Baby Geniuses Fabric Collections

Nighty-Night Light!

2012-02-20T10:38:00.000-08:00

Light up the night just a little with a complete no-sew project!

What better way to end the day than with a little reading by your baby genius' nighty-night light! Choose a favorite bedtime story, read in a soothing voice, and snuggle into a few minutes of winding down time. Be sure to engage her with questions or comments such as, "What do you think will happen next? Tell me how he feels right now." Creating bedtime rituals gives children structure knowing what to expect. Adding reading to that ritual shows how much you value books as part of your special time with them.

Be a genius with only a few materials!

Grammie & Mimi's Baby Geniuses Speak Up! fabrics

A self-adhesive lamp shade

Pellon Fusibles

Fabric glue

Rick Rack!

I hope to present this project as a Schoolhouse demonstration during the Spring Quilt Market in Kansas City, MO in mid May to quilt shop owners from all over the US! I have limited patterns and supplies, which will be offered on my web site soon. Please let me know if you are interested.

Grammie & Mimi in Their Work Clothes!

2012-01-23T12:31:00.000-08:00

As you can see, Grammie and Mimi have been very busy creating new collections since our last post in October! And we haven't left my ironing board yet! Sorry about that, but we think you'll be thrilled with what's coming this fall at the Houston Market.
In the mean time, we have several projects to brighten your geniuses' closets and rooms using our "Grammie & Mimi's Baby Geniuses Speak Up! collection. I will kit these projects and have them available on my site: www.lindacarlsonquilts.com IF enough of you write me at: ljcarlson@hughes.net so I can restock the supplies. As always, your comments left below are encouraged and appreciated.

"Up, Up, and Away Baby Geniuses Speak Up! Balloons"

Create engaging 3-D balloons using Baby Geniuses Speak Up! panel, (1) fat quarter, and strips of Wrap n' Fuse Piping for exciting wall decor!

The kit cost for two balloons will be about $30 plus S&H. It will include pattern, all fabrics, stabilizer, silicone paper and rick rack. Please contact me if you would like one.

InVESTing In Genius!

2011-10-24T09:31:00.000-07:00

InVest in Genius Wearables!

How smart and VESTed you look today!

Let our bright, bold graphics and fabric patterns make positive statements when the genius in your life dons the cute vests here, or the play pants and PJs shown in our February 14, 2011 post below! Accessories such as the phone pocket/coin purse are functional and trendy, too.

Do you need a Girl Scout, 4-H or Home Ec school project? Older children learning to sew and bead can create all these items with just a little supervision while learning planning skills as well as practicing hand/eye coordination.

A Genius Lives Here!

2011-08-30T17:23:00.000-07:00

Load your learner's environment with vibrant color patterns to enhance her thinking skills. A focused mind is a learning mind!

Benartex, Inc. makes our "Grammie & Mimi" panels the focus fabric of each line. You can too, when you use them as one whole piece or cut apart in quilt blocks for room wall decor from infancy on.

For infants, use diaper and dressing time as learning time. Talking about the block and touching the details the child sees enhances language and number skills while fostering critical thinking. Use age appropriate words, but also include more advanced vocabulary to increase language recognition and basic concepts. "See the brown bear? It has two, big eyes."

While toddlers and older children dress, ask them to make up stories using the room decor as springboards. Play the game, "Finish My Story" where the child or you begins the story, the other adds to it, then take turns to finish it. Before you know it, your Genius Junior looks at his environment in a more verbal, creative way!

The panel for "Grammie & Mimi's Baby Geniuses Speak Up!" as well as yardage from all three collections are available from my website: http://www.lindacarlsonquilts.com/babygeniusesfabrics.htm.

Baby Geniuses Fabric Collections: Toys & Quilts For Geniuses!

2011-08-14T12:35:00.000-07:00

Baby Geniuses Fabric Collections: Toys & Quilts For Geniuses!: "As baby becomes a toddler, use the same fabrics for language development as you name objects and ask her what an object is or the sound it ..."

Toys & Quilts For Geniuses!

2011-08-14T12:32:00.000-07:00

As baby becomes a toddler, use the same fabrics for language development as you name objects and ask her what an object is or the sound it makes. Introduce the idea of numbers by counting what she points to or compare numbers by choosing which one has more dots, etc. Basic shapes and colors in the fabrics become teachable moments as you curl up with a Baby Genius quilt and read together.

