Storybook Quilts Rocks! » personalized

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!

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.

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.

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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.)”

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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.”

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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.”

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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!

What Grandparents Want

Nancy — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:22:52 +0000

What is it that grandparents look for in a gift for their grandchildren? Each person has his or her own list, of course. What would you add to the list below?

1. A gift of experience and memories, preferably one that will last a lifetime

2. Allows Grandma or Grandpa to enjoy it with the grandchild, forming even closer bonds

3. Can be fully personalized for your grandchild and even include the entire family in the personalization

4. Does not beep beep beep, toot toot toot, or thump thump thump (or at least not loudly)

5. Unique — no one else will give the same gift and no other child will have it

6. Matches the grandchild’s interests — his or her love of cars, or dogs and cats, or teddy bears, for example

7. Packs easily for a visit to Grandma and Grandpa, or to take home from a visit there

8. Does not need an Internet connection, a computer, a cell phone or other gizmo

9. Grandma and Grandpa already know how to use it

10. Can help develop your grandchild’s imagination and advance other life skills

11. Does not need to be walked morning and night or use a litter box

12. Pleases the family as well as the child

13. Teaches positive values; no violent messages or images

14. Will still be a favorite of your grandchild after other toys have been outgrown, broken or lost

How well do you think a Storybook Quilt would meet the requirements on this list?

Childhood Gifts: Treasures for a Lifetime

Nancy — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:32:42 +0000

Unless some disaster has befallen them, I suspect all of us have one or two gift treasures from childhood – an old toy train, maybe, or part of one; a doll, which may have “features” that were added purposely or by mistake; a teddy bear or other stuffed animal that is hug-worn; maybe even a surviving blanky.

What’s your childhood gift treasure?

My favorite gift treasure is a doll I received for my second birthday from my Great-Aunt Brownie and which I named, appropriately enough, “Happy Birthday.” She has been with me through thick and thin, for more decades than I care to admit, and never has lost her ability to comfort.

Happy got a little tattered after three or four years. My grandmother, a seamstress, took her away to make her a new body. I was bereft! When she came back, though, she was even more precious because she had been “remade” by Grandma. She also returned in a fancy new dress, which she wears now.

This lifelong connection is the idea behind Storybook Quilts. These are special gifts, each one as individual and customized as the buyer cares to make it. Most customers order an
embroidered square with a message from them to the child for whom it is intended. And most also opt for a special message and a photograph, printed in the book.

Combining the quilt with a matching adventure story ensures that the child who loves this quilt will have strong ties to those with whom it was shared. Imagine looking at that quilt when times are tough – at any age! – and remembering sitting on the lap of a parent or grandparent covered with the quilt and listening to the story being read. What a wonderful lifelong comfort that can be!

Amos the Bear quilt with storybook

The Storybook Quilts are available in eight themes, with more in development. For details, visit us at www.storybookquilts.biz

How would you customize your Storybook Quilt?

What’s in a Name? For a Child, It’s a Lot!

Nancy — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:47:19 +0000

His or her name often is the first word that a child truly “owns.” Response to the sound of his own name begins in infancy; it isn’t long before the child realizes that the sound is only used to talk to him, that it is “his.” This awareness is important in developing a sense of self, the beginning of understanding interpersonal connections and relationships.

It isn’t long before the child can recognize his name, perhaps not the letters as letters, but certainly the overall shape. Seeing one’s name “in print” becomes a thrill, providing a sense of self-validation. Personalized children’s products, from pencils to baseball caps and even books, are important to children in part for this reason.

At Storybook Quilts, we go beyond personalization. Our customized versions make your child the hero or heroine in the story, which also may include sayings and interests that are particular to your family. The child’s name also appears on the quilt, embroidered on a square with the occasion, date and name of the giver. These are the things we treasure for a lifetime.

Here’s what one mother had to say about the Storybook Quilts given to her daughters by their grandparents:

“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.”

Until the end of August, we’re running a contest to win a gift certificate for a Storybook Quilt by suggesting a name for the latest theme character, a sea turtle. Join us and provide the child in your life with the thrill that lasts a lifetime!