Simplicity, order, and neatness in every aspect of life: This was what the Shakers strived to create. And what better inspiration for a baby's room? We took some of the Shakers' good, sensible ideas and created a nursery with them in autumn colors, throwing in a pastoral theme for fun. Animals, baskets, and peaked-roof houses are recurring motifs.

The Shakers were members of a religious sect who came to the United States in the 1700s to spread their beliefs and to create communities where they could live according to their ideals. They had very specific ideas about what their dwellings should look like. Their architecture was unadorned. They believed objects should be useful and free of ornament. Following their spiritual work ethic, the Shakers became master woodworkers, textile makers, and basket weavers, and Shaker-style furniture and baskets are still in demand today. For in attempting to make objects that were merely useful, the Shakers developed a graceful and uncluttered aesthetic that has its own quiet beauty and harmony.

Making a Crib Canopy
The simple, peaked canopy sheltering the crib makes it resemble a house; remove it once the baby can pull up to a stand.

What You'll Need
Two woven fabrics
A 3/8-inch dowel one-third as long as your crib
Twill tape
Sewing supplies
Four screw eyes
Mounting anchors
A drill
Monofilament
Adhesive-backed Velcro tabs

Technique
1. Determine length of canopy based on height of crib and desired height of canopy; it will be slightly narrower than the dowel length (ours was 66 1/2 by 26 inches). Cut your fabrics to size.

2. Stack the fabrics, wrong sides facing, and topstitch close to edges. Wrap twill tape around raw edges of canopy, mitering the corners, and sew in place. Fold in half crosswise. At folded edge, measure in 1 inch. Topstitch across to create a channel for dowel. Slip dowel through channel, and screw one screw eye into each end of dowel.

3. With drill and mounting anchors, mount two more screw eyes in ceiling over crib directly above those in dowel. Hang dowel with monofilament through the screw eyes, adjusting height.

4. Apply two Velcro tabs to each side of crib (spaced for corners of canopy); sew counterpart to inside corners of canopy. To attach a bird, wire or sew bird's feet to dowel. Slip hanging monofilament under wing to keep bird upright.