Showing posts with label interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label interview. Show all posts

Thursday 24 February 2022

Mischa's Felt Book - Interview with my 5 year old niece!

Today I would like to interview someone special - my five year old niece Mischa, who decided she wanted to make her own felt book. I sent my sister, Mischa's Mum, some questions for her to ask Mischa from me. She has clarified my questions in places below and sometimes I have included these remarks. I have tried not to do too much editing whilst making it flow well for reading purposes.




Carissa D: Mischa, you have made my heart swell with your desire to make a felt book, and it has turned out incredibly sweet. Why did you want to make a felt book?

Mischa: I thought it would be nice to have a look at it myself, at the pictures of it.

Carissa D: Can you tell me about the cover page?

Mischa: The front cover? Oh, a rainbow! 

Mischa's Mum: Does it have any writing on it?

Mischa: "Mischa's Felt Book".

My sister informs me that Mischa kept saying "Mischa's Felt Book - no writing" when they were titling the book. She thought that is what Mischa wanted to call the book, but thought better of it and left that part out, checking that she was happy with the end result. 

Mischa's Mum: Yeah, "Mischa's Felt Book - No Writing" (quoting Mischa from the labelling experience).

Mischa: It doesn't say no writing.

Mischa's Mum: No, but is that what you wanted it to say?

Mischa: No.

We'll come back to this topic later in the interview...




Carissa D: I see there are no bees on the bee page. Why is that? 

Mischa: 'Cause I didn't want to make one. 

Mischa's Mum: Too hard, or take too long, or just don't really like bees?

Mischa: Don't really want to make a bee. 

Mischa's Mum: Yeah, were you worried that it might sting you? 

Mischa: No!

I have offered Mischa two bees that Remy's Nanny made when we were making Remy's Quiet Book - My First One (but then decided against using them and opted for a bee button instead) to put in her felt book. She loves them, and who wouldn't!




Carissa D: The flowers are all beautiful. What do you like best about your book?

Mischa: Maybe the owl - it's cute. It looks cute when it's winking.

Carissa D: Which parts did you sew yourself?

Mischa: The stars. 

Mischa's Mum: Oh yeah, you did, didn't you. How was that?

Mischa: Fun. 

My sister says that the stars are a special stitch setting on her sewing machine. She says Mischa also hand sewed the buttons on and that she cut out half of the owl, but that the flowers were already cut. Mischa did some of all the sewing (except the rainbow), either guiding with her hands or pushing the foot (not both at the same time).

Carissa D: The other pages were inspired by things you found in Mummy's stash, but the owl was made from scratch. Why did you want to make an owl page?

Mischa: Cause I thought it would look  nice. 

Mischa's Mum: Yeah, what do you like about owls?

Mischa: 'Cause they look cute.

Carissa D: I really like how you paid attention to detail on the owl's eye and chose a sun patterned felt to get the effect of a real eye. What gave you that idea? 

Mischa: Well, I didn't really get the idea of it, I just found it. It would be the right thing for the felt book, for the eye for the owl. 




Carissa D: Why did you want the owl to be winking?

Mischa:  'Cause I thought it would look cute.

Carissa D: I have also noticed that there are no activities in this book. Is that for a reason?

Mischa: No.

Mischa's Mum: No, no reason?

Mischa: It's just I don't really want much writing in it cause I don't really know how to read.

Mischa's Mum: Oh, I understand, she doesn't want much writing in it cause she doesn't know how to read! That makes sense. Um, and what about things to do, like you didn't want the bee lacing thing or anything?

Mischa: Yeah, I didn't want the bee lacing. No.

Mischa's Mum: Why didn't you want anything to do in it?

Mischa: 'Cause I can't read it, what to say.

Mischa's Mum: Yeah okay, so you think activities have to involve writing?

Mischa: No, I just don't really want... (Here they get interrupted and we will all have to wonder what the answer to this question might have been)




Carissa D: Which ways are you thinking about using to bind your felt book and do you have plans for any more pages?

Mischa: No.

Mischa's Mum: Nup, it's finished is it?

Mischa: Yep.

Mischa's Mum: And how did you want to join it together? (This was before we joined it). Do you like the way we joined it, or would you think another way might be better?

Mischa: I thought another way might be better.

Mischa's Mum: Oh, what way did you think to join it would be good?

Mischa: Well, like we don't have the right wire around through the button holes.

Mischa's Mum: Put wire around through the holes? Oh yeah, do you like the rings on the other ones, or just wire?

