Storybook Quilts Rocks! » children’s_gifts

Hot Summer Days Contest

Nancy — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 21:21:48 +0000

Take your mind off the heat of the summer day and think up a caption for this photo! We caught these two talking outside our workshop one hot day . . . What do you think they were saying?

To enter, just type in your caption in a comment on this blog post.

The winner may choose between two prizes: a framed copy of the photo, with his/her caption, or a $50 Storybook Quilts gift certificate. Please enter by August 1, 2010.

We look forward to your entries!

What keeps you in your grandchild’s thoughts?

Nancy — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 16:47:32 +0000

In today’s world, grandparents and grandchildren all too often live quite a distance from one another. Is this true of you? How can that distance be overcome?

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re keeping in contact using e-mail and possibly also Facebook. Maybe you have a webcam and mic so that you can see and hear one another “live”! Maybe you send things back and forth in the mail – cards or gifts or photos.

Is there something very special that you share that keeps you in your grandchild’s thoughts? Is it something that your grandchild will still have when he or she is a grandparent?

A Storybook Quilt can be the tie — and last for a lifetime. The quilt can be customized with a short message, names and dates.

The book can include a longer message from you and a photo – and even be specially rewritten to include family details in the story itself.

To make this even more special, your grandchild can help make the choices, so that it’s not just a surprise, it’s a special project and a lifelong connection.

Until July 4th, we are offering a chance to win a discount on any of our Storybook Quilt themes. Enter to create a wonderful summer memory for you and your grandchild!

Not Just Another “Storybook Quilt”

Nancy — Thu, 06 May 2010 17:15:06 +0000

We’ve noticed some confusion about just what one of our Storybook Quilts is. It seems “storybook quilt” is now a descriptor for several products.

Enjoying our cat theme Storybook Quilt

Our Storybook Quilts combine a quilt designed and handmade by us with a original story that we weave around the fabrics in the quilt. Both the quilt and the story are entirely original. The process is intense and can be lengthy – the quilt has to be visually pleasing and it also has to fit perfectly with the story. We often need to look more than once for the right fabrics; the story has to be adjusted to fit the fabrics available and be fun to read out loud.

Other types of storybook quilts exist — all different from ours. Some are quilts designed around an existing, separate children’s story. A few are quilts made to echo the story a child has written. Some are made from fabrics commercially printed with the characters from an existing story.

Our Storybook Quilts are unique in several ways.

First, no other “storybook quilt” pairs an original story with an original handmade quilt.

Second, our quilts are created so that the patterns in the fabrics can be the basis for any number of stories – a great way to tickle a child’s imagination.

Third, our Storybook Quilts offer a range of personalization and customization options. The Storybook Quilt can be built around
your child, not a fictional character.

We specialize in customizing both the quilt and the story. An embroidered square can be included in the quilt that is personalized to fit the giver and the recipient. The story also can be customized. We can include a message and photo from the giver — and we can alter the story itself to include the child’s name and other information, making the story their story.

Here’s what one mom has to say about the Storybook Quilts her two daughters received from their grandparents:

“The quilts themselves are really beautiful and obviously made meticulously by a talented artist. I absolutely love the different printed fabrics–really vivid, unique patterns and just so interesting to look at even without the story line to follow. A real feast for the eyes!

“About the stories: [my two daughters] loved that their names are in the stories. Their eyes lit up when they heard the stories were about them. They also really like listening to the story and looking at the quilt so they can point out when I am reading a part that matches a quilt square.”

If you’re looking for a one-of-kind gift that will capture the hearts of the children in your life for a lifetime – contact us. We would love to create that special Storybook Quilt just for you!

Giving Back: Water for Life

Nancy — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:30:45 +0000

A quiet winter Sunday is a good opportunity to stop and think about how fortunate we are in this country. I was struck by this again as I watched TV news coverage of the Haitian earthquakes and the California rains. In the midst of their suffering, Haitian children seemed stoic compared to one little boy from California. Evacuated from his house, he whimpered “I miss my toys!” It reminded me once again how incredibly fortunate we are in this country.

At Storybook Quilts, we have been searching for a way to give back to families, especially children — both are the focus of our mission. As someone whose professional life has included a focus on how best to aid people in developing countries, I repeatedly have been struck by how often the most basic need is overlooked. That need is water. Clean water. The little boy in California has that and likely always will. Not so for the children of Haiti or dozens of other countries. Aid to provide housing, food, medical care – all are important, but none can really succeed without clean water and sanitation.

