Today I’m sharing my first sewing competition entry; I was asked to participate in Challenge Create: Fabric Swap Edition which was so much fun! Audrey and her daughters blog at Skirt Fixation and did a great job hosting the first edition of Challenge Create which focused on women sewing for themselves. Be sure to follow them on Google+ and Pinterest here!
You can see more photos of the book and some of the chaos that I plowed through to sew it on the Skirt Fixation blog today. Voting is open over at Skirt Fixation – check them all out and chime in with your favorite (hopefully it’s mine 
) Vote at the bottom of this post.
For this round of competition, each blogger mailed 2 yards of fabric to a partner and sewed up whatever their heart desired. I was intimidated by the (beautiful!) big print of the Amy Butler fabric that Michelle from Handmade Martini sent me, but I settled on making another toddler toy. You can see the buckle toy and activity mat I’ve made for my toddler recently; his giant numbers book doubles as a floor pillow when it’s folded and snapped shut
I added a ribbon bookmark, just because!
I hand stitched around all the letters and shapes, which gives it some texture and color definition… but took well over 10 hours. Absurd. I’m not sure if I’m the slowest hand stitcher ever, or if that’s par for the course, but I might never embroider again.
We’ve been having the most awful weather and rain, so I’m a little embarrassed about my picture quality! But you can at least tell he is having fun.
A few outtakes, for giggles!
This is the schedule for the rest of the Challenge – there are weekly sew alongs and prizes to be won! I sent two yards of beautiful blue polka-dot sateen to Danica who blogs at The Sewing Sparrow so be sure to click over and see what she made with it, too.
June 30-July 4: Red, White &/Or Blue Week
July 7-11: Linen Week
July 14-18: Geometric Week
July 21-25: Knit Week
July 28-August 1: Mystery Week
Emily W says
Neat idea!
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Thanks Emily!
Amy says
You already know that I love this! Such a clever idea and it looks great! I still can’t believe you did all that hand work, though 🙂
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Thanks lady!! These are my hands now: bit.ly/1vz9K1b
Chrissy @ museofthemorning says
That is wonderful!! Thank you for sharing Stephanie!! That was so much work! And what a beautiful print on the fabric!
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Thanks Chrissy! I agree – Michelle was so generous to send it to me 🙂
Deanna {sewmccool} says
What a cute idea! I chuckled about the embroidery – I like it, but in smaller doses….and not if I’m trying to use a project for a blog post. Because then I’ll also become irritated at my own slow hand!
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Thanks Deanna! Yeah… it was one of those things where I did a few letters, thought gee that’s not so bad! I like it! Once I realized how much time it was going to take to finish, I was too far gone 🙂
Alicia @ Felt With Love Designs says
I LOVE this!! My daughter would love this but my dog would probably steal it for his bed. Haha!! And you’re not the slowest hand-stitcher ever. It just takes A LOT longer than the sewing machine. I do all my felt toys by hand because I like the way it looks but it definitely takes forever! Stumbled and pinned 🙂
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Thanks so much Alicia! I may have recovered by Christmas so hopefully you’ll have some fun felt tutorials up for the holidays I can try 🙂
Alicia @ Felt With Love Designs says
Haha! We have a few things planned but are still brainstorming, for the most part. If there is anything you would like to see, let me know and we will see if we can design something fun.
stacey morales... from a box says
this is a great idea! very nice use of the fabric (one of my favorite prints) and such a cool softie book for your son, and a giant size book at that! you are so creative!
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Stacey, that is the nicest compliment ever. I love sharing a project that I’ve never seen before, so you’re super sweet to say that 🙂 THanks!
Deby at So Sew Easy says
That is a genius idea! Brings a whole new meaning to quiet book – you could fall asleep in it.
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Deby, I hadn’t even thought of that!! Ha, I love it 🙂
Embroiderymad says
Fabulous idea, thank you for sharing.
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Thanks so much!
Pam @Threading My Way says
An awesome idea and so unique, Stephanie!!! Not that I do it much, but I find embroidery and hand stitching therapeutic – in small doses.
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Thanks Pam! It’s funny, I was so excited about this idea/project and it went over like a lead balloon in the competition. But I still love it 😉 I think I’ve finally recovered and can say I might enjoy hand stitching again soon!
Barbara Boxwell says
As usual I love your book. But as I am challenged, do you have a pattern like you do with the dump truck?
It looks so simple when I see what you do, but I guess I need a push. I know what your mean embroidery and hand stitching it is slow but looks so good when you finally finish
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
You are too kind Barbara! I have not made a pattern for this, I might eventually but it is basically two rectangles 🙂
Kate says
Thanks so much for sharing this project. I copied your great idea to make a first birthday present for a special little friend and when i gave it to him today he immediately started interacting with his big book. I love that the size adds a level of physicality so when they aren’t reading and counting and looking at colours he can climb all over it, sit or lie on it to play with other toys and my friend can also use it as a nice floor cushion to sit on when she sits down to play with him.
This is a picture of my efforts https://instagram.com/p/BQ7fkiKBRje/
I opted to make the covers from a set of ready made bright pillow cases and simply basted shut the ends so if his mum wants to pack it down later she can pick the seams and pull out the pillows.
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Hey Kate! This is such a fun surprise – I was super duper proud of this project and it went over like a lead balloon on the Internet. I’m so tickled that someone (you!) found it and loved it enough to recreate it. Thank you for sharing!!