modern handmade child is officially here!

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Custom Clouds for Pottery Barn Kids "Stork" bedding

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Even though Pottery Barn has discontinued their "Stork" bedding, I had a chance to create a couple beautifully detailed clouds to hang the precious quilt in the bedding set.

These particular clouds are a special laser cut shape that coordinates with the "Stork" bedding very well. I then painted them a light blue and added chambray blue polka dots and navy blue lateral stitches.

Each cloud measures 3" x 5" and can be used to create any of my other nursery decor items - wall letters, curtain holdbacks, a growth chart, wall plaques, and more.

Contact me today to special order a set for your baby's nursery!


Edited: September 26, 2009

This summer I created another version of the clouds for the PBK Stork bedding. This version is also light blue, but it has tiny white swirls going in two different directions and meadow green lateral stitches. This version has become the more popular one, traveling across country and into Canada even.

Original Canvases and Prints

Friday, July 24, 2009

New to the Little Elephant Company are handpainted original canvases (and their prints) by artist (and dear friend of mine) Mary Hoven.


Mary has an eye for such beautifully detailed creations. I just love the brush strokes in her skies and landscapes. A few of her pieces are available now to add to your shopping cart! See them here.

A little bit from Mary -

"I'm so grateful to be alive every day. And I love the Lord for all that he has done in our life. Bob and I love our farm, and can't wait to get animals. We now have two kittens (Jack and Jill), cattle, chickens, and horses maybe next year." read more...

As always, if you don't see what you want, just ask! I know Mary would be delighted to create a special piece of artwork for you.

Modern Handmade Child - Handmade Living in a New Way

Sunday, July 19, 2009


"A fun and valuable resource helping families to embrace the handmade way of life."

Look for the first issue early August 2009! This exciting publication is truly an international publication, as the editors and contributers hail from all over the world - Europe, Australia, Canada, and many parts of the Unted States - including myself.

As one of the managing editors and the Explore editor, I know first hand the array of information that will be coming your way. I'll let you know as soon as the first issue is here in August!

Polka Dots - a Modern Touch

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Geometric shapes, specifically circles, have been the "mod" design for a bit. And, it will probably stick around, since circles are clean, simple, and fresh.

So, I have painted the cutest polka dots for quilt clips! They can be any combination of color that you desire. Have a set all the same, or mix it up.

My first set was for the Land of Nod's "All Creatures Great and Small" bedding (love that set!). The colors I used are light blue, denim blue, and white. Other colors that I have done the polks dots in for this set are light green, aqua, burnt umber, orange, pale orange, and cream.

Kidsline's "Mod Turtle" bedding is another adorable set that the polka dots look fabulous with. For this bedding, I did pale blue, with burnt umber and white.

See my website for more color combination samples, and then order your own mod polka dots today!

Beavers for Enchanted Forest by Lambs and Ivy

Friday, May 8, 2009

This bedding set is so refreshing! The Enchanted Forest is unlike other baby bedding in that it has a forest theme to it, perfect for nature lovers. The modern touch of geometric shapes of teardrops and circles in most of the squares and the neutral colors with splashes of light blue sets off the animals in the quilt.

A customer wanted the little beavers to hold up the baby's quilt, so I had the shape custom cut to match. I then handpainted the beavers to coordinate with the bedding. I used a bambi brown and country twill on the beavers' bodies, and then nutmeg brown and black on their tails. Of course, I couldn't forget the white buck teeth!

Other options for this quilt would be owls, birds, mushrooms, polka dots, or leaves. Or even custom cut squirrels or leaves.

Nearly all of my designs can be done in almost any of my nursery decor items!

Contact me today to handpaint a set for you!

PBK Spring Butterfly in Pink - Custom 9 inch Letters

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

As I promised, here are the letters in the Pottery Barn Kids "Spring Butterfly" in pink theme!

CATHY is done in the bubblegum pink to really "pop" off her bedroom wall. Accenting the T and the Y are pale pink stitches around the edges.

Other colors I used in the set are dark pink, dark yellow, light yellow, meadow green, and white. The ribbon is vertical stripes of green, pink, white, and a bit of brown.

Are you looking for a fabulous piece of art for your child's room? Contact me today to create a set of letters that are a true piece of art, just for you!