What a great design! Trace your baby’s hands and feet on paper and then use the paper patterns to trace design onto pumpkin and then cut. DO NOT try to use your baby’s hands to trace directly onto pumpkin – your efforts will be fruitless.
Babies and infants have very sensitive skin, and in order to protect them, they should be dressed in the proper fabrics. Knowing which materials are safe for your little ones will also help you shop for other necessities, including bedding and blankets and such.
When searching for baby clothes and essentials, not only is it important that you find warm, yet breathable fabrics, but you also need understand which ones don’t pose any threats like allergies, choking hazards and toxins. Because babies love to chew on their clothes, textiles like silk are best avoided as the processes used to finish them tend to leave toxic residues in the fabric.
So what specifically should you be on the lookout for when checking out baby labels? Get to know the fabrics below to make shopping for you children a hassle-free experience:
Terry Knit
Knit fabrics are a popular choice for infant clothing, and the towel-soft feel against a baby’s skin is perfect for providing maximum comfort. It has also been recommended as that fabric choice for the summer or warmer climate in general since terry knits are breathable. The breath-ability of textiles is especially important to infants in warm weather, as experts say that they should be dressed in one layer of light clothing to keep your baby cool.
Faux Sheepskin
Although sheepskin is perfect for keeping your baby or infant warm on those cold winter days and cool in the summer, some have had allergic reactions to it. Faux fur is safer to work with, as many companies manufacture blankets and outerwear lined with the faux fur suited for kids of any age. If you’re looking for faux sheepskin mats to lay your newborn on, they’re only recommended up until your baby learns how to roll over, as the mat becomes their chew toy
Cotton and Cotton/Polyester Blends
For clothes in general, you can never go wrong with cotton since it is gentle on your baby’s skin and is the most common material found in everyday baby apparel. But the issue with organic varieties is that it can shrink up to 10% if the first wash is using heat. Busy parents tend to go for cotton and polyester blends as the mix of natural and synthetic fibers prevents the clothes from shrinking and wrinkling. It is also fast drying and tends to be cheaper than clothes made out of 100% cotton.
Bamboo
Another all natural fabric you may be interested in is bamboo, which is thermal regulating, hypoallergenic, as well as antibacterial.
Remember that comfort and safety takes precedence over the visual appeal of baby clothes.
Written by Hazel Lorelei
Exclusive for countryandvictoriantimes.com
When space is limited or there’s not enough cash to redecorate a home, the only option left is to make small but significant changes. Believe it or not, a redesigned coffee table in the living room, or a new rug in the bedroom can instantly change the overall appeal of a space. It’s all about making sensible choices, especially when you’re on a budget. Spice things up in your home and give it a whole new appeal with the following 5 key furniture items.
Living areas without a coffee table look dull and incomplete. In case you have one, but it doesn’t draw any attention, you might want to redesign it. This item of furniture should be the center piece of your living room. However, to make it stand out, you need repurpose it. Rather than use it to stack all kinds of things – usually mugs, remote controls, kids’ toys – why not transform it into a glamorous décor nook? Place an oversized flower vase in the middle, and add seasonal flowers. Choose contrasting colors to make guests immediately look at your table when they walk in. Place a silver tray right next to the vase, and include small, but useful, accessories such as: an ashtray, candles, candy bowl, etc. Last but not least, adorn your table with magazines: fashion, lifestyle, even travel magazines are the best.
Nice mirrors are not cheap, so you might want to know that beforehand. However, they are required in all corners of the home including the hallway, bedroom, bathroom and living room. They’re extremely enticing because they welcome in more natural light and they open up small spaces. A huge Victorian-style mirror placed above the sofa in the living room will instantly draw attention. Choose an interesting golden frame to make it stand out, and your room will appear a lot more glamorous and welcoming to guests.
Nightstands are suitable in the bedroom. In fact, they’re fundamental! Make your sleeping nook seem more comfortable with stylish nightstands. Adorn them with matching lamps, books and candles, and transform a boring bedroom into the most relaxing area of the home. Make sure they have drawers so that you can keep things organized. If you can afford to spend a bit more, choose glass nightstands to help reflect more natural light, and open up the sleeping area.
