At this time last year, I finished the baby room. I even managed to get it done two weeks early which is a surprise considering how busy I was and well, I am me. I actually really enjoyed doing it though my wife was in so much pain and discomfort she was unable to do what she wanted. She gave directions (orders) at times however.
The pictures above are made from material scraps I bought and hand sewn and framed. My wife was pretty unsure as to what my skills are like and whether they would be good enough to actually hang but I wanted to try. They are still there a year later so I figure they passed inspection.
The reason I wanted to make something for her room is because I think we live in a world that looks good but is often factory built. My own practical skills have suffered greatly over the years but getting hands dirty is an important part of development in my opinion. I can't make furniture and on a limited budget, Ikea was where we bought bed, changing table and cupboards so having some personally made details makes me feel a little better over the room. Silly, isn't it?
You can also see in the picture that the room is split with my office as well. We only have two bedrooms in this apartment so this is necessary. This is also the reason why at night I cannot do any 'real' work. I was working on a tablet and Bluetooth keyboard for a long time but recently picked up a cheap laptop so I have a little more flexibility in the evenings. I still can't edit photos though so that must be done before her bed time. The back of the cupboards was not a pretty view so I framed it with material again so it is not as noticeable as the backs of cupboards.
We do benefit from a mother-in-law that can knit though and the pink and grey bunny is made by her. My mother was also very handy with a sewing machine but having passed 13 years ago, we have nothing of hers here. This is the other reason for me to make something myself. At some point, probably when the cot becomes a bed, I will paint a picture also.
I would love to one day have some of my dad's paintings but shipping them to Finland from Australia is ludicrously expensive and at this point, impossible. One day when I have a spare 10,000 odd euros.
Personal touches are what makes things special in my opinion. It is also a little ridiculous going to a whole lot of effort to make something look nice for a tiny person who really doesn't care about any of it for a few years. I did enjoy it however and felt that it helped me mentally prepare in some way for what was coming as each bit of effort was paired with thoughts of what could be.
The other day though, I was playing with my daughter on the floor and for the first time I have seen, she looked up at the pictures, pointed and smiled. That made the effort all worth it.
Taraz
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