It’s been a funky few weeks.
By funky, I mean a few things. The first is that I spent a week “off” of being sick. In a funk. The second is that I spent the next two weeks-ish elbow deep in felt and needles and thread and “watch instantly” shows on Netflix.
This second sort of funky resulted in a felt garland for baby’s room and a few good cries on the couch during shows where someone I didn’t want to die does, or two people I want to be together aren’t, or where two people who you KNOW have been meant to be together FINALLY tell each other how they feel and live happily ever after. You know, the sort of thing my heart would usually just ache for, but during my third trimester of pregnancy induces tears which then cause me to laugh out loud at the fact that I’m crying which makes me cry harder. It’s all very complicated. Funky, even.
Oh, and did I mention I finished a quiet book?
Anyone who reads this blog (or even just this post, for that matter) knows I’m a crazy person. One of my crazy habits is that I LOVE hand-sewing with felt. Don’t ask me why–I just find it relaxing and satisfying. I’ve made a few of these before, but it was really fun to make one FOR MY OWN BABY.
(Can you believe that she’ll probably be here in 8 weeks? I can’t either.)
Anyway, I thought I’d give you a quick look through the book. We kept it gender-neutral so that it wasn’t too girly if our next baby is a boy. Prepare yourself for lots of pictures…
Lion (lots of different textures and colors in the mane to touch)
Alligator (mouth zips open and closed)
Frog (tongue can catch flies)
Butterfly (wings can flap)
Fish (can snap on and off the page, or twirl around on a snap to spin in a circle)
Owl (baby owl hiding under a wing)
Monkey (banana peels to open)
Back Cover
Which page is your favorite? I can’t get enough of that owl page. I love it!
Well Done Mama Bear!!! You’ve done a gorgeous job and every page gets cuter – especially the Lion!!! * 🙂 *
You should be very proud of yourself…
Probably no surprise to anyone, but the best way we’ve ever put together busy books is to get a group of interested people together with the patterns. Each person chooses one (or two!) pages and “assembly line” sews them for the number of people in the group. 10 people? Make 10 pages! Then get back together and exchange pages. It’s loads easier to make 10 of one page, then try to do each page by yourself and it’s less time-intensive as well. My kids are all grown and their busy books in storage, so now I need to get some other grandmothers to do it with me! I would recommend sewing two felt pieces together with sturdy stabilizer – felt will stretch on it’s own, especially with little hands pulling them on / off pages. Best wishes!
What a fantastic idea! I love that!
Love your book!
Have you ever used the stick it felt shapes you can buy? I was wondering how they would hold up? I thought it might save a little time in cutting out letters and numbers.
Great job! Love the pictues!
Delores- I haven’t actually used them before. I bet they’d be easy for sure, but I’d be concerned about how well they’d hold up. Let me know if you give them a try! I’d love to know how they turn out.
Love this quiet book! I have a few friends that are having babies so I thought this would be agreat gift. I am doing some of the same aniimals as you, but I added or changed a few as well. I was just wondering, how did you sew the lion to the tan felt? I’m having trouble with that??
Kate- I actually cut out the lion face and did all the face embroidery, and cut out all the ribbon strips. First, I sewed all the ribbon to the background, then when it was all secured, I attached the lion face over the ribbons, sewing it all the way through the ribbon and the background page. Does that make sense? Hope that helps!
I loved your Quiet Book and wanted to use some of your ideas but ran out of time and gumption. I have referred my readers to your blog for ideas.
http://mommysgreat.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-gifts-unveiled.html
LOVE this book!!! Did you use any patterns? If so, where can I get them?? If not, please wish me luck!!
Chrissy–I didn’t use any patterns… I just made it up as I went and sometimes cut things out of paper to trace onto the felt, though I free-handed a lot of it. I wish you the VERY best of luck!!!
I’ve been doing a lot of research on quiet books, as I am making one for my friend who is expecting her first baby. This is by far my favorite! You are so talented. Here is a ridiculous question for you…Did you wash all of the felt before you use it? I thought about washing everything before I sew it since it will more than likely end up in baby’s mouth 🙂 but then I wonder if the felt will handle that very well. Just thought I’d get your thoughts. Thanks!!
Brianne–thank you! You’re too sweet. I didn’t wash it beforehand…I thought about it for the same reason you described, but I didn’t pre-wash it. If you do, I’d love to know how it goes! Best of luck!
i really love this book. thanks for posting. i also love hand sewing w/ felt. i don’t know why, but i do. i’m making one for my baby next. thanks for the ideas:)
Hi Emily,
I just found your quiet book while searching through pinterest. Do you happen to have a pattern and tutorial for your book? My daughter would love every single page you created. I’m trying to make her one for Christmas and my drawing skills are slim to none. This turned out so cute. If you do have pattern/tutorial could you email me at [email protected]
Thanks,
Nicole
Nicole, I’m so sorry, I don’t have a pattern! I just drew things on paper, cut them out as templates, and traced them onto the felt. I don’t really know how to make a pattern, but I’ve had several requests. If I get it figured out, I’ll email you!
Hello Emily,
thanks for mentioning me in your blog, which is beautiful. 🙂
Hannah