Beckett's Quiet Book

A good friend of mine asked if I could make her son one of the Quiet Books I had made for my children at Christmas time. This is the book that I completed for her with some new pages that I designed myself. It took roughly 38 hours of cutting, machine sewing and hand sewing to complete the 16 pages, but I am super proud of it and how cute it turned out.

Front Cover - dump truck applique and I used a small zig zag stitch to accent it.

I Can Count - This page has the numbers 1-10 cut from felt and hand sewn with a blanket stitch. There is velcro on the back of each number and then I sewed on color and number coordinating beads to match the number.

Where is the Puppy? - the little blue door opens and the puppy has a bit of velcro on it to take in and out of the dog house

Button the Shirt - This cute little preppy button down shirt helps children to practice buttoning their shirt.

I Know My Address - A cute little house with a door that opens.

Inside the door is a frame with a bit of plastic cover to reveal a sheet of paper that can be inserted with the child's address.

My Teddy Bear's Bed - This hand quilted bed spread creates a cozy little spot for this furry teddy bear that comes in and out of the bed with a little puffed up pillow under his head.

Put the Fruit in the Basket - This orange tree (could easily have been an apple tree as well) has little fruit that can be "picked" and put inside the basket.

There are little pieces of velcro on each piece and the fruit has been hand stitched with a blanket stitch.

Snap the Wheels on the Train - The Thomas-looking train has a fun bright orange accent to it.

The little felt hub caps snap off and on the wheels.

A Box Full of Colors - This crayon box is fully lined inside and creates a pocket to hold six felt crayons that have been slightly stuffed and hand stitched. I then used a volumizing puff paint to write the names of the colors on the crayons.

A Traffic Light - This fun little page has felt pieces like the colors of the stop light that velcro off and on.

I Know My Phone Number - I love this little mobile phone looking page that I created individual buttons for each number and then used the puff paint to create a raised number on each key. Then I created a little frame to display the child's actual phone number to practice using the phone to dial.

Catch the Baseball - This fleece glove is open at the bottom so the child can fit its hand inside.

Zip Up the Coat - a new twist to practice zipping

I love the dark orange with the navy!

Match the Shapes - The felt pieces are hand sewn after velcro was attached to them. A coordinating third shape is attached to the page to match up with.

What's in Daddy's Wallet? - Here I made a tri-fold wallet out of felt and attached it to the page.

Inside there are two slots for fake credit cards and a plastic lined frame for a fake driver's license to go. Also the inside opens up like a real wallet to put play money in. The whole wallet velcros shut.

Dress Me Up - This little guy has a shirt, trousers and shoes that can be detached.

Underneath he has an undershirt and boxer shorts on!!!

I Can Write and Draw - The final page is a pocket to hold a little notepad and pencil.

I personalized the book with a little tag I made from using fabric ink with a personalized stamp my mom got me for Christmas to let the person know I made it especially for them.

I had a great time making this book and have another one to make for my friend's granddaughter so I'll have a girly one put together for you all to see in a couple of weeks!!!!

Kid's Crayon Tote

I have made this crayon/coloring book tote for my son this year for Christmas. I got the idea from my mother-in-law who made one for my daughter for Christmas last year. I found a really cute pirate print and accented it with black, brown, and cream colors.  We love to put this in our back pack when we travel and pack along some extra stickers and such in the big pocket.

Inside there is a pocket for coloring books and slots for crayons.

Sewn this way there are 20 individual slots for crayons so if you buy a 24 count box you will have to double up a few crayons. Markers will also fit but because of their height they may need to be staggered in the slots.

The print I found had pirate ships and islands and I thought it would be fun to cut out a bit of a scene to put on the inside. I used fusible interfacing to attach the small panel and used a small zig zag stitch around the outside to finish it off.

Some more crayon totes I've made to sell:

Do - do- do- dora!!!!

Little boys love tractors...

I made a tractor with red inside.... 

And tractor ones with orange inside....

What a fun Disney one as well...

FREE instructions and other pictures are available at:

Instructions: http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/8496.page

Pictures: http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/8486.page

Don't want to make them yourself, come check out my shop - Things I Like 2 Make - on Etsy.com and look at the ones I have made up already and have for sale.

I Can Do It Activity Book

Last year for Christmas I made the "I Can Do It Cloth Activity Book" for my children and one for my nephew. It is essentially a cloth based book with loads of activities for kids to do and it hopefully keeps them "quiet" for a time. I think this is the type of gift that will last through generations. I still have the one my mom made for me when I was my daughter's age. With so much time and love put into something like this it will surely stay a keepsake.

How to Make It:

A pattern for the "I Can Do It Cloth Activity Book" can be purchased online at: http://www.sewbaby.com/shopbaby/product_info.php?products_id=4031 . A friend of mine had the pattern so I was able to borrow hers, but I did modify a few of the pages because I wanted to add my own touch to it. It is a very time intensive sewing project but my children and nephew loved them. It is also a great way to use of scrap fabrics you may have from previous sewing projects.

Page 1: The star, hearts, and circles velcro off and on this page.

Page 2: Here you snap the tail off and on the pony.

Page 3: This is a favorite for little girls with the mirror and comb. I added the rope on the mirror because I didn't want to get loose.

Page 4: I modified the zipper page from two plain zippers and made a tent with a sleeping bag on the inside...it's even lined with plaid flannel.

Page 5: A shape matching exercise with felt shapes that velcro on and off.

Page 6: Snapping the wheels on the train. I tried making my train look like "Thomas the Tank Engine".

Page 7: Putting your hand in the red flannel mitt.

Page 8: I tried to be cute with the purse and make it "English" by writing "Mummy", but in true English form I should have put "Mummy's Handbag" because in England a purse is what we would call a wallet. You can put coins or other "mommy" type things inside the purse as it is Velcro on it.

Page 9: Button exercise by putting the flowers on the stems.

Page 10: Velcro the fruit into the basket. I also made the banana "peelable", put cellophane paper in the apple to make it crinkle, a satchel of rice in the orange to make it rattle, and raised pom poms on the grapes to add textures.

Page 11: Put the fuzzy bear in his bed. Addison likes to take all the fruit and shapes and stick them in bed with the bear.

Page 12: The clocks hands move. I also blanket stitched around the outside of the clock to add the minutes.

Page 13: Then you velcro the lights on the stop light. Great way to teach your children "stop" and "go."

Page 14: The puppy is hidden behind a door and can velcro on and off the inside door. A friend of mine had her mom make the puppy dog on her high-end embroidery machine.

Page 15: Tie the shoe.

Page 16: A spot to hold a little notepad and pencil so they can draw.

If you like this book come check out my latest quiet books:

• Beckett's Quiet Book
• Lauren's Quiet Book
• Kaelin's Quiet Book
• Brock's Quiet Book
• British Baby Quiet Book
• First Quiet Books I Sold On Etsy

If you would like a quiet book made for your special little person, email me or check out my shop, Things I Like 2 Make, at Etsy.com to see if I have any for sale.  If I don't have any left in my shop, please send me a message to request for me to make you a customized book.