Monday night K informed me that she no longer wanted her bed to be in our room but in her very own room, and she wanted to sleep there by herself 'every night from now on'. *GASP* Could it be?! I was completely floored and utterly unprepared. So I told her I would get her all set up in there by this weekend. What was I thinking?!
The lazuring has been finished for a week or so now (I plan on posting a tutorial ASAP), we put up our wooden light switch and outlet plates, but that's where it ended. The new floor (along with the baseboards) won't go in for a couple more months and we don't really have any furniture to put in there besides her bed. Eeeeeek! I have to somehow make it 'homey' for her by this weekend so that she will feel safe and secure sleeping in there.
So here I am, frantically trying to get things together to pull this off.
I luckily had enough money to get an unfinished nightstand so that she has something besides just her bed in there. She was really excited about that. I am in the process of sealing it right now with my favorite furniture wood finish 'Tried and True'. It's a completely natural and safe finish consisting of beeswax and linseed oil.
There are home/garden coupons you can find for all these supplies.
Next is her special embroidered pillow and a duvet cover for her wool comforter.
I hit a snag sewing together the pillow cover and need to fix that up.
I have four different fabrics to cut out for the patchwork top to the duvet but I am only halfway done cutting them so I need to speed it up. I have a question about my duvet cover for all of you quilt makers out there: Where, oh, where do I find fabric wide enough to cover the entire back of it? I need it to be about 67" wide or what else can I do to the back, with fabric not that wide? I'd really appreciate any help you could give me!!
I do have one tiny thing done for her room : a coaster. This way she can set drinks on her nightstand, if she wants. I used some scraps from the two fabrics I already cut for her duvet cover. She likes that it looks different on both sides, and I like the fact that she likes the fabric - I must be heading in the right direction. Phew!
Now back to work I go. Wish me luck!! What are you working on? I need more motivation.
Happy creating!
40 comments:
My Mom always used to use a flat cotton sheet for the back of my duvet cover :)
what a great idea to make a little coaster for her room!!
we're going in the opposite direction in our house. our kids (almost-6 and almost-4) are wanting to move back into our room and despite our love for the family bed when they were small, my hubby and i are really done having them in our bed now.
so i will be eager to see the homey touches you add to your daughter's room. hoping i can borrow a few ideas to make their space a little more cozy so they will want to be in there more!
~erin
http://eringoodman.com/blog
(can't get my comments to appear under my name for some reason)
Wow what a milestone indeed! Zach slept in his room one night when he was about 4 and I was a wreck. He did fine the whole night and then came back to the family bed and never did it again. You've been working so hard, I hope it all goes smoothly!
I've always used a flat sheet for the backing, it tends to be less expensive and it's fairly easy to find in stores or online than extra wide fabric. If you find a sheet in a print that coordinates you can use the flat sheet edging as a fold over for your buttons or snaps on the duvet cover. Hope that helps and good luck! -
it's kind of a big-box store (which i try to avoid), but fabric.com has extra-wide quilt backing fabric and often has sales. definitely it comes wide enough to back a twin size quilt. anyhow, it definitely exists, so maybe you can find it at a smaller outlet as well!
good luck!
rachel
I've not made a duvet cover or quilt but sometimes I see people just using a sheet on the back. Maybe that would be wide enough? Or a couple together?
Everything looks great so far - I can't wait to see it all come together.
Could you piece together 3 vertical strips for the back with coordinating colors - then it could be reversible? Oh...sometime this week I'm making your little crown tutorial for the littles....
Nicole, don't worry about piecing together the back a little "wonky" to use fabrics that aren't wide enough. It looks great and adds interest! Check out one of my favorite quilters, www.filminthefridge.com for inspiration. If you look at her quilt posts, she always shows the back.
