After successfully creating three pages of my "Baby Soft Book" for my son, Skyler....I can honestly say that this is a blast. Although I don't recommend everyone jumping into sewing a book, I do think that everyone should try to spend some time every day thinking like a small child.
Designing this texture page in particular, I was struck with the things that occur to you. As any one year old will tell you...if they could tell you, texture is a big thing. It's the very essence of tactile sensation and there just can't be too much of it. More is definitely more.
Now looking at this page as an adult,you might not see the appeal of this rag tag flower garden, but look closer with a toddler's perspective and you will see a veritable smörgåsbord of textural delights:
The sky is made of three different pieces of Skyler's old baby jeans complete with a miniature pocket and tons of seams. The ground is a combination of corduroy and satin with embedded round metal pieces (impossible to come off so no choking hazard there!). The flowers come replete with faux fur, bendable tiers of stiff fabric petals,"tags" made of folded ribbon, and tons of buttons. And the pièce de résistance? A miniature faux-leather owl that can "fly" out of the pocket.
I have to say... I found myself "molesting" the page at every step of the creation process. It's just too tempting. And what was even more fun was trying to destroy it. In an effort to baby proof it (gawd, the thought of him choking on something I made him... *shudder*), I have used all my strength to rip the buttons and petals. Surprisingly, it's almost as fun as creating them.
So a third page done and a new addiction to tactile sensation. I have a feeling that by the time I finish this book, I will be walking around with a block in my mouth, pulling books apart and loving every minute of it... till Skyler takes them from me... *sigh*.
Now looking at this page as an adult,you might not see the appeal of this rag tag flower garden, but look closer with a toddler's perspective and you will see a veritable smörgåsbord of textural delights:
I have to say... I found myself "molesting" the page at every step of the creation process. It's just too tempting. And what was even more fun was trying to destroy it. In an effort to baby proof it (gawd, the thought of him choking on something I made him... *shudder*), I have used all my strength to rip the buttons and petals. Surprisingly, it's almost as fun as creating them.
So a third page done and a new addiction to tactile sensation. I have a feeling that by the time I finish this book, I will be walking around with a block in my mouth, pulling books apart and loving every minute of it... till Skyler takes them from me... *sigh*.
