I’ve seen these “Keep Calm and Carry On” posters all over the place.
(courtesy of Nothing Relevant)
(both courtesy of Urban Jane)
I have to admit, it may be a fad. But I’m drawn to their simple design and message. What mother of 2 boys wouldn’t want this poster hanging up in their living space reminding them to let the small stuff go? (Like half-eaten broccoli chewed up and spit out onto the dining rug.) Seriously, though, this mantra was put into production back in 1939 by the British government during World War II. Over 2 million copies were made as a last ditch effort to strengthen resolve against the Nazis. Only limited numbers ended up being distributed. Then in 2000, a print was found in a second-hand British bookshop…with an expired copyright. Thus, the mantra is now open to public replication. And, boy, has it replicated. I browsed Etsy for days in search of a print. There were so many to choose from! I decided on a lemongrass green one. It took a while to ship, but I finally received it late last week and quickly hung it in the sunroom.
I mounted it in an archival frame with some cool Amy Butler printed fabric behind it.
Staying true to my new mantra, I didn’t even finish the fabric edges. I left ’em raw and frayed. I like it. Imperfect perfection.
Plus, you can’t really tell from afar.
So maybe I did jump on the trendy “Keep Calm and Carry On” bandwagon, but it just may save my sanity some days. Plus, there are worse things.
Keep calm, y’all.
budget decor, inspiration