Ahnalin's Very Own "Special" Vintage Bedroom

This is Ahnalin's very own room.

A girl's very own room is always special,

but this room is Extra Special!
And today, I finally finished it.

For the first four years Ahnalin

was in our family,

she slept in our room.

 Because she had Anxious Attachment,
a form of Reactive Attachment Disorder,

we felt it was best to keep her close to us.

When she turned 5, 

she moved into her sister's bedroom

and loved it!

But now, she has her very first,

very own bedroom!

When I was looking through my fabric stash,

I found many, many wonderful fabrics

that I could have used to make her room special.

But when it came down to it, she and I 

decided that she wanted most of the things

in her room to be "special".

To Ahnalin, "Special" means it 

came from someone she loves,

or a family member whom

she never got the chance to meet.

This curio secretary came from my 

grandmother's home and belonged

to my great grandmother. 

The angel playing violin is 

from her Nana and Papa.

The darling picture of my niece is from my brother 

and sister-in-law.

The antique doll cradle was a gift from my great aunt

but the quilt is Ahnalin's blue ribbon first 

quilt she entered into the fair last year!

The hand painted dresser is a vintage piece from

my sister-in-law and niece.

The dollhouse is from my friends Tika and Susan. 

The faded floral pictures were from my grandmother.

The rocking horse was made by

my grandfather for India, 

when she was a baby. 

The braided rug was made by my mother

when she and my dad were missionaries in Jamaica.

The bunny teapot and cup are

part of a set given to Ahnalin by 

my dear friend Melissa and her daughter Katie.

The Bible is from Don's parents.

The quilt and quilted sham were made

by my mother and me for my dorm room,

before I went off to Bethany University.

My mom embroidered many, many hearts

all over this quilt, 

reminding me that I was loved at home.

The bed skirt was one I had made for

India when she used this quilt on her bed 

at the same age.

The pillows belonged to India,

my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law, and me. 

I made the double ruffled Euro Sham for 

India when she was 6.

This is a piece of Chinese art called "The Wedding Party"

that my Daddy gave to Ahnalin. 

The "Happy Cats" are from Ahnalin's Aunt

and the dolls are from Don's 

parents and some from us. 

This little daisy is actually only about 

1/4 of an inch tall. 

My cousin painted 

it for MY dollhouse when I was a little girl.  

It now lives in the girl's bedroom 

in Ahnalin's dollhouse.  

Now these are some of the only things in 

the room that I actually sewed for

Ahnalin. 

I bought this Laura Ashley cotton sateen

about 14 years ago at a garage

sale for 50 cents a yard! 

And the blackout lining was in my stash too. 

The rabbit lamp in the pictures 

is something I ordered for Ahnalin

when we were waiting for her to come home.

And the Calico Critters Dollhouse

and furniture has been part of 

her presents for birthdays and Christmas

since she was 3. 

My friend Sheri gave Ahnalin the 

pink jewelry box this year for Christmas.

The darling pink crocheted pig purse

was a gift from our friend Melody.

And Ahnalin wanted to have 

her favorite Mama smocked dress

on one of my dress forms. 

The Baby Dumbo was a gift from

her big sister India,

and the little mouse Huxley was a gift

from Daddy on the day we moved here.

The much loved Bunny came with us

to China when we adopted her!

  

I almost forgot to show this! 

I bought this Bunny Jo wallpaper border

15 years ago, when I was 

an interior designer for Laura Ashley stores.

We were trying desperately to have

another baby at that point,

and I bought this border on faith

that someday we would have another child.

So of course, it HAD to go in Ahnalin's room!

Ahnalin LOVES her new room!
In it, she is surrounded by love.
She is surrounded by things that
were owned or given to her
by loving, creative, giving,
faithful people. 

Very, very Special indeed! 

Now, I had better get back to my sewing.
Ahnalin wants to dress up like Laura Ingalls
for Book Day this week!
Happy Sewing!