2010 Sneak Peak

Not many days remaining in 2009! Can you believe it has been ten years since the whole Y2K thing?

As I push through orders in the hopes of being able to take a little break in January I thought I'd let you in on a few things to look forward to for next year!

Firstly, newsletter subscribers and Facebook fans are going to be the ONLY ONES eligible to take part in a pretty cool contest coming up with a pretty cool prize so if you aren't one or the other (or both!) then I suggest you take care of that now so you don't miss out! You can sign up for the Bouncing Off The Walls newsletter on the home page of our site or there is a sign up box here on the blog in the right hand column. You will find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/bouncingoffthewalls

We also have new products and new designs that will be added in the New Year. Many of which come from your own ideas so stay tuned to see what's coming!

I will also be announcing where you will be able to find us! Everyone who's met me at trade show knows that there are always deals to be had by ordering in person. Soon I will be letting you all know where we will be and you can come down and see the products first-hand!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and I look forward to a fantastic 2010 with you all!

Hair Bow Holders

One of the newest additions to Bouncing Off The Walls and now one of the more popular items is my custom hair bow holders. I have to admit that as a mother of a boy a hair bow holder was not something that had even entered my mind as a must-have item! Then along came a daughter in 2008 and things around here sure shifted! Said daughter was not only born with lots of hair, but CRAZY hair to boot! When you're born with hair like that everyone starts buying you hair accessories to try and tame the wildness!

But where to keep all these lovely bows and korkers? Clippies? (Ya, I had to learn a whole new language too!) I found some nice bow holders online, but of course the creative wheels started turning and I thought, "how great would it be to make bow holders that were COMPLETELY customizable?" Not just the colors or personalization, but what if I could make ANY type of bow holder requested?

And so I set out doing just that! I hand cut all my bow holders from 1/2" thick Baltic Birch plywood and I can pretty much do any design or shape imaginable as they're done entirely free-hand. That's what makes them so fabulous!

I do have to say that they've actually become one of my favorite items as I'm free to just draw the design and cut it as I see fit!

One of the biggest requests lately though is to make some that you can also hang hair bands on. I'm working on it! When I make one that I know will work and is of high-quality you'll be the first to know!

Until then, keep those ideas coming! I love them!

Mural Mural On The Wall

Bouncing Off The Walls originally started as a mural business. Through the past few years due to the addition of wall letters, growth charts, room decor and two children I've had to stop painting murals and focus on things I can work on from the home front.

This was a decision that I really struggled with and went back and forth on more than once! I painted while hugely pregnant, I painted while orders for letters piled up, I painted when my husband had days off leaving no time for him and I. It was finally the amount of orders for room decor I was getting and the difficulty in finding child care that made me come to a firm decision that I was done painting on walls at this point in my life.

The hardest part was turning people down. Especially some whom I'd painted for in the past. I hated just saying no and leaving it at that. I needed to have someone to refer people to. I didn't want to just refer to anybody though, I wanted someone who did fabulous work and was great to work with.

And then I found Denise from Creative Artwork by Denise. Denise is a Calgary based mural artist with a passion for art work and children. Her work is fun, original and EXACTLY what I was looking for to refer people to.

A few phone calls and many emails later we finally met in person for a "quick" lunch. Ha! A quick lunch turned into about 3 hours as we soon discovered that we must have been separated at birth! With many eerie similarities between us I left that lunch feeling not only completely confident that I was referring people to one of the best muralists out there but that I'd also gained a great friend!

So, please; if you need a wall or even an entire room done, give Denise a call. You can rest assured that you've chosen someone who will give you a mural that's even better than you could have ever imagined it to be!

Simply Connected

This past Sunday we had the privilege of spending some time with an amazing Calgary photographer getting some family pictures done. Her name is Brandi Murray and her business is called Simply Connected Photography.

