This adorable handmade poncho was actually brought back from Peru by my amazing sister-in-law a few years ago (thanks Ali!), and I was literally counting down the days until Clara was big enough to wear it. She has gotten a ton of use out of it over the last few years and it even made it onto the cover of a local mag (it was perfect for the holiday colors they were going for). But alas, Clara’s a growing bean, so it’s a little on the small size these days. Which would ordinarily make me want to cry, but I’ve been planning Phase 2 (aka: Operation Keep This Poncho Forever) for a while. $herdog had plans, yo.
We inherited this acrylic photo frame from John’s mom back when she and John’s dad were cleaning out their closets about a year and a half ago. Yup, this frame with some old art from John’s grade school days has just been hanging out in our crazy messy playroom for over 450 days (she says hanging her head in guilt). But from the moment John’s mom handed it over (and John proclaimed “never do I ever want to see that painting on the wall” I knew it would be a perfect place to memorialize Clara’s special Peruvian Poncho from her Aunt Ali.
So John and I took one last moment to ooh and ahh over his grade school art, and laugh at the details on the tag (John thinks the assignment was to paint something in nature – hence his 4th grade masterpiece entitled “The Sunrise Flower”).
Then I slipped off the acrylic top of the frame (I think places like Michael’s and Hobby Lobby still sell frames like this btw) and flipped the art over. The faded old charcoal colored construction paper actually looked really nice with the ponch – plus it tied into the navy curtains since it was another dark neutral layered in over the lighter and brighter tones going on in the rug and the bed. So I settled on that as the background (I’d planned to grab a large piece of decorative paper or even a yard of fabric to use as the background if the back of the art was a dud, but I ended up loving the understated effect of the paper because it doesn’t compete with the poncho at all).
The back of the frame isn’t in the picture above, but it’s in the picture below (and also the one below this one) which might further explain how the frame fits together. It’s basically just a white cardboard box that slides into the acrylic box front and there are small holes on the back of the cardboard box that allow you to hang it on the wall. It’s nice and light which is a huge bonus. But the sides of this frame had seen better days (they were scuffed and scratched), so I grabbed some white duct tape and folded them around each side of the frame for a nice clean and finished look that wasn’t all banged up and smudged after decades of use and storage
Then I laid the paper on top of the newly taped box and placed the ponch down right in the center.
The last step was slowly sliding the acrylic front back on (it’s snug enough to hold on its own, so there was no need to tape down the poncho or tape the acrylic front into place). The reason that slowly is a key adjective in that last sentence is that I learned that quickly pushing the top down on the poncho made the fringe blow out and get all crazy looking so it didn’t lay normally (it looked like it was frozen in the middle of a cyclone, so I removed the front, brushed the fringe back down with my fingers, and went back and did it muuuch slower).
Success.
For now it’s hanging above her play kitchen to the right of the wall with the postcard shelves but we’re not sure it’ll stay up there alone (sometimes it looks a little too small all by itself, and sometimes we like that it’s a simple singular piece of art to enjoy on that small wall). So we’ll keep you posted. Update: we added a little something else, which looks even more fun in cahoots with the poncho, so we’ll share the pics as soon as we can!
Sorry for the lackluster pic, the reflections in the acrylic were killing me, so all the closer ones except for the super angled one above were el stinko. It’s a lot more vibrant in person (where you also don’t see the reflections like you do in a photo). If you scroll up to the first pic, the poncho still reads as that color in real life – and it plays off some of the green tones in the flash cards on the shelves nearby and even in the frame collage art and our new Katie Daisy print on the opposite side of the room.
So now that we’ve gotten to the bottom of the poncho part of this post’s title, what about playing hooky? Well… see those hooks hanging to the right of the closet door?
Let’s get a little closer.
They’re Anthropologie hooks that were actually passed along to us during the book tour by Jesse and her sweet hubby Rick in Cincinnati (we house crashed them so we were old friends by the time we got to the signing where they were so generously thrusting them into our hands saying “we thought Clara would love them so much”). It was so thoughtful of them, and from the moment I saw the elephant and the giraffe I knew they were right. Clara would love them and they’d be awesome for her big girl room. And the moment she saw them? Let’s just say that the girl might surpass me in ceramic animal love. She’s obsessed with them. She even named them. Meet “Manna.”
