"My ABC Book"

Well, I have finally finished this quiet book for my son! Let me explain a little... My mom got me my first sewing machine almost a year ago, for my 30th birthday. I was thrilled! I was so excited to start making things for my son! I went to the fabric store and bought a whole bunch of supplies, then started to make a "quiet book". I had no clue what I was doing! Not only had I never used a sewing machine before, but I had never designed my own book either! So, I really had to think about what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to incorporate some tactile/fine motor learning things for my son, such as a button, buckle, shoelaces, zipper, etc. But, I didn't know how I was going to do it... I could have just done it the "easy way" and bought a pattern or template, or the "super easy way" and buy an already made quiet book. But, that wouldn't be as meaningful. I want my son to be able to look back when he's older and say, "Look, my Mama made this!", maybe with a hint of pride in his voice. I know, wishful thinking... Anyways, between my indecisiveness and just plain "busy"-ness, the book project kept getting pushed back, all the fabric just sitting there waiting to be made into something unique... The ideas were sitting in my head, I just needed to start it and design it. Finally I said to myself, "I am going to work on this book NOW!!!" So, I sat and started cutting, playing with ideas, and I came up with my idea of an "easy" way to finish this book.... Ding, ding, ding! "I'll just do the alphabet!" This way I could just do small little pictures and maybe an occasional button or zipper. From the time I actually got serious about starting it and the time I finished it (yesterday), the book project took me about 3 months... It is pretty impossible to just sit there sewing non-stop... I did take an occasional break. So, here it is, finally completed... almost a year after the original idea popped in my head. Now, don't be too critical... Remember I just learned how to sew (and I taught myself), so I am the equivalent of a "preschool" sewer right now. I promise it will get better... Nevertheless, I am still proud of my hard work, and I'm glad I have another "keepsake" for my son, even if it is a little shabby. :) Oh, and by the way, I won't even begin to describe how to make this book. I cut all the letters and pictures freehand, and added on as I saw fit. If you want to try to make one like it, all I can say is go for it, and good luck! :)

I made a "mini" book on the front cover, with a little "love" inside...

A: Apple, B: Ball, C: Car, D: Dog, E: Elephant, F: Frog, G: Giraffe, H: Hat...

I: Ice Cream, J: Jacket, K: Kite, L: Lemon, M: Moon, N: Necklace, O: Octopus, P: Pig...

Close-up of button and J: Jacket...

Q: Quilt, R: Rose, S: Shoe, T: Turtle, U: Umbrella, V: Vegetables, W: Whale...

Close-up of S: Shoe...

X: Xylophone, Y: Yarn, Z: Zipper...

Close-up of Z: Zipper...

"My ABC Book"