The Story of BabyBooks
- Woman In The Middle
- Jan 21, 2020
- 2 min read
It starts with "once upon a time", when I was helping with the opening of the Acorns Baby Centre for Early Education. That's when I first learned about sensory toys and how important they are for the balanced development of the babies.
And my first thought was that they were ugly.
These were my first sensory letters.
Clarification: Everyone understood I meant the toys, yes? Good.
I really thought I could create something similar, but more pleasing to the eye. Having worked all my life in abstract notions, the attraction of actually doing something with my own hands was bigger than my fear of sewing machines.
I didn't know what I wanted to do with this passion of combining different fabrics and textures to stimulate babies, but in time, it became a real thing. I started to create my own designs of books and toys. My practical nature pushed me to create something both beautiful and useful.
I did indeed ride the handmade wave of 2013 when Pinterest was blossoming and blooming. Lots of handmade businesses came out then, and creativity replaced the corporate culture.
My first batch of fabrics were the best. I found Fabrix, this amazing supplier of designer fabrics that launched into business around the same time. I spent weeks agonising over which fabrics to choose, they were all too beautiful. I can honestly say that without Fabrix and Elena (the driving force behind it), I wouldn't have been so inspired to create my products.
In the 7 years that passed I met new people, learned new skills, discovered talents that I never knew I had, made new friendships, resurrected old ones and I made thousands of books and toys for babies and created a love brand that crossed oceans and land and seas.
My first BabyBooks Babies as I call them are grown kids now and I do hope they had a (more) beautiful childhood because of the toys I made.
Even though I have the best clients in the world and their mums send me pictures and wonderful words, I have to admit that my secret wish is to accidentally see a baby reading one of my books in a random place. Like I just happen to be there at the right time, when the baby is fussy and his or her mum takes out a BabyBook and the baby suddenly becomes happy and content.
And then I'll go to her and I'll tell her I made it and she'll be so impressed and I will be so so proud.
But I am digressing. The most important thing to take away from this article is that you should always always oil your sewing machines, people.
And also BabyBooks has always been a true labour of love and I have been very fortunate to be at the centre of this beautiful love story involving books, babies and Fabrix (pun intended).
Do you do something creative? I'd love to hear what and what is your story.
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