Your blog always makes me want to dust off the old sewing machine and get to work. I got the dress pattern already and I have boys! Where do you get the crinkly paper? I would love to make these for my little guy.

What a rockin' mama you are! Yeah for people who make stuff!

OK - all I want to know is who gave you extra hours in the day to get all of that accomplished? All I get are bills.
LOL.

I have been caught up in some sewing, too! I've been making a project from craftster.org--you use a supermarket plastic bag as a pattern for a lined bag. They are very cute, and really useful. I've not sewn anything in years and years, but it really is a nice break from the slow process that is knitting. Your daughter really seems to be reading--a great sign of things to come! She's really lovely.

A winnie the pooh soft book?!! I think I see Joann's in my future...

I LOVE that T-Shirt! My little girl just loves books as well--its nutty how much bookshelf space is devoted to her tiny little books!

OMG! I never knew there were patterns for soft books. I *love* the winnie the pooh one and think I'm going to have to make that for my little guy. How cool! THanks for the inspiration!

I LOVED preprinted panels when my kids were kids (now 23 and 28). I made books, halloween costumes, easter baskets, mini car mats, dolls (complete with blankets and clothing). Have a blast with these!

The Colors book is beyond terrific (and wee one is a perfect saleslady). Should you ever be tempted to make another one or two, I strongly suspect there would be a market for them (hint, hint!). And it's fun for you -- can't ask for more.

I *loved* books as a baby (and ever since too)! Apparently I was acting up one day, and mom threatened to take the books out of my crib. That shut me up. ;)

I see so many fun baby shower gifts in my future!

Most likely I won't be making anything today - between taking care of a busy 5 year old and an 8 week old... it seems like I have no time to get anything done. How do you find the time???

Wow! I never knew you could sew your own books. What a wonderful idea.

p.s. I too love Wee One's little t-shirt. I'd love a link if you know where I could get my hands on one...

Other than a sock the only thing I am making today is a concentrated effort not to go crazy and throw a full-out two-year-old tantrum. It's been a busy week heading into a busy weekend and I need a nap!!

Those are too cute! Any tips for finding crinkly paper?

Look at that sweet face. You gotta love it!

I can't believe that I did all that stuff too! Whew. I froze tons of baby food in ice-cube trays so that I had one-ounce servings ready to go all the time. So much cheaper and better for baby. And the books? I never put in the crinkly paper though... darnit. That's one luck wee one.

I want to make hundreds of woodins with crinkly paper and squeakers and bells and rattles in them.

Oh I like the crinkly paper idea. My mother made cloth books for us with just regular batting. No crinkle! But maybe it was because those were our "keep the kids quiet at church books."

Wow!!! I'm so impressed with all you've done already. I've read the paper and had a cup of tea.

I probably won't get to make anything today, but I'll get to make scones tomorrow (cheddar = yum!) and work on my sweater (and my computer program).

I agree, you can never have too many books! And I love that the Colors book is trilingual!

What a great idea!!! Your little boy loves them too!

Wow! I never knew about the panels for the baby books - what a great idea! I'll have to check out Hobby Lobby tonight to see if they have them. Baby M would love them - she loves books but, like brother E, she also loves to rip paper. The cloth books are so much nicer than board books (although I have bought her some of those). I can see my new sewing machine is going to get quite a workout!

Oh, that is sew cool! (Sorry, I couldn't resist.) My mom used to sew stuff for me when I was little, like the Raggedy Ann and Andy with complete wardrobes that she made for my second birthday--and yes, I remember it perfectly. I loved that she made me stuff, even at that tender age, because it made me feel important. I'm the youngest of five kids, so opportunities to feel important, especially to my busy student/working/volunteering mom were few and far between. Let your baby see you making stuff, even if you think there's no way a baby can understand. We always underestimate what they know.

So cool! I must get on with my sewing. Thanks for the inspiration again!