Patience must be Brandi's middle name for working with a three-year-old over-actor who wants to pose too much and an eighteen-month-old with a mind of her own is no easy task I assure you! But, she took it all in stride and managed to capture the true personalities of my little family!

The following are just a few of the images Brandi captured!

If you are ever in the need for a great child, baby or family photographer in the Calgary area I highly recommend Brandi! Her relaxed personality coupled with ability to capture the perfect shots makes her our first pick!

Wordless Wednesday

Fly Me To The Moon

A week of sickness for the whole family creates cooped up, stir-crazy kids with cabin fever! In these times you don't dare cough, sneeze or take a runny-nosed child out in public without getting the wide-eyed look of horror from strangers that says they believe you are not only sick, but that you are the actual virus on a mission to destroy them!

So home you stay where everyone gets a little crazier as the minutes go by and the sickness slowly subsides. What to do at such a time?

With a little creativity and a cardboard box not only can you get everyone out of the house - you can fly them to the moon!

The ABC's of Alphabet Nurseries

Photo courtesy of Project Nursery

With nursery trends leaning towards modern and contemporary, alphabet nurseries are becoming all the rage! Here at Bouncing Off The Walls we've had the pleasure of assisting a few crafty moms in their quest for an original alphabet nursery. With some thinking outside of the box you can create a nursery that is unique, educational, not too babyish and certainly eye-catching!

To recreate this look start by looking around you. You would be amazed at some of the objects around you that can represent letters! For different textures and letters made from different materials visit craft stores. Some sell metal, plastic, fabric and wood letters. Glue some into frames or onto some other shape.

Bouncing Off The Walls can help by cutting letters in various sizes and fonts and we can paint them for you or send them to you unfinished for you to paint or decoupage yourself!

The ideas are endless. This is one nursery design that is sure to be fun to put together!

Big Success!

This past weekend I spent my time in a little 10x10 booth at the Calgary Home & Interior Design show peddling my wares and chatting it up with everyone who stopped in. It was great to meet some of my past customers face to face, create new relationships with future customers and network with other businesses. Trade shows are, indeed, tiring but fun all at the same time!

Thanks to all those who stopped by to chat and I hope to see some of you at the Calgary Baby Show on October 3rd and 4th, BMO Centre at Stampede Park!

Toy Boxes Are Here!

Finally!! One of the most requested products has finally been added to the line up at Bouncing Off The Walls! Why did it take so long for me to sell toy boxes? Because I had a hard time finding quality ones that I wanted to paint! Who wants a toy box that is cracked, lopsided or just plain cheap and flimsy even if it is painted beautifully?

Our toy boxes are none of that! (Well, ok...they're painted beautifully, but there not any of those other things!) Serguei from Khorin Custom Woodworking builds my toy boxes for me and he builds the best toy boxes around! Out standard one is solid pine with reinforced corners, anti-slam hinges and an air space for in the event a child should end up inside it. It measures 34"x20"x20" so there's plenty of room for even larger toys.

Every toy box is built to order which allows for changes to the design of not only the artwork, but to the box itself. Serguei is a woodworking genius and can craft the toy boxes from different woods and change whatever you want! It's as easy as contacting me with your ideas and I will give you a quote!

Match Made in Heaven!

You know how some people just seem to have been made for each other? Well, recently I found the perfect mate for some of my hand painted drawer knobs! These gorgeous chocolate and pistachio throw pillows were made by Lily from Two Stray Cats on Etsy and as soon as I saw them I knew I'd found a match for my Chocolate and Lime drawer knob set!

This set of two 12" x 18" (30 x 45cm) pillows have been made with co-ordinated chocolate and pistachio toned cotton fabric with an envelope opening made from a lighter chocolate fabric that has been secured with gorgeous chocolate bronze looped edge ribbon.

Please check out Lily's shop; she does absolutely amazing work. Oh, and did I mention she's a fellow Albertan?! Like I said....a match made in Heaven!

Win Tickets for The Calgary Baby Show!