Everything looks good so far! My daughters room is on the list, but she does already sleep there...I'd just like for it to be homeier (is that a word?). You can always piece two or three long strips of fabric for the back of the blanket, but you can find extra super wide quilt backing fabric at http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/
it's a bit tricky to find...on the left side is an option to "shop by theme" and under that is listed "quilt backing fabric"...but for some reason doing a search for that wont give you anything... anyway I hope that helps! Happy sewing! :)
Yeah! What a big girl! How old is she?? I am curious to know so I can be prepared for that statement from my little one some day...
coming out of lurkdom. . .
Hi Nicole- I love your blog! We are also getting ready for our girl's birthday next month- only she'll be nine!
I am not a quilter, though I have made blankets and patchwork quilts (tied)- and I have used a flat sheet for the backing.
I love the coaster you made.
Can't wait to see that finished room!
As for the backing fabric, my local Joann's sells really wide widths over next to the quilting calicoes, but they are usually pretty dismal. You could also use a thrifted bedsheet or just piece two smaller fabrics together (that's usually what I do).
1ht--generally you need to piece fabric together to get the size you desire for the back of a quilt. I know they sell wider width fabrics but I've actually always just pieced the back. You can add leftover squares as well. I recently made a quilt for my mom and in the spirit of using what I have instead of running out for more, more, more... I used a pale yellow, a strip of a floral and then a wider strip of another fabric. My mom actually said she loved the back!!
Good luck, the room looks great, and what a great idea about sealing the end table. We always buy unfinished (cheaper way to have real wood) but I've spent a fortune on natural stains and what not.
Stores like Joann's or Hancock Fabrics carry very wide fabrics for quilt backing. They are available up to 120" wide. Good luck finishing up!
Just came across your blog from In the Purple House. Love your blog it looks very spring and uplifting. Looking forward to reading more. Love your projects that you've done so far.
Three options for WIDE fabric:
1. Stitch two panels of regular fabric together, and run the seam down the middle. There will be leftover fabric from the edges that you can use for another project.
2. You can purchase sheeting fabric, which is usually available 102" wide. Again, there will be leftovers from the edges. (Sheeting is also good for making LONG tablecloths!)
3. Thrift/repurpose a regular sheet. This is my personal favorite. I'm always on the lookout for interesting patterned sheets at Goodwill and Sal-Army stores.
I made a duvet last spring, and used a flat sheet for the back (Target has organic sheets for a good price!) Here's mine: http://remainsofday.blogspot.com/2009/06/duvet-or-not-duvet.html
I use a flat bed sheet for the back side of a duvet.
Somtimes, I use two that I get on sale to make a complete duvet!
Hi Nicole! Wow, so busy! But it will come together to be a beautiful sweet room for sure. Have you thought of using a flat sheet for the back of the duvet? That might be easier and cheaper than trying to find the special wide fabric.
Have a lovely day!
Beth Miller
How have I missed out on your lovely blog for so long?! I'm your heart swap partner. I can see that you're a creative, crafty mama and I'm excited to make something for you.
About the duvet cover, sometimes buying a large flat sheet is a good way to get wide fabric and is less expensive than fabric by the yard.
That is so funny that she asked to be in her own room. My boys are 5 and 3 and they still think my room is the coolest place on earth. They sneak in any chance they get!
I am sure that she will be happy with her room no matter what's in it. If you put curtains and a rug it will look furnished.
Right now I'm working on a Milo sweater, another for my daughter and a lot of easter eggs.
Wow, your daughter is getting to be such a big girl - that is what our six year old keeps telling me about herself. "Mom, I am a big girl now - I can flip my own pancakes, go to the bathroom without your help, am losing teeth, etc..."
Oh, I am sure her comforter cover will be beautiful. You are a sweet Mom.
Warm wishes, Tonya
Vintage sheets are my absolute favourite way to back quilts. They are the perfect size, have some history and are just plain fun to look at. Can't wait to see the finished room. Our littlest one is still in our room with no signs of moving out. I bet it was a big surprise when she told you her plans.