The stuffed cubes and spheres are delightfully squeezable. Encourage your toddler to reach for and then toss them back to you. This physical action promotes eye-hand coordination and figure-ground relationships, all key skills for brain development, physical coordination and learning.

The bright graphics on the diaper bag provide interest and increase visual acuity when your child is in the crib. What a stimulating way to awaken from a nap as the bold patterns engage her curiosity!

The small cubes can be made with (6) 5" sample collections squares available from Benartex, Inc. through your favorite quilt shop, or check my site: www.lindacarlsonquilts for fat quarters and quilt kits. The largest six sided 8" blocks and toy balls need 3 to 6 fat quarters. For an easy to grab, soft cushy feel, fill with polyester stuffing. Many patterns are available for the toys and diaper bag.

Sshhh ... There's a Genius In This Room!

2011-08-01T13:07:00.000-07:00

The next several blogs will be all about decorating your little genius' room with our brain boosting fabrics, all meant to stimulate brain synapse growth. While project pictures show fabrics from our previous collections, we think the present line, "Grammie & Mimi's Baby Geniuses Speak Up!" would be just as cute!

Curiosity and a focused attention span can be further developed by surrounding baby with bright, bold, colorful patterns. Synapse connections in the developing baby's brain are truly 'thirsty' for visual and other sense stimulation. Baby Genius fabrics become the conduit to learning. Add these fabrics to baby's world and watch them peak her interest as she stares intently at the intense color contrasts and repeated shapes!

The crib mobile was created with our first line panel, but you can do the same thing with our current collection as seen on the crib mattress. (Adjust number of fabric & batting squares according to the width of your crib.) You will need (1) Speak Up! panel, (1) 18" square piece of batting, about 2 yards of rick rack, and a yard or more of ribbon to connect the squares and tie onto the crib railing. I added the sparkly red and blue yarn bows, but that's optional.

Cut twice the number of squares that will fit nicely across the width of your crib to make the mobile double sided. Cut only (1) square of batting per pair, though. Layer (2) panel squares right sides together, then (1) square batting on top. Pin, and sew with a 1/4" seam allowance leaving a 2" opening on one side. Trim corners and turn right sides out.

The cloth mobile acts as another learning tool as baby reaches for and kicks at the colorful squares. What an entertaining way to wake up! The bright, contrasting colors and swinging action quickly attract her attention. It is this attraction that leads to further powers of concentration, the necessary skills for all learning to take place.

This panel provides so many opportunities for language development, don't be surprised if her first words are,

"What's that?"

Genius Wear! Part 3

2011-06-26T16:50:00.000-07:00

Punch up your wardrobe with simply made pin jewelry or a neck purse!

Cut free-form shapes of Pellon's Peltex 72F using pinking shears. Follow the manufacturers directions to iron on fabrics. I used our "Grammie & Mimi's Baby Geniuses Speak Up!" colorful prints. Add a self-stick pin on the backs, then place on your favorite jacket or purse.

The neck purse was received as a badge holder while teaching at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, TX. I covered it with Pellon Fusible Fleece, fabric from the same collection, and used Heat n' Bond 1/4" Adhesive Ultra Hold in the binding. All fabric dimensions are dependent on the size of the purchased neck purse, but I added 1/4" seam allowances for turning under raw edges.

Enjoy, but be prepared to receive many compliments and not so subtle requests for gifts!

Genius Wear! Part 2

2011-06-15T13:37:00.000-07:00

Cover head to toe bib made with "Grammie & Mimi's Baby Geniuses Speak Up!" fabrics and velvety soft Minkee by Benartex, Inc. Pattern: Pieceful Expressions "Overall" Bib available from www.piecefulexpressions.com

Watch your tot be fascinated by his brightly colored bib that covers his chest, lap and legs. He will be mesmerized by the motifs seen right side up to him, while the Velcro squares at the neck and ankle secure the bib to cover those cute outfits. No more tugging to get it on before you start feeding him in the high chair! The velvety soft Minkee backing assures comfort, too.