Come meet Bouncing Off The Walls in person October 3rd and 4th, 2009 in the Calgary Baby Show at the Roundup Centre!

A fun and interactive event specifically designed to put everything you need all under one roof. More than 100 exhibitors will be present showcasing the latest in technology, apparel, furniture, products and toys to assist parents and caregivers every step of the way, from babies to school age and everything in between.

Bouncing Off The Walls is giving away two prizes of two tickets to two lucky winners! How can you win? There are many ways and each one you do is eligible for one entry!

• Become a fan of Bouncing Off The Walls on Facebook


• Sign up for our email newsletter


• Follow this Blog


• Tell us on our Facebook page what your favorite item is at Bouncing Off The Walls and let us know if you did any of the previously mentioned things!

It's that simple! Two lucky winners will be randomly drawn on Tuesday, August 18th and announced on Facebook!

Yee Haw, Cowboy!!

It's Stampede time here in Calgary, Alberta which means that everyone you see is decked out in their best, or worst, western clothing and partaking in free pancake breakfasts, concerts, midway and a little rodeo! Tagged as the "Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth" the Stampede draws crowds from all over the world and takes up the better part of two weeks.

It is in this western spirit that I celebrate not by wearing boots and a hat, but by showing off some of my western and cowboy themed room decor!

Where the magic happens!

Working from home can be a challenge in many ways but the one thing I am lucky to have is space! I talk to so many people who have to work off their kitchen tables or take over a dining room with supplies! It used to be this way for me, but last year we were able to build me my very own room! I also have a corner of the garage all to myself for doing all my letter and shape cutting. What more could a girl ask for? I thought I'd give you a little peak at my workspace so you can see where it all takes place!

Tracing out the letter design

At work cutting the letter out of the wood with my scroll saw

And this is my studio inside the house. I went bright and funky with this room as it is in the basement with a small window! We put in laminate floors for easy clean up and fluorescent lights for brightness. Along the top of the walls I put one of my favorite quotes to help with inspiration! “Nothing comes from nothing…Dare mighty things!” Believe it or not I still don’t have enough space some days when my worker is here and we’ve both got things spread out all over the place! When we originally built this room I had planned to have a corner set aside for the kids to have a craft area and I even painted a funky chalk board on the wall with chalk board paint for them, but I don’t see that happening now!

Some New Designs

It's always nice when I get orders for designs that I've never done before. I love taking people's ideas and working them into a piece of art that they are proud to hang on their walls! Here are some of the newest letter designs that I've completed lately.

Fly Away Home Lady Bug Letters

Transportation Letters

Vintage Roses Letters

The Chest

My husband just recently graduated after a long, hard application, selection and training process for a career that he has always dreamed of. As the proud wife I wanted to find him a gift that would not only be meaningful, but also unique. I wanted a "WOW" factor!

Boy did I get it! For a guy my hubby is pretty sentimental and he has been saving a lot of little momentos throughout the course of the last year and I thought he should have a special place to put it all. So I turned to my favorite woodworker. Serguei has done previous work for me in the form of toy boxes, waste baskets and tissue box covers and I've been very happy with what I've seen so far.

Considering I'm an artist who specializes in custom work you would think that I would know exactly what I wanted and I'd be able to give Serguei exact details for him to work with. So not the case! As an artist I also know that those that specialize have unlimited capablilities which makes it harder to decide what you like best! So, armed with as few details as "a dark stain, about the size of the toy boxes and some sort of artistic carving on it," he created a masterpiece!

I went and picked up the keepsake chest today and it honestly made my heart skip a beat. I LOVE it. It is so much more than even I could have imagined! Made from maple and stained in an espresso finish Serguei let his artistic side show with the beautiful, intricate hand carving on the front. He even thought to make an air space for safety knowing I have small kids that could possible climb inside!

My husband also loves it and couldn't stop looking at it all afternoon! I believe his first words were, "we should have him make all our furniture!"

