Recently lots of people seem to be having babies, thinking about having babies, substituting their urge for a baby with a pet etc and I have been trying to think of more interesting, longer lasting presents I can make rather than resorting to a pair of booties.

Then I remembered all the amazing things my parents friends made for us when we were little, here is the first of many handmade masterpeices.

The Harwood’s Quiet Book

Now you’re probably thinking (especially if you know me and/or my siblings) that this is an extremely promising title, and it really can deliver! My mum’s friend at Girl Scouts made this for us and it has been much loved and passed many a rainy day. I am planning to make one in the coming months so take a peek at what the finished article should look like.

I love the vintage fabric she used for the mitten and the trees.

We seem to have lost the clown’s nose but other than that the loose pieces have miraculously all stayed put in the book.

Look a the cute baseball pitcher in his stripy suit.

I was always disappointed that there were only 5 candles so maybe I’ll do more

Pretty ribbon

Now I know why I save all those buttons!

Obviously I would have a shoe to lace rather than an American football but the rainbow lace is brilliant

I was never very good at telling the time, this should have helped. It didn’t, I always preferred to braid the pretty girl’s hair.

All in all I think this is pretty much the best baby gift you can get, what do you think? Anything you would add?

So now I need to go and buy a shit load of needlecord and felt, a selection of ‘notions’ and i’m going to rifle through mine and my mum’s fabric stash for everything else. It’s going to be a mammoth project but it will be worth it if someone else’s children love it as much as we did.