Use the bib to point out the objects and the sounds they make as you 'zzzzoooommmm' the yummy baby food into his smiling face. What does the clock say? How does a sheep call his mama? Brrriinnggg goes the cell phone!

Genius Wear! Part 3 Coming Soon ... for the Genius in you!

Genius Wear! Part 1

2011-06-15T13:12:00.000-07:00

Our Baby Geniuses Speak Up! fabrics are delightfully worn and continue to offer opportunities for language development. Look what you can do and practice with infants through kindergarten youngsters.

Outfit created with "Grammie & Mimi's Baby Geniuses Speak Up!" fabrics by Benartex, Inc.,

McCall's Easy Stitch n' Save M6009.

What a cute romp-around outfit for warm summer days into the cool, crisp days of September and October! Just in time for nursery school or kindergarten when you practice shapes, colors and counting in the morning. How many red dots do you see?. How many circles do you count on your top? Point to the blue dots on your pants. What shapes do you see on your front pants pockets? What do you think could fit inside your pockets?

Create a Fun Desk Set!

2011-05-24T11:20:00.000-07:00

Start with the bright graphic prints from our “Grammie & Mimi’s
Baby Geniuses Speak Up! line by Benartex to create a fun study area
on your budding genius’s desk!

I used Pellon Fusible Fleece 987F and fabric glue on the purchased pen and pencil holder. The size of the container dictates the amount of fabric and fusible fleece, but add 1/4 inch all around the fabric edges for a 1/4 inch turn under allowance to hide the raw edges. Use fabric glue on the folded edges, then press onto the holder.

Optional: A cute embroidered iron-on patch will help keep the vertical folded edges together.

Floral wire and Peltex 2 Sided Fusible 72F, regular and decollated edge scissors, ribbon scraps and stick-on stars were used to make the free cut flower attachments to the pencils. You can always use coloring books for other pencil embellishment ideas, too.

For the mouse pad, I cut two 10 inch squares Peltex 2 Sided Fusible 72F and 2 squares of fabric the same size. I laid one fabric right side down, the two fusible squares, then the remaining fabric square right side up and fused the entire layered sandwich according to the directions. I turned the computer pad over, and again pressed from the opposite side.

The handy 12 inch square bulletin board started with a piece of cork board. Again, I used the 2 Sided Fusible and a 12 inch square of fabric. Corner decollated edged fabrics and medium size rick rack embellishments provide interest and an easy way to tuck in your favorite photos!

What's In a Name?

2011-04-22T13:43:00.000-07:00

What's in a name? Why, ingenius thought provoking fabrics, of course! Involve your little genius in updating their bedroom when the time is right to move from the crib to a "big boy or big girl" bed. Let the child choose one bright, highly contrasting fat eighth graphic print in Grammie & Mimi's Baby Geniuses Speak Up! fabric collection by Benartex for each letter in his or her name. For grandaughter Emma, I chose the Brilliant White Buttons SKU 2635-09, Da Da For DADA Plaid SKU 2638-11 Multi Light, Smile Face Stars SKU 2633-09, and Frank Lloyd Wright For Kids SKU 2637-11 Light Bright Multi.

Grandson Jack's name used Circles and Squares SKU 2636-99 Multi Dark, SKU 2636-10 Red, SKU 2636-11 Multi Bright Light, and SKU 2636-55 Blue.

To make the names, print out capital letters, one per page. Cut them out to use as templates on about 1 1/4 yards of Pellon's extra firm stablizier PELTEX 2-Sided Fusible #72F. Draw around the letters on the shiny side of the PELTEX. Center the fat eighth fabric right side up over the letter, and follow the manufacturers directions to fuse the fabrics making sure to have silicone paper to prevent the back from sticking to your ironing surface.

Ask your little genius where to place their name for best viewing. Over the bed? On the door? Wherever it is, they will be proud of their decorating decisions while learning to spell and recognize their name!