The "other ones" are the two books made for her sister Vashti and herself by my sister and I (and some friends in some cases). You can see some of the pages at Vashti's Quiet Book - Front Cover and Crown PagesVashti's Quiet Book - My Sister's Pages, (I haven't posted anything on Mischa's one yet) and an example of how I bound them in my post How To Ring Bind Felt Quiet Books - Free A4 Buttonhole Guide.




Mischa: I just like the rings on the other ones. 

Mischa's Mum: So you did want it to have rings on it?

Mischa: Yeah, but it's too late now, isn't it.

Mischa's Mum: Oh no, you could still put rings in them. Instead of the - just take the ribbon out and put rings in, couldn't you? 

Mischa: Yeah, but it doesn't really matter. 

But of course I have given her some rings so she can change it over.

Carissa D: Thanks so much for sharing your adorable felt book with us Mischa. I look forward to seeing your next creation.

My sister tells me Mischa has said that next she would like to make a dressing gown for toys - an actual one, not a felt page.




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Do you know a little friend who has decided to make their own quiet book? Ain't they the sweetest!

Thursday 29 July 2021

Interview with Michelle Dawson - Using a Cutting Machine to Help Make Quiet Books

Today I would like to introduce you to Michelle Dawson and find out how she uses her cutting machine to help make quiet books. I know a lot of people own or are thinking about buying a cutting machine for quiet book making so I thought you might like to read about how useful it may or may not be before you make a big investment.




Carissa D: Which type of cutting machine do you own and would you buy it again?


Michelle: I have a Brother Scan'n'Cut, a CM 300. I have had it around 4 1/2 years now. I do a lot of paper crafting and I initially wanted the machine for this reason. I am really not techy at all, and I actually find the machine very easy to use; on occasion I find the Brother Canvas programme a bit frustrating - this is an online programme where you can design your projects and edit them before moving them to the machine (my machine doesn't have WiFi, I have to use a USB to transfer the project, but I don't find that an issue), although I think that's more a lack of regular practice. I love that I can easily access free files on the internet and download them, pretty much anything I can think of is available. My machine happily cuts a huge range of materials, from thin papers to vinyl to felt to construction board and I'm yet to find something I want to cut which I can't.

Carissa D: I am not a big fan of cutting machines, but I know you really liked using it to make your quiet book. What are the advantages in your opinion?


Michelle: I have mainly used my machine to cut a paper template and then pinned this onto my felt and cut that, but that's personal preference. I like that it is really really easy to resize the image and/or to add an offset line for a seam allowance. I find that I am able to mock up pages in paper and try them in different layouts before I commit to felt which is much more expensive, and this has meant that I know if I'm pleased with the overall effect first. As I said before, the internet has myriad free SVG cutting files which means that I can create pages with just about anything I want, or which fits with my mini man's interests. I find that using my Scan'n'Cut to cut my templates has saved me a lot of time, something really important to me.





Carissa D: Do you have your cutting machine permanently set up somewhere, or do you store it away and get it out each time you use it?


Michelle: My cutting machine is permanently set up. I have a desk in the spare room and I keep my Scan'n'Cut on it. I find that the actual footprint doesn't take much space or get in the way, it's about 10 inches deep and I have it turned so that it's the depth of the desk, so only takes that 10 inches ish of space

Carissa D: Did you notice any disadvantages or things people considering using one should be aware of?


Michelle: In order to cut fabric on my machine, I have to stick it to a mat (as far as I'm aware this would be true of any cutting machine). I found it frustrating that the felt looked a bit 'fluffy' after this, although only on the rear, and mainly that the mat very quickly became furred up, and therefore not sticky, but by using a paper template I addressed this issue.
If you're good with scissors you can probably print and cut a very good shape without the cost of the machine which I admit is considerable, but as the new mother of a baby and now toddler (and another little addition on the way) time is very much of the essence and being able to set the machine going as I get out of the shower or similar is really valuable to me.




Carissa D: How many quiet book pages have you made using your cutting machine and which is your favourite?


Michelle: I have used my Scan'n'Cut to create at least an element of every page I have made so far, from cutting templates for basic shapes (circles, squares, triangles...), to cutting a crocodile and balloons.
My favourite page is a large ladybird who has black spots which attach using press studs, I like the textures and the simplicity of the image. The page was probably 2-3 hours work because I hand sew, and having a ready cut paper template saved me a lot of cutting time.

Carissa D: Which is your favourite Faith and Felt Obsession post and why?


Michelle: Your quiet book making tips are absolutely invaluable. It's so helpful having so many hints and tips in one easy to find location, and things which are tried and tested.

