Saturday, February 2, 2013

Shhhh . . .

When daughter dear was a child years ago, I loved making play-things for her. Teddies, doll blankets, even home-made play dough and matching cards. One of the things I made, and the one thing she asked if I would recreate for her own daughter, was her Quiet Book.
If you were to look inside this book, you would find the pages well-loved, and a few even needing repair. It was a sweet trip down memory lane, making grandgirl her own . . .

Believe it or not, I still had the pattern book: How to sew A Quiet Book, published by Craft Course Publishers in 1977. I used corduroy for the cover again, and added a little hedgehog applique I found at Wee Folk Art.
Page 1 ~ button-on felt flowers.
 Pages 2 & 3 ~ left and right "mittens" to put small hands in.
 Pages 4 & 5 ~ a train with button wheels to count, with one car left open for "cargo."
 Pages 6 & 7 ~ snap-on "match the color" balloons, and
a mama ladybug with three little babies inside her zipper.
  Pages 8 & 9 ~ a shoe to lace and a clock with movable hands.
 Pages 10 & 11 ~ beads to count.
 Pages 12 & 13 ~ a clown with velcro face features and a kitty with a bow to tie.
 Page 14 ~ snap-on "match the shapes."
This kind of sewing, with all the buttons, snaps, felt and all, isn't what I'm most comfortable with these days, but boy was it worth it once I put it in grandgirl's little hands.

Linking up with Fabric Tuesday. This project is also my first finish on my 2013 Q1 Finish-A-Long list!
Posted by at 10:43 AM
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43 comments:

  1. mumasuFebruary 2, 2013 at 10:47 AM

    Wow, that is gorgeous and if you don't mind I would like to do something like it for my niece's birthday.

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  2. Grandma GFebruary 2, 2013 at 10:52 AM

    That is SUCH a cute quiet book! Now I'm needing another grandbaby! :)

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  3. tink's momFebruary 2, 2013 at 11:53 AM

    What a terrific concept. You did a wonderful job on it. Such fun.

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  4. green23February 2, 2013 at 12:02 PM

    Wonderful. She is a very lucky girl :).

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  5. SusanFebruary 2, 2013 at 12:18 PM

    What a fabulous idea! There is a lot of work in that book! And I'm sure it will be well loved! Maybe make another for the future too!

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  6. quiltmaniaFebruary 2, 2013 at 12:33 PM

    A wonderful idea for that someone special in your life. Looks great!

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  7. Sophie Belle DesignsFebruary 2, 2013 at 1:35 PM

    It's amazing how a great reaction eases tired eyes and fingers :) It's fantastic.

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  8. Heather D.February 2, 2013 at 1:52 PM

    Awww, so sweet.

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  9. BrendaFebruary 2, 2013 at 2:11 PM

    this is a blast from the past. I made two of those books back in 1995, with many of the same patterns. I don't know where I got them -- from a friend of a friend. fun to see them again.

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  10. Erin QuinnFebruary 2, 2013 at 2:16 PM

    This looks like a perfect way to spend an afternoon... For her. It looks like the perfect way to spend a month for me - cutting, sewing, ripping, cursing, zippers... :-) Great job.
    E

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  11. ✾Jamie Lee Cooley✾February 2, 2013 at 2:28 PM

    What a perfectly sweet book. I wish I had made my children one, but maybe when. Have grandchildren...

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  12. KirstenFebruary 2, 2013 at 2:42 PM

    This is so amazing with all of the little details that make it fun to use.

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  13. LynneFebruary 2, 2013 at 2:47 PM

    What a great interactive project Debbie! That took some work, I like the counting beads page.

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  14. BendingPins.comFebruary 2, 2013 at 2:49 PM

    Your quiet book is phenomenal! I'll be looking forward to your tutorial and then sew-along. :D I can't believe you're a Grandmother, you certainly don't look old enough!

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  15. Bluebell Ridge HandworksFebruary 2, 2013 at 3:10 PM

    Such a sweet little book for your Grandgirl Debbie! I bet it did feel good seeing her play with it :o) When my son was little I embelised a book with Christmas songs. The book was actually one of the panel you buy and sew together, but I added a lot of beads, pom poms, glitter glue, etc. He loved when we would get it out and sing songs from it. Now I have it safely packed away for his children.

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  16. KateFebruary 2, 2013 at 3:21 PM

    It looks great! The perfect thing for little fingers. :)

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  17. Katy CameronFebruary 2, 2013 at 4:20 PM

    Oh how cool, I'm sure it'll keep her entertained for hours. How lovely that Daughter Dear remembered and wanted one just like it for grand girl!

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  18. HolliFebruary 2, 2013 at 5:53 PM

    It's very cute, I can see how a child (or I) would love to play with it! Obviously quite a lot of fussy bits, but so worth it to see her play, just like her mom must have before her!

