Olivia`s Woodlands Nursery

Roots & Wings-Mural by Mama
~Ahhhh! Finally a mural for my own baby girl!
Group of Seven styled tree trunks, baby owl in nest with parents perched on the branch above. Framed in cherrywood, here in Shanghai.

Paper Lanterns
~Dada worked hard to find these! (Crazy to believe it is so difficult to find paper lanterns in China!)
Nursery colours; turquoise, lime & tangerine. Placed near the change table for occupying Stinky Pants. LOVE them!

"OLIVIA" Letter Animals
~Each letter of her name coincides with a Woodlands animal/motif. Frames painted in the three nursery theme colours: turquoise, lime and tangerine.

Woodlands Crib Decor
~"Love" "Foxy Baby" and Retro Felt Fox adorn the crib between naptimes.


Woodlands Mobile
~Owl, Fox, Doe & Hedgehog surround a woodlands tree with bell.

Olivia has arrived!!
Her Woodlands themed nursery is complete.
Now we just have to think about one day moving her into it! Maybe in the Spring...or when she is 20...or something like that;)

BLISS!

olivia grace
December 4th, 2010
8:32am
7 pounds & 13 ounces
Shanghai, China

Simply cannot express the happiness Adam and I feel since the safe arrival of our baby daughter, Little Livie Grace! There is absolutely no feeling that compares to this kind of bliss:)

This morning Livie and I headed to the market & I reached in my coat pockets to find a pair of her socks in one..and a diaper (a clean one!) in the other!
Finally...I am a mother:)
Life is good.

Happy New Year to your and your loved ones! Our hearts are bursting...we are so grateful & in awe of the miracle of life.

Tiny Taste

Stumped.
What colour to paint this teeny, tiny Hootling, while sticking to our nursery palette;
chocolate, tangerine, lime & turquoise?
Bump has been asked.
Bump has a sense of humour.
One day, kicks for BOY.
Next day, kicks for GIRL.
All while snickering to his or her little self in there;)

Pregnancy Project Mania!

Woodland Owl Blocks-made out of brown & cream sheep wool felt, each of the three blocks spells out the animal featured and has tiny ribbon tabs for wee fingers to grasp. Before I sewed up the last edge of the Owl, I managed to slip a little jingly bell inside. The Fox & Doe? Sans sounds.




PEEKY Pocket Book-made out of brown & cream sheep wool felt, this 6 page, baby-friendly book highlights one colour per page, as well as a little 'peek-a-boo' pocket with a surprise tied to ribbon. A loop attached in the corner can be clipped onto a diaper bag. By accident, Peeky Owl on the front has his wings sewn along one edge so his eyes can be covered, open & shut! Handy accident!

Owl Log Cabin-made out of brown & cream sheep wool felt, this carry-along cabin is perfect for imaginative play. Inside the snap-flap door, you can store three little Owls, a pillow, quilt and camp fire. No matches required.

Peek-a-Boo Owl-made out of brown & cream sheep wool felt, this little tree stump is more than meets the eye. An eye-height hole is carved out for Owl to peek through. Attached by ribbon, your wee one can have fun learning the concept of in and out..over and over again.


Woodland/Clothing Tabbie Ties-made of brown, lime, orange & turquoise felt. These came from the concept that newborns can see highly contrasted images best. To keep to the Woodlands theme of our nursery, I designed 6 silhouettes of animals and sewed them onto concentric circles in our nursery colours. Tiny ribbon tabs stick out for small fingers to grasp. Velcro ties allow you to attach them to your ring sling, baby pram or tank top while feeding. The reverse sides are silhouettes of clothing items. Later down the line when your toddler is learning to dress him/herself, these can be attached to baskets holding the appropriate clothes.
Foxy Baby-made of orange & cream sheep wool felt, this Foxy cot toy is originally an Etsy design that I fell in love with. Cute retro feel! This is one of my favourite nursery items!
Kiddy Aprons-great for helping in the kitchen or conducting the train.


Car Caddy-made out of cotton material of choice. Rolled up & tied, this caddy is a convenient carry-along. Once rolled out, one side holds up to 8 cars in individual pockets while opposite the center-fold is a small road stitched in felt.


