Montessori Inspired Nursery Wish List

this is a list of all of the materials that i would love to have

i will either
  * make it myself / DIY
  * purchase the real thing
  * or alter something less expensive/low cost

1. Topponcino & sham - DIY - completed
2. Cube chair & Weaning Table - hopefully custom DIY
3. Small shelf - hopefully custom DIY
4. Twin Size Floor Bed - hopefully custom DIY
5. Munari Mobile - DIY - completed
6. Tetrahedron Mobile - DIY
7. Gobbi Mobile - DIY
8. Dancer Mobile - DIY
9. Mobile hangers - purchase
10. Bell on ribbon - DIY   ETSY
11. Ring on ribbon - DIY  ETSY
12. Traditional Montessori Grasping Toys - purchase and DIY
13. Movement area with mirror and bar - DIY Jonti Craft
14. Frames for picture cards - low cost
15. Weaning spoon / small utensils - purchase
16. Table cloths/napkins - low cost/DIY
17. Tiny water glass / bowl - low cost
18. Apron - DIY
19. Baskets for "toy" items - low cost
20. Small pitchers and vessels for pouring/transfering activities - low cost
21. Early knives (small crinkle cut wave slicers) - purchase

Montessori Inspired Furniture For Baby

i really love montessori stuff
but i don't love the prices

if i purchased this stuff online (etsy/montessori)
it could easily run over $1,000
2 cube chairs - $200+
2 little tables - $300+
2 little shelves - $200+
1 twin floor bed frame - $200

i also love craigslist and IKEA
but IKEA doesn't have an amazing cube chair/table combo
i don't know why

i could use one of their $40 Fjellse (+$10 slats) bed frames
and cut the legs down
i could use one of their $20 Lät table and chair combos
and cut the legs down
but then the chairs would need sides

which i suppose i could affix myself somehow
plus you only get one height out of it (versus two with a cube chair)
and the $60 Expedit shelves are a little too bulky for my taste

but then i think about how easy it would be to make this stuff
and how nice it would look if it was all made the same way

so here are my plans
i'm going to see what my carpenter friends will quote me on this lot

Making a Topponcino For Baby

this is a great post on a DIY topponcino
Another Davidson Day: Topponcino DIY
and Another Davidson Day: Topponcino Sham
this blog is the reference that i'm using to make a topponcino

there is, surprisingly, only one seller on etsy
Topponcino n More
she sells one for $30US
and a sham for $13US
and shipping for $5US (if you order two or more items)

i like the idea of having a consistent place for baby
considering all of the laying down time
i like that it is small and portable
it can travel anywhere with baby
i like that it is not really a pillow
and it is not really a blanket

i think what i love most is how it helps other people hold the new baby

Day 1:
i purchased all of my materials
i made my pattern
and i cut out all of my cotton batting layers

Day 2:
i will cut out the inner muslin layers

Day 3:
i will stitch the inner layers together

check out my chip clips!

Day 4:
i will cut out the outer layer muslin pieces
and the sham pieces

Day 5:
i will get help from a friend
to sew the permanent cover and sham
with a machine stitch
to ensure durability
//i ended up sewing it all by hand

the photos below are samples from the fabric i chose for the sham
i don't know if i'm having a boy or a girl
but i just really love this fabric
it is sweet
and it reminds me of my big sister
who lives far away

here is the finished product

in the bassinet 

you can see it is a little wider
and folds up on the sides

but that doesn't bother me

i am very happy that i made this by hand
instead of ordering one on etsy
the shams on etsy were not my style
with the lace around the edge

i think topponcinos could be the next big
baby product craze
they could be mass produced very cheaply
and the shams could sell as separates
with tons of decorative options

topponcino update:
i took it to the hospital
and i didn't use it
i brought it home
and i use it on the mat
by the floor mirror

//p.s. i had a girl! :) and she sleeps with her topponcino every night.