Carousel Designs Blog

I’ll have to admit that when my wife was expecting and we were signing up for a baby gift registry, I didn’t even know what a valance was.  Of course, there were many things I didn’t know, but I remember asking, “what is a window valance and why do we need one?”

Like a crib skirt, the primary purpose of a valance is to hide unsightly hardware.  But valances can also bring together a theme and put the finishing touches on a nursery.  Valances can be used with or without curtains, but they are typically paired with curtains for a more formal appearance.

Valances are also considered window treatments and come several styles.  At babybedding.com, we offer two of the most time-honored and versatile styles: balloon valances and tab top valances.

The balloon valance (also known as rod pocket valance) typically envelopes the curtain rod and gathers, or ballons, along the width of the window.

Balloon Style Window Valance

A tab top valance hangs on the curtain rod via a series of loops and leaves parts of the curtain rod exposed.

Tab Top Window Valance

Whether you are looking to add a splash of color to your nursery or want to add the finishing touch to a coordinating design, window valances are a great way to bring together your nursery.

Are you faced with buying a bedding gift for an expectant friend or family member? Are you decorating for your baby’s nursery, but don’t know what you’re having? Don’t worry – there are many options for finding the perfect baby bedding set that is both stylish and practical.

Our selection of gender neutral crib bedding options is perfect for families who are waiting until baby’s birthday to find out its sex. And unlike the baby bedding picks of yesteryear, these products are modern, stylish, and completely loveable. Featuring everything from Western Pony to Just Duck, these picks sacrifice nothing on style. Our nursery decor section also offers an array of matching, gender neutral baby gifts.

For those looking for a basic solid bedding option, we have a wide variety of solid colors represented in our collection. These are also great options that lend for unlimited design ideas.

Haley

For toddlers, transitioning from a crib to a bed is a milestone in becoming a “big boy” or “big girl”. It is also a big deal for parents, who suddenly find themselves getting used to a toddler who can hop in and out of bed instantaneously.

Each child will react to this change in different ways:  Some will miss their nap time in the crib, where they felt secure and surrounded; Others will love their new found freedom, and will be eager to make the adjustment.

One way that might make adjusting a little easier – or a little more fun – is to dress the bed in a designer, playful toddler bedding set or just update the room’s decor. Your toddler may even be interested in choosing the bedding (with help from mom and dad, of course.) Check out our assortment of toddler bedding to get started.

We have conveniently organized our toddler bedding into collections which include a pillow (with case), comforter as well as top and bottom sheets.  Our collections are versatile and include many coordinating options for sheets as well as decor so that there’s always a little variety at hand.

Haley

Are you crafty? Do you know how to sew? Do you crave a one-of-a-kind creation for your baby’s nursery?

If so, check out our vast selection of fabrics, featured in many of the same prints our baby bedding products use. Whether you choose to make a decorative pillow, curtains or window treatments, or a chair cover, these fabrics will take you to your final destination in style. Additionally, many of these fabrics coordinate perfectly with other Carousel Design products.

Use your imagination, look around, and release some creative energy!

Our fabrics are available by the yard. For more information, visit the Fabrics section of our Web site.

Haley

In a tribute to fans of the great outdoors and aficionados of military accouterment, we just launched our line of camouflage baby crib bedding and nursery accessories. Featuring a lush minky camouflage fabric paired with tan minky chenille, black minky and solid sable, this crib set takes camo to a new level of style and comfort.

As with each of our designer baby bedding collections, the camo collection is also available for cradles, portable cribs, toddler beds and an assortment of nursery decor items. Boys of all ages will be a fan of this set.

John

Just in time for the fall season, the Red Poppy crib bedding collection makes its way to the Carousel Designs lineup. Featuring larger than life red poppy flowers contrasting against a white background, this collection combines visual appeal with comfort.

Available as a designer 4-piece crib bedding set, 3-piece mini crib bedding set or 3-piece cradle bedding set, the individual products can also be purchased separately. As with any of our products, customizations are also gladly provided for avid designers who want to add that extra personal touch.

For those wanting to decorate their baby girl’s nursery with coordinating floral nursery decor, matching drapes, diaper stackers, lamp shades, decorative pillows and valances are also available.

Kudos to Rose Grove for another beautiful design. Happy Decorating!

Doesn’t it seem like once October hits, the rest of the year flies by? I think part of the reason may be because those three months are filled with fun holidays. Once Halloween is over, it’s high-speed on to Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Years’, and other holidays. As the rest of the house makes a whirlwind of decorative changes, baby’s nursery often gets left out. But there are some options to make the nursery just as festive as the other rooms in the house.

1: Add holiday-inspired accessories to the nursery (like pillows, paper decorations such as white snowflakes, and framed photos)

2: The fall and winter holidays are characterized by warm light – add lamps, or other soft lighting to baby’s room. Securely-fastened stringed lights along the ceiling line create a festive vibe as well (and you might just decide to leave those lights in place after the holidays!)

