Bella's Bedroom (Thank You Charmaine!)

All of a sudden it's October. Where did September go? I am still adjusting to the pace of life here with Angus at nursery. I thought this new phase would bring me hours more time to myself, time to read and craft and blog and make...how foolish of me! I have two hours to myself on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, during which time I go to the supermarket, run errands, do housework, cooking, ironing, basically all the jobs which ensure the smooth running of a happy house.* On Tuesdays and Thursdays, after helping at Bella's school, I have an hour before I have to set off to collect Angus at 11.15am. I wonder if it's worth even going home? But I do, because it's amazing what you can achieve in one hour when there are no small people around. I have less time, not more, and it's taking some re-adjustment on my part. And, once again, I am full of admiration and respect for parents who juggle jobs with childcare and running a house.

I hope you all had a nice weekend. Ours was a good balance of pottering quietly at home on Saturday and seeing friends, fresh air, visiting a castle and a huge roast dinner on Sunday.

Anyway, to Monday's business. Last week I was extremely fortunate to win a giveaway by Charmaine at little nest box, and I chose the felt rainbow garland. I should confess that I am already a fan (and a customer) of Charmaine's shop; she creates simple, modern and very beautiful decorations for children's bedrooms. I was very, very happy to win her giveaway! As soon as the package arrived, Bella claimed it for her own and, credit to her, I knew the garland would work in her bedroom.

Have I ever shown you Bella's room? I'm not sure if I have. Here are some glimpses of tidy corners. She has a simple wooden bed made by my father in law. It is unbelievably heavy. I made the cushions from curtain off cuts with some easy applique. The canopy hanging over her bed is from Ikea. Bella doesn't go in for overly-princessy decoration (thank goodness) but we both like the mosquito net look of it.

The Eames coat rack used to hang in our hall but it never looked right there, so we moved it to Bella's room. The snooker ball colours work so well against the white wall and it is a handy place for tutus, ear muffs, skipping ropes and other essentials for life as a five year old girl. The shelf holds some framed bits and bobs and my mum (ever the primary school teacher) created Bella a "reading corner" with a chair, hamper full of books, and a rug. 

Anyway, back to the garland.

We tried it here, strung over some framed Eric Carle prints:

Then here, on the wardrobe door handles:

but Bella finally settled on here, looped across the head board of her bed:

The rainbow circles echo the pattern in the canopy, and we can easily move it around. A string of rainbow circles - so simple, yet so utterly beautiful. Thank you Charmaine.

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*said with irony