Last year I joined in the sew along [Quiet Book Sew Along Facebook Group - Events Tab] and I loved the motivation and the ideas, even though by the end of the year I did lose my oomph with it. Your page suggestions were fun, a good range of simple and detailed and also covered a lot of activities and skills.




Carissa D: Thank you so much for sharing with us Michelle! I love that you were able to find a way to speed up the process of making quiet books. Anything that will keep us motivated to create is great. For those of us who do not own a cutting machine and are wondering how to re-size their images you can read some other suggestions on my How to re-size printable quiet book templates to fit your page size post. Your pages are pretty cute and I'm sure your mini-man loves playing with them. Well done!





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Do you use a cutting machine to help make your quiet books? How do you use yours? Comment below!

Thursday 11 February 2021

Shabbat Quiet Book - Interview with Valerie Rose


Today I would like to introduce you to Valerie Rose and her Shabbat Quiet Book. I believe learning through play is the best way to learn and this adorable book is a great way to learn about Sabbath.




Carissa D:  Welcome Valerie! Please explain a little about yourself and your quiet book adventures.

Valerie: Hi Carissa,

I am a Wife, mother of 2 adult children and now a grandmother as well as a Midwife 4 days a week!!

I have been sewing and stitching since I was a small child but now I have the delight of sewing and creating for my granddaughter Ella who will be 2 in March. She brings me such joy and my love for her grows each day I see her. She loves playing with a box of felt and ribbon offcuts and various empty cotton spools I have saved for her. She loves the different textures so fingers crossed she has my passion for fabric crafts and sewing.




I am privileged to look after Ella every Monday while my daughter works. I have made her several quiet books already which she loves. They are full of texture and zips and removeable pieces. Most of them have a small animal outline hiding in the pages in a subtle colour for her to find and prolong the enjoyment of the book. For example, her beach book has seahorses and her Farm book has rabbits. Some pages also have crinkle plastic inside and even animal toy squeakers. It has been a great way to use my cherished scraps of fabric.

In this Shabbat Book I have sewn 10 cat faces throughout the book for her to find.

I try to personalise each book for her but hopeful one day there will be other little people to enjoy them as well.




Carissa D: I am a Sabbath keeper, so perhaps that is why I love your book so much. To me, Sabbath is special because God commands me to rest. I have a very valid guilt-free excuse not to study/work/clean the house that day! Where did the idea come from to create your Shabbat Quiet Book?

Valerie:   I come from a Jewish Family and growing up we always had Shabbat every Friday Night. It wasn’t a strictly religious night but I remember my father would bring home a block of chocolate for us to share while we played card games as a family after dinner.


Valerie's daughter on Shabbat - way back when!


My daughter married a lovely guy who is not Jewish and I am very careful not to push my beliefs on him and my Granddaughter Ella. Because Ella’s mother is Jewish Ella is as well by her birth right!

When my son and daughter were little we did not celebrate Christmas, instead we celebrated the 8 nights of Chanukah. I made them a large very simple Felt Menorah wall hanging with removable candle flames. To this day my daughter still tells me how much she loved it and looked forward to Chanukah every year.

In December my daughter asked us to come to her home for Chanukah and Shabbat for the first time! She has decided Ella is old enough now to have some Jewish input in her life. I was delighted of course and excited. I instantly knew I wanted to make her a special Shabbat Book, and so I did!




Carissa D:  My favourite part of your book has to be your Kiddush Cups. You achieved such a good effect with the fabric choice and embroidery. What is your favourite section?

Valerie: I actually love the whole book! I was delighted how it turned out! My favourite page would be the inside cover of special Shabbat Fabric. This fabric has sat in my stash for over 25 years just waiting for the perfect project. And this was it!


Shabbat fabric Valerie had been stashing


Carissa D:  I love it when you find the perfect use for that thing you have been saving. That is what happened with my Psalm 46 - Be Still and Know that I Am God Tea Set Quiet Book Page. The herb fabric made great tea bags!


The herb frabric I had been stashing - made into tea bags


Carissa D:  How did you create this book? Did you make your own templates? 

Valerie:  The book is mostly created using machine embroidery files I have brought. See the list below for crediting:

The words I made on my Embroidery Machine. 

I stitched the designs for the pages on a Black Cotton fabric as I really like the contrast.

The removable appliques were stitched on felt then backed with felt to hide the messy side. For the flowers I added a small ribbon for a leaf.

The Wine Goblet, Challah and Challah Cloth have a cat face hiding underneath.