And “Bamma.” Yes, those are their names. Manna is awesome about holding almost anything (stretchy necklaces, belts, and even a paint deck that Clara loves sharing with me). And Bamma is currently keeping Clara’s hair bows clipped on leftover ribbon from my gift-wrapping stash.
We hung the bottom one within her reach, so she can play with things on the hooks as well as clean them up/put them back when she’s done – but kept the top one slightly out of her current grasp (although I’m sure she’ll be able to reach it soon enough) in case we want to put something up there that we’d rather get down for her or keep her from tossing all over the room every day, like a bevvy of necklaces and bracelets. I’m sure what they’re holding will change a ton of times, but for now it’s a fun little mix of function and straight up fun (yes, I’m all chest-swelly and proud that my bean loves paint chips and ceramic animals just as much as I do). And see the space on top of the hooks on that sliver of wall? I still have plans for a little piece of homemade art to hang right there (so it balances more with the frame collage on the left of the closet door)…
We still have some other items on the to-do list of course (getting new sheets for the bed, adding some crown molding, painting or refinishing the dresser, possibly painting the ceiling once the crown goes up, etc). We’ll get there someday I’m sure! And you know we’ll keep you posted. In the meantime are you hanging any hooks or ponchos or using acrylic display boxes that are almost as old as you? Stranger things have happened…
Koliti says
Clara has a display of hair bows!
Remember when you couldn’t wait until she had enough hair for a bow? Have you posted a pic of Clara with a bow in her hair?
YoungHouseLove says
Probably somewhere, but I do know there’s a video coming up today that features not one, but TWO bows. Oh yes. Brace yourselves. :)
-John
Marsha says
Totally random non sequitur…it looks like John was at the same elementary school as my little brother and sister (Terra Centre is in Burke Centre, ya? I totally worked at the Basin Robbins across the street). My sister would have even been in the 3rd grade and my brother in 6th. Not going to lie that I almost freaked out thinking my sis could have been in his class. Which is why I had to leave this comment, haha.
YoungHouseLove says
No way! Yep, that’s where I went. And I frequented that Baskin Robbins quite a bit growing up (last time I was there it was a barber shop, I think). Too funny!
-John
Ram says
Love how the room is coming along.
On a side note, just wanted to say that you guys are awesome with your giveaways. You don’t require people to follow you on twitter, Facebook, Instagram etc etc in order to enter the giveaways.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks! Yeah, we like to keep it simple for everyone. We do giveaways as a means to thank all of you guys so we figured we keep it pretty easy. :)
-John
Gianna B says
That is the sweetest most cutest poncho in the ENTIRE world!
I used to live in Argentina a few years ago and I recently returned in november to visit my parents since they moved back last year and I bought my 2 year old nephew the cutest little soccer outfit and I will have to suggest that my sister do something like this when he grows out of it. I myself still have a silk nightgown from when we lived in the Philippines (20 years ago at age 4) and Im thinking that might be a good idea to do something along those lines if I ever have a daughter. So so sweet.
spiffi says
Holy elephant hook, batman!
I actually just recently found a cast iron elephant hook at hobby lobby online and picked it up with one of their coupons and free shipping –
http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/cast-iron-elephant-hook-115220/
Hilariously, *multiple* people on etsy are selling these things with a coat of paint on them, for $15-20 or more! When all was said and done, I think I paid $3 for mine, and actually *prefer* the original cast iron color :)
Savannah says
The room is looking great! My kiddos would love those anthropologie hooks. Have you seen their ceramic chihuahua stamper? http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/home-office/F25682014.jsp
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, and I love it! A mini Burger stamp. What’s not to like?
xo,
s
drew says
Elephant should be BAMA……Roll Tide!
Amy U says
Cute idea for the poncho! You may want to spray the paper with acid neutralizer so it doesn’t ruin the poncho. It may not, but I’m sure it isn’t acid-free from way back when.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Amy!
xo
s
Sara says
I’m really looking forward to seeing the Clara’s age reflected a bit more in this space. It will be nice when she “moves in” and brings all her personal items, e.g., books, toys, and stuffed animals. I definitely appreciate the space and where you are going with it, but if I didn’t know Clara’s age, I would assume that this space was for a 10-13 year old. Does she actually play with your paint chips? Or are they just for design purposes?
