Quiet Book Fishing Page

I was a touch late to church today; and as I tried to slip into the chapel inconspicuously during the opening hymn, I was delighted to find an extra seat next to my dear neighbor and her sweet 20-month-old. When her daughter started to get antsy during the service (as most toddlers do), I was so happy to hand over our quiet book.

I have to tell you, I'm pleasantly pleased with our great quiet book project. SourPatch really does enjoy it, and though I specifically bring it to church, he pulls it off the shelf on his own volition while we're at home to play with his favorite pages.

Now that we have used the book for a while, I've noticed a few things I would do differently the second time around. One, I've realized that not all snaps are created equal. Little silver snaps? Awesome, and great for little hands to learn dexterity. Little white snaps? Not-so-awesome. Hard for little hands to use... and hard for adult hands as well.

Two, be sensible when deciding which way to orient the pages. Why did I put the tree next to the binder rings?? It makes it that much harder to snap the leaves onto the tree (along with the evil white snaps!) Not the best idea; I should have sewn the buttonholes on the other side.

Speaking of buttonholes, have we discussed how proud I am of the button holes I used to bind the book? I wondered if I'd regret not using grommets, but I'm exceptionally pleased with my buttonholes. They are sturdy, the pages turn easily, and that's one more skill I learned to do on my sewing machine! Yes, I do still have sticky notes on my machine to remind me which knob does what, but I really am getting more proficient. Baby steps, my friends.

Mom recently gifted a few more pages to add to SourPatch's book (but I sewed them together and added the button holes! So we basically made them together, right?) Today I want to share James' favorite: The Fishing Page.

There's not a lot to it, but I think that's part of the point and the appeal. You snap off the colorful felt fish and add them to the fisherman's net.

Since our quiet book is a staple at church, I like to think of it as a scene from Matthew 4 or John 21.