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Remember the unfinished baby book I christened The Thing of Beauty? If not, you can take a look at the already existing parts here.

In any case, it has a destiny now. My dear friend and ex-colleague Ilonka called today to tell me that one of her twin daughters is expecting a baby. Said twin daughters were in my class for years, and I'm very happy for the one expecting. So, the Thing of Beauty (TM) is going to Ilonka, as soon as it's finished. Fortunately, I still have about six month to complete it, but - considering that I'm working on two quiet books at the same time - it isn't as much time as it seems to be. I was briefly playing with the thought to start a third quiet book, for Elise's youngest granddaughter, but that will have to wait. At least the baby book is partially done already.

Other than that, we had a visit from the chiropodist lady, I cooked lunch and talked on the phone to my friend Evie. The seal pages of the quiet books are making progress: I've finished the page bases, sewn on the yellows stripes representing the sand in the circus arena and the bunting, as well as the dais (daises?) on which the seals are supposed to sit. Eventually. I've also made the 8 balls (4-4 for each seal), which included making buttonholes - not as painful as sewing Velcro but almost as boring.

(no subject)

Date: 2022-03-25 05:56 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] beauty-forashes.livejournal.com
I've never heard the term "quiet book". Why is a book called that? It seems to indicate it has a special purpose and I'm curious.

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Date: 2022-03-25 06:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wiseheart.livejournal.com
Quiet books — or busy books — are books made of felt or cotton fabric, with lots of removable parts that serve to develop the fine motor skills of children aged between 1 and 6 years. They are called so because the kids are usually quiet when playing with the books. I've made three such books so far and parts of two more, all of which you can view here (https://hu.pinterest.com/ekunster/my-own-felt-work/my-quiet-books/). The one I use as a template for the two I'm currently working on is this, even though mine will be different in some parts.

The little girl of my goddaughter (currently 2.5 years old) as well as the granddaughters of my friend Elise absolutely love to play with their quiet books.

(no subject)

Date: 2022-03-25 06:59 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] beauty-forashes.livejournal.com
What a lovely concept! :)

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Date: 2022-03-25 07:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wiseheart.livejournal.com
Isn't it? I've discovered it a couple of years ago and was instantly smitten.

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Date: 2022-03-25 11:01 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] adafrog.livejournal.com
At least your fingers aren't hurting this time. :)

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Date: 2022-03-26 09:09 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sallymn.livejournal.com
It really is beautiful!

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Date: 2022-03-26 05:01 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wiseheart.livejournal.com
Thanks, I'm doing my best, although in my imagination they're always a lot better than the end result.

(no subject)

Date: 2022-03-26 10:04 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] elwenlj.livejournal.com
I hate buttonholes. I mean I really, really hate buttonholes. If I'm making a garment I will do anything to avoid buttonholes. I've tried hand stitching, machine stitching, facing and binding buttonholes. They all looked dreadful when finished. You have my utmost admiration.

(no subject)

Date: 2022-03-26 05:02 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wiseheart.livejournal.com
Actually, these are rather primitive ones: just vertical slits in round pieces of felt, which I stitch around with really small running stitch. Felt is very useful in that it won't franse out (is that the English expression?) so I don't have to do much, just make sure that the slits won't tear on both ends.

(no subject)

Date: 2022-03-27 12:11 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] elwenlj.livejournal.com
'franse out' is not a phrase I've heard here. We would say, 'fray'.

(no subject)

Date: 2022-03-27 04:05 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wiseheart.livejournal.com
Oh, thanks. It seems I got distracted by German again.

(no subject)

Date: 2022-03-28 09:03 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] elwenlj.livejournal.com
I quite like the term, "fanse out". My German is limited to advising people that I 'Don't speak German'.

(no subject)

Date: 2022-03-27 03:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] noadvertising.livejournal.com
Considering how much time it takes to do a quiet book, you will be very busy for the next weeks!

(no subject)

Date: 2022-03-27 04:05 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wiseheart.livejournal.com
Extremely busy! But it gives me the feeling that I'm not wasting my life completely, so it's good.

(no subject)

Date: 2022-04-02 02:01 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mirasaui.livejournal.com
I was born premature and my nurse in the premature nursery made me a personalized felt Christmas stocking. I still have it after all these years, put it out every Christmas. Those baby books will no doubt be cherished by their owners even after they are grown. Such a great idea.
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