Carissa D:  I would like to take a moment to thank you for your generosity in sharing the embroidery files you made for the words of this book - here attached in .jef format for Janome machines:





Carissa D:  How long do you estimate that you spent on this whole quiet book from concept to completion? 

Valerie:  The book probably took me 2 days to make. There was quite a bit of hand sewing involved in finishing the removeable pieces.

Carissa D: Wow! That sounds amazingly quick to me! Is that normal for a book made using an embroidery machine?

Valerie:  Some take longer but this one just worked out really easily. Her other books have more details like zips and ribbons and buttons.




Carissa D:  When will your Havdallah quiet book be coming out?!! Do you have plans to make a Biblical Festivals quiet book?!!

Valerie:  Haha! No plans for a Havdallah book yet but I am planning one for Passover and then one for Chanukah later this year. But first I want to make another Shabbat Book to keep at my house!

Carissa D:  I am waiting with baited breath!




Carissa D:  Which is your favourite Faith and Felt Obsession post and why?

Valerie: My favourite post has to be the Car Travel Dice!

This has inspired me to make a travel snakes and ladders or similar for holidays and picnics as well as to help Ella with counting.

Carissa D:  That sounds like an awesome idea! I would 💖 to see it when it is finished.


Tahlia with her Car Travel Dice


Carissa D: How old is your Granddaughter and how does she enjoy finding the 10 hidden cats in this busy book? Do you find that they distract her from the message of the book, or do they ensure the book is loved beyond measure? 

Valerie:  Ella was just over 19 months when I gave her this book. On the Candle page she immediately took the two flames and put them on the candles on the next page! She was very quick to detach all the pieces. With the wine and the bread she was also able to feed her “baby”. As most of her Fabric books I have made her have hidden animal outlines she loves to look for them. I believe she loves it even more as it is personalised just for her. She always “reads” the book first then goes back to find the cats. 

Carissa D:  What a sweetie!




Carissa D: Lastly, How did you bind the book and are you happy with the method?

Valerie:  First I decide how many pages I will have, always an even number, plus front and back cover.

Then I cut a small oblong from scrap interfacing to represent 2 pages.




Then I pin them together to make a book.

On each page I would then write what will be on it.




Once done I can unpin the book and see the true page stitch map.




Once stitched etc iron on interfacing is applied and the 2 pages are sewn together right side fabric facing inside then trimmed and turned right way out and the small gap is hand sewed or if I am lazy a top stitch all around the double page. 

Finally the pages are stacked on top of each other in the correct order and several lines are stitched down the centre to form the book. 

This way works best for me at the moment. This book has 3 double pages which gives me 12 single pages to decorate and works very well but there would be room for more! 


Carissa D:  Thank you so much for sharing with us Valerie. Once again, your Shabbat quiet book is lovely and I hope it will be an inspiration to many as it has been to me. Terrific job!




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Do you use an embroidery machine to help make your quiet books? Has this book inspired you to make your own creation? Comment below!

Friday 16 November 2018

The Best Things About Quiet Books

I asked the creators - here are the reasons why quiet books are experiencing revival...







"What I like best about my story quiet books is that you can tell stories, make up stories together and play (in whatever language you are most comfortable)."

Teenytinymom - How to Make Quiet Books






"What I love most about my quiet books is that quite literally sky is the limit with respect to what you can create! Anything can be done 😊"

Busywings on Facebook
Busywings on YouTube





"I love quiet books, because they can be used by children of all ages and by people with Alzheimers to give both mind and body stimulation."

In the Hoop with Lee on Facebook





"Busy books are the best screen free travel toy, glad they are making a comeback."

Winter and Willow Felts on Facebook
Winter and Willow Felts on Etsy





"What I like about the quiet books is that they help children to develop their fine motor skills and imagination... and of course to keep the kids away from gadgets for some time ..."

My Craft / Quiet books on YouTube
My Craft / Quiet books on Facebook





The best things about quiet books are "Colorful pages with lively activities helping little fingers to weave; button; zip; buckle; lace and learn too!! And yes all these with loads & loads of fun 😊😊
Crafters love to get back to childhood get into little one’s shoes to see their world !!"

Creative Puppetz on Facebook
#creativepuppetz on Instagram
Creative Puppetz on YouTube






"Books are great for children’s development and learning, perfect toy for home and places when child has to be quiet, like in an airplane, traveling by car, at the doctor’s office."

