Repurposing your baby's old bumper pad

I had so much fun decorating my baby girl's room. I already had one boy, and let's face it, girl's bedrooms are much more interesting to design. Although a boy's room does bring it's own creative challenges, there's nothing like decorating with PINK. I figured it would be the only time in my life that I would get to decorate with pink. I can't blame my husband, if I were a dude, I don't think I would want to be surrounded by pink either. I've been on a quest for a masculine look that includes pink, but have yet to find it. But that's another post.

I fell in love with the John Robshaw baby bedding, and couldn't resist. And I have to say 4 year's later, I still LOVE it. And that's a good thing, because it was a splurge to say the least. I find it funny that people put so much time into decorating the bedding for a crib. The bumper pad in particular. I think the doctors say to remove the bumper pad as soon as your baby can rollover. So your babe gets only a precious few months with that adorable bumper pad. I loved the flower pattern on my John Robshaw bumper pad, and spent many hours staring at it trying to figure out how to reuse it. 

Leave it to my resourceful mom to figure it out. If there's one thing I've learned from my mom-- it's where there's a will, there's a way. So, I told my mom I wanted to make pillows out of the bumper pad. I thought she'd just cut it up, and make 2 fronts and do the back in a coordinating fabric. But my mom being the genius seamstress she is, took it apart, split it in 2 and opened it up, which doubled the surface area of fabric we had to use. She even kept the ties and use them like buttons as a closure for the back. It looks so cute that it could be used as the front. I have no idea how she managed to match up the pattern, but she did. It helps that the fabric is quilted, it helps to disguise the seams. I'm so glad that we'll get to use this bedding for a while longer. Right now the crib is converted to the toddler size, so the standard size pillows are a bit big on there, but they are great for lounging on the floor, and will be perfect when the bed is converted to the full size (assuming it fits in her tiny room!). Next up is repurposing the crib size bed skirt- not sure what that will become. Maybe more pillows? Or a quilt?

Thank you Granny Franny for your beautiful resourceful sewing!

Procrastinator Present: Gift Cards!

To all those who have procrastinated this holiday season: it's not too late to give a Happy Habitat gift card. They are available for Phone Cases and Eco Throws. Let your recipient pick out their own pattern and colors for their iPhone, Blackberry, Samsung Galaxy or iPod Touch or for a recycled cotton Eco Throw. Gift cards can be emailed to you, you print it out, and have something to put under the tree... ready to go even if you order on Christmas Eve!

Rainbow Kitchen: GREEN

I'm going easy on myself on the Rainbow Kitchen Challenge this time around. Green feels festive and Christymas-ish for this time of year, but really appropriate any time of year. I like green kitchen cabinets-- especially an olive-ish/grey color that has a neutral feel. I would consider doing them in my house if they looked anything like these. I think they actually have a neutral feeling.

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Okay, so the kelly green ones are far from neutral, but it sure is a happy room! 
I could totally live with this kitchen.

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I admit it, I could not do this in my own house, it would make me claustrophobic. 
But it certainly is cool. 

Holiday Yarn and Felt Wreaths

I'm not sure how I feel about wreaths. I've been told they are too crafty for my style and think I might agree. And indeed it is hard to find something that's fresh and modern. But I do like something on the front door to welcome you.  I think my last attempt was trying to tell me something when it fell off and broke in half. Maybe it was a bit too shabby chic for my taste anyway.  What are your thoughts on these? I made one last year for a girls holiday party where we were supposed to make a gift for under $10. My sweet friend Megan ended up taking it home. Does the yarn and felt make it too crafty? Or is it modern since it's not a traditional style wreath. Megan has great style, and she liked it. Hopefully she wasn't just being courteous!

I was asked to participate this year in the KVC Tree Gala, and was happy to try my hand at another wreath. Here's what I came up with...

I heard it sold, so I guess that's good, and that was the point- KVC is a great cause! Still not 100% on any wreath I've seen. Anyone out there have any great ones? Please share!

Happy Custom Designed Phone Cases

I love to see what pattern and color combinations my customers put together. Here's a few fun ones that recently went out.

And I have to share my newest. I HAD to get a new one to go with the cute clutch I received for my birthday (from In Clover-- must stop by if you haven't been and you are in KC).

 Heads up! If you want to give a Happy Habitat Custom Phone Case as a holiday gift, to get regular shipping prices, you must order by December 13th. After that there will be an additional charge if you want it by Christmas. If you want to give one as a gift and let the recipient pick out the pattern and colors, you can give a gift card... and those can come quick, even via email.

I Spy: Henna Mehndi

I'm sure you've all seen the henna designs on hands before. I think they are fantastic... mystical, intriguing and sexy. I'm starting to see some of these designs pulled into interiors which gives the same
effect.

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Honestly, I wish there were more options-- I couldn't find much in the way of rugs, fabrics or wallpaper. Hmmmm.... that gives me an idea.

Oh-- and if Henna and Mehndi design is something you like, but maybe don't want to bring into our home, you can EAT it! How beautiful are these cupcakes, cakes and cookies?