Armstrong Farms-made of thick red felt.
IKEA has designed eco-friendly felt toys recently. While doing some nursery shopping, we noticed they have a felt barn available. Hubby, having been raised on a farm (not in a barn, I get into trouble for saying that!), fell in love, so I promised to tackle the project at home. The roof and sides snap open and split into a garden, pond, fenced area & mud bath (for the very cute piglets!).
We purchased IKEA's set of soft tractors & animals that can be stored inside the farm for easy travel.
Doorway Puppet Theatre-made out of cotton material of choice. This is absolutely ingenious and I cannot take credit for the idea. Searching the internet for puppet theater's, I came across a variation of this doorway version. Ideally, it should be measured to fit a standard doorway with a tension rod (though I have also seen it hung between two trees for 'al fresco' performances). Velcro patches help little fingers tie back curtains, a diamond-trim overlay/bottom trim give it a funky edge & the back hosts two large pockets for performers to store puppets. It conveniently rolls up to make for easy travel & hours of creative play.

House Call Doctors Kit-made out of cream sheep wool felt, this carry-along doctors kit features a felt x-ray scan, real stethoscope, needle-less syringe, felt bandages, mask & empty pill bottle (perfect for Tic Tac type 'medicine').
Mini Bunting Flags-made out of orange, chocolate, lime & turquoise felt triangles. Bunting flags are all the trend these days. I have scoured the internet for creative peeps projects and these flags pop up again and again, in different forms; party invitations, birthday banners, holiday decor, shabby chic childrens decor. Here, I finished two miniature strands; one that will hang at the base of the crib and the other that will run across the top of the curtain.

Faux Bear Skin Rug-made out of faux fur & upholstery material. To fit in with our Woodland/Canadian theme, but remain veggie-friendly, I sewed this fun, fake version of a bear skin to be placed in front of the crib.

Crayon Caddy-made out of cotton material of choice. Similar concept to the car caddy. Rolled and tied this makes for a convenient travel case. Inside are 12 pockets, each large enough for one crayon or two pencil crayons/markers.


Bored Bag Tags-made of laminated "idea" cards & IKEA's drawstring bag. Sadly, this is another idea that was simply not mine, but another result of internet surfing. I cannot tell you how many times this would have come in handy for my mother;) With literally over 150 rainy/sunny day ideas, the wee ones can no longer claim "there's nothing to do!" Most cards are seasonal-friendly (with the occasional, "sledding" and "swimming" suggestions.)
For this pregnancy project, there was no sewing involved, but I am guessing in a few years, the time spent making, printing and laminating these cards will be well worth it!

Having pregnancy projects has completely helped ease my crazy, new mama mind and given me ample opportunities to bond with the pumpkin poking & prodding inside!

Three weeks to go and Bun should start seriously considering a good day for a birthday;)
Have toys.
Need child;)
(I guess I should just focus on eat, sleep and changing 'duty' for a while;)

Up next?
A newborn model to show off the nursery digs!

Little Fairy Sisters

Once upon a time, there were two adorable fairy sisters in Shanghai...
...who won the Coco & Co. gift certificate at the Annual Shanghai Mama's Picnic!

Have I mentioned that I LOVE my job?
Not only do I get to paint dreamy art for wee ones all over the world, I often have the privilege of sharing tea parties & show-and-tell times when I go to meet their folks for portfolio meetings. I assure you, these two tiny fairies did not disappoint! After a tour of their royal pink quarters, I was introduced to loads of their treasured toys and was treated to a tea party!
(Lovely spread, Angelina Darling;)
The eldest of the two fairies was even so kind to share a baby book with my growing bump;) How sweet!

To match the decor, we decided on a palette of primarily pink with pops of purple and blue. Each scroll is unique (sisters need to be seen as individuals) but fit together side-by side (..and sisters want to be treated equally!) Their names on the banners are curly, girly font by specific request. These tiny girls have a real flair for style!
Cotton candy diamonds fill the backdrop and satin ribbons are tied at the top to complete the whimsical pieces.

I truly love how kids treat newcomers like old friends;)
Thanks I & A for a smashing time!

Bazaar Mania!

