My first quiet book

This week I've made a mini quiet book for granddaughter, Alba.  The pictures are loosely based on the weather: rainbow, cloud, flowers growing in the sunshine, bunting and balloons blowing in the wind.

the front and back pages, showing the carrying handles

It was very much a prototype, made in order to learn the best way to plan a bigger such book in the future.

First I found some stiff cardboard and cut out two rectangles.  This dictated the size of the finished book.  

In a pound shop I found some felt-like cleaning cloths and cut out two pieces of fabric, each roughly double the size of one of the pieces of cardboard + about an inch for seams. 

Then came the fun bit of decorating each half of the fabric, being careful not to impinge on the seam allowance all around the edge.

Each letter or picture was cut out of either felt, fleece or cleaning cloth, depending on what I already had.  Then they were stitched on using the same colour strands.  I worked with six strands, so that the stitches would stand out.

(The rainbow has a cloud at the bottom, in order to obscure the uneven edges of the rainbow)

 I used pale blue for the page with the sun on it so the sun would stand out, whereas the back and front pages are a lovely bright yellow.

Once the pages were decorated I put the two halves together with wrong sides facing each other. 

Sewed down the middle to make a book spine.  Then I sewed the top and bottom seams. 

The cardboard was inserted and I added two loops to make carrying handles tucked them inside the seam.  Then sewed up the side seams, cut off all the threads, and it's now finished.

It didn't take much time - and cost about 20p!

To make a quiet book to celebrate the Christmas season, here's one site which is very helpful:

http://quietbook.blogspot.co.uk/

Add caption

I love the fun element of looking underneath to see his drawers!

There are lots of ideas to make a super book.  Perhaps there could be pages which are just fun to look at with lots of detail to talk about with a toddler, like this idea:




The page above could involve counting, such as:

1. Christmas tree
2. Rugs/cats into front of the fire
3. Parcels on floor
4. Stockings hanging up
5. Baubles on the tree

Another idea for counting could be like this as it's always nice to have a bit of fun as the reindeer slides up and down:


from: http://thesensiblehome.wordpress.com/2013/12/16/christmas-quiet-book-look-through/


http://www.pinterest.com/quietbookclub/christmas/

Christmas busy books can involve lots of subjects, things to do with Christmas itself and also to do with the winter season, such as:

*  The Nativity could show the manger, baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Shepherds, Wise Men, Star, animals - and angels of course.

*  The Christmas season, with parcels, stars, Christmas tree, decorations such as baubles and garlands;  stockings, Christmas puddings, roof tops, Father Christmas, sleigh, night sky, holly, ivy, mistletoe, glitter and reindeer.

*  Winter: bare trees, snow, penguins, robins, coats, mittens, boots, hats, snowballs and snowman.


and a few more ideas: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=christmas+quiet+book&es_sm=122&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=4h4fVPTjH4KsO7PggPgM&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=719

Saturday, 6 September 2014:
At last I'm going to start making a quiet book for granddaughter Alba.  As it's a first attempt I thought that it would be a good idea to think small and make a two-page book with carry handle.


A friend suggested that a good first try would perhaps be a face for Alba to stick on the hair, eyes, nose, ears and mouth.  Then perhaps add mustache, specs, hat, earrings and so on.

I rather like Mrs Potato's sandale

Here's a link to excellent sites to make a Mr Potato head: 
http://jocelynandjason.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/quiet-book-template.html
http://lbrady0001.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/quiet-book-patterns.html
http://jocelynandjason.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/mr-potato-head-quiet-book-pages-10-11.html

and here are some templates: https://www.dropbox.com/s/uxmhuvpp8upqjqy/Free%20Quiet%20Book%20Template.pdf
and ideas:
http://hereinthewaitingplace.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/felt-doll-for-boys-mr-potato-head.html




Or perhaps just an ordinary face may be better, see: http://theprojectcorner.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/girls-quiet-book-recap.html

Mrs Potato's specs are fun - it looks as though she thinks so too!

This site is good, giving ideas for king, soldier, pirate and others: http://allthequietthings.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/quiet-book-boys.html


I like the teeth on this one! ha ha: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/130393351684114365/







Here are some ideas for eyes, noses etc: http://www.continuallycreative.com/2013/07/quiet-book-children/

Some ideas for people

Hopefully I'll post on here as I progress with making this first quiet book - or if I forget in the enthusiasm of making it - I'll put a few photos on here when finished.

If this is a success it would be great to try something a little more ambitious, perhaps animals as she loves monkeys, owls, cats and  rabbits.

Sunday 7th:  Here are a couple of photos of what I've cut out so far.  Some of the items may have a little stitching on them.  One side of the quiet book will have the potato man/woman and the other side needs to have some sort of container to put in all the facial features and extra items.

 I've tried to make the colours as varied and bright as possible, so perhaps the background to Mr/Mrs Potato may be duller as a contrast.

Mr Potato man looks rather severe so perhaps a smiley mouth is needed. 

Those thing son the left which look like bras as actually spectacles which have yet to be finished - but perhaps Mrs Potato may like to have a bikini for next summer.

Here's another fun site: http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=potato%20heads


Incidentally, here is some beautiful golden rod which I just picked in the garden.