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!
Beautiful book and beautiful handcraft work! I did make a similar book after being inspired by you. My pinking shears dulled after cutting a couple pages and did not work. When I went to purchase another one, the directions indicated felt is the worst thing to cut with a pinking shears. I also asked the advice of the individual cutting fabric at Jo-Ann’s and they repeated the sentiment. So reluctantly, I restarted and did my project with all straight edges. How did you accomplish your entire book with a pinking shears. Did you do anything special to keep it from doing that? Any advice is appreciated, I really prefer the “pinked” edges.
I did notice some dulling, but I had a friend suggest cutting a piece of foil in-between every few pages. Not sure whether it was a placebo effect, but it got me through making a few books! Hope that helps!
this is wonderful! thumbs-up, mommy!
Love love love this book. I’m starting to do one for my son and I’m very jealous of your skills.
I have a question, what did you use as stuffing?
I only stuffed a few things (like the frog’s legs), but I used just regular batting (you can find cotton or synthetic blends at nearly any fabric or craft store). Hope that helps!
Do the flies come off the page and snap to the frogs tongue? How did you make that page?
I just love this book and would love to think of more pages to add
Thank you
Dorothy
Dorothy – The flies are sewn onto the page, with little snaps on their wings. The tongue is the part that moves from fly to fly (also with a little snap on the end). Does that make sense? Let me know if you have any questions! Happy to help!
Looking at this wonderful book idea again and wondering what you used to cut the squiggle edges? Did you use some kind of pinking shears?
Emily – Yes! I just picked up a pair of pinking shears at my fabric store. They’re nothing fancy, but I loved the finish they gave the pages!
Emily! I totally love this…and I don’t even have kids! I know I want to make this when one of my sisters/cousins has a baby. I think I’ll even make one ahead of time for my future kids. I just love how each page has something special about it. Great discovery for kids. Also, the felt makes it pretty durable. Great idea and awesome designs!
Thanks so much! We’ve loved it and it’s sill going strong!
This is great!!! How did you bind the book when you were done?
Joy – Here’s what I wrote to another reader with the same question. Hope it helps!
No thats great. Thanks!!
I have used a glue gun to attach Velcro and little felt decorations that I didn’t want to sew. I have also used cutesy fabric that I had on hand and put felt on the back of it.
Dear Emily, This is the cutest book I have come across. I have twin great-grandsons that I intend to
make these for. Thanks for posting your wonderful idea. Janice
thanks 🙂