5 Ways to Personalize a Nursery + Giveaway

updated with winners, below!

I'll admit I'm totally geek when it comes to personalizing my kids' spaces. Maybe it's because I'm extremely into names but part of my process in creating a welcoming room for my babies-to-be has required (for me) personalized touches. The cloth letters are a start. And the blankets are perfection adorableness, but there are many fantastic ways personalize your babe's nursery without getting all cutesy wootsy. Some ideas for my fellow nesters (and holy shit, you guys! So many of you are expecting! Congratulations!) and nesters-to-be are:

1. Street Sign Artwork

I've posted about "Where the Streets Have Your Name" before. The dude who runs the business is a family friend. Makes for a great gift for a new parent or newlywed couple. Very cute without being cutesy.

***

2. Vintage Vinyl from Ebay

Had the girls been boys, we would have named them Vox Shepherd ("the voice that guides") and Revere Blaze ("deeply admired light") which, I'll be honest, I'm still mourning because I think they're fantastic and strong and fantastic. But it's like that quote we used to write on our binders in Jr. High "if you love something set it free..." so fly free thou boy names! If the twins had been boys, these would likely be hanging in their nursery right now.

Revere was a tough one (I searched and searched) but this is close enough and look how they match!

Speaking of color coordination, these make a pretty solid pair:

***

3. Chalkboards

Archer and Fable have an entire wall in their room painted in chalkboard paint. We're planning on bunking them in the Fall so they can actually access the wall (that rhymed). Fable's daybed formerly known as crib has been against it this whole time but we're looking forward to turning half of A&F's bedroom into a create-their-own-adventure type art space and the chalkboard wall will act as center stage. For a nursery, however, here are a few chalkboards I found on Etsy that would make for beautiful wall hangings for personalized love letters:

vintage chalkboard via RevivedVintage

Restaurant Bistro Chalkboard, via UtopiaUF

Ornate Vintage Frame (pick the color) $125

Gold chalkboard via LoveNotes1122

***

4. Old Books (or Book Lamps)

I posted about Archer's "Archer in Hollywood" book lamp, here. The artist (his name is Philip Hansen) doesn't have a lot of Book Lamps in his shop currently (more are on the way) but there's a chance that if you contact him he may be down to customize an order. Maybe? Another way to personalize is to frame dust jackets. Expecting an Olivia or Eloise?

...A Madeline or Miles?

Triplets named Sally, Dick and Jane you say?

***

5. Personalized Wooden Toys:

My friend Amy runs Little Aloutte and included in her hand-crafted wooden toy store are these beautiful wooden typography teethers (see R&B above) that double as beautiful display items before babies have any teeth to bite them with. They're also the kind of things the girls will keep with them always. (Thank you, Amy for the personalized teethers! They look lovely in the room!)

Annnnnd, because I haven't done a giveaway, here, since... Tuesday, Amy's offering two lucky readers a handmade "typography teether" in the letter of your choice. I'll pick two winners via random.org next Thursday, September 15th. To win? Tell me a name you love. And don't forget to include your email address!

P.S. For the next week, with code "twinsrule" you get 15% off all Little Alouette purchases. Thanks, Amy! And thank YOU all for your continued support and kindness. You have made this pregnancy feel truly blessed and my family feel especially loved. Hope you've enjoyed this little giveaway week o' mine. Good luck and happy nesting!

GGC

***

Updated: Congrats to commenters #104, Ashley and commenter #212, Ann Marie! (Expect an email from me shortly!) And thanks for everyone for participating!