A Mobile for a Little Man

Life is pretty exciting these days! Things seem to be changing (for the best) every day, and every time that I turn around someone else has great news to share. Right now, I am most looking forward to the arrival of two special little people this fall. Two of my cousins are expecting babies, about one month apart, and what's more exciting than that? 

During my last visit home, one of my cousins mentioned she wanted a bird mobile for her little man's nursery. I instantly thought of all of the fabulous ideas I've spotted online (mainly Pinterest), and asked her if I could sew her some little birdies. She agreed, and I couldn't wait to get started on my own addition to this sweet babies space. 

She had picked "Night Owl" in Natural as her inspiration fabric (this will adorn the cushions on their glider), so on Sunday we went on a little shopping trip to find some coordinating fabrics for the little birds. 

The colours were PERFECT and I couldn't wait to get home and start working on those little birds. Of course, a ton of birthday party stuff got in the way and it wasn't until late last night that I finally had the chance to sit down at my Mother's sewing machine and get to work. For those of you interested in how I went about making these birds, here's what I did.

After stumbling across this blog post via Pinterest, I printed off the pattern found here and started tracing my shapes.

I used plain white chalk for the darker/coloured fabrics, and pencil for the neutral fabric that you can see pictured above. It worked well, and then when I started cutting I found most of the fabrics edges frayed - pretty badly too. My Mom suggested I buy some fray check to keep everything smooth while I worked, and let me tell you - this stuff is fantastic. It smells pretty bad, and left some white residue on my fingers when they came in contact with it - but it did the job wonderfully.

Now for the sewing part. The tutorial that I read suggested hand stitching these little birds, with the rough edges of the fabric sticking out. I tried, but the weave on all of the fabrics was too loose and wouldn't really hold my hand stitches - so we opted for the sewing machine. We tried the first one with a blanket stitch, and it looked pretty cute, but for me was too much of a pain. For my others, I just used a regular old stitch, and it worked great.

I wasn't able to get any more pictures as I was flying solo on my mission, but what I did was sewed the head onto the body and closed up the entire back of the bird. I then sewed half of the belly closed and then half of the other side of the belly, leaving me enough room to stuff the bird. Once the fiber filling was in there nice and tight, I finished sewing the bird closed. At the moment, I have three birds finished, and I am almost done the fourth. (My bobbin ran out before I closed up the fourth bird, and I had no desire to fill a new one at 1 in the morning). Here are the three so far...

I still need to add eyes, and I also plan on adding some little brown felt beaks to them to make the ends look more clean. It's such a fun little project to work on, and has given me a bit of a break from only working on birthday party projects. I can't wait to share the final product with you once it's hanging in the nursery (which is still in progress).

Have you been working on any fun projects recently? Have you ever tried making any small stuffed animals, or your own mobile?

Busy Bee

Well, I had some pretty big plans of sharing another project I'm working on at the moment, however, I'm not quite ready. For once, my trip back to the GTA is very busy, despite spending most of it with my parents. During the day I've been playing, running errands and generally being a Mom. Evenings, once Halle is in bed, I get wrapped up in party projects and end up going to bed hours later than I should, only to be up bright and early with a baby who is suddenly peeing through her diaper all the time. 

Yes, life is pretty nuts, but Halle is a very busy, very happy toddler these days, so I don't mind feeling so tired. I'm enjoying my time with her, but still finding time to do the things that I love and get excited about in the evening. 

Well, another day, another long to-do list to tackle. Come on back tomorrow, I hope to have something a little more exciting for you to check out! For now, here are some of my recent Instagram photos of projects I've been working on...

Fabulous Fall Finds

We're halfway through August, which normally would mean that I'd be itching for fall to arrive. However, since summer was late to arrive on the west coast, I would happy to soak up the summer sun a little longer than usual. Regardless of how I feel, autumn is well on it's way, which means that fashion and accessories for the new season are quickly filling up stores and that always makes the changing seasons easier. As I've been scoping out what different stores have on offer for the fall season, I was particularly struck by some great finds over at Indigo (of course). Here's what I would love to add to my own shopping bag:

1) Antique Burgundy Tapered Vase - $14.50: Who doesn't love have an abundance of little vases laying around for accessorizing your shelves, or displaying pretty blooms? In my books, you can never have too many vases and this price point makes this one perfect. The colour is great for every season, and I'd love to see it on a guest room nightstand, along with the other great finds I've included here.

2) Bird Alarm Clock - $54.40: At first glance this birdie doesn't look like much, but if you take a peek on the back you'll realize it's a functional alarm clock. Not only is the clock sleek and small, but it wakes you to the sound of song birds. Great for everyday, or a special treat for guests stopping by!

3) Sweater-Weave Basket - $39.50: I love the look of a chunk weave basket, and how the texture can really warm up a space. Add this basket with some fluffy blankets to any room for instant coziness!