Storybook Quilts will give back by helping ensure that children worldwide have access to clean water. From the sale of each Storybook Quilt, we will donate between $5 and $20, depending on the package sold, to one of two “Water for Life” charities. One is faith-based – the Water for Life mission of LIFE Outreach International; the other is secular and also called Water for Life. The customer will choose which organization receives our donation. We also hope you will consider making your own donation to Water for Life.

The Birthday Surprise that Keeps on Going!

Nancy — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:15:36 +0000

Along about this time last year, Monica, an American mom who lives in Switzerland, was wondering what to get her son, David, for his fifth birthday. Her nephew, who lives in the US, was turning five just a few days earlier than David. Monica wanted something that would create memories for a lifetime for both boys. She chose Storybook Quilts – Winnie the Frog for her nephew and a sports car for her son.

We were in the midst of designing a hot red sports car theme, so the timing was perfect! Monica ordered the Forever and a Day Package, our most customized package; even some of the content of the story was customized for David. We interviewed Monica to gather the information for customizing the story. We learned that David loves red Ferraris and soccer; that his older brother, Marcus, is a very good soccer player; that his father loves hot air balloons; and we learned about a few of David’s habits. We wove as many of these things as possible into the customized version of the story.

In the story, the Swiss national soccer team has gotten to the finals for the World Cup. David wants to go to the big game, which is on his birthday, but the tickets sell out before Dad can buy them. Of course, David is disappointed. Imagine his surprise when, the morning of the game, the Swiss national team star, Alex Frei, arrives in his red Ferrari to drive David to the game! Another star, Marco Streller pulls up right behind Alex and offers to take Mom and Marcus with him in his vintage Corvette. Dad rides in the team’s hot air balloon to watch out for danger along the road. The story uses fabrics in the quilt to tell the tale of the thrilling ride to the game and the unexpected barriers the travelers overcome to get there on time.

A few weeks after David’s birthday, Monica wrote: “Just wanted to let you know that you have helped make a 5-year-old boy named David in Switzerland very happy!!! He loves the quilt and the story. I have to read it to him every night.”

But that’s not the end of this story. Recently, Monica wrote: “David still loves the Ferrari quilt. Over the summer, we got the storybook autographed by Streller and Frei when they attended Marcus’s summer football camp for a day! They even had a fun ‘argument’ about who got the better sports car in the story.”

Is there any doubt that David will treasure this Storybook Quilt for a lifetime?

We may not be able to promise you’ll get the autographs of your favorite sports stars, but you can delight your son, grandson or nephew with his very own Vroom! Vroom! Storybook Quilt. We offer this Storybook Quilt in several sports themes – soccer, football, hockey and baseball.

Grandparents: A Gift Idea to Bridge the Miles!

Nancy — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:00:13 +0000

With people spread out all over the country (and farther!) and with the hassle and cost of holiday travel, grandparents often find it difficult to be with grandchildren to celebrate the holidays. That can be rough on both grandparent and grandchild. This week, Grandparents.com published one real gem of an idea in its suggestions for bridging the distance: work on something together that can be shared when you next meet in person.

Let’s take one of our customized Storybook Quilts as an example. Many grandparents choose one to give as a wonderful surprise — but consider instead collaborating with your grandchild to create a handmade, original, customized Storybook Quilt. This is a wonderful way to enhance closeness and create memories that will be treasured for a lifetime (or two!). And NO special skills are required!

Here’s how it works. For the sake of this story, we’ll assume that “Grandma” is the giver and “Olivia” is the recipient. But, of course, it could include Grandpa, be for a boy, or be two Storybook Quilts for twins!

Step 1. Grandma gives Olivia a Storybook Quilts gift certificate for Christmas (or for Hanukkah or Kwanzaa or a birthday). Olivia receives a special, handmade card with a special message from Grandma.

Step 2. The holidays pass. January arrives with its sudden quiet and, often, dark and dreary days. The blahs are waiting in ambush.

Step 3. Grandma and Olivia begin to customize their Storybook Quilt, corresponding with us back here in the workshop. (We’ll help with ideas, when you need us, and guide the process along.)

First, Grandma and Olivia think and talk and think and talk — and finally choose one of the eight (soon to be nine) Storybook Quilt themes: Maurice the Cat, Maggie the Dog, Dapper Dan the Snowman, DanZy the Rabbit, Vroom Vroom the Car, Amos the Bear, Luna the Turtle, Winnie the Frog or Per — oops! That’s our January surprise!

Then, they decide what words will be embroidered on the special square in the quilt.

