the fabric store... very simple to make crib sheets, blankets, changing table cover, etc...

just mix and match yourself..don't buy a set..but rather a sheet seperatley etc. I like dwell studio designs:) Pick on patterned item and then you can find solids to compliment etc. from various suppliers. Plus you are not committed to a theme that way

This is a good question. Also, where can I find non-pastel sheets?
And I can't sew worth anything...

I like more fabric than I can keep track of, but was also underwhelmed by crib bedding... If you have the time to order it, you can have an etsy seller make a set for you. I ordered the pieces I wanted from RockyTopDesigns, and she (and other sellers) have tons of beautiful fabric palettes to browse through and choose from... Maybe that would work for you too?

i had one made for us. its super simple. colors are kaki and white. its a blue jean type fabric. the ties are kaki and brown polka dot ribbon. its trimed with a wide white rick rac ribbon. super duper cute. it was a gift for my son but its so neutral and sweet i am using it for my girl! whos decor is completly different than my son's! http://www.javisdavis.com/inspiration.html
scroll to look at different designs. . . i personally like "Joel Dewberry Sandstone" best. Craigs list, church quilting guilds, and other sources you can find some one to make one for you. Good luck. Let us know what you use.

I really like the Company Kids sheets we have on my daughter's crib. We have a polka dotted dust ruffle too, but none of their other crib offerings. Company Kids are great sheets, although their solid colors are limited to some pastels and brights. The good thing is that they're the proper size for a crib mattress--I was given a few Gerber and Carter's sheets, the kind you find at Babies R Us, and not only did they not fit on our crib mattress, they ripped when we tried to put them on! However, the Company Kids sheets fit well, they're soft, and they wash well. We also have several Lands End microfleece baby blankets that are just the best, they're soft and light yet warm, and are a perfect size for both sleeping and carrying around.

I just noticed how great the crib sheets are at Serena and Lily: http://www.serenaandlily.com/Rooms/Nursery

You can get different separates and make your own style. I looked both at the boys stuff in the nursery section and boy room section...

I've had fun planning my baby boy's room - there are so many color combinations to choose from. Have fun!

ooh the serna and lily link above has the colors i mentioned in the marlo...although the price is killer that bedding is BEAUTIFUL.

We are going to have ours made. If I was at all handy with a sewing machine I would do it myself but I am not so...I get to pay someone with more talent than myself to do it.

We are probably going to go with this seller from etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/TiptoeStudio

I second the vote for http://www.javisdavis.com/ - and not only because I work for them. You can mix and match all you want and buy separates too! Plus, the sheets don't cost a zillion dollars.

Have you checked out baby Gap recently? thier online store carries organic sheets that are on sale right now! I dint know they carried baby bedding untill yesterday.May be worth checking out.

I love the giggle.com better basics sheets. They come in stripes that are NOT pastel colors and come more basic solids. You can also buy just the single sheet, not an entire set. If you are looking for something a little funkier, I love love love the John Robshaw crib sheets (we just ordered them for my son.)

John Robshaw has really cute crib sets (as well as fantastic fabric and bedding for adults), but you don't have to get all of the pieces if you don't want it all to match (I feel the same way about that). The fabrics are the same fabrics as the rest of his collection - there is only one that screams "baby."

I agree that it is difficult to find quality, good-looking crib bedding that isn't baby-ish, pastel, matchy-matchy or overly expensive. John Robshaw certainly isn't cheap, but at least the patterns will stretch longer than baby-themed bedding (especially if you convert the crib to a bed one day). I am ordering this pattern for my baby boy (expected May 2010): http://johnrobshaw.com/detail.htm?Baby=Lapis_Crib_Sets&params=4,1,1

I did look into order my own fabric and sewing it myself (with help from my mom), but after the expense of the fabric and the effort involved, I really wasn't going to save that much money ... and now is a time to be resting and preparing ... not overwhelming myself with unnecessary projects (although I seem to be coming up with plenty of those! ha).

Best of luck!

i too am expecting a baby boy this spring and am so not into all that baby-theme bedding you cant help but see everywhere. so i too was on the hunt for exactly what you described (not into the ultra mod either).

i special ordered bedding from matteo home
(http://www.matteohome.com/)- they have killer bedding for babies that are SO SOFT, so sweet and simple in lots of solid colors. they also have an array of choices for trims etc.
def check it out!!

thanks for all the suggestions!

I'm not incredibly skilled with the sewing machine, and the sets from Baby Gap and John Robshaw are cute but most have brown in them which I would prefer not to use as the crib is black.

Really want to avoid pastels if at all possible, so I've been looking into some etsy sellers...does anyone have any info on the quality/safety of their products? That is my biggest fear in going that route because they don't seem to be exceptionally inexpensive, so if I'm going to pay for something I want to have some assurance it's what I want in that regard.

If it's a girl, I have a mismatched bumper and sheet and possibly a blanket picked out already, but I'm having a harder time finding these same types of items for boys - esp. since the majority of bedding is sold as entire sets, which I really don't want/need.

Couldn't get the matteohome.com site to come up for me?...may need to try that one again...

Any other thoughts? Thanks again!

the boys depot has some great baby bedding sets for boys. http://www.theboysdepot.com