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, many toys and more playful things have to come in- this is just the shell of the room starting to come together. And heck yeah, she’s just like her momma and plays with those paint chips all the time.
xo
s
Deborah Graham says
I applaud your growing business and the fun you have. I enjoy seeing your daily posts and your creativity. I am a mother of two grown daughters and I wonder how much of Clara’s room is really “kid friendly?” Wouldn’t it be better to hang the bird cages on a hanger that can go up and down? It think those bird cages are a cute idea, but how accessible is it for your daughter to use? They are very tempting for a child to want to put stuffed animals in. If this is her “big girl” room, shouldn’t there be more kid friendly things in there or think more like a child does?
YoungHouseLove says
We thought the imaginative 3D element of those colorful birdcages made for childlike wall decor instead of more framed art. I’m happy to report that Clara loves gazing up at them and watching the shadows they make – just like she does with the flower mobile in her nursery. As she grows it’ll be fun to add things like birds/butterflies/stuffed animals with her (they’re just held up by a ribbon so they’re easy to remove and fill). We’re definitely not done in here, so there will be plenty of toys/games/touches for her to interact with! It’s hard to judge a room when it’s half baked, ya know? :)
xo
s
Beth says
Love these ideas- so cute!! And love the hooks too!! Although as an Alabama fan, I think she should call the elephant “Bamma”. :)
Fi says
I think I totally missed the moose getting his rad shade. I ran back through a few posts to try and see if it was mentioned but cannot find it. Love it and am wondering from whence it came?!
Fi
YoungHouseLove says
We actually made that for the book, so the whole how-we-made-it tutorial is in the book. Hope it helps!
xo
s
LaTonya says
I loved all the book tour updates. I didn’t get a chance to attend, but I definitely enjoyed reading about all of your adventures. But what happened to Grand Cayman?? I was really looking forward to that one!! Only because I wished I could go!! :-)
YoungHouseLove says
Us too! But sadly it got nixed over the holidays. Maybe for the next book!
-John
Stephanie says
I have those exact Anthro hooks in my daughter’s room (plus the Zebra one). How did you guys attach them to the wall? They look a lot more secure than mine. I just tapped in a few nails and then just hung them like pictures. So currently, they are more ornamental than actually functioning hooks.
Stephanie says
PS- I love the book by the way! My sister got me one for Christmas and I got her one. It sits on my shelf with my D*S Sponge At Home Book!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks so much Stephanie!
xo
s
YoungHouseLove says
We used anchors and screws so they’re nice and sturdy :)
xo
s
Stephanie says
Sweet, thanks!
carol says
thank goodness that bed of nails cautions one person at a time, could have been a disaster . . .
Janette says
We had this company on Fab in the UK today… made me think of you guys and your ‘little’ blog! Thought you’d love them :
http://www.haoshi.com.tw/index_f.php
Loving your work :)
YoungHouseLove says
So cool!
xo
s
Felicity says
We have that elephant hook in Maddox’s room! Which, if you remember is navy and white/gray and was going to have pink accents if he were a she. Alas, I’m just going to have to live vicariously through you as you decorate Clara’s room. I’m loving it!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Felicity! I bet that hook looks awesome in his room!
xo
s
Brigitte says
It’s all very beautiful!
I find my kids aren’t too hard on things. They do have a lots of stuff though! What do you do with it all? Do you throw out everything from school? How much do you keep? My girls share a room and it’s sparse but the play room is packed full! I get rid of so much. Do you have a limit on how many toys each kid can have? I don’t feel like they have too much, just little space. But between the girls’ art projects (all the time) and toys with mini-part (in plastic boxes), dolls and those dresses and accessories, board games and books books books (the only thing that is too much!), it all gets very tight. Just curious how you handle the toys!
Thank you!
YoungHouseLove says
I’m definitely sentimental so I keep a lot of things, but I try to tuck things like paintings into frames and hang them on the leaning magnetic chalkboard in the living room so they’re out to be enjoyed instead of all stashed in a box that I forget about. As for toys, Clara has tons of those too, but here’s how I try to keep a handle on them.
https://www.younghouselove.com/2012/05/kid-stuff-everywhere-heres-our-take/
Hope it helps!
xo
s