Sviatlana Balybina on YouTube





"Hi! The thing I love 'bout quiet books is that it's so interactive that it creates a natural interest in little ones towards getting started with books"

Nest Crafted on Facebook
Nest Crafted on YouTube




"I’m in love with quiet books about 3 years already. I like to create pages, making patterns, sewing. It is perfect developing toy which helps kid to know new things. And the main reason I love them, fabric book is not electronic device and can not be connected to internet. For now it is very important for kids to be busy without involvement web information."

Felt Cookie on Facebook





"Really, I think I love all material, activity, play and learn...my son loves books made by Mum ...and it is an evolving toy, I make new books as he develops 😉"

Feutrine et Activités pour les petits on Facebook





"I love that quiet books enable learning through play - the best way to learn anything!"

Carissa D on YouTube

Monday 7 May 2018

An Interview With Brenda Dent - Devotions Through Play Quiet Book

Today I would like to introduce you to Brenda Dent and her Devotions Through Play quiet books. I saw how she was able to include a printed Bible verse in her books and just HAD to invite her to share her method with you though an Interview on Faith and Felt Obsession. Brenda operates the Creative Seamstress Shop in Tacoma, WA.


Devotions Through Play Quiet Book Video





Carissa D: How did you get interested in making quiet books?

Brenda: Got interested in Quiet Book sewing because they are colorful and entertaining even for me. Is a great distraction from nursing and I am in midst of retiring in 2-3 years. Thinking about starting a sewing business. Just something to do when retire from, as of now, 48 years of nursing. Love being imaginative and sewing since age 11. Altering my own clothes was essential due to then, my large size. And then had a little sister who laid on floor (sucking her fingers) asking me to make her a dress. I instead made her pajamas. Her pajamas were made by laying fabric on the floor, spreading arms out, like an angel, cutting around her. Then sewing the seams, elastic around neck and wrists, and hem. Well, she loved them, and made these requests every time I opened the sewing machine. My mom noted the talent and began buying patterns, sewing by their instructions and making dresses for rest of sisters and me. I did take a class in Home Economics, but did not ace the class because I had already developed techniques that were not favorable to my teacher.


Carissa D: I love your story about how you learned to sew by making things for your little sister :) does she sew too?

Brenda: Haha. No my sister does not sew.


Carissa D: What inspired this particular quiet book?

Brenda: I became inspired to sew a "Lutheran Quiet Book" because noted little resources for "Lutheran " version of a quiet book. I began making them for new babies in my church after baptism. I also sold them at a local store who sold local home made items. I then changed the name to "Devotions Through Play". They sold like 'hot cakes'.




Carissa D: Where did you get your ideas and did you use any templates?

Brenda: Ideas originally came from templates but refashioned them to the Lutheran teachings. Being a Sunday School teacher, in my high school and college years, promoted the idea of attaching God's word while a child plays.

I think that is why this quiet book stands out because it is learning His Word through play; Reading bible references/stories, hymns, and excerpts from the Lutheran Catechism. Promotes parent and child to spend time together, inspire child to learn, and remind parent of The Word of God.


Carissa D: I am totally loving the method you came up with for adding the written Bible verses to your pages. Could you please explain to everyone how to do this?

Brenda: I transfer bible verses to 'Light' Fabric transfers by AVERY. Just follow directions. Then I Iron the transfer on to a light cloth,I use muslin, then sew on to the page.


Carissa D: What encouragement can you give to anyone wanting to make a quiet book for someone special in their lives?

Brenda: This activity book is great for any ladies church group, where each person can sew a pattern or activity and one other can design a cover. Less work and time. Then all bring pages and place in the cover and present to a new parents of a child who has been baptized. This book is geared for 18 months to 3 years, so you have plenty of time for production. These pages do not necessarily require sewing, activity page can be done with painting and pasting. There are plenty of templates out there for free for references.




Carissa D: Feel free to give your business a plug!

Brenda: Please visit astitchintimecreations.biz. My business is thriving called Creative Seamstress Shop. I mend, sew, tailor, and create custom requests; jean bags out of a father's old jeans for a couple of sisters after his death, activity blankets/aprons for people with Alzheimer's, and make angel gowns for infant deaths to support families during grieving. These gowns/cocoons are donated to hospitals or given to those who request them.





Thank you so much for sharing with us Brenda! I love that you were able to find an easy way to include writing in your quiet books. It is often quite a difficult thing to do without an embroidery machine, which many of us do not own. But you have solved the problem. Well done!



Here is one of Brenda's activity aprons for Alzheimer patients. They are much like a quiet book or a fidget quilt to help exercise the minds of our dear oldies, but aprons are a little more practical as they cannot get lost. Terrific idea.




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If you have any more ideas on how to write neatly in quiet books please share in the comments!