Let's Runaway to the Circus!

Each Halloween I like to do coordinating costumes with my husband.  We also decorate our van for trunk-or-treating to match the theme.  This year, I was inspired to do vintage circus after thrifting a heavily embroidered and sequined skirt.  As it turned out, the weather didn't permit trunk-or-treating, so the activities were moved indoors.  I have to admit it was easier decorating a classroom than running electrical cords and such to decorate the van!

I had fun collecting curtains, fringed trim, decorated tins, etc. for the circus theme.  I also found a music box clown that I modified to fit the theme.  I ordered a cymbal-clanging monkey from Amazon.  After printing out letters and different flourishes, I made a sign using foam core board.  The white globe lights around the perimeter operated in random motion and added to the fun.  We also made a "Wheel of Fortune" from a bicycle wheel (not shown).  The kids had fun spinning the wheel and then choosing a prize from the appropriate container.  I also printed several vintage circus posters and hung them around the room.  I found some free calliope music on the internet and had it playing for the evening.

So here's a few more details of the costumes...

"Whoooo" Is Hanging Around The Nursery?

Whose hanging around the nursery these days?  This cute little owl sitting on a branch.  

This is him without the light on...

...and this is him with the light on.  

I love the way the light creates a blue edge around the shade!

My daughter's nursery was lacking in overhead lighting, so this was our way of alleviating some of the problem.

I covered a thrift store shade with some thrift store fabric.  I deconstructed a thrifted swing arm lamp for the actual lighting portion of this lamp. 

I appliqued an owl on a tree branch to match her woodland theme in the nursery.

Vintage buttons were used for the eyes.  The whole project came in well under $10.00

You can see the whole process after the jump.

Hedgehog Happiness!

My youngest daughter has been decorating her nursery in a woodland animal theme.  To add to the fun, and to give her some lumbar support while nursing, I made her a pillow.

I drew inspiration from this design I found on the internet.  I can't find the original source, but I believe the company is Cocoa Mint Kids.

I cut the various pieces from fabrics that were already in my stash and used fusible webbing to hold them in place.

I then machine appliqued around the fabric.

The details were done by embroidering a variety of stitches.  It helped pass the time as I spent a total of 5 hours on a school bus with my youngest son for his most recent field trip!

Decorative vintage buttons were used for the flower centers.

 Small black buttons were used for the eyes.  Two sizes of black pom-poms were used for the hedgehog's noses.

I finished the edges of the pillow with large piping cut on the bias from some of the fabric that is already used in her nursery.

It was a fun project and should add a pop of cheerfulness to the nursery!

I like to link to these great parties!

For more inspiration, you can check out the toad stool foot stool I recovered for the nursery here, and how I fixed the little guy's dresser here!