A Colors Quiet Book

I didn't get very much done in the way of hand-made gifts for Christmas this year.  It's been a busy last few weeks.  I did manage to whip out this cute little Colors Quiet Book for a friend of mine to give to her brand new granddaughter. 

It really is a little sad to know that my boys have moved beyond the phase of enjoying little books like these.  I so love making them!  So since I had all the supplies waiting for one just like this, it went together quickly and easily.  This is from a designer named Shelley Wallace and I find lots of cute things in her Etsy shop.  I've made up quiet a few of her quiet book patterns in the past and each one is as cute as the next. 

Here is the front cover.

Love the red car and orange fish bowl.

Yellow and green (with a cute little red bird in the nest in the tree).

The blue page with the whale may be my favorite, and purple.

Pink and black - the fuzzy, soft sheep is fun too.

And the front and back cover.

Really, the hardest part on these is the hand embroidery of the words.  And even that isn't really hard - just takes a little focused time.  So worth it!  I hope she enjoys it this year!

I do have one more quick little project in the works for tomorrow or the next day . . . if I can get to it.  More to come, hopefully!

Colors Quiet Book

Apparently my recent stint at "Quiet Books Anonymous" was NOT successful, because I have a new book to share.  This one is definitely too simple for my boys - it is targeted at a much younger audience.  But I had purchased the kit and pattern from Everyday Celebration's Etsy shop awhile ago and decided to whip it up . . . to add to my themed quiet book collection. 

It was definitely an easy project.  I used her fabric and trims and added in some of my own.  Son #2 opened it up after I finished it and started going through naming all the colors in Spanish.  So if nothing else this is working as an assist for learning a second language.  I'll take whatever I can get!

Anyway - here it is: 

The cover

Red/Orange

Yellow/Green

Blue/Purple

Pink/Brown

Black/White

Back Cover

 

Pretty cute if I do say so myself.

A Winter Quiet Book

 It's no secret that I'm addicted to Quiet Books!  I've made a big custom one for my boys (see my side bar) and then made five smaller themed quiet books as well.   This is my newest one - Winter Wonder. 

 

And because I feel like it, I'm going to get on my soap box about quiet books for a second.  They need to be interactive - - not just cute to look at!  This one is slightly more interactive than the last few that I've made.  My boys are getting a little old for these simple themed ones, but they still LOVE their big book like crazy!  I'm too lazy busy to come up with my own patterns, but I sure wish those wonderful people who do offer up their patterns would make them more interactive.  I'll take what I can get though - I'm done complaining providing feedback for now.

 

I have a few patterns and kits set aside that I just haven't made time to get to, even though they are pretty basic.  I didn't want them to go unmade.  So I broke this Winter  Wonder kit open and ta da - a new book.  Sorry - the pictures are horrible - in the house at night, lots of white and a camera flash.  But the book is cute!  And son #1 did enjoy it for about 5 minutes at church today. 

 

The pattern and kit are from Shelley Wallace and you can find her Etsy shop here.  I find her patterns easy to follow and her kits are adorable.

 

 Here's the front cover.

 

 

 Button a snowflake.

See if the mitten fits.

 

 

 Lace up the ice skate.

Put some marshmallows in the hot cocoa.

 

 

Build a snowman - all the parts and pieces are inside the little blue pocket on the right hand page.  Son #1 gave this page his stamp of approval today.

 

And the back cover.

By the way . . . . I'll be attending a local QBA meeting this week if anyone wants to join me. 

QBA = Quiet Books Anonymous.

At The Zoo - Quiet Book

I love a good quiet book . . . . always have, always will.  I have quite a few patterns stashed away and try to make one or two as I have time.  Or I add pages to my large quiet book that my boys love.  By the time I get around to making all the books I want, I will be the only one "playing" with them - maybe my old-age, senile self will think that's pretty fun. 

 

Anyway - I've had the pieces for this book cut out and ready to go for awhile now.  I finally sat down and got it put together.  This is a pattern from Shelley Wallace on Etsy.  I've made a few of her books before - and in checking her store this morning I see she's added a few new patterns and kits that I might have to add to my collection. 

 

This book is about the animals in the zoo.  Very cute, if I do say so myself.