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  19. JenniferFebruary 2, 2013 at 6:08 PM

    debbie this is fabulous!!! waht a great gift for those small hands - i'm sure it will be loved for many years to come, what a great tradition!

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  20. JenniferFebruary 2, 2013 at 6:08 PM

    debbie this is fabulous!!! waht a great gift for those small hands - i'm sure it will be loved for many years to come, what a great tradition!

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  21. Heidi StaplesFebruary 2, 2013 at 6:43 PM

    What a treasure this will be for your granddaughter! Lovely, Debbie!

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  22. Kim P.February 2, 2013 at 7:08 PM

    I hope that she'll keep it for her own child! It should be treasured by all.

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  23. CityHouseStudioFebruary 2, 2013 at 8:23 PM

    This is the sweetest thing ever!
    And even more special that you still have Rachel's book - adorable!

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  24. Richard HealeyFebruary 2, 2013 at 10:57 PM

    Love the book need to make one for baby Julia she is 10 months old and will need one soon for church.

    Richard and Tanya Quilts
    Richard and Tanya Quilts on Etsy

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  25. MariQuiltsFebruary 2, 2013 at 11:37 PM

    So sweet!!

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  26. ToniFebruary 3, 2013 at 3:05 AM

    That is wonderful, Debbie! Definitely a lot of work, but it looks great and so worth it seeing your sweet granddaughter playing with it. I should probably do something like that for our littles. It would probably make a much nicer sound than board books or tractors hitting the pew in front of us!

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  27. mtnquiltrFebruary 3, 2013 at 6:17 AM

    That is so lovely! I've been bookmarking quiet books for ideas when the time comes.Your ideas are so inventive! What's the right age, do you think? 2? 3? I'm worried about small bits with a child too young.

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  28. CathyFebruary 3, 2013 at 7:08 AM

    just so darn cute! What a lovely gift to treasure!

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  29. Cheri the Quilting NannyFebruary 3, 2013 at 9:45 AM

    Back 33 years ago I made nearly this identical quiet book for my daughter. She loved it! I kept it only for church times so she didn't get tired of it and was quiet in church! Nice to see the past is still loved!!

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  30. UnknownFebruary 3, 2013 at 10:11 AM

    Awesome job, Debbie!

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  31. AnonymousFebruary 3, 2013 at 11:36 AM

    That is very cool and fun. Wish my son was still young enough to enjoy something like that so I had an excuse to make one :-)

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  32. TammyFebruary 3, 2013 at 11:54 AM

    Debbbie that book is absolutely amazeing. Oh I wish I could have made this for my kids when they were little...I know one of my first grandmaw projects I will make. Hopefully I still got few years before I am grandmaw though. So I just gotta learn to be a awesome quilter until I can become a Grandmaw.

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  33. ElaineFebruary 3, 2013 at 12:28 PM

    this is soooo super cute! i'm so glad you showed the inside as i hadn't expected the level of detail. i'd love to try something like this sometime... maybe it would really allow my kids and myself some fun quiet time! thanks for sharing!

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  34. FlourishingPalmsFebruary 3, 2013 at 1:34 PM

    Really cute. I do believe I remember that book. A few of us at our church sewed up a bunch, with a Christian theme, to provide to parents who needed to keep their children occupied during worship. It's a good idea, and lots of work! Nice that you took the time to make one.

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  35. hafzaFebruary 3, 2013 at 6:40 PM

    I just found your blog...and love reading your post. The book is so cute!

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  36. EricaFebruary 3, 2013 at 11:57 PM

    So cute!

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  37. AuntieCraftyFebruary 4, 2013 at 10:14 AM

    The book is so adorable! I would love to see the pages from the original one you made!

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  38. JaceyFebruary 5, 2013 at 6:20 AM

    I love this! The lady bug is my favorite. This is such a special little gift!

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  39. AnonymousFebruary 5, 2013 at 9:12 AM

    I love it. I'm so glad to see the finished project! I'm working on one now for my little girl!

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  40. SaraFebruary 5, 2013 at 10:06 AM

    Every page is something wonderful!! Is it difficult to make that shoe one with the laces? I may have to look for a tutorial for that! You did a beautiful job and I love the alphabet print on the front. I have some of that one:)

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  41. Marci GirlFebruary 6, 2013 at 9:36 AM

    Oh my that is tear in your eye sweet! So much work, but you are right, so worth it! I love it!

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  42. **nicke...February 8, 2013 at 10:00 PM

    i bet she loves it to bits and plays with it all of the time! that is so wonderful deb!

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  43. NicoleFebruary 9, 2013 at 4:36 PM

    You can't beat a classic! You did a lovely job, Debbie. Now I want to make one!

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