MUCH nicer condition than the chair we already had so we ended putting the old chair in the baby's room and the Craig's List chair in the living room.  The CL chair had a very nice sagey green slipcover, but of course I am using my white one here.  Kerri made the doll quilt on the back of the chair and I made the small quilt on the arm of the chair.  Sorry I didn't straighten out the wrinkles before I took the picture!  oops.  :)

Here is a closer view of the doll quilt from Kerri.  I may end up hanging it on the wall, but for now I think it looks cute here!  Each center square is a "forest friend".  Austin likes finding the different animals. 

Little dishes I saw at Target....they were an instant must have item!  Some of the silverware has been misplaced by Austin.  I love my little shelf that runs around the room so I can set things on it.  Something I have always loved when looking at magazines.

Kerri mentioned that she saw some curtains in Pottery Barn that had a bunch of colorful ribbons at the top, so that's where I got the idea to do this.  I loved how it made the project fast to do instead of making ties from fabric.  I think I have mentioned before that I am not always the most patient sewer/crafter.....so the faster, the better.  I actually did use some skinny fabric strips and didn't worry about the unfinished edges.  I love the shabby look it gives.  Oh, I also painted the rod.

And of course, this darling banner was made by Kerri also.  She called me one night because she couldn't decide what fabrics to use since there is just a limited amount of triangles.  Since we are both a little obsessed with fabrics right now, we actually know them by designer and name so she went through her fabrics over the phone and I chose the ones for the banner.  I think there were a couple extras that she was able to fit and so they were surprises!  These are very popular on Etsy right now and on Flickr!

So, here's a good beginning and ending comparison:

I would also like to add that Pete is amazing and this would never look so stinkin cute if it wasn't for him and all his hard work.  We both did the painting of the beadboard, mostly me, but he installed everything to absolute perfection!  Even when I would say, "Oh, don't worry, that's no big deal, no one will notice...", he insisted on getting it all perfect!  He also has not once peeped about how much I was spending or fussing over the room or if I came home with another little outfit.  I think he has understood and I couldn't be more appreciative. 

Also, thanks to Ben, Pete's brother who helped out when he was visiting during Christmas break.  Can you believe it actually got finished?

And to Kerri, who's "cuter than ever", handmade items, have added so much to the room! 

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!  It's the cutest room ever!  Come see for yourself!  :)

Comments

[Brenda]

Oh Tasha! It turned out absolutely adorable! What a wonderful space! I love it. And I love her name. It's perfect. :)

[Natalie]

It is the cutest girls room I have ever seen. You have such a way of putting things together and finding the perfect things to make the room look complete! Are you for hire! You have gotten me so excited to get me nursery done! I am feeling a little pressure :) I love it!

[Kerri]

tasha!! ava's room is the most yummiest, cutest, most sweetest room i've ever seen!! i feel so privileged to have been able to contribute to her room! it was so much fun to work on all those yummy decorations and quilts! and all because you are one of the most wonderful people i know. i am truly blessed to have such a wonderful friend! you have always been an inspiration to me, and would have never started quilting without your encouragement! THANKS!!!

i wanted to let you know that tanya whelan commented on my flickr photo of ava's quilt! how cool is that!!!

ps. thanks for all the kind comments about me! :) that was sweet!

[Mary Underwood]

This puts my kids rooms to shame! I love it!

[Tasha Horsley]

Don't worry Mary, it puts ALL the other bedrooms in my house to shame! My poor boys...we have some "even-ing things up" to do!

[Katrina]

Wow!!!! Tasha you did an absolutely amazingly beautiful job on this room! Ava is such a lucky little girl. I totally love that just about everything is homemade, or at least has a homemade touch. You all did so much work. Most definitely the most adorable nursery I have ever seen!!! You have a great eye, and a whole lot of talent (you too Pete, and Kerri!!). Can't wait to see it in person one of these days.

PS I hope that all is going well for you, and that this labor coming up goes smoothly!

[Karina]

AAAAMAZING! I just love it Tasha. You guys did an awesome job. Standing in there makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

[Ninzel]

Lucky Ava! I know she will look adorable in the room! Ninz

[nettie]

oh my goodness tasha, this is the sweetest baby nursery I have ever seen! I love it!

[Emily Dorman]

The nursery is so adorable! Hope Ava hurries up to come and enjoy it.

[Camille]

OH. MY. This is by far my absolute favorite nursery of all time. I'm not even exagerating. I'm sitting here thinking that I might have to have another baby JUST so I can copy every single thing about it. I am IN LOVE! LOVE IT! *sigh* I need a girl.

You rock, girl. You rock.

[elisabeth]

Dear Tasha-
I just found your blog via your sister in law's blog, via Sew Mama Sew, and I just felt I had to comment. First of all, I had four boys then FINALLY had a girl, about a year and a half ago. It's heaven! I'm so glad you got one too! She is adorable. I'm dying over her room, so cute! I've been looking for girl room ideas lately since I'm hoping we'll be moving soon and she'll actually get her own room, so you've got me inspired. I love your style. I have a dresser and nightstand that used to be my mom's that's similar to the one you painted. I didn't think I wanted to keep it, but now after seeing how cute yours turned out painted, I think I will! Did you paint right over the drawer pulls? One other question I had for you, on your Flea Market Fancy Christmas quilt, it looks like you left the edges of the inside square raw, like you just sewed it to the larger outer square, but I can't tell for sure in the picture so I just wanted to ask if that's what you did. It looks so cute, I have seen so many of that quilt done on different blogs, in fact my friend just made one for her daughter's bed.
Anyway, congratulations, and I'm so happy I found your blog!
Elisabeth

[Jenna]

What is the paint color on the dresser? I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

[dining tables]

The nursery is beautiful! It is made for the babies! The colors are so soft and the things are so cute.

[Erin K.]

I found this blog when looking into doing beadboard in my nursery. I love the shelf above the beadboard and would like to do the same thing. However, I am not sure how to attach a shelf above the beadboard like you did and was wondering what you did to attach it securely.

Thanks,
Erin K.

[Krissi]

I also wNt to know the paint color of the dresser. Very cute room!

[Ashlee]

Oh my word! This is the cutest baby room I have ever seen!!! I love it!!!

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