Christmas Obsession 2008

I finally finished the Cate’s Quiet Book on Christmas Eve. I would have done so sooner but a) I didn’t have a pattern, just made it up as I went along and b) I didn’t actually start putting it together until 2 weeks ago. Rule #1 of Quiet Book making: plan on it being very labor intensive, sort of comparable to having a baby. Seriously.

I am happy with how it turned out as I wanted it to be personalized just for Cate. I plan on making one for each of my grandchillun’s but I will start much earlier next time. When I was little my Grandma Clifford gave me one of these she purchased from a Relief Society Bazaar. I remember it to this day. This partly explains my obsession with making one.

Anyway, something that time consuming and obsession producing deserves to be documented. Here’s the cover. As Cate’s nickname is Cater bug, it’s fitting.


Can’t start too early with the colors, eh?


I actually saw this face idea on another ladies blog and liked it. The face is actually a pocket that contains all the face parts. Itsy Bitsy Spider is Cate’s favorite fingerplay right now. The Spider climbs up the spout and the rain and sun detach with Velcro.


My kids call this the creepy hair page. I bought this fake hair from All a dollar, it was on a headband as a costumey thing. I cut it up and put it to good use. The comb is attached at the top with a piece of elastic. The frog I love. Zip open his mouth to find 3 plastic finger puppets: a ladybug, a fly, and a grasshopper.


Turns out this purse is her favorite, It’s the boa thing, she loves fingering it. It also has a mirror inside. The Teddy Bear’s Picnic is my fav page. The red checked tablecloth is actually a pocket for all the picnic stuff.


Some hearts to unbutton. The door and window open to reveal a stick figure family. Who doesn’t love fishing with magnets? Each fish has a little magnet sewn inside it’s body. The pole is just a stick with a magnet attached.


Classic peek a boo. And what would a Quiet Book be without shape matching?


Peek a boo uncovered.


Some Circus finger puppets: a lion, an elephant, and a tiger. And an A.S.S. family tree. Our little mugs velcroed on. So she won’t forget who her fam is.


Another favorite page, kind of like the very hungry Caterpillar book by Eric Carle. And Mail a letter.


The letter I made out of an old plastic lid. I cut it up and attached a label. I love mail.


I told you this quiet book was tailor made, right? One can’t begin too young to become keyboard familiar. The note slides over the keyboard for some name the note practice. Also the whole keyboard is a pocket for other notes. The dog is special as the collar is made from an old watchband of mine.


I love this page. Inside the zipper pouch are some clothes.


Like these. And tying shoes is an important almost lost skill. Most shoes today have Velcro straps.


I think this page turned out sweet. The night nite bear snaps onto the moon and goes into his crib. See his little blankie on the next page?


That’s it, people. It’s safe to say, ‘long walk part of gift’ on this one. I loved making this.