So thank you Serguei! For those looking for ANY custom made piece, please contact Serguei or his wife Irina at Khorin Custom Woodworking. You won't regret it!

Close up of the carving. The pictures honestly don't do it justice!

Vote for me!!

Kristina Vanderwater is a nominee for the SavvyMom Mom Entrepreneur of the Year Award and needs your vote to win! The Grand Prize is worth $15,500 in cash and prizes, which would help immensely with the growth of Bouncing Off The Walls!

Kristina has been working extremely hard trying to introduce some new custom products to her line including custom bedding and furniture. With 2 small children at home it can sometimes be a challenge to get it all done and this prize will not only help with time management but will give Kristina the opportunity to hire part time help!

Please support and vote for Kristina by clicking on her personal page at Bouncing Off The Walls
Please also help us spread the message by inviting all your friends to join our Facebook Event!

Voters are also eligible for some fantastic prizes.

Thank you for all your support!

Back In The Saddle

Bouncing Off The Walls originally started as a wall mural business. After having two kids in two years I had to put a hold on the mural side of things. Trying to balance a very active toddler and a high maintenance baby along with a household and a business was just getting too tough. I decided that I had to prioritize a little and the murals had to go!

My youngest just turned one this past Friday also marking a year and a half since I'd last painted a mural for someone. I'd turned quite a few people down over that time and most regrettably repeat customers who were now welcoming another baby into their homes and wanted the nurseries painted.

One of my past customers contacted me shortly ago asking if I would paint their 20 month old's "big boy room" now that they had baby number two on the way and he'd be switching rooms. Here's the thing about me; when I come to paint in your house I don't just paint and leave. I connect with you and probably talk you ear off! I've lost count of how many great customers have turned into even greater friends. It's the thing I love the most about this business. So how do you say no to a friend?

Well, I didn't say no and as a result I spent this past weekend painting for the first time in a long time! Big Boy Dylan was switching rooms so his new baby brother could take over the nursery and an ocean theme was what we had lined up. His mom had bought a bright, whimsical quilt that was to be the basis of the mural theme. Happy, smiling octopus, crabs and sea turtles!

I didn't get a chance to see what Dylan thought of his room as his little brother decided to surprise us with an early arrival the day before I came to paint so Dylan wasn't home to see his ocean wall, but I'm sure that just like with his pond animals mural I painted in his nursery that he'll have to kiss all these creatures goodnight too!

If you live in the Calgary area and you're interested in discussing a mural with me please call me at 403-969-3355 or email at kristina@bouncingoffthewalls.ca If I am unable to do a mural for you I know a fantastic lady who can! Denise from Creative Artwork By Denise is not only a very talented muralist, but also a great person to work with! Please check out her site!

Wee Welcome Parent Power Contest

I've just signed up for the Wee Welcome Parent Power Contest (about 3 weeks AFTER it started!) It's a contest for parents who are also business owners. I'd love your votes, especially since I'm coming in so late in the game! The link to go vote is here: Parent Power Contest Please feel free to also leave a comment!

Yes, you do have to sign up to vote, but it's nothing complicated. This is so that no one can manipulate the contest in their favor and they know you're an actual human being that's doing the voting!

Come on! Show me some love!
Contest ends on May 31st, 2009

Thanks!!

Speaking of Awards!

I discovered the other day that Stephanie from A Pocket Full Of Buttons blog has gifted me with this wonderful Lovely Blog Award! Thanks Stephanie for passing this award on to me!

Here are the rules:

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.

2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

These blogs are definitely award worthy!

Favors With Love
Babyjo Blog
Petit
Two Stray Cats
The Genuine Article
Crystal Allure
A Second Time
Crafted By Lindy
Cochrane Toy Box
Decorative Writings
Loopdiloops Baby Gear
Nursery Murals and More
Glimpse
Princess Ratbag Pettiskirts
After The Bump