Wizard of Oz Nursery

by Dorothy Collier March 22, 2020

*all photography by the best sister on the planet - and Coco's namesake - Coley Spencer!*

I knew years before Coco was born that I would one day create a Wizard of Oz nursery if I ever had a little girl. Johnny's nursery was decked out as Robin Hood, John's favorite childhood movie, so it seemed only fair, right?

Creating this space as a nursery for my little one was very emotional. Exciting because I relived childhood memories, thinking about the hundreds of times I watched the movie, read the book with my mom, and dressed up as Dorothy with my little dog, too. Initially it took me months to get the room to be a blank space to be transformed into a nursery. Before this room was my art studio, and it was bittersweet moving my easel and art supplies that I had created hundreds of paintings over the last 4 years to make way for the crib.

Just like any aspiring interior designer, I took to Pinterest late in the wee hours, searching "rainbow dressers," and stumbled upon artist Dionne Woods' The Turquoise Iris' incredible pieces that she creates with DIY Paint. The next day I signed up for a DIY Paint class in Southaven, MS (painted the side tables at that lesson) and a couple of weeks later I was fortunate to get to spend time with Dionne and learn from her on one of my Positively Creative Podcast episodes. What a gorgeous spirit she has for sharing her techniques! I knew I wanted to create an entire rainbow wall with this wonderful paint - it's so forgiving, practically anyone can use it! - so I enlisted the help of one of two of the most creative people that I love and trust, my sister Coley! She came in town for a long weekend and we knocked most of it out. Such a thrilling experience because there really was no right or wrong with the paint. I really hope that I can continue painting rooms in this style with this paint. I may slap some in my blue bathroom during this quarantine. I'm planning on recreating something like this for my backdrop at Art Memphis' Art by Design - save the date, August 26th - 31st! Wouldn't a powder room or accent wall be so much fun? Bounce an idea off of me. There's so many different color schemes we could stick to, doesn't have to be a rainbow!

Many of the pieces of artwork I had collected over the years. The Wicked Witches legs were the most fun wedding gift I received from my best childhood friend, Hall. I LOVE the Minnie Mouse-like shoes she collaged on! The Wicked bunny piece by Nashville artist who creates bunnies in lots of pop culture references.

I knew I wanted a bed in the nursery, as I wanted to sleep in the nursery the first half year of her life. Since it's a pretty narrow room a daybed would have to do. I found this one on sale on Wayfair, it being the perfect emerald green! Blue gingham sheets to represent Dorothy's dress paired with the most precious fabric I found from Riley Blake Designs. I called the tristate area one Saturday morning searching for 12 yards to make this twin duvet and luckily a sweet fabric store shipped! And then magic happened...I found a seamstress who specializes in curtains and duvets and her name is...drumroll please...Glenda! How perfect is that?! Topped the bed with the dolls from the artist who illustrated the fabric line, Sand J Novelty.

Possibly the most special additions to this nursery were the childhood building blocks that were my grandmother's and my mother's. I cannot believe not a single one was lost over the decades. I played with them when I would go and visit my grandparents in Greenwood, MS. And look what's on the Playskool bin... a little girl in a blue gingham dress. HOW PERFECT IS THAT?!

The shelves were previously hung for my art studio and I love the way they are randomly put with my collection of Oz books. The bulk of the vintage books were acquired as an early Christmas present from John when I found them at an antique shop while driving up the 1 to San Francisco while I was pregnant with Johnny. The Dorothy nutcracker was one of the first Christmas gifts that John's mom gave to me when we starting dating in 2006, as adding a nutcracker to their collection was a tradition for their family.

I still cannot get over how sweet little girls clothes are in comparison to all of the boy clothes I've bought over the years! As this is the smallest room, it is lacking a closet. I thought all of these precious pieces deserved to be on display!

Aren't these the sweetest dresses? Coco and I were spoiled at her baby shower, I have the most thoughtful friends! My friend Deanna even decorated the OUTSIDE of the gift with these ruby red slippers! Cannot wait for her to wear all of this cuteness!

This cross stitch quilt was acquired on Ebay and I had been saving these portraits from The Freckled Army from when I met her at River Arts Festival in Downtown Memphis in 2017. Her work is so detailed! Santa brought Coco a rainbow from Booth Sartain, one of the 55+ local artists that sell their work in our retail shop at Arrow Creative at 2535 Broad Avenue in the heart of Memphis' Arts District.