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NEW! Patterned Holiday Photo Cards

Send a fresh holiday greeting with your choice of pattern, color, and greeting. The options are endless to make your card uniquely yours. Mix it up this year, and deviate from the traditional holiday colors. I really like turquoise and red together-- it looks festive and wintery. Or plum and navy makes for a cool New Years card. I love to see what combinations my customers come up with-- always something I haven't thought of. I'm loving grey or taupe paired with red-- traditional, but a little different. Visit the holiday card shop to see all the patterns and color options.

All photos featured on my cards are from the amazing Amy of Amy Berg Photography-- a childhood friend of mine who always had a fantastic artistic touch.  Her photography is so cool and bright. Thank you Amy... your photos make my cards look great!

Felt Bird Ornaments

Last year I was feeling extra ambitious, and decided to make some birdie ornaments. I thought they would make cute little toppers to gifts and such. SO easy...just 2 pieces of felt, stuffed with cotton balls, and sewn simply with embroidery thread. I freehanded the shape, then used different fabric for the wings and whatever I could find for the eyes-- buttons and sequins. I used mod podge to seal the fabric that went on the wings, and just used a hot glue gun to put the pieces together. Some wings are linen fabric that I stamped with letters, or with textile stamps from India. Just make sure you leave a hole in the top of the bird for a ribbon or twine to use to hang it. And Presto!

Added it to a present.

 A hostess gift.

These guys went to some friends with homemade toffee. YUM.

Made some homemade Cranberry Vodka to go with this little birdie.

 This one I made for my husband. He was wearing a pair of pajama bottoms that had holes in them and were all torn up. I pitched the pjs and made him a bird with a remaining piece. So now he has a little piece of those jammies he just couldn't let go of.

THANKFUL

Today I am thankful for many things (not in any particular order):

• 2 Beautiful Healthy Happy Children
• Public Education (it could be worse people)
• My stylist sister who always makes me look good
• My Mother's hair growing back in so beautifully
• Healthy Water right out of my tap
• My husband's job
• The sweetest, most polite nieces and nephews 
• The Internet
• My daughter takes naps, err... when my daughter takes naps
• The orange cat that visits us
• A brother in law that always sets a good example
• The best friends a girl could ask for- both near and far
• In-laws that always make me feel right at home
• My husband's support in starting a business
• My son still lets me hug him in public
• Target (Yes, really. What would we do without Target?)
• Freedom to walk outside my house looking any way I choose
• My great neighbors who are also my friends
• Family that's 5 minutes away

And thank you to YOU out there. Happy Habitat has filled a spot in my life that I didn't know needed to be filled. It's been a fun adventure, and I am so grateful for the support of friends, family, readers and customers.

We made a "Thankful Tree" at our house. I love what my son added. 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Happy Habitat Gift Cards

Just in time for the holidays-- Happy Habitat Gift Cards! Give one to a someone special and let them pick out their favorite patterns are colors. Gift cards are available for Happy Habitat Eco Throws and for Phone Cases. If you are in a pinch, I can email you a gift card that you can print yourself or email to the recipient. If you have time for a gift card to come in the mail, then you or the recipient will receive a gift card in a Happy Habitat patterned enclosure that's sealed with washi tape.

Paper Lanterns as Real Lighting

I see paper lanterns used quite a bit for parties and decoration, but I really like the way they look mixed in an elegant setting. It adds a pop of the unexpected, not so serious and just plain simple. I like how these rooms are 'real' grown-up rooms, some with traditional elements and antique furniture, and then a $10 paper lantern. Okay, well, this first one is Julianne Moore's living room and this one happens to be a $970 Noguchi-- but same effect, right? Love it.

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I've been looking for a light for my office and had planned on giving the string light a go, but my office ceiling is pretty low, so I had to look for something else. Not wanting to spend $300, I went to Ikea where I found the Vate for a whopping $9. Not having an Ikea in KC, my sweet friend Emily sent one from Denver (she's the BEST). I had a good reason to get my arse in gear and fix up my office, and will share the reason for that,  how the light turned out and the rest of the office soon.

A Few Magazine Faves

I was pretty busy with the Fab.com sale, so I've had a few magazines that were neglected for a couple weeks. It kills me to see them sitting there and not have time to sip some coffee and take a look. By the way, I think I jinxed myself when I posted about my love of cappuccinos because my filter has clogged, and I'm now waiting for a new one to come in. So while I wait, I'm having bland drip coffee- so depressing. I digress-- but only because coffee and magazines go hand in hand for me. It's a little slice of heaven to have that moment-- and I usually pay for it by having a cranky young lady who has watched too much Power Rangers (yes, my 3 year old girl LOVES Power Rangers).

So catching up on my mags, thought I'd share my favorite finds. I am such a magnet for all things Moroccan, I literally opened Elle Decor right to this page:

Fell in love with the Moroccan Tile Charger, so went to their website- the company is called Eusamex, and found these goodies: 

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Also came across this in Elle Decor:

Went to the Casamidy website-- looks like the etagere can be custom painted. Here it is in neutral:

Their mirrors are to-die-for: I thought this first one looked familiar, and it is, turns out I had pinned it. 

LOVE the background in this one. 

All from Casamidy. From San Miguel de Allende, Mexico-- top of my list right now of places I must go.

So that sums up my faves from Elle Decor... more to come when I can get to the others!