Labor of Love? Or Lunacy?

A couple of years ago, I made a "color book" for the child of my partner in an apron swap (see the post here, and scroll towards the bottom to see the "color book"). Even recently, she remarked how much her kids had enjoyed this gift, and that it helped them learn their colors. I've been wanting to make another one ever since. My little friend, Abby, is turning two on Thursday, so I thought that was a great time to present her with her very own "color book."
Of course...I HAD to make this second attempt a LOT more complicated - that's just the way I roll, haha. Soooo...more pieces, more pages, more effects. I spent weeks gathering the bits of fabric scraps I'd need. Instead of just the 6 color wheel colors (red, blue, green, yellow, orange, violet), I decided to add pink, brown, and black and white...just because I COULD. And a page for family pics, a page for Abby pics, and don't forget the cover pages.

Here is the cover and inside cover pages, before I put the book together. I created each page by piecing scraps, then adding "labels" and pictures from inkjet printer sheets I created in Word. I put two pages together RST with a layer of Warm & Natural, adding a flange with two large grommets on the binding side. I stitched all the way around, leaving an opening for turning, and then topstitched. My son, Ben, helped me apply the grommets - thanks, Ben!!! 

Cover - "Abby's Color Book"

Starring...Colorful Colors! (And Fishes!)

Abby LOVES fishes, and her daddy is a fisher extraordinaire - he even proposed to Abby's mom while fishing! So fishies had to be part of the book. I put one or more fishies on every page - many are from my precious Heather Ross scrap bag. Actually, "scrap bag" really isn't the right description for such precious (and expensive!) fabric, haha. Here are the "color" pages. Can you spot the fishies on each page???

Cool Blues!

Yummy Oranges!

I used TWO Heather Ross motifs on the Yellow page!

I love the cellphone fabric!

Robots, pups, white chocolate chips! And fishies, of course...

Sushi! And bugs in jars!

HR Ice cream truck, VW van, and goldfish in a bag. More chocolate chips!

French fish in a bowl, peanuts, and an outhouse!

Birdcages, Moola and Moo Cows, and Scissors

It took work to get all the pics of her family. See the BIG fishie on this page?

Abby, and Berenstain Bears!

How cute is "The End"?????

After I had all the pages completed, I stacked them up and inserted a length of narrow trim and hand-stitched it in a circle, then added a fabric bow. I sewed through all layers so little fingers couldn't untie the bow.

And here's the completed book with both bows in place, reading for gift-giving! I'll let you know how Abby likes it :-)

Open for your reading pleasure....

and closed!