[Image] © shoutingforha
One of the young fellows that works for my hubby has a deliciously adorable little boy named Harvey. The Harvster turned one on Thursday and his parents are having a party this afternoon to celebrate the momentous occasion.

At the hubby's request, I have been working on a quiet book for the little man. It's a close replica to the one I originally made for my boy's first birthday.
 
[Image] © shoutingforha The book is made almost entirely of felt. In my opinion, it is the perfect material for this type of project. Here's why...

First, felt is incredibly durable and doesn't fray like other fabrics. Second, it is inexpensive and comes in a million different colors. And third, the pre-cut sheets are the perfect size for the pages of the book.
 
[Image] © shoutingforha Hidden inside the pocket is this little note. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

[Image] © shoutingforha I used my sewing machine to secure many of the pieces, like this train, to the pages of the book. I prefer to use matching thread whenever possible. The process is rather tedious, but is well worth the time and effort.

Old buttons were used for the wheels.

[Image] © shoutingforha The belt is from my boy's closet. It no longer fits around his waist, so I cut it to fit this tiny pair of pants.
 
[Image] © shoutingforha While the sides and top of the baseball glove are securely attached to the page, the bottom was left open. It forms a pocket that is just the right size for a tiny hand to slide inside.

When I made my niece's quiet book, I replaced the glove with a brightly-colored mitten.
 
[Image] © shoutingforha The doors on the barn can be opened to reveal cute little animal friends.

[Image] © shoutingforha All of the removable pieces, like these shapes, are made from two pieces of felt that have been sewn together. They attach to the book with velcro.

[Image] © shoutingforha The eyelets for the shoelace were made using grommets. I also placed three grommets down one side of each page. They make assembling the book and turning the pages a snap.

[Image] © shoutingforha Harvey is already being indoctrinated into the St. Louis Cardinals fan club. I decided to make a miniature Albert Pujols so that Harvey can help the MLB star run around the bases after a grand slam.

[Image] © shoutingforha All of the words, with the exception of those on the cover, were written with fabric paint. It is relatively inexpensive and comes in a rainbow of colors.

[Image] © shoutingforha Inside the tent is a picture of the birthday boy (I told you he was adorable). The photo, which rests in a pocket, can be easily swapped out as desired.

Once all the pages were completed, I paired them up and sewed them back-to-back. A coordinating ribbon was used to tie the whole thing together. I placed a few quick stitches into the knot of the bow to ensure that the book doesn't fall apart.

[Image] © shoutingforha

After my boy examined Harvey's completed book, he asked me to retrieve his own quiet book from the top of the closet. It was carefully packed in a box along with some of his most precious keepsakes. He flipped through it's pages, removing and replacing each shape and unzipping the tent to reveal his once chubby cheeks.

I hope that little Harvey will enjoy his new quiet book.

I've had a few people ask for a supply list.  Here goes:
10 white felt sheets
2 lime green felt sheets
3 red felt sheets
2 yellow felt sheets
5 pale blue felt sheets
1 orange felt sheet
1 purple felt sheet
1 turquoise felt sheet
1 bright blue felt sheet
1 bright pink felt sheet
2 dark green felt sheets
1 black felt sheet
1 gray felt sheet
2 dark blue felt sheets
2 brown felt sheets
1 cream felt sheet
misc. scraps of animal print fabric
thread in matching colors, although you can sew everything in white thread
4 1/2 ft. of ribbon in a complimentary color
1 pkg. soft velcro
1 shoelace
3 sets of snaps
1 short zipper
11 buttons
24 large grommets
10 small grommets
1 belt 
1 photo for inside the tent
fabric paint in a variety of colors  To check out a Quiet Book I made for a little girl, click here.

*** Feel free to use my design to make a quiet book for someone that you love. That said, I request that you refrain from using my design to create products for sale. Thanks!