Playtime!

04.16.2010

What I remember most about growing up was watching my mom’s copy of The Sound of Music every Saturday morning. I’d act out a different character each time, of course my favorite role being Liesl – she had more singing parts. And I’d stand the cushions of the couch up for the scene at the end when the family hides behind the gravestones in the abbey before escaping to the mountains…

Ah, there’s no shortage of fun that can be had with regular old things like sofa cushions, storage boxes or those bubble sheets, when you’re a kid.

These two projects are great ideas for doing something creative with items that you may already have.

via Petite Planet

via Say Yes to Hoboken

PS. It may be fun to use chalkboard paint on regular sports balls as well. Or shoeboxes! Or anything!

Lights out!

04.15.2010

One of the most awesome comments I’ve ever heard from a parent was my friend T referring to her daughter as a “sleep terrorist”.

Were Zoe to be read her bedtime stories in this fabulous bed made from scrapwood by Dutch designer, Piet Hein Eek , would she see the error in her ways?

The boy from New York City

04.14.2010

I really only know one “baby” who lives in NY. His name is Palmer and at two, he’s certainly a big boy.

While shopping Brooklyn Junior for holiday gifts at the Brooklyn Flea pop-up holiday market, I came across a few trucks, made from recycled milk containers by Greentoys.

This picture alone makes me confident in my gift selection for Palmer.

Image courtesy of Palmer's mama, Thanks Jenny!

Doll Baby

04.13.2010

My friend Amy had a little girl a few weeks ago. They named her Charlotte Elizabeth. Isn’t that a gorgeous name? If I know Amy, and I do, that little one will grow up to have quite the imaginative, creative spirit.

And perhaps when she’s hosting tea parties, Miss Charlotte will invite one of these dolls made from recycled fabrics by Val’s Art Studio. Hamish seems like a rabble rouser, but Penelope looks to be good company.

Hamish, via Val's Art Studio Etsy

Penelope, via Val's Art Studio Etsy

Vrrooom

04.12.2010

Happy Monday! Did you have a good weekend?

I was lucky enough to still be in Raleigh when Mr. Dylan Bauer was finally born. Hey everybody, I held a newborn! I have proof, see:

I think I must have said multiple times to Brooke on Saturday “I can’t believe this came out of you. Crazy!” I am perplexed by the gift of life, apparently. Maybe I’ll understand it all someday.

But in the meantime, Brooke’s not the first of my friends to have a baby. OH NO. In honor of all my little friends, this week I’m writing about repurposed, recycled, and salvaged ideas and products for the kiddos.

Starting with today. Growing up in my hometown there were the Clark brothers. As of Christmas, each brother now has an infant son. Joseph and William, get a load of this rocker! Here’s a way to increase your cool factor.

Repurposed Vespa Rocker, via Poetic Home

Baby Love

04.09.2010

I grew up with a girl named Brooke. Our parents were friends before we were born and we grew up like sisters, we even shared a crib at Mrs. White’s nursery. Our moms told us that in this crib we used to, ahem, suck on one another’s toes. (I cannot even believe I just wrote that.) Yeah, ok, fine it’s normal for babies to do that. Expect that, as I pointed out to Brooke, she’s 9 months older than I! Was she trying to eat me?!

Brooke & I with He-Man ('85), at her wedding ('06)

This week has been a strange one; very sad and trying for many of my friends and family. The short of it is that I’ve landed myself in Raleigh, NC until Sunday. But the exciting part is that a little boy named Dylan, who has been anxiously awaited by his mama Brooke and dad Scott, will be coming into the world in the next few days – whether he likes it or not! And I, Auntie E, will actually be here to see it. Despite the unfortunate circumstances that brought me here – I’m so grateful to be apart of this experience with my dear friends.

Back in the fall I found an adorable vintage reproduction* poster at the Brooklyn Flea of the alphabet, with french words for each letter. Brooke and I went to Paris together as teenagers so I had to get it for baby Dylan’s nursery. My mom had it framed and just look how great it looks in Dylan’s new home.

French alphabet poster

Dylan's warm nursery

Welcome to the world, little dude. You are a shining light during a very tough week!

* Oh… vintage reproduction would not normally make the cut on Salvaged Grace, but I’m making an exception today.

In Full Bloom

04.08.2010

Truth is: Your garden can grow just about anywhere. As proven in an image search which revealed blossoms in pants, bras, cars, boats, purses and many other unexpected places.

Well.. not entirely true, if you have a black thumb like moi your garden will only grow a few days before suffering a horrible, completely un-neccesary, brutal death.

Below are my favorite ideas of creative carriers for plants using found and repurposed objects. Just in case you need to keep your bras and pants for… more conventional purposes!

via Design*Sponge

AP Photo/Dean Fosdick via Mlive.com

via Spindir.com

via James Baigrie Photography

via LearntoGrow.com

Leaf-fully Yours

04.07.2010

I’ve been known to add a freshly fallen leaf or two to my fall harvest tableau, but here are two truly unique, beautiful ways that these artists have repurposed leaves for their work.

via JennyLeeFowler's etsy shop

via Design*Sponge

April Showers

04.06.2010

What? You haven’t had any April showers lately? Oh, well, it’s because London and Paris have totally been hoarding ALL the rain.

There is a nary a vacation photo that doesn’t have rain glistening on the ground or giant storm clouds in the background! I’ll be posting some about my trip: there’s nothing like a vacation to help re-center and inspire a girl. But you’ll hear more rumblings about that in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, here is one of my most favorite DIY/repurpose projects ever:

Via Nicandboys Flickr account

This thrifty, creative mom used old rain gutters to make bookshelves on the wall of her kids’ playroom. Totally genius!

Beginning and Ending

04.05.2010

My flight from the UK arrived around 8pm on Easter Sunday. During the flight, I made a mental note to call a dear friend about the impending arrival of her first baby. Today is her due date.

Then, in the moments just after my plane landed, I learned of the passing of a member of my family. I was overwhelmed with concern for his wife and daughters, combined with my own grief and sadness.

Extending the lifetime of a piece of furniture or home decor which holds sentiment is what this blog is all about.

If only we could do that forever with people. We’ll miss you, Uncle Jack.

via Zeb Andrew's Flickr