A great big thanks to all the Mama's who came out to the Shanghai Toy Club BACK TO SCHOOL Bazaar today at Paulaner. Such an absolutely fabulous turn-out, despite the call for rain and last minute change of venue.
It is always nice to meet members of the Mama community, as well as mingle with entrepreneurs from far and wide. It never ceases to amaze me how many creative businesses set up shop here in Shanghai; inspiring!

Hope to see everyone this Saturday at the Shanghai Mamas Picnic!
Coco & Co. have donated a gift certificate for their raffle, so pack your kiddies and picnic basket for a Fall day on the green grass!!!

Nest Obsessed

My hubby fears felt gitch are in the forecast!

Anytime we put something on the list for baby-to-be, I insist I must be able to make it with felt!
Not unlike my dear, old Gran who had a phase of crocheting the beans out of every household item, I have a slight obsession with this very forgiving fabric of sorts.

Nesting.
Every mama does it. Others may overdo it until the nest becomes one, fluffy giant piece of felt!

Shanghai is the hub of DIY and I first discovered felt at the famous Yu Yuan when I came upon a box of make-your-own-sushi. Too cute! After a long day of teaching kindy...I would settle down to sew little sushi's...longing for the day that there would be a wee one at home to appreciate my efforts.
After sushi came cupcakes.
After cupcakes came a positive pregnancy test (okay, I took 5 in a row!) and good news on the upcoming adoption.
Now the house is overflowing with felt toys, diaper caddies, cot pillows...& Baby Daddy fears his undies are next;)

Ahhh...I hope the baby arrives eager to play;)

PICTURED:
Stack of felt (feeds my addiction to COLOUR!) I ohh and ahh at it every day!
Sushi & Coco
Wee bite of cupcakes (100% vegan;)

Little L (a lotta cute in a little package!)

Little L is about to be a Big Sis!
To commemorate such a cool job, mom has ordered a little something for L's own nest, here in Shanghai. To be honest, her room is already a blast of pink perfection with gorgeous white furniture that gives L's sleep space a crisp, clean edge. So creating this Big Sister Scroll was a piece of cupcake!

In order to compliment the white furnishings, the finial ends and wall brackets tie in with a solid, smooth white finish. The canvas scroll hangs 2.5 feet long by 1.5 feet wide, adorned with a creamy name banner & curly central "L" in fuchsia-coloured font. Each end of the banner is 'bunched' with wildflowers; watermelon & white Stargazer Lilies, alongside tangerine poppies. A dainty fairy with purple petaled dress stands beside the large "L" while turquoise, fuchsia and purple dragonflies swirl around the banner tails. Large white and bubblegum pink diamonds dot the background and finish the piece off with a royal trim.

Sending lots of warm wishes to the Big Sis-to-be as she preps for the family's latest addition!
What a lucky little newborn on the way!

Project One Done-Little Hoot

Project Nursery; One? Done!
Little Hoot Pram Bling!
Hubby and I have scoured the Shanghai area for foreigners selling their gently-used baby gear and completely scored several times in a row! For example, this BEAUTIFUL 'playground brown' Quinny bassinet, which now sports mini baby bling: Little Hoot.
Using the colour scheme and theme for baby's nursery, Little Hoot is adorned with eyes, beak and belly on both sides for all viewers. A chocolate-coloured ribbon with white threading snaps around the bassinet handle to dangle, while the other end of the ribbon can hold a soother or bell.
Felt is such a friendly fabric! No machine necessary;)

Stay tuned for Project Nursery; Number Two (not that kind of number two!)

Italy-Bound Safari

Two little cuties living in Shanghai are soon set to return to Italy with their parents. Before their big move back home, they have ordered some personal pieces for their shared bedroom. Mom has chosen a unique colour scheme; lavender, camel, white, cream, chocolate, periwinkle and cinnamon heart red, to flow throughout the three piece set.
Each of the two name canvases measures 12x24" and sports the childrens names in Gigi font, with stripes or polka-dot backgrounds. Chocolate-coloured Coco swings in with an apple to greet the birdie perched on the 's', while a not-so-ferocious lion takes cues from the red birdie for her hair accessories.
The large focal canvas measures 3x4 feet; safari friends include a monkey, giraffe, zebra and several tiny birds atop the tree of crispy white Asian blossoms. Once framed and ready for shipment to Europe, these pieces will offer a whimsical atmosphere for quiet nights and play dates alike.
Wishing the beautiful family a safe journey home & happy trails always!