Those fabric books are a great idea, especially with the crinkly paper. I have to get out my sewing machine, you are very inspiring.

Wow that was a lot. Besides etsy purchases I will be working on Juliet from Zephyr Style and starting a shirt from Sew U. My daughter has some crafty plans for me too. She gave me her sweetest smile and asked "Could we do something fun?" This means trouble and a lot of work for me.

Oh, that fabric book is so cute! I want to go rush out and get the Winnie-the-Pooh one, even though I don't know of any babies to make one for! But it's just so cool that I feel like I should have it.

Also, I absolutely adore wee one's shirt!

That fabric book is so cute! I just might have to break out the sewing machine and make my "grand-daughter to be" one or two of those. (That's pretty damn cute because I HATE to sew!)

Wee One is just the most adorable baby! She's so cute I almost want another one! I also love the t-shirt, and would like a link - I have two new nephews that could use a shirt like that. I'm very glad that the Pooh-bear book is "Classic Pooh". Call me a snob, but I think the Shepherd drawings are just nicer, don't you?

I'm with you about Pooh, Kate. They do sell some cloth book kits with new Disney characters (like "new" Pooh, Dora, Lightning McQueen) and they just aren't as nice. The colors are brighter and more fun but the story and the whole feel of the books just isn't the same.

I made a bunch of these for my kids when they were little. I didn't know they even still made the fabric (19 years is a long time). They were the awesomest books ever, especially the machine washable bit!

Do you have one of those little baby food mills? I used to love that thing - you could take your baby out to a restaurant and just grind up part of your own dinner. Or grind up home-cooked food right at your own dinner table. After seeing your cloth books, I think there's a trip to Jo-Anne in our immediate future; we have a 1 year old's birthday coming up and that would be the cutest thing (this after we just spent the whole day in Kittery at Hannah, Baby Gap, Carter AND Oshgosh......)

You win best Mommy today! What cool stuff!

Count me in.

That is such a wonderful book and so colourful. L looks like

she's so into it. That's a great way to introduce her to reading. I

think you have an avid reader in the making. My son reads two

grade levels above and he had the look about him at that age.

That t-shirt is the best. It matches the green page.

That Read to me onesie is GREAT!

Hooray for books! May I introduce you to the idea of the Book Toad? The Book Toad is sort of like the Easter bunny, but he comes randomly 2-3 times a year, and he leaves a book for each member of the family. He's good friends with the Pez bird (who leaves Pez, not books.) TBT was an invention of my dad's, and it certainly made reading exciting. The toad even has a website: www.thebooktoad.com

Happy Reading!

How cute - are you making the book from Knitty for her too?

Well the books look and sound great, and guess what she will never grow out of them. She looks like she is growing up so quickly too.

alison, you are amazing. wee one is beyond beautiful! you inspire me, really and truly.

oh my god. I have to do something that. that is so kewl. look how happy wee one is. the only thing about the crinkle paper, Id on't thnk it will do too well if you put it in the washer...but seriously, I'm going to check out the link and get some. Right after I'm done clearing up enough space in this flat for new baby.

I have an old cloth book that an aunt made for my mother when she was a child that features "children from around the world." It's thread bare in places, the content is a bit stereotypical, but I treasure it.

Hooray for homemade baby food! I used to cook for my kids too, and now I cook for my dog.

Totally off topic, but where did that adorable baby shirt come from?

About wee one's "Read to me " onesie... I should call this post, my mom buy my kids awesome clothes, because she always finds the cutest things for them to wear. Wee one's onesie is from Book People a large independent bookstore in Austin, TX. They don't seem to have it on their website, but they have more shirts in their store. You might be able to call them about it. I even have a matching "Read" shirt!

I made a batch of peach jam :)

I really need to get a sewing machine...!!

I have made several of these for my grandaughter. I love them!

The projects are very cool but the baby is delightful!!! Where did you find that onesie?? It is the best.