Triangle Toss Toys

2011-03-14T17:12:00.000-07:00

My good friend Nancy Brenan Daniel, www.nancybrenandaniel.com came up with this adorable toy using our Baby Geniuses! lines. She gave Pellon Products permission to use her pattern on their free project site: www.pellonprojects.com. Nancy says, "This toy is one of a series of geometric, gentle, soft toys I've designed for infants through two year olds." Grammie and Mimi say these triangle toys can be used during an infant's "tummy time" to help develop neck and arm muscles, promote head control, focus attention on an object within reach, tactile stimulation and hand-eye coordination. During later development, playing pitch and catch with the toss toy further refines hand-eye coordination, small and large motor control and provides opportunities for the toddler to experience a sense of accomplishment in cause and effect. Hearing praise phrases such as "thank you for trying", "good try", and "you worked hard to catch it!" are great confidence building responses which subtly encourages children to always try their best.

"Tween's First Quilt Uses Baby Geniuses Yoyos!"

2011-02-25T14:49:00.000-08:00

Would your ‘tween’ or teen be interested in learning how to quilt? Why not begin with a super simple Yoyo project using 5 inch fabric squares? Here, 11 year old Elisabeth demonstrates how to use the yoyo-making tool to create 3-D yoyos for her first project. The ‘extra-large’ Yoyo tool made by Clover, item no. 8703, produces yoyos measuring 2 3/8 inches in diameter. Elisabeth wants to create her own quilt using fabrics from the first Grammie and Mimi’s Baby Geniuses line. Elisabeth says she loves the bright graphic patterns in this group. It only takes a few minutes to create each yoyo.

Not that industrious? How about a yoyo vest, tote/school bag, bed accent pillow or edging for a pillow sham? Home Ec classes at your local Middle School or High School might also be an opportunity for a sewing project. Brainstorm with your child about what to create. Remember, we all started out with easy, quick projects and soon caught the quilting bug!

Pajama Party For Geniuses!

2011-02-14T14:05:00.000-08:00

What better way to introduce children to pattern concepts in math and critical thinking skills than with pillows and PJ's! Take turns playing a question and answer game using the various prints. Bedtime fun might sound something like this.
Jack, show me where the red color repeats in this stripe pattern. How many times does it repeat? Does the yellow color repeat the same number of times?
Emma, what do these shapes remind you of? If you increased the size of one, what could it be used for?
Critical thinking skills are developed as the child forms questions for you to answer.
Mommy, tell me a bedtime story using each shape you see in my pillow pattern. Daddy, when it is your turn, add to Mommy's story with the pattern you see on Jack's PJ bottoms.
Mommy: Emma, what would be a good title for our story?
Daddy: Jack, make up a different ending to the story.

Patterns by Melanie Greseth of TailorMade by Design: www.SewQuiltCraft.com.

Kids sizes-Xsm-Xlg.

Teens sizes-Sm., Med. & Lg.

UP COMING SNEAK PEEKS: INGENIUS TOYS AND NON-JUVENILE GENIUS PRINTS FOR ROOM DECOR

Translating Fabric Into the Love of Learning

2011-02-02T13:23:00.000-08:00

How do the Grammie and Mimi’s Baby Geniuses lines translate into learning and a love for learning?

Here you see my softbook made from the latest Grammie and Mimi’s Baby Geniuses Speak Up! panel. Neuro-psychology research tells us that bright colors and bold patterns attract baby’s attention and hold her focus as she begins to explore her world. Her concentrated efforts help her interpret what is before her eyes. This is exactly what young children do in nursery school and beyond!

Infants explore by tasting, touching and looking at what they see in their bouncy seat, crib and during ‘tummy time.’ Giggling toddlers begin to turn pages, and toss the softbook. They also love those calming times for lap reading during the day and before bedtime, which fosters that wonderful reading is pleasure feeling early on.

Need a quick baby gift? The softbook is available as a kit on my website, www.lindacarlsonquilts.com You can purchase the full kit with instructions, panel, double sided fusible, rickrack and ribbon. Have fun making the softbook and be sure to see how baby ‘learns’ when you place it in front of her!

Using Quilts For Language Development

2011-01-18T11:37:00.000-08:00

Parents, teachers and anyone involved with older children can also facilitate and enhance their language development using quilts as springboards for story telling as seen in this video featuring Jan Doyle. She has many other terrific ideas, too. Enjoy! http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/on_air/gmc_weekend/family-story-night-with-jan-doyle

Infants and Baby Geniuses Fabric Products

2011-01-12T09:29:00.000-08:00

When deciding what fabrics to purchase for your next baby project, we hope you will consider these points.