 

Each page has a little burlap flap that hides the animal underneath and the clue helps you to guess what animal is hiding.



 

We have monkeys and lions.

 And elephants and bears.

 And koalas and zebras.

 

And giraffes and hippos.

A cute little turtle is on the back cover.

 And what could be better than a finished quiet book?  How about two of them?  I figured since I was cutting and sewing one, why not churn out two of them. 

 

And I'm feeling pretty proud that I actually got these finished and off my table.  Now I'm on to more baby blankets that have to be sent off this week and then . . . more fun things up my sleeves!

Nativity Quiet Book

I've been wanting to make a Christmas themed quiet book for my boys. I found a couple of patterns that I mostly liked and after narrowing it down, I decided to go with a Nativity book. My only complaint about most of the quiet book patterns that I find are that they are just for looks - they aren't interactive. But . . . they sure are cute. So I went ahead and made two of them. (If I had extra time and some creativity, I would have tried my hand at making my own, more interactive, version.) But I'm happy with how these turned out.The one on the left will get sent to my sister. The one on the right is mine and was broken in by the boys today - and they would agree with my "wish these were more interactive" feelings. Here is the front cover.

I added the manger - the pattern just had an inscription page. Then we have Mary & Joseph.

Next up, the shepherd and a sheep, and then an angel.
The three wise men come next and then the manger with a baby Jesus. The baby is the only interactive portion - it is loose and can be played with separately.Finally, the back cover.
This pattern comes from Shelley Wallace's Etsy shop found HERE. I purchased a couple of her other patterns and plan to make a few more.

A Halloween Quiet Book

If you know me - or if you read my blog - you know that I {LoVe} a good quiet book! I've made my fair share including one for my boys with lots and lots and lots of interchangeable pages. I've also made a couple of Pirate-themed quiet books using a pattern that I bought over at Everyday Celebrations. Well LeAnne has lots of other patterns for quiet books with other themes. I fell in love with her Halloween Quiet Book and finally had some time to sit down and make it. My first "fall craft" of this year - - it kind of makes me a little sad. But then again, it turned out so cute, you have to love it!A cute little softie ghost and a witch.An adorable spider (probably my favorite page!) and a bat.A black cat and a pumpkin with three little finger puppets to store inside (pumpkin, bat, and ghost). The front and back covers.

LeAnne's patterns are super easy to follow and really, really cute! My biggest hint is to take the time to prep all of the pages before you sit down to sew. It makes the whole process go quickly and smoothly. Oh - and don't sew the pages together until you're sure that you've finished every last detail! Or you can just settle for some hot glue instead of sewing on a few buttons that you might have forgotten to put on - it all works out in the end. {LoVe It}!!!

Now I'm searching for a Christmas/Winter themed quiet book. I have narrowed it down to a couple of patterns. I can't wait to see how they turn out!

Shhhh - It's a Pirate Quiet Book

Well this little pattern has been on my list of projects to tackle for a long time - since the day I saw it. We have a nephew who's son was turning one this week and in addition to the car racetrack carrier that I made, I decided there was no better reason to make one (or two) of these little pirate quiet books.

I ordered the pattern from Everyday Celebrations. Then I started the task of cutting everything out - that is really the "hardest" part. So I present the finished Pirate Quite Book.

My goal was to use scraps. I only needed the red and brown ric rac to match.

Here is the pirate.And the cannon - Boom!And the treasure chest. The pattern called for little pieces of colored felt to represent the jewels. But I knew that I had seen colored jewels at the craft store so I hot-glued a nice variety inside the chest.The pirate ship.

The treasure map - I added the cute little palm tree. Every treasure map I've ever seen . . . and goodness knows I have seen a lot :-), has a palm tree on it.A parrot - a pirate's best friend.And the back of the book.So while I was making one, why not just make a second at the same time. Give one away - keep one for my boys. Here is our version. I ran out of pirate scraps so I did have to run out and find some cute pirate fabric for the front and back of ours. They really are very cute. Mostly touch and feel - the pages don't really "do" anything. But I love it - we will be testing it out at church tomorrow. Everyday Celebrations did a nice job creating this one. She has some holiday books and other themed small quiet books I'll be trying.