3: Apply a neutral touch. There’s no color combination worse than baby blue or pink coupled with the holiday colors of orange, red, and green. When decorating your baby’s nursery, start neutral and it will be easy to add decorative touches when the holidays roll around. Otherwise, choose decorations that accent rather than clash with the nursery.

Happy Decorating!

Haley

It’s arrived!!

No, not the little bundle of joy you have been waiting for – your nursery bedding! You anxiously unwrap it, anticipating how wonderful it is going to look on your new crib.

One key to a beautiful and safe nursery is the proper installation of crib bedding, especially the crib bumper. We have prepared this step-by-step guide to help you get the most out of your new crib bedding.

Keep in mind that the bumper should fit tightly in order to provide the most security and safety. Some fabrics, such as minky, have more stretch than others. As all fabrics and patterns differ it is important to understand the fundamentals of installing the crib bumper to ensure the perfect fit.

Step 1: After unwrapping your crib bumper, look closely at each of the 3-sectioned panels at both ends of the bumper. You will notice that one of the 3-paneled end sections will be slightly shorter than the other.

You will want to start with the shortest end section. It is important that you begin by securing the corner of the short end piece to the back corner of either the headboard or footboard of the crib.

Step 2: Securely tie the corner piece of the short end to the back corner crib post.

Step 3: Position the bumper around the inside rails with the corner seams placed accordingly. The ties should be facing the outside of the bumper.

Step 4: Firmly pull the back section of the bumper until it is tight along the back rails and fasten at the other back corner (back corner #2). This may require more tension on fabrics that have a lot of stretch or “give”to them. Remember, it is important that the bumper is taut.

Step 5: Once the back corners are secure you may tie the center back ties for extra reinforcement. Now the crib bumper should be firmly attached along the back of the crib.

Step 6: Now you are ready to tie the front corners of the crib bumper in the same manner. Tie the front corner pieces to the front crib posts. Work around to the final corner where the two ends meet.

Step 7: Using the ties from the short end (Step 1) and the ties on the front section, secure both of these to the front corner crib post. To prevent gapping, criss-cross the ties before tying around the post.

Step 8: Lastly, secure the center ties on the front.

Voila! You now have a perfectly fitting crib bumper.

Now all that is left to do is stand back and admire your new nursery! And of course, decide on the drapes!

Rose

My name is Jonathan Hartley and back in 1988 my parents Mike and Balva Hartley founded Carousel Designs. Our manufacturing plant in Douglasville, Georgia has been here since the 70’s and prior to Carousel Designs had been owned by a different company which made items such as rubber baby pants and women’s clothing.

In 1988, Carousel Designs launched and concentrated solely on manufacturing crib bedding and nursery décor. We designed, manufactured, and distributed our products for the better baby specialty stores throughout the United States.

The bedding collections we’ve manufactured over the years matched the trends popular at the time, but looking back on those older collections can be quite entertaining.

Here’s one of the originals circa 1989 named “Bashful Bunny”…

Twenty years later we’re still making baby bedding, and the designs have changed quite a bit! (See our newest arrivals)

Allan Sicat (our President), Jason Warren, and I acquired the business over a year ago. Mike and Balva still are involved somewhat, but are enjoying retirement somewhere in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

We’ve got a lot of exciting things brewing and stay tuned for some of our future product offerings and website enhancements.

We’ve also recently opened up our latest consumer-facing website which features the tremendous inventory of fabrics we have here at our 20,000 square foot facility. The website is Carousel Fabrics and we offer all of our fabrics in stock at some very competitive prices.

Jonathan

Have you ever stopped and wondered where the cute little Sock Monkey originated? Well, curiosity got the better of me and I decided to do a little research. (OK, it wasn’t that hard as there is a lot of information out there about this little guy with the big red smile).

The history of the Sock Monkey goes back to when the stuffed animal craze swept across Europe and the United States during the Great Depression. Money was scarce and people could not afford “luxury” items such as stuffed animals. So the American Mom, being creative and resourceful, started making stuffed monkey dolls out of socks, filling them with whatever was available in the house – paper, rice, even old pantyhose.

In 1932, the Nelson Knitting Company in Rockford, IL invented a work sock with a trademarked red heel. These socks became known as “Rockfords.” Not only were they the most popular work sock of their time, they became the basis for one of the most popular and long-lasting toys. When made into a doll, the red sock heel created a distinctive red mouth.

The Nelson Knitting Company soon became aware that their socks were being used to create this extremely popular stuffed toy. They decided to patent the pattern for the Sock Monkey doll and use it in their advertising and promotional campaigns. They even included the Sock Monkey pattern with each pair of “Rockford”socks sold!

In 1992, Fox River Mills acquired the Nelson Knitting Company. And while the Rockford sock is still in production today, the red heel design has undergone a noteworthy change. The red heel pattern that gave the Sock Monkey its famous smile has been replaced by a more oval pattern.

The Sock Monkey theme has seen a new growth in popularity in the 21th Century. While it has taken on many new forms and faces, the original remains steadfast. A yearly Sock Monkey Festival is held in Rockford, IL where visitors can also enjoy a museum honoring this wonderful fuzzy fella that brought smiles to so many faces for over 100 years.

Rose