Stuff Parents Need

Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

Whimsical Art for Homes with Children (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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If you look around my house, it takes all of 1 second to realize I have kids. Toys and lessons and stuffed animals and blankets are found in pretty much every room of the house.

But if you were to look strictly at the walls of my house, it would not be as apparent that children live here (aside from our wall of family pictures). We could definitely do a better job of incorporating more free-spirited and fun pieces of art in our home; pieces that will delight children.

I was delighted when Nidhi Chanani, a well-respected artist from San Francisco, contacted me to see if I’d like to check out her work. She makes art that most anyone would enjoy, but I think she has a very special knack for pieces that will speak to children.

Darah and I spent about 15 minutes admiring Nidhi’s work, and Darah kept coming back to the print of the bear taking a shower. It made her giggle, and she said she’d love to look at it while she takes her baths. So now this print is in our bathroom for Darah to enjoy, and it certainly makes me smile to see it, too.

 

There were so many great prints from which to choose on Nidhi’s site. Here are the two honorable mentions for Darah:

I mean….how cute are these pieces?! I’ve definitely got Nidhi’s Etsy site bookmarked to return to when it is time for Layah to graduate to a “big girl” room from the nursery.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win Everyday Love Volume 2 (a 124 page art book for children!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. 

Using Art to Remember a Loved One

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In late August, my mother unexpectedly lost her brother, my Uncle Steve. It turns out, he had been battling stomach cancer for the past year, but the family was unaware. He passed away very suddenly, and my mom didn’t get a chance to even say goodbye before he was gone. It was a very shocking experience.

I spent some time over the next week thinking about my Uncle Steve, and the light he brought to the world and those around him. That’s the way I wanted to remember him; full of joy. It then occurred to me that art would actually be a fantastic way to keep Uncle Steve’s memory alive, and I knew just the way to do it.

My Uncle Steve was among the most loyal University of Alabama fans in the country. He lived and breathed that football team, and could tell you anything and everything about the players and the coaches. It was his passion. Nothing brought Steve more joy than game days, and the thrill of victory when Alabama won was always the icing on the cake.

 

I did some searching online for a great photo of Bryant Stadium, where the University of Alabama plays at home games. I found a terrific shot with a creative commons license that I could use, and then I headed over to Gallery Direct to turn a photo into a beautiful piece of art.

The original photo size was not the standard requested size for Gallery Direct, but they have incredible customer service, and worked with me to make the piece work in a setting. This is something I absolutely love about this store: if you have a question or problem, just email or call them and they will work with you to resolve it. They want to make sure that you get exactly the type of custom framed art that you want, whether it be using a print they have in stock, or a photograph of your own.

I decided to put the photo in an aluminum floated frame option, and I really love the result. It’s sleek and modern, but also timeless. It also really lets the excitement of the image shine through as the star.

When I look at this picture, it’s impossible for me to not think of my Uncle Steve. It’s also impossible for me not to smile. This proudly hangs in my parents’ home as a reminder of Steve and of the happiness that football brought to him. I can’t think of a better way to remember him than on game day, and this piece of framed art helps my family to remember him exactly that way, every day.Your turn: Do you have any creative ways that you remember loved ones who are no longer with you? Have you ever thought of using art as a way to keep memories alive?

Disclosure: I serve as a blog ambassador for Gallery Direct. Product samples are provided as part of the program. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.