A few months ago I decided Nico needed a constellation pillow on his bed. Not just needed, oh no, Nico suddenly and desperately needed a constellation pillow on his bed. I’m not sure what I thought would happen if I didn’t buy this yet unknown to me constellation pillow within those 24 hours, but I was the Jack Bauer of etsy. There were no bathroom breaks. There were no sissy moments of sleep. There was just relentless searching, and when I didn’t find what I wanted I didn’t retreat–I just searched in the opposite direction.
Nailed it!
I bought the Constellation Pillow Cover in Orion by Holly Mueller Home. It was (and is) everything I wanted in a pillow cover: Simple, not babyish or cutesy, and generally awesome. Pictures don’t do the silver thread justice.
If you’re wondering why it sat in my kitchen for several months, check out my About page, you New Person, you!
Armed with my recently found gift card from Walmart, I headed off to buy a pillow insert. Naturally, none of the pillow inserts at Walmart fit. Too big, too small, all too reminiscent of a childhood fairy tale. Also, by the way, too ridiculously expensive for what is basically a bunch of batting wrapped in cheap cotton. (Mikey has bad allergies so no down inserts for us.) Since the pillow cover was a dark, heavy weight linen, I wasn’t discouraged. I decided to use a decorative toss pillow instead. No one would be the wiser.
As luck would have it, I found one on clearance for $2. It fit perfectly. One small problem.
Oh, it gets better.
In my defense, I did look up and down Walmart to see if anything else would work. To me, this isn’t a big deal. It’s campy and awesome and funny to have something so ridiculous hidden underneath something so simple and delicate. I knew Mikey–who share’s a room with Nico–would not be as amused, so I made sure to keep the pillow in the bag until I was ready to put it all together. (I was busy nagging Mikey to do a book report for days and couldn’t take my eyes off of Captain Procrastination for a second.)
Mikey had just finished his book report and without thinking I grabbed the Walmart bag to hold his origami dogs. He came around the corner to grab the bag and it was like his eyeballs were Boy Band seeking missiles. You know how in a movie there’s a huge party going on and something shocking happens and the record screeches to a halt?
The record screeched to a halt. Mikey stopped in mid-step like he was hit by Medusa’s stare.
“Mom. Mom, what? Mom! ONE DIRECTION?! I just…why? Mom. I hate this band! Explain yourself.”
I told him to calm down, it’s not like I was inviting the band to come live with him and share his beloved cinnamon cereal. I was merely using the pillow as an insert. No one would ever know he had a pink, glittery One Direction pillow in his room. (Until their moms read my blog.) It wasn’t until I told him the pillow would sit on Nico’s bed that he was willing to admit the pillow was funny. Funny, but not that funny.
“Mom, when I saw that pillow and you said it was going in my room, I felt like one of those cartoons that are sweating buckets and have crazy eyes because they are totally, really freaking out.”
I’m happy to report the trauma of the pink, glittery One Direction pillow did not stifle Mikey’s flair for the dramatic.
And I’m also happy to report that the pillow I had to have immediately is now on…the floor of Nico’s room where he tossed it before going to bed.
Somehow throw pillows were not a big part of my childhood home. So in spite of the occasional interior decorating magazine and quite a few blogs that proclaim pillows as all important Statements, my brain doesn’t seem to register this need. Like you, I often find that outsides and insides are hard to match up, which is why a fully finished pillow seems to cost a mint, more than my mean pocket book is prepared to cough up. Instead I try to sew the outsides and use old bed pillows for the insides. You know how bad those results can be? I did break down and buy some small insert pillows at Wilkinsons (our version of a miniature Wal-Mart, without the food), but they look kind of … small. The ones in mags always look to me as though they take up all the sitting room, but perhaps that is their function, to keep people standing? Glad Nico appreciated your efforts – where else do you put spare decorative pillows at bedtime, after all?
I actually really dislike pillows on the bed. I did think the boys needed a little something on their bed, though, and in this case I’m glad I did it. It’s not a pillow Nico will outgrow anytime soon. The trick now is to find one military history themed for Mikey’s bed!
You could really easily find a hand embroidery pattern for a tank or something I’m sure and embroidery is super easy. You know…with all your spare time :)
That looks amazing! Was that how you envisioned it? I wish I could see pictures in my head.