4) Moss Stitch Throw - Ivory - $65.00: Much like vases, you can never have too many fluffy warm throws. Add them to your couch, in a basket, the back of a chair or a basket. You'll love it, and guests will always appreciate a cozy blanket to wrap themselves in.

5) The Perfect Vase with White Crackle Finish - $34.50: It's a vase, and it's white and the shape adds a bit more interest than your basic round vase - what's not too love. Just imagine it full of some gorgeous tulips, peonies or hydrangeas.

6) Gorgeous Cabbage Rose Pillow - $59.50: One thing I really love about Indigo's pillows, is they come with their insert. Perfect! Recently I'm big into vintage looking florals, making this pillow right up my alley. The pink, green and gold in this cover are so versatile and can be used most seasons.

Autumn also calls for long lazy mornings of lingering over breakfast, and enjoying the company of family and friends. Instead of the usual dinner party, why not round up your favourite people for a warm autumn brunch?

1) Maple Syrup - $12.00: What's a warm comforting breakfast without Maple Syrup? Want to really please your guests, warm it up and put it in a pretty pitcher to ensure everyone's pancakes or waffles stay nice and warm.

2) Rustic Mug - Dijon - $16.00: Nothing says fall like this warm mustard tone. It's one of my favourite colours and makes me think of the Mum's that you see everyone in this cooler season. Just add your hot drink of choice.

3) Stasis Raspberry Preserve - $10.00: Autumn just screams for yummy canned fruits and veggies, and nothing is better (in my opinion) than a delicious raspberry preserve. Put some out in a pretty ramekin for your guests to add to toast, pancakes or waffles.

4) Retro Milk Bottle - Large - $32.50: I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that the way's in which we all purchase milk these days are far from attractive. Want to impress your guests? Put your milk, or creamer in this pretty vintage inspired bottle and instantly pretty up your table setting. 

5) Pumpkin Spice Pancake and Waffle Mix - $11.00: Nothing says fall quite like some pumpkin spice! (I'm sure many of you instantly thought of that ever popular Starbucks drink). B may not be a fan of pumpkin flavouring, but I for one and longing for all of those delicious pumpkin flavoured goodies, and I would be more than happy to add this mix to our breakfast arsenal. 

After browsing through Indigo's site, I am so ready for fall, and I'm also itching to put together a fantastic brunch party with guests. Are you in fall mode yet? Any stores that have you lusting at new decor for the coming season? 

*I was in no way compensated by Indigo for this post. I simply visited their website and fell in love with each and every one of these items.

A Slice of Life

Just a little afternoon post on this Monday, to share with you a little of what's been happening for us recently. First off, I want to share with you a small look at my weekend. On Saturday, I was thrilled to attend the wedding of an old and dear friend of mine. I have known Julia for probably close to 15 years, and even though we have grown apart, she still thought of me when sending out her wedding invites. What an incredible experience, watching the little girl I spent lazy summer days with, hanging poolside and listening to The Backstreet Boys, marry her best friend. 

The ceremony took place outdoors. Despite it raining all day, it cleared up in time for the guests to arrive, and the sun even came out as the happy couple exchanged vows. Perfection! The location was just stunning, and my jaw dropped when I walked into this room for cocktails...

No detail was forgotten. My favourite bit was the cake, which looked more beautiful the closer you got...

A seriously stunning day! I couldn't be happier for the two of them, and hope they enjoy themselves on their two week honeymoon, galavanting around Europe.

Last week also brought a little smile to face when the final images from Halle's 1 year photo session (with Nicole of Bittersweet Photography), arrived in my inbox. Here's a little peek of some of my favourites for you...

I could never thank Nicole enough for the beautiful images she has captured of our baby girl, over the past year. All of these photos mean so much to us, and we will cherish them forever. Now, time to fill all of this empty frames at home. 

What's making you smile these days?

A Thrifting Score

Over the long weekend at the beginning of the month, the three of us got out to do some thrifting. We hit up a few places and the first two were an absolute bust. When we arrived at the final store, I knew right away that we were going to find something good. There was all kinds of furniture and great pieces, but we didn't find our special piece until we headed up to their loft known affectionately as "Discount Alley". Discount Alley in a Thrift Store? That is right up my alley! 

As soon as I saw this couch marked $20, I knew it would be coming home with us for the sunroom. The space has a tendency to leak when there is a big rain storm, and our landlords have no sense of urgency to fix it. At least if part of this piece gets a little water damaged, it won't be the end of the world.

I'm hoping for a relatively quick turn around on this project, after all, I think we'd both like to use this space before the cooler weather returns - possibly even during our month of visitors. Thankfully, the wood is in fantastic condition which means I have no plans of doing anything to it.

The only thing we need to do is recover those cushions. I have some plans up my sleeves to hopefully use the fabric we had originally purchased, from Tonic Living, for the seating bench in our basement in Toronto, and never used. We have some measuring to do, but if we can make it work we may even switch up the seat cushion a little.