Guess WHOOO's Expecting!!

BIG BELLY NEWS!
WE ARE VERY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE EXPECTING!!
We have been in China for two years and working hard to have the adoption laws changed in favor of expat Canadians. In March, we finally found out that we will be DOUBLY-blessed; the birth of our first child in November AND the adoption laws have finally been approved for Canadian expats! This year has been nothing but happy baby news for Adam and I!

OUR FAMILY NEST
All this time waiting for motherhood to arrive & over 15 years of experience with baby nurseries...I have had plenty of time to pick my brain for ideas; I am ecstatic to have the chance to design a nest for our own children. With all of the ideas I have floating around..we may need to expand our family quite generously!

COLOUR & INSPIRATION
Because we would like the baby's sex to be a surprise, a gender-neutral theme has started the brainstorming process. Since "Bun" will be a Fall baby, the colour scheme has created itself (brown, orange, green and some turquoise for colour punch. Adam does not understand how these colours will work together, so he is happy to be in charge of furniture assembly!). After scouring the internet for other craft-minded mommy businesses, I have been deeply inspired by their constant creativity to offer quality products to family's from their home office (spaces that make an artsy mom go ga-ga!)

'CREATING A NEST' TIPS
Currently, I am making a framed "Inspiration" board for collecting cloth material samples, coloured paint tabs, magazine cut-outs of furniture ideas & personal sketch snippets. Anything that works with the nursery theme & colours. Any items that catch my eye. Our goal is to create a cozy nursery nest with as many handmade/home-found features as possible, which means incorporating things that remind us of our family & Canada. And what says love more than something handmade? Our 'Woodlands' theme will give us plenty of options for creating a nostalgic environment.

CUSTOMER CREATIVITY
When my customers are wanting to part of the creative process, I encourage them to do the same; create an 'Inspiration' board.
1. Pick your palette (or several colour combo's to narrow down later)
2. Start collecting samples of things that catch your eye; greeting card illustrations, make-up palettes, cloth samples, toys, books...anything! Take your camera everywhere.
Soon enough you will see a pattern in your style and can start to focus in on your colour and theme choices. Once you have decided, keep the colour tabs in your pocket & start picking out supplies for baby bedding, curtains,
lamps, furniture...all the things that you want/require for the space. Try not to overdo the theme (for example; monkey's everywhere!) but you can never overdo the colour scheme. Start simple. Usually the main mural & possibly some images on throw pillows or stuffed toys make the theme stand out with style.
Definitely incorporate personal items from your family or childhood; pictures, furniture, trinkets or heirlooms. If someone in your family has a talent, ask for a special gift to make your nursery unique. Collect & create. Have pieces passed down & created pieces to pass along.
Baby is all about celebrating new life & past generations.

So stay tuned...Coco & Co. will continue to publish the process for our Bun's Owl Nursery.
Is there anything better than Baby Bliss?

Kickin' It Old Skool

Every rite of passage tends to make us reflect on our past. Somehow moving from one stage of life into another, takes us back and then sends us forward into the future. Weddings are a great example of this. How many reception speeches are based on good times from days gone by, as family and friends wish us well on our new adventures to come?

Our trip to Canada this summer was driven by my little sister's announcement of her wedding date. Over the years, I have been collecting stories that I was sure would be perfect for her big day; tales from our childhood..and even some of our more recent adventures. However, I ended up looking to Sesame Street for inspiration as well as to Steph's friends and some of our family members to help me re-create a version of Guy Smileys, This is Your Life. This meant connecting with some of my kid sisters greatest fans; far more fun than sitting at a computer and trying to type out a speech (something I am neither good at or enjoy delivering!)

To continue the retro vibe & add to the evening's visuals; a painting in orange, brown & blue with the Hensen-created character, complete with my sisters old & new surname's.

Needless to say, the day was extraordinary. And when it came time for my 'speech', she didn't try to beat me up for telling things that are best kept ours!

Wishing YEARS of love and happiness to my sister and my NEW BROTHER!
Thank-you for putting on an amazing celebration for all of us to share!