Can you believe how fast they grow up? K's room is going to be so beautiful mama. :)
sounds exciting - as for the quilting question, you will either have to seam the fabric or use a quality sheet or something. I most often seam mine, but I like to put a patchwork pattern in the middle of the back, that way the seam doesn't seem noticeable - rather it seems... purposeful.
-Melissa: a fellow Pacific Northwesterner hoping that the spring/summer sun comes soon because the rain is getting old :)
My girls bring their water cups down to bed every night, I never thought of making them coasters, great idea! Chloe had her own room when she was 3 but never slept in the bed until she was 5. Chessa still occasionally visits us in bed, I miss it!
You could look at Near Sea Naturals for wide width sheeting. Some of the fabrics are up to 120" wide, but you can also get them about 60" wide. And though expensive it's really like getting much more than one yard of fabric cause it's so wide. I love the poplin!
And now I am the one so slow in returning email, but it is on my mind, thinking of you, will write soon... or at least kinda soon :)
Hi, it looks great so far - and any bedroom looks finished when a few toys are put in there! I would piece a back together as well, that way it's reversible - and she'll like it as much as the coaster!
She'll love all the effort you are putting in, thanks for sharing.
What a milestone mama. Never know if I should laugh or cry when my children make big leaps like this! your little creations for her are beautiful. Good luck!
Some months ago our daughter (3 years) said she would like to have her very own "princess" bed and she wanted to move out of our family bed. So I was in a hurry. I was not prepared too. I made a "princess" canopy out of four large natural white organza curtains I had left over to make her corner very cosy.
Actually it was very easy to create. I attached one hook on to the ceiling and tied all curtains on top together with a nice looking piece of cotton. Then I did drape the curtains around her bed.
ruprecht.etsy.com
KnechtRuprecht.dawanda.com
knechtruprechtdolls.blogspot.com
Love what you're doing! Thank you for the inspiration!
I used a flat cotton sheet to back my duvet covers, and a lot of light blankets as well. Works pretty well
I love the coaster, that is truly so sweet. I am sure that everything will come together beautifully.
I can't wait to see how the walls came out!
My daughters room is currently tinkerbell green (think lime sherbet) and we are thinking of making it a bit "warmer".
I would just back the duvet with a sheet. That is what my mother and I have always done.
How exciting!!
What a wonderful and thoughtful mother you are! I love how intentional your room creating is!
I am fixing up my daughter's room as well(and btw I am in Oregon too)!
I got the notion that my daughter should have a complete room makeover for her 9th birthday...what did I get myself into? I just finished painting today, but the curtains and quilt I was going to make(By Saturday..none the less) are just going to have to wait. I also have a craft show and out of town guests coming up this weekend too.Whew!
What a milestone!!! There's hope yet! I love how you are making her room so special for her. And... can't wait to see C's birthday presents (and get a little inspiration!)
Blessings and magic,
Donni
I am sorry I cannot offer any inspiration for making, but I am so impressed at all you've gotten done! So you get to be the inspirer :)
Good luck with the room! I'm sure it will go over fine with her- and what a milestone indeed!. Thank you for positng the link to the beeswax.. We built our daughter a dollhouse and I'd like to finish it.
Can't wait to see how the walls turned out!
Oh how do you all ROCK? Let me count the ways...
Thank you so very much! I am going thrifting this weekend so that will be my first stop to look for a sheet to use, if that doesn't work I will move on to plan B then if need be plan C, etc. You all had so many great ideas.
Oh, K is 4 1/2 now. This was a big surprise and I bet she'll return to our bed pretty soon but knowing that she feels ready to make the move is comforting and scary at the same time.
I have already seen the sheet suggestion many times, but I just wanted to put in my two cents. I got a organic cotton sheet that was larger than our bed (king instead of queen) and then used it for the back of the douvet and pillows. It worked great! Good luck! (And everything looks wonderful, as always.)
Blessings,
Val
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