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Monday, October 29, 2012

my DIY cribs


For the boys' nursery I wanted a woodland theme. So I painted birch trees on the wall and went with a neutral paint color {Potter's Clay by Martha Stewart}. Of course my dream cribs {Brookfield from Pottery Barn Kids} were a little out of the question {$600 ea} so instead Ben and I made up our own plans {quite inspired to build by Ana White} and built our own from solid pine for around $100 ea. We made the ends taller like the ones from RH Baby and Child {about $1200 ea}. 


We've built tons from Ana White but due to regulations and liability she doesn't have any crib plans on her website. {Very understandable}. 

We knew we would need to follow all the safety regulations and it wasn't too hard to do all that- they're easy to find. The cribs are incredibly solid, and V E R Y safe! I'd say if you're thinking on making your  own it's very do-able. Just follow the updated safety guidelines.

A handy husband and more than willing grandpa to build and stain my dream cribs! A much more economical solution to my expensive taste problem! 



When Ben was done building them I casually said, "ok now we just need to stain them! Easy!"

Well Ben wasn't as enthusiastic as I was about staining, and being in my pregnant state I wasn't able to do a thing. They sat for awhile unstained until the kids' Grandpa Jim {Ben's step-dad} came over and insisted on staining them for us- for the boys. It would be his present for them.

Little did we know what we were letting Jim get into. It's an understatement to say he is a perfectionist- He stained and sanded and stained and sanded for well over a *month* working hours a day on them. 

They. Are. Perfect.

And are my most favorite thing I own. I will have them forever! And they will be passed down to the grandkids one day! Handmade furniture is the best! So personal, so beautiful, and will last for generations.


On the boys' 8th month birthday {08.07.12} something tragic happened. Their Grandpa Jim died in a helicopter crash. He loved our boys so much- never having kids of his own he felt so accepted as a grandfather to our kids. The boys' middle names were named after Ben and their three grandfathers- my dad, Ben's dad, and Ben's step-dad Jim- {Jonas Benjamin David and Elias Stephen JAMES}. 


 

At that point all of Jim's hard work on the cribs just became so much more. Before they were my favorite, now they are incredibly special and priceless to my heart. I can't say enough about how much we all loved Jim- the last time I spoke with him was on our moving day to Chicago only three days before he crashed. He said, "I didn't realize until now how much I'm really going to miss you guys. I just love your family so much."

We were so blessed by him and miss him terribly. The boys won't remember him, but we have so many stories to pass on to them of how much Grandpa loved them and spent time with them. Looking forward to the day when we see him again in Heaven.


{Our favorite photo of Jim when he was young from the Vietnam War... what he looks like in Heaven now!}

8 comments:

  1. I have been looking everywhere for the Brookfield crib. I found a picture of it on pinterest, but had no idea what it was called or where it was from! I was so happy to finally found it, but its not longer availible. :( I love the cribs you made, but neither me or my husband are that handy. Did you find that crib style anywhere else by chance?

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  2. I LOVE THIS! I have been wanting my husband to build our crib for our baby due May but I dont like many of the plans I can find. Did you guys come up with the plans for this crib yourselves or did you find them somewhere? I would love to get them if I could, or at least the basic measurements, the sides with the slats is what is throwing us off on how to do them!
    Thanks
    Michelle
    Michelle.a.conover@gmail.com

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  3. They're gorgeous and what a sweet story. Would you be able to share basic dimensions on these? Thank you!

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  4. Is there any way I can get your plans for this crib?
    patrickandjenniferpigg@gmail.com

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  5. would you mind sharing the plans or at least what you used for the leg portion

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  6. Any way you could share your plans? I LOVE these and would love to make my husband make them! hehe :) please email me at daniellephillipp (at) gmail (dot) com...thanks!

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  7. Would you be willing to sell your plans that you used for these cribs? You did an amazing job on these and I want mine just like them!

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    1. I'd be happy to share, go ahead an contact me and I'll email you the drawn up sketches that I made. They're just drawn up, hopefully they are legible :)

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