Two years ago, blogger and designer Courtney Russell moved into a brand new house in Canton, Michigan, with her husband and two kids. Wanting to give the space character, she rolled up her sleeves and started crafting. Now her home brims with hand-stitched creativity, and she has become something of a star in the blogging community. Here, she gives us a peek inside.

Your son Elliot is 3 years old. How does he like having his own room? "He likes it a lot. You can tell that it's good for kids' self esteem: They have their separate space, they know you took the time to think about them. It had a big impact when we were putting it together."

What did you make in his room? "I sewed the window treatments from fabric leftover from IKEA curtains; I reversed the pattern so the print wasn't so bright. They're backed with IKEA linen. Years ago, my father-in-law made the lamp for my husband from a bugle he won during boarding school."

So design runs in the family. Is your husband crafty, too? "My husband definitely appreciates design; we both read all the design magazines. But he's an aerospace engineer with an MBA, so he's not so crafty!"

How did you make this great wall arrangement? "I just stapled fabric onto the bulletin board. The dog prints were a project from Denyse Schmidt's book; you piece together fabric on clip frames. We chose corgis because we have corgis!"

How would you describe the ambiance of this room and the rest of your home? "Modern country. I love contemporary design but has to have an organic feel. It can't be stark."

The Critter Cars are from Wisteria. The weathervane is from Haven, a store in Michigan (734-454-6562).

What does your son like best about his room? "He loves that little chair. He sits down and reads his books. Then he puts his monsters and kitty to sleep there. He also likes to look at the eeBoo map to see where he was born."

What a funny squirrel! Is it a wall sticker? "No, I drew the shape on Japanese paper, cut it out and stuck it up. I also made a rabbit and mouse."

Does your son help with these crafts? "Yes, and he's beginning to get the idea that Mommy can make anything. I'd rather he ask, 'Mommy, can we make a pirate hook?' than 'Mommy, can we go to Toys R Us?' I'd love to teach both my kids to craft."

Your daughter's room is beautiful, too. How was it different to decorate for your daughter Lucie, 3 months, than it was for your son? "It was fun to have a daughter and express more of a girlish side. I went back to dolls and things I liked as a child."

Is your home similar to your childhood home? "Definitely. Like me, my mom invested in good, neutral furniture, then added character with accessories. But unlike me, my mom did seasonal decorating. 'Now here are your Christmas sheets, here are your Easter sheets...' Every minor holiday!"

This bed is so pretty. What inspires you? "My major inspiration is Laura Normandin from Wren Handmade--I have one of her dolls. For now, my daughter and I share a bed, and I made our pillowcases from the same Liberty of London fabric used for the doll's shirt."

You describe these projects on your blog, Two Straight Lines. Do you consider blogging work or relaxation? "I often blog when my kids are sleeping. It's relaxing and gives me a sense of accomplishment that can be lacking when you stay home with your children."

It must be nice to know that people will see what you're working on. "As a former graphic designer, I've always been crafty, but the blog movement has really motivated me. It's great to get feedback and have people like what you do. It's much better than sitting at home and designing in a vacuum."

Would you ever want to design for others? "Right now I like designing for our family, but maybe someday. The blog would make it so much easier. People really respond to it; I've been asked to write books. It's just an issue of time--time is key when you have two little kids!"

For more, visit Courtney's blog and flickr photos.

Email your home photos and design questions here.