The other item that needs to be addressed, is the canvas bottom of the sofa. It looks like the previous owner made a little haphazard "repair" that we should do something about - though that may come after we recover our cushions - we'll see how this all plays out. 

For me, this really signifies the start of making our sunroom a usable space. Let's just hope that that roof is addressed and the leaking can stop so that I can feel a little more secure about adding nicer pieces to this space.

Is there a room in your house that needs some sprucing up on a dime? Where do you shop and look for great deals when you are trying to revitalize your space for less? 

Fancy Friday Love

Happy Friday! Halle and I are excited to be back in Toronto for this weekend, and I'm excited to share all of these Fancy finds with you...


I am a book addict, and love me a beautifully styled bookcase. No surprise then that I loved this bookcase (and entire room), from i suwannee, last Friday...

Who doesn't love a well designed outdoor space? For some serious eye candy, check out this post over on a life's design...

This post, from Emily A. Clark, has me feeling inspired to cozy up our front entrance. It's a pretty dark space, so I would opt for something gauzy, like what we have in the kitchen breakfast nook. I think this could be a great solution. It's a space that definitely needs some addressing before our parade of guests start arriving!

{Southern Living via Emily A Clark}

Pretty linen and lace wedding invitations from Oh So Beautiful Paper...

Some great eye candy on desire to inspire earlier this week, sharing some fabulous rooms by Cochrane Design. Of course my favourite was a drool worthy kitchen...

This is going to be such a great weekend! Tomorrow is my annual family reunion. I didn't think I would be back for it this year, but when I received a wedding invite for the same day, I knew I had to come home for both. It's only a week prior to Halle's next party, so I figured I would just extend my trip. I'm looking forward to catching up with some family, and watching an old friend marry her best friend. What could be better than those two things? What are you up to this lovely August weekend?

A Little More Masterful

If you follow First Time Fancy over on Facebook, then the other week you may have seen the headboard I had discovered on craigslist, and was considering for our bedroom...

I was actually surprised on how much feedback I received... including from people who don't even follow me. However, the feedback was great and definitely confirmed that it was an excellent find. So we were in touch with the owner and eventually we drove out to see it, and ultimately make it our own. I just loved all of the detail in it. 

A lot of the feedback I received was to leave it as is, or to strip and restain it. Well, I'll start but saying I hate stripping anything... let alone a detailed piece like this - so that was immediately out of the question, and B agreed. Second, as heavy and solid as this piece may look, it's actually made out of soft pine, nothing that we would feel really bad about painting. Finally, we tried it out, as is, in our bedroom and it's definitely way too dark. So, out to my "workshop" (aka the empty sunroom) it went for some paint. 

I picked "Distant Grey", which is a Brian Glukstein colour, and had it colour matched at Home Depot to Behr's Premium, paint and primer in one interior gloss. It was the perfect white for our room on the paint chip, and just and perfect in person. 

I was incredibly impressed with how well the first coat covered the headboard, especially with how dark it was originally. You can also probably tell from the above photo that I skipped a major step and did not sand down the piece... but really - can you blame me? I would've been there for months sanding that thing down if I wanted to do the whole thing. Despite skipping this big step, the paint covered beautifully and had stayed really nicely.

In the end, I settled on two coats of paint on the piece. There are some spots where the wood shows through a tiny bit, giving the piece a little bit of a worn look and we both love it. I didn't really want it to be pure white, so I'd say I got exactly what I wanted. Here she is all lightened up and living in our much more masterful, master bedroom.

Oh yes, and my frame's and ampersand - I hung those before we even had the headboard in the house. Let me tell you how happy I am that I hung them so high! I'm still waiting to receive the files from Halle's one year photo shoot before I print the photos for those frames, so for now, they stay empty.

As white as it looks from a distance, when you get up close you get a better look at the worn quality of it...

Having a big statement headboard really makes a huge difference in the space, and much like our painted chairs, it's a way to add some character to our rental without putting any money into the actual house. I really do love it. We've come a long way from sleeping on the guest bedroom mattress on the floor in here...

For now I'm using our console table, that actually belongs in the front all, as a night stand. It's working well, but I'd really like to find a better piece, preferably one that has a mate so that B can have one on his side as well. At the moment he has an old painted dresser that we picked up on craigslist. It's a little too high to be a night table and the drawers stick a little. I think it would work better in the guest room, so my search for the right bedside tables continues. It's just hard to find two pieces that are the right size, provide us with good storage and at a price point that we like - but we'll just have to keep looking. 

These are only the first of many updates to this room. I'd love some pretty toss pillows in here, and some roman shades for the windows on either side of our bed. They look out into the sunroom, and since we hope to make that a nice place to hang out, I'd like the option to close them when we have company over. Like any space, it will all take some time and patience to find the right pieces to give us that perfect layered look, and I know in the end it will be worth it.