Yes, that’s how I envisioned it. It doesn’t always come out like I plan, but this time it did. Good thing, because it’s not like I could return the pillow cover!
love that kid. hilarious!
I know. He cracks me up!
I really want to just copy you and get that astronaut print and the pillow for my son’s room. Would it go with a green alien sheet set, do you think? :)
1. Who will ever see the sheets when the bed is made?
2. Why not? Your room, your rules. :)
So sweet! I totally would have done the same thing, although I would have hidden it so my crazy kiddos didn’t pull the pillow case off every time their friends came over and said, Look what my mom bought! Where did you find the (stuffed) astronaut? I want one!
At the California Science Center in Los Angeles now that the space shuttle is there. :)
love this story. nico shares a very similar personality to my daughter. she has inspirational fits, life or death nearly, regarding decor and fashion.
we don’t do cartoony/ kitschy in this house so no character stuff. instead we opt, like you, for themes that are hobby related and neutral enough to (in my grand plan, hah!) endure a few years. but my husband thwarted my genius and bought them both character quilts and night light stuffed animals on his own. it’s not the end of the world but that was $$ and time totally down the drain when their interests changed 2 months later. and those dolls were forgotten on the floor the night of purchase. =P down with tv & commercials.
It’s actually Mikey who has the life/death decor and fashion fits. Nico is a maximalist and is happy as long as things sparkle. :)
Yup, we share the same design philosophy! That’s why I stay away from characters and overly themed rooms. I didn’t even make their quilts very themed–just the borders–because I wanted it to be something that would last. Even the fabric I picked for the borders was something I thought a tween/teen would pick versus a little kid like Nico.
This never happens. I NEVER have something of substance to add, and yet here we are THE DAY HAS FINALLY COME. It is my time to shine. *steadies self*
I was bemoaning the fact that pillow inserts are so expensive (like you do) in the office (of course) and my manager (of course) who cares about this kind of stuff (because it’s important SYRIA pshaw seriously the price of pillow inserts is a national crime) told me that a lovely couple we know through work and also socially (they happen to be gay men who flip houses, but that’s not important to what comes next) buy bed pillows when they’re on sale, then sew a channel down the middle of the pillow, cut it in half… BOOM, affordable decorative pillow inserts.
Mind. Blown.
Mind. Blown. Indeed! Gay men who flip houses…it’s like the perfect storm of taste, style, frugality, and smarts. Bastards.
Glad to hear he got over it because that pillow turned out to be a great added touch in his room. It’s something he can definitely keep around for years to come!
It’s actually Nico’s pillow, but I’m glad Mikey got over it, too. Not that he had a choice, mind you. ;)
Now I just need to find a military pillow for him.
Hahahaha! Love this story – and good for you for finding something that worked for only $2. The pillow looks awesome, by the way!
Thanks! I’m really happy with how it turned out. And of course my frugal little heart is pleased I only spent $2 on a pillow that will go in the boys’ room.
Love this post so much! I was stifling laughter at my desk.
everything about this post is awesome. most importantly, the end product! well done, Jules!
You know, now that Mikey’s on to your scheming ways, he’ll be checking under the pillowcase when you get around to a military history one for him. You should totally prank him. Get him a neutral pillow for the inside and then, just for fun, switch it for Nico’s until you hear the panic. Buahahahaha!
Love it! I just can’t decide which I love more – the story or the end result! Perfection, either way.
Agreed Danielle!
I am so glad you like the pillow cover! The stuffed astronaut looks especially fetching perched next to it. Thank you so much for including the pillow, and I love your site!
Have to say that last picture is decorating perfection imo. Classy, boyish, clean and interesting! I’ve taken a break from my kids’ room and I need to get back on it. Slow and steady . . .
Also, thanks for the laughs, even if it’s at Mikey’s expense. He really is great. I love your dry sense of humor, right up my alley.
Stomach aching from laughter.
Perfection! That last picture with the little astronaut man on his bed is all sorts of pinable (or is it pinnable?) ;) . CUTE.
I recognise myself in that frantic search for the perfect product that you MUST have . I wonder if this is numbing a la Brene Brown. It’s *something*, anyway, because my rational self looks at the frantic-must-have self and says ‘what the? That’s some crappy tunnel vision you were operating with.’
Where do you get cool/cute boy bedspreads that work together? For two twin beds…I like Mikey’s!
I made them. :)