Special Coupon!

It's winter, and what else would an expectant mom rather do than prepare for baby to arrive?

So all the felted and regular safari quilt clips are a special of 35% off through the end of February! Use coupon code GOINGONASAFARI to receive the special. Let's go on a safari and forget about the ice and snow and all that cold.

Why safari? Well, besides the warm thoughts of sunshine, tall grasses, and rainforests, the safari theme is also popular for both boys and girls.

Please note that this does not include any handpainted designs. Be sure to use coupon code NEWLEC for your order to receive 25% off all items.

Visit us now at www.littleelephantcompany.com!

PBK Jackson Whale Quilt Clips

One of my favorite bedding companies, Pottery Barn Kids has some of the cutest sets. But not only are they so very adorable, they are high quality sets that last through several children.

It is not uncommon for someone to purchase a retured PBK bedding set second hand and then ask me to make a set of quilt clips to go with it. And last week, I found out that my PBK Baby Boats quilt clips went along for the ride to the second owner (the new mom was looking for instructions on how to use the quilt clips).

I think the PBK Jackson bedding sets will be another one of the sets that will see many baby rooms for sure. A soothing light blue with navy and basil green accents, Jackson is a fun pattern for little boys.

So my Jackson whales are custom laser cut to match the whale shape from the bedding itself. I paint them a base navy coat, and then I add in the dots...lots and lost of dots. I use the tip of a screw to put on all those itsy bitsy dots, if that helps with the visualization!

Then the fin is a nice lipstick red, with a white eye and stitched mouth. Cute, cute!

If you would like your own set of Jackson whales, head over to my website, as I have them listed there and ready for you!

PBK Penelope Lightswitch Cover

Another cute and adorable handpainted item from me! Painted to coordinate with the Pottery Barn Kids Penelope bedding, this lightswitch cover is a beauty for a little girl's room.

I started with white for the base color and then used iron oxide brown for the little squiggle branches. The tiny leaves are a light green.

Next, I painted the top bird in pale yellow, adding white stitches around his body and then iron oxide brown, legs, eye, and squiggly wing.

The light pink bird was next, also with white stitches and iron oxide eye, beak, and legs. The wing and tail feathers are Valentine pink.

This was all I had in mind and had sketched for the mom. However, after staring at the lightswitch cover for a few minutes, I decided it needed something a little more. I looked over the bedding a bit more and went to work.

I first painted the moss green stripe on the left. Next, I added the white stitching down the stripe. Lastly, I used the end of my paintbrush for the light green polka dots down the right side.

Would you like your own lightswitch cover? I would be happy to create one for you! Please contact me today. : )

For additional pics of the piece, scroll down the post. For close ups, just click on an image for the larger version!

If you would like other coordinating items like wall letters, hair barrette holder, curtain holders, name sign, quilt clips, growth chart, peg rack, and more, just let me know!

All Creatures 6 inch Wall Plaques

Today we have watched Kung Fu Panda (twice), Alvin and the Chipmunks Halloween edition, Veggie Tales with Montana Duke, and Rio. You know what movie marathons mean, parents...yep, sick child. So, I figured I should probably type out a very long overdue blog post to get you caught up on the exciting things that have been happening lately with Little Elephant Company.

So on September 1st, I launched my new shopping cart and website redesign...yeah! I love the fresh look it has. And, I have been adding all the items I have done over the past 6 years. I am still not close to everything on there, but I am trying to keep the quilt clips section up to date with all the new designs I do each week.

And, I have an ad in the Pregnancy and Newborn Buyer's Guide magazine that just went out last week. Be sure to pick up a copy! I will get a pic of the mag and my page when I get a chance next week (hopefully).

But you are also probably wondering about the adorable set of wall plaques pictured above, huh? These are just beautiful! I painted the 6 inch circle wall plaques a avocado green, burnt umber, and chambray blue. Each is hung with 7/8 inch dark brown grosgrain ribbon and handpainted with an animal from the "All Creatures Great and Small" bedding by the Land of Nod.

This bedding design is so very versatile and can be used for boys and girls. When I was first introduced to it, I created my original polka dot quilt clips that are now one of my most popular designs.

So for these wall plaques, I painted a soft apple green frog with black eyes and lipstick red mouth. The stitches around him are white.

The lion has a beautiful burnt orange mane, a cream face, rose pink nose, and additional details in country twill, lipstick red, black, and pale orange.

The walrus is a smooth burnt umber with white whiskers and tusks, black eyes, and rose pink nose. His circle is outlined in medium gray.

And, yes, I would be happy to make you your very own set of wall plaques! You can choose any combination of animals from the "All Creatures..." bedding. See the listing on my website today to purchase your set. And watch for the matching peg rack soon to be listed as well. And, of course, I can do matching growth chart, nail covers / knobs, wall letters...

White Daisy Quilt Clips

One of the most popular designs for my quilt clips is the daisy. I handpaint each daisy the color that each customer chooses. Of course, the most requested color is white. :

Whether the daisy is plain without a center (emulating the Pottery Barn Kids style), or the center is bright yellow, dark yellow, pale yellow, or even a shade of pink, green, purple, or blue, the daisy is one of the designs that coordinates well with nearly any bedding set.

Today, I even received a picture of my daisies holding up a beautiful quilt. I love getting customer pictures!

This mom had a great suggestion as well...she used the 3M doublesided tape in place of the nails to hang the quilt clips and her quilt. She didn't want to put holes in her wall and came up with a great solution! Thank you, Grace!

If you would like your own daisy quilt clips, go to my website now. If you would like some custom designed ones, don't hesitate to contact me today!

New Hardware Style for my Curtain Holdbacks

I haven't always been thrilled with the metal brackets I have used for curtain holdbacks, always wanting something "prettier" but still functional. Although, the metal brackets are very durable and functional. After a customer brought to my attention that they also would like something "prettier" for the hardware, my hubby helped me brainstorm for a new style. Amazingly, it only took one evening to create a concept, and all of the supplies are local!

So here it is...a straight wooden dowel rod that you simply place your curtains behind. It is so very simple, isn't it? I handpaint the dowel rods and bases a coordinating color to go along with the shape that you choose. Then the base is screwed into the dowel rod, and the shape is glued to the front of the dowel rod. I include two drywall screws so you can then screw the base into your wall.

Here are a few pictures:

A pair of daisies in wisteria with dark purple accents and dark yellow centers...front view and side view:



Then a pair of basketballs, front view and side view:



And then here is the original metal bracket style, which is still available, as well as the wooden dowel both shown on the whale. Just let me know which style you would prefer for your curtain holdbacks!





You can order curtain holdbacks in nearly any shape and theme at my website http://www.littleelephantcompany.com/. If you don't see what you want, just let me know, and I would be happy to make it!

PBK Hayley in a nursery

A mom just sent me a picture of my owls in her PBK Hayley nursery, and I had to share. : )