Yesterday Drew and I went out to purchase frames for Baby’s room. We were able to find six very simple frames for $7.99 each at Christmas Tree Shop. They hold an 8×10 photo, which is basically the dimensions of the illustrations from Miss Rumphius: The Lupine Lady, one of my favorite childhood books, that I am framing for the nursery.
While Drew napped (four hours yesterday, he’s got a virus. 🙁 ) I was able to take apart the book by the binding and then chose the photos that I wanted to display in the frames.
I chose these six for specific reasons…
Baby Girl, I want you to be creative. You don’t have to be creative in the typical artsy sense but I want you to have a creative mind and think outside the box. Look at things differently and see the beauty in the everyday.
Baby, this photo shows two things I’d love for you…
I’d love for you to have a job doing what you love (here Miss Rumphius was surrounded by the books she loved in a library) and I want you to love to read… even if you can’t afford to go places whenever you want to and have every experience you dream of you can still experience through reading. (Written by your mother who completely loses all sense of social decency when in the middle of a good story and ignores everyone around her… and never forget, Baby Girl, that a good library is one of the world’s great luxuries.)
I want you to be able to travel. Your Dad and I love traveling and having adventures. We haven’t traveled much since Drew was born but we both traveled a lot before that… we want you to experience the joys of seeing new places and experiencing new things. And besides that, try to get out of these New England winters once in a while. 🙂
In this picture, Baby, Miss Rumphius is thinking about all the adventures she’s had and how she’s just left one thing incomplete that her grandfather instructed her to do… make the world a more beautiful place. May you be someone who takes time out from doing, doing, doing and enjoys just thinking and reflecting. Take time to learn and grow from this act.
And when you figure out, Baby, how YOU will make the world more beautiful, then tend to it. Be diligent and faithful. Don’t give up even when it’s hard.
Lastly, enjoy life! Enjoy where you live and who you share it with. Teach others the joy of making the world more beautiful, whether it is by your daily actions or by the simplicity of something like planting lupines all over the country side, like it was for Miss Rumphius.
Baby, I hope you love this book as much as I do and love to read as much as Drew and I do (and as much as your Daddy does on vacation. :)). xoxo
…
Okay, here they are, all hung up! I’m in love with the prints and the colors in them.
I can’t wait to see how the room comes together with the bedding, curtains and accessories… it’ll look a little less white and it’ll have more pops of color. Ahhhh we have less than a month to go! Speaking of less than a month, we did our family / maternity photo shoot this past Saturday, take a look at this cutie. 🙂 Photo courtesy of the fabulous Morgan over at Petite Pixel Photography… she is uber talented.
Linking up to:

beautiful! i love the color that they bring to the room!
Thanks, Cassie! I feel the same way!
I (literally) teared up reading this…how very special this room will be! I hope she gets to read this post one day!
She’ll read it… I think I’ll put something about it in a baby book I make for her… 🙂
I usually just read your blog every couple of days and go about my business…but this post? Wow. I love the idea of framing pages from books…and what a wonderful meaning behind it! You made me tear up a little. 🙂
Kristen
sass-and-sequins.blogspot.com
🙂 hope you find a fabulous book to frame!
This is gonna be a stunningly beautiful space for you lil creative sweetheart!!! Love the framing of book pages and the meaning! So perfect…
Thank you, Ella! I’m itching to see it all done… and I think that’ll make it feel less sad that it isn’t all set up for Drew anymore.
The pictures are beautiful. I hadn’t heard of that book before, but it is gorgeous. I love that you had a reason for each of the pictures you selected.
Try to find the book at the library, Grace. It is so sweet and meaningful. 🙂
They look really nice. I did something very similar for our nursery (for both children, I did not find out what we were having). I found vintage looking nursery rhyme fabric online and my mother made the crib skirt, bumper, quilt and pillows for the rocking chair. I then framed pages from my favorite nursery rhyme book (I bought a second copy so I did not destroy my copy from when I was a child!). This was about seven years ago! I love the idea of decorating the nursery in such a personal way. Can’t wait to see the rest.
Sounds fabulous! So personal! 🙂
How beautiful! I’m a teacher, and on the last day of school every year, I read this book to my students and tell them to go after their dreams . . . and do their part in making the world a more beautiful place. You’re certainly doing your part, Jen! I can imagine all the whispered conversations to your baby girl telling her what she’ll do one day!
You are so sweet, Carin. Thank you! And I love that you read this to your students! What a great mission to accomplish for them! 🙂
Wow! I am loving this room! The prints are beautiful and have a special meaning to you-makes them extra special. What a lucky little girl!
The picture of Drew is beautiful! He is growing up so fast and I am sure he will be a wonderful big brother. She will be here before you know it-so exciting!
It’s hard to believe, Tery that she’ll be here in less than a month now… how did those nine months pass so quickly???
Thank you for your sweet words. 🙂
What a beautiful expression of your wishes for your daughter! Love it! By the way-did you know that the library in the book is actually located in Pepperell, MA? Yup, it’s called the ‘Lawrence Library’, the author Barbara Cooney is originally from here.
really!!! that is so funny! I love that it’s so close… her books are fantastic.
I was given this book as a first grader and it has remained my favorite! As a woman of 27 now, I can’t think of a better way to dream and hope the best for your little girl! I actually have a copy of it right now to give to my friend who had a little girl! So great that you are using this!
I bet your friend will just love it! What a fabulous gift! 🙂
My favorite book ever! I am from Pepperell, MA, and Barbara Cooney came to our library to autograph our books. 🙂
PS – it was around 1989 I think! 😉
This comment has been removed by the author.
Hi Jen,
Love the framed book pages for the nursery. They look just perfect hanging above the crib. Such a sweet way to share your love of reading.
Have a Wonderful Day,
Suzanne
Pieced Pastimes
PS – I would love to have your share this on my link party – ‘Saturday Sparks’ . The new party starts at 9am today.
Hi Jen, came over from Kelly’s blog. Beyond beautiful home! You did an amzaing job, I love the clean lines & vintage details. I am so happy to have found you, I am adding you to my sidebar:).Have fun decorating the nursery, looks awesome! Have a great weekend, Jen
What a great idea! Such beautiful illustrations.
I love Miss Rumphius! I’d never heard of this book until I read it to my son when he was small. I so wish lupines would grow here but our climate just isn’t good for them.
Baby Girl’s room is coming along beautifully – love the illustrations. BUT those pictures of your family are stunning!!! Thank you for sharing.
Justine in CT
I found your page on Pinterest as I was searching for some gallery wall inspiration for my daughter’s nursery. I saw the idea of framing pages from a children’s book and using it as nursery art, which led me to finding this post. SO inspired! I’d never heard of Miss Rumphius but I loved the pictures and how they looked. So, being very inspired I went to our local thrift store to search through the free children’s books, hoping to find one that I could use. Sitting on the shelf was Miss Rumphius! Such a crazy coincidence! I read the book and fell in love! Thanks for the inspiration and for introducing me to such a great book!
You just made me so happy! 🙂 I’m so glad you found the story and loved it. What did you decide on for your daughter’s nursery?