Together, they write a message to be printed in the storybook and a pick a photograph to include there, too.

Dapper Dan Storybook Quilt Package

And, last but not least, Grandma and Olivia decide how they want to tailor the story, adding in their own names and details about their family’s life. This then is woven into the story by our expert writer.

Storybook Quilts e-mails photographs as the quilt is made so that Grandma and Olivia both can watch it come to life.

Step 4. The completed Storybook Quilt is delivered in time for the next get-together. Grandma and Olivia open the package together, snuggle up under the quilt and Grandma reads Olivia their story.

What a gift! What a memory! What a way to overcome the miles! What a great way to fight the Winter blahs! And, of course, your grandchild doesn’t have to live far away for you both to enjoy this creative project.

Storybook Quilts are available in eight themes and with various types of personalization and customization. To see them all, visit us at www.StorybookQuilts.biz Or give us a call to find out more. You can call us free using the Google Voice service on our order page.

We look forward to making your gift the most memorable ever.

Grandpa’s Plan for Grandchildren’s Gifts

Nancy — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:40:07 +0000

Whoever said men aren’t good at planning ahead for giving was wrong, it seems. I just filled orders for quilts for the two of the five grandchild of a British man who lives in Switzerland. His grandchildren are spread out across Europe, so keeping them close emotionally is a challenge.

His plan is to use the Storybook Quilts to help strengthen the bond not only with his grandchildren, but also with their parents. He now has two “on hand” for use when he’s ready — perhaps for Christmas, perhaps for a birthday, perhaps on a visit. Smart man!

Here’s what he now has ready to go: Amos the Bear and DanZy the Rabbit.

The quilts

The stories

Amos is a very special teddy bear, as you can tell by his big red heart. In the story, Josh goes to the zoo with his grandfather and his teddy bear, Amos. When no one is watching, Amos disappears! The zoo keeper is so unhelpful that Josh goes off on his own to find Amos. Grandpa is worried; while the zoo staff look for Josh, he waits at the office in case Josh comes back. Josh does return to his grandfather and the two of them solve the mystery. They find Amos in a most surprising place!

DanZy is a hip-hopping rabbit who seeks his life’s dream. In the story, Olivia meets DanZy when he is a little bunny living in the park next to her house. DanZy is not an ordinary bunny and does not want an ordinary bunny’s life. He wants to be somebunny! DanZy tries several different jobs, but what he really wants to be is the bunny that jumps out of a magician’s hat! He’s a brown rabbit, though, and magician’s rabbits usually are white. Does he make it? And how? And what does Olivia learn?

Order your DanZy or Amos, or any of our other themes, and be ready yourself! www.storybookquilts.biz

Handmade in the USA

Nancy — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:46:19 +0000

“Handmade in the USA” has a nice sound to it, particularly as we plan for gift giving. It makes me think of a woodworker creating a beautiful table that will be an everyday joy, or a ceramics artist making a mug that feels really good in my hand with warm coffee or tea or, of course, one of our Storybook Quilts, enriching the quiet times that we spend with our children.

As someone in the handmade industry, I can testify to the care that goes into creating handmade items. Each of us is doing something we choose to do and like to do. That produces dedication to quality – and puts a bit of real love into every item we produce.

Buying handcrafted items not only directly supports American workers, but also enriches lives and often provides the stuff of heirlooms – passed on and loved for generations.

So, how do you find “handmade in the USA”? We’d love to hear your comments and know your sources. We’ll post them here.

A few of our thoughts follow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Online, www.stillmadeinusa.com/handcraft.htm is one good source. The owner of the site was one of the judges in our Name the Turtle Contest, held last summer. Her site is not an online store, but includes links to carefully screened sources for a range of goods, both handmade and not.

Online marketplaces include Artfire, where artisans from the USA and elsewhere offer their goods for sale (including us). Other such sites include Etsy, for example, and similar marketplaces appear fairly regularly. The advantages of these marketplaces for the customer is the ease of searching many shops at once and the fact that most require shop owners to abide by rules meant to protect the customer. (Note that not all goods on such sites are handmade and not all are made in the USA.)

Off the web, the possibilities are endless. Local crafts fairs, particularly those that are juried, are a great source of high-quality handmade goods. I almost always find some delightful new item or technique created by an imaginative artist; I also often find inspiration for my own work. Online listings of crafts fairs, and whether they are juried, include this one, for example: http://festivalnet.com/index.html

Church fairs offer another great hunting ground for locally handmade goods, from hand-knitted baby booties to gorgeous quilts, small woodcrafts and more. I always enter the quilt raffles and dream about winning, although I never have.