Mothers, family members and friends naturally want to promote learning through their gifts to baby.
Scientific studies by medical researchers tell us we can increase baby’s learning ability by as much as 25% through sensory stimulation during the first 3 years of life.

Who wouldn’t want to do this for their children? To make a claim that baby’s intelligence potential can be enhanced by using Baby Geniuses prints may seem like a very bold statement. Reaserchers write that babies prefer bright colors of high contrast, and bold, graphic patterns over pastels. We think our fabric fits that description. Think of the bright colors used in Baby Einstein products and you can see how both are based on sound, educational research.

Note the photo of an infant clearly mesmerized by the high contrasting patterns and bold colors of the folding book in his crib. This visual concentration is a real example of sensory stimulation that increases the number of synapse (nerve cell) connections and thus intellectual ability. Linda has a pattern for this crib book that you can order from her website: http://www.lindacarlsonquilts.com/ .

Please feel free to share your thoughts and personal examples in our blog. And remember, Baby Geniuses fabrics also offer many non-juvenile designs loved by anyone with a passion for bright colors and patterns!

More Smart Talk 1.5.11

2011-01-06T10:04:00.000-08:00

Now that you have baby’s interest drawn to the bright, bold color patterns using any of the Baby Geniuses fabric collections, how does increasing intelligence work?

Neuropsychologists tell us there is about a 3 year ‘window of opportunity’ from birth to stimulate the growth of more synapse connections in the brain. It is a time of rapid brain network development and occurs only once in a lifetime. This growth of brain pathways through sensual stimulation is what translates to curiosity, stronger memory and higher intelligence. When baby’s visual attention is focused on high contrasting colorations, her mind is exploring and beginning to interpret the shapes and patterns. See how the baby in the photo reaches out to touch the large paper SKU rendition of the focus fabric in the first Baby Geniuses collection.

Want to improve your child’s language development skills? Try these “Smart Talk” strategies and questions with babies, toddlers and youngsters. Be creative in ways to use “Smart Talk”.

“Oh, look at this ladybug! See the little legs?”
Point to and trace shapes. “Watch my finger follow the circle (square, star, triangle) path, Jimmy.”
“Now it’s your turn to trace the target circle paths.”
“Where do you see spots?”
“See the smiley face? Show me the eyes.”
“Where is the smiling star?”
Learn color names. “What color is this? Show me a different place where you see yellow.”
“How many times do you see the color red in this pattern?”
Name shapes or colors in a pattern, then ask child what should come next.
“What do you call this kind of line?”

Baby Geniuses fabrics are not just for kids! Art quilters and home decorators love them, too! I once saw a lady in church who made a striking flared skirt from our target material. She added a bandana style belt and looked ‘oh so chic!’

Crib quilt and playtime mat.
Cloth-covered blocks and cloth book
Curtains
Diaper caddy to hang on crib or changing table
Crib skirt and rocking chair pads
Photo albums
Scrapbook page backgrounds and accents
Pictures and frames
Op-art wallhanging in older child’s room
Teen’s bedroom throw pillows
Tote bags
Table runner

Welcome to Baby Geniuses Fabric Blog!

2010-12-31T14:51:00.000-08:00

We are so excited to start a blog that combines what we know about fabric and how to use it to help children learn. Welcome to our discussion!

Grammie and Mimi's Baby Geniuses Fabric Collections by Benartex is a true collaborative effort in fabric design. As co-designers, Linda Carlson,('Grammie') designs patterns, teaches and lectures. Diana Henage, ('Mimi') paints the fabric designs. To see what the twin sisters have created, click on Linda's website, http://www.lindacarlsonquilts.com/ . You may also follow Linda's facebook business page at : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Linda-Carlson-Quilts/110305422368689 .

Let me tell you something you already know and then ask you to think about it in a new way. Everyone's "eye" is visually drawn to bright, high contrasting colors. Colorful advertisements on roadside billboards easily catch your attention as you drive past. Likewise, fabric storefront windows feature color combinations with bold patterns to draw you inside. By combining colors that pop with bold fabric motifs, you create a billboard of visual interest that literally drives the focus of infants through school-aged children.

Skeptical? Neuropsychologists tell us that eