A Mobile For Baby

Been working on nursery stuff.  Of course.  I can't believe how quickly time is passing during this pregnancy.  And at the same time, I can't believe how slow it's going either.  It's like some sort of bizarro time warp.

 I made a mobile to hang above baby Jane's crib.  I'm calling her baby Jane from now on.  No, that's not going to be her real name.  We actually don't have a name picked out yet.  We are so indecisive.  I think we are going to wait until we see her before we pick for real.  So baby Jane it is, for blog purposes and for the fact that she is still a no name baby.  I finished the crib skirt, too.

Anyway, the mobile.  So much fun to make.  So much fun.  I knew as soon as I was pregnant that I would make as many things in baby's nursery as possible.  I've done a few sets of baby bedding for friends and friends of friends in the past couple of years.  During my initial research on how to do it all, I realized that I was not too keen on all the bedding sets that were available at chain stores.  And I hated the plastic mobiles that attach to the side of the crib.   I especially dislike the fabric cover they put over the arm of the mobile.  Blech.  So I knew I wanted to make my own mobile.  Every nursery should have a cute mobile.  

I wanted silly animals.  Silly little animals are my favorite thing to draw.  I draw animals all the time at work.  I'll have to show you my crazy mixed up animal book some time.  If I have the time, I'm going to do some drawings to hang on the walls in the nursery, too.  I thought it would be great to have some funny looking fat cats hanging from a mobile.  Which made me think of my own two cats.

I did some internet research on making mobiles but was stumped on how to put it all together.  I've made mobiles before as art lessons.   Wire mobiles with hanging shapes.  Wooden mobiles with paper mache things dangling.   They are a pita to balance.  I had some elaborate Alexander Calder system in my head and no idea how to execute it.  And then Nancy over at Owen's Olivia posted an etsy feature about Pink Cheeks Studio.  And I was totally and completely smitten with the pigs in tutus.  The tutus. Ha!  All the work at Pink Cheeks Studio is whimsically amazing.  Is whimsically a word?  If not, it should be.

I needed a mobile with animals in tutus.  So I blatantly copied the tutus.  I think I even found some of the same trim, or close.   And I decided I needed a pig.  And pom poms.  The duck came after I thought about all the pink and yellow in the nursery.   All the animals are made out of fleece and felt.  I had to make a few prototypes before I came up with the right size and shape.  They are all sort of shaped like a cone.  With funny little arms, legs and ears sticking out of seams.  The two cats just make me giggle out loud every time I see them.  Did you notice that the calico cat has one orange leg?  She has a tiger leg in real life.  We call it her party leg.  Her other legs are all business.  Socks, unfortunately, is not amused.  He does not appreciate the tutu.

J helped make the actual hanging device.  It's an oval embroidery hoop cut in to two pieces.  He glued it together in the middle, painted it white and drilled holes in the end for hanging.  The string above the wooden hanger is actually what balances the mobile, fyi.  It's one continuous string from animal to ceiling.  There is a knot below the hole in the hanger.  After I strung on all the animals, I held up the mobile and adjusted the strings above the hanger to balance it all out before I tied the final knot at the top.  Then I begged J to install a hook in his beautifully painted ceiling.  He did so very reluctantly ;)

My favorite part: the butts floating in mid-air.  I hope this mobile makes baby Jane smile as much as it makes me smile.

So how are the cats doing with all the change going on 'round here?  Just fine.  They'll be fine.  The little calico one is learning where she is and is not allowed.  She is allowed on the ottoman.  Or the floor.  Not the glider or dresser, though.  And definitely not the crib.

Hanging a giant dangle-y cat toy above the crib sort of sends mixed signals though!  That's where the tin foil comes in.  Thanks so much to whoever suggested using foil.  She hates it.   I cackle evil-like when I think about how much she can't stand the foil.  Though it leaves something to be desired when it comes to the decor.

Baby Jane, we are (all) anxiously awaiting your arrival! :D