Most crafts and church fairs are the same weekend each year, so if you find one you like, mark it on next year’s calendar!

Around the country, craftspeople and artisans often concentrate in particular geographic areas – by design or by chance — sharing ideas and offering a number of shops easily visited in a day or so. Some of these are supported by far-sighted organizations, such as this one http://www.handmadeinamerica.org, which understand the important role of handmade in the economy and the culture of this (or any) country.

Remember us, please, as you shop for handmade. Storybook Quilts are entirely original and made entirely by hand in the USA with American-made materials and love.

A Storybook Quilt

The Best Gifts Come from the Heart

Nancy — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:03:36 +0000

This the time of year that we strive to find just the perfect gift for those we love. I think it’s particularly challenging for grandparents who live at a distance from their grandchildren. Knowing their likes and dislikes and their latest obsession is difficult when time together is sparse.

The best gifts are those that come from your heart and that have a bit of your heart in them. If you’re like me, you want the gifts to those most special to you to last, and be loved for longer than a day or a month or two.

That is exactly what’s so perfect about giving a Storybook Quilt as a gift. It’s not “just” another children’s quilt or “just” another storybook — or even “just” another storybook quilt. The quilts and stories are entirely original. They are so woven around each other that they are inseparable — one doesn’t mean much without the other.

Children become very attached to such visual and aural combinations. With a message from you on the quilt square and in the book, you will be in their thoughts daily.

Storybook Quilts will endure for years. It’s the kind of thing one still has decades later, one that evokes warm, positive memories of childhood and the grandparent who gave the gift.

See our themes on our website or on our Facebook Fan page. Contact us through those sites or on Twitter @StorybookQuilts.

Orders are being taking for Hanukkah until mid-November and for Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year’s until early December. Order now to be sure your very special gift is in the production queue.

We look forward to making your Storybook Quilt!

From the Customers of Storybook Quilts

Nancy — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:00:21 +0000

No matter what we write or say about our Storybook Quilts in this blog, on our website, on Facebook or Twitter, or anywhere else, it’s only our opinion. “Well, they would say that, wouldn’t they?!” often is any reader’s or viewer’s response to any company’s claims.

So, to make it a bit more real, below are just a few of the unsolicited comments Storybook Quilts owners have sent in. We’ll include others in subsequent posts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This mother’s two daughters each received an SQ for Christmas last year from their grandparents. The quilts were Amos the Bear and Maggie the Dog.

“I think the idea of the personalized quilt and book is a great one. The quilts themselves are really beautiful and obviously made meticulously by a talented artist. I absolutely love the different printed fabrics–really vivid, unique patterns and just so interesting to look at even without the story line to follow. A real feast for the eyes!

“About the stories: Chloe and Hannah loved that their names were in the stories. Their eyes lit up when they heard the stories were about them. They also really liked listening to the story and looking at the quilt so they could point out when I was reading a part that matched a quilt square. (We have both quilts hung up in the nursery so they are looking at the quilt on the wall as I read.)”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An fully customized version of Winnie the Frog was made for a boy’s fifth birthday. In addition to the special square on the quilt, the story was revised to include family details and use his name for the main human character. It was a gift from his aunt and her family.

“I’ve been meaning to send you a note for weeks — Thank you for the beautiful quilt! It is really very lovely and Rafael enjoyed the story very much. I’ll remember to keep you in mind when friends ask about a special gift to give someone.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Most recently, we heard from Kelly, who won the contest this summer to name the turtle character in our Captured by Pirates Storybook Quilt.

“Nancy, I can’t tell you how fun it has been showing off your quilt and book to our friends and family. Everyone agrees that this is such a beautiful gift and we are so very fortunate to have this lasting representation of our summer with lunas. [The family raised luna moths, an experiment for their 4-year-old daughter.] Your book has been so fun! Our favorite part of the story is when the crabs come in to tell Adia a rescue is being planned. It might have *something* to do with the crazy whispery-voice-with-foreign-accent we’ve created just for them, but it sends the girls into giggles.

“I also love that you’ve ended the story with the question about whether it was a dream or real. This has been a fun discussion with Adia at each story’s end.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don’t you think it’s time you ordered a Storybook Quilt for the child in your life?

Orders are being taking for Hanukkah until mid-November and for Christmas/Kwanzaa/New Year’s until early December. Order now to be sure your SQ is in the production queue.

Contact us through our website or on our Facebook Fan page or on Twitter @StorybookQuilts. We look forward to making your Storybook Quilt!