Homes without curtains and blinds look dull. It is important to make sensible choices when replacing old window treatments. First and foremost, you need to settle on top quality fabrics. Egyptian cotton, silk, linen and even organic bamboo are excellent choices. Second, pick a design that compliments with your home décor. Patterns, stripes, dots are all in trend. Last but not least, make sure the curtains are properly fitted. Made to measure roman blinds, and top to bottom curtains are the most recommended. They will make your room look spacious, elegant and luxurious.
A seating area by the window is a great piece of furniture. Make yourself a reading nook in the bedroom or living room, and give your home a functional purpose. Armchairs are equally advised. However, make an impression with matching chairs in a more avant-garde or minimalist style. Decide on a striking color palette. Pure white, striking yellow and even black will transform a simple room into the most elegant room of the house.
Decorating a home on a budget is not that challenging, and providing that you settle on some priorities you can make some huge changes without spending a fortune on expensive furniture. Statement pieces, blinds and rugs are ideal options to consider whenever you want to make a revamp a room with under $500.
Ominous yet romantic, Victorian homes are a living example of timeless elegance and longevity, which is one of the main reasons why houses dating to this era are extremely popular among homeowner hopefuls. Still, every piece of property has its perks and downsides, and the same is true of Victorian homes. Underneath their beauty and complex trims, houses built in the second half of the 19th century can hide serious hardware issues, which is why home buyers need to be extra careful when inspecting their home-to-be with over 100 years under its belt. Here’s a brief list of the most common problems lurking beneath lavish Victorian frills to help you tell a money pit from the real value deal.
Foundation issues are all too real a problem in old houses. However solid, the base of many a Victorian home can shift due to land subsidence, resulting in further structural hitches such as cracked or bulging walls, door and window defects, and even plumbing and wiring problems.
When inspecting your future love nest, look for floor and wall flaws, door and window latching problems, and foundation chipping or flaking. In case you detect signs of foundation glitches, a structural engineer may need to step in and see whether, where, and how the damage can be repaired.
Roof defects are a chronic problem of old property, and Victorian homes are not an exception. Leaks, faulty flashing, missing shingles or tiles, and poor insulation upstairs are red flags which you shouldn’t ignore when looking for a place to settle down.
During preliminary home viewing, check the walls and ceiling for signs of staining and peeling paint that may point to water intrusion. Broken or damaged roofing material can be replaced, insulation can be upgraded, and flashing flaws can be taken care of, but you’ll need to be aware of the total repair costs before you can call the property a home-sweet-home.
If the basement of your Victorian property find is smelling a bit worse for old age, it may be a good idea to check it for signs of mildew infestations. Mold and musty odor below ground level can point to plumbing faults, perimeter and underfloor drainage issues, or even foundation waterproofing hitches, which you’ll need to tend to and upgrade to contemporary standards before you move in.
In case you smell trouble in the basement, hire a professional to conduct a thorough inspection and estimate the upgrade scope and cost. This will help you get a better image of the post-move repair and upgrade expenses which play an important role in initial capital required to make the place livable.
4. Marrow-chilling prospects
Victorian doors and windows do look spectacular, but unless they’ve been updated in the past decade, you’ll probably need to have them checked, replaced, or repaired before you drop your gear on the floor.
When inspecting your future Victorian-age property, take a quick look at the frames, panes, and surrounding insulation: stains, cracks, mold, and other forms of damage can add a few figures to the post-purchase update bill. Also, be aware that certain features of an old home can’t be remedied due to their historical value – which is a real deal breaker.
Victorian homes usually have narrow hallways, tiny kitchens, tight and steep staircases, and modestly sized bedrooms, which can be problematic if you’re set on buying property for house flipping projects that promise a big bang for your buck. Modernizing a true-blue Victorian home will probably require extensive layout redrawing, and such endeavors are by far the costliest update in the fix-ad-flip lot.
For this reason, be very careful when selecting old houses to flip: Victorian charm is an asset only if the renovation doesn’t involve comprehensive floor plan changes and wall relocations.
Modern Victorian style is in – but the fact that antique houses are currently in high demand on the real estate market doesn’t mean that just about every old place is worth your cash. Double-check the critical property points before you sign the contract: a little extra care and inspection can save you thousands in the post-purchase update process. Good luck!
Author bio:
Zoe Clark is a journalist, freelance stylist and blogger. She is a visual storyteller and aesthetician by heart who often writes about decorating and DIY ideas. She loves sparking creativity in people and giving them ideas for their own spaces.
Country & Victorian Times 