Friday, April 22, 2011

Room To Grow




Creating a unique room for your child should be a fun experience, whether it's for a new baby's nursery or transitioning an older child to a "big kid" room. But a lot of parents freak out, unsure of what to do. And it is hard..what if this teeny little bundle is a jock or a ballerina or a rock and roller or a constuction worker? Well ,take heart. There's a relatively easy way to decorate without spending a fortune, and a lot of directions to go in.
When i do a mural , i usually try to talk new parents out of a "baby theme" like Winnie the Pooh or a character theme (anything Disney, Sesamee Street, cartoon character) cause it costs a lot (very labor intensive) and the little one will outgrow it very quickly. There's nothing like your 8 year old telling you that her room is for babies..i've seen grown women cry as they paint over Snow White and Cinderella.
Instead , trust your instincts, the same way you created an environment in your home. If you like soft colors, use them in your child's room, or vice versa with bold , bright colors.
And a themed room can be great fun..if you and your significant other are into sports, it's likely that johnny will like them too. into dance? music? nascar? decorate with a few cute items (piggy bank, frame, wastebasket, hamper) that won't break the bank, ( no pun intended) and when little susie hits puberty and paints her room black, it won't be that hard to move on.
Believe me, decorating a kid's room is much easier to deal with than puberty. Been there..barely lived thru it..now i color my hair for a reason.

Monday, April 18, 2011

A House Divided


Lately, a lot of people have been requesting banks for their kids or nieces or godchildren that distinctly show their personalities. No, not the kid's personalities ..the people doing the buying!
It's so much fun to get to know the people that visit your shop. It's almost like meeting them in person as they start to explain why even tho the gift is for their best friend's new baby, and the best friend LOVES the Jets, would i please make a NY Giants bank . "Why?", i ask.."Because that baby can't grow up loving that pathetic team."
Recently, i had a request to create a bank with the Red Sox on one side and the Yankees on the other ..Mom was from Boston, Dad was from New York and they couldn't agree on a team for the new baby. I laughed iike crazy when the mom wrote to thank me and said that every time she went in the baby's room, she turned the bank around to the Boston side..and always found it on the New York side the next time she went in!
I guess the best part is i get to be part of the generational handing down of sports teams from parent to child..part of the family legacy that people take very seriously..but i can't help but wonder ..what if little reggie or serena decide on a team of their own? Well, you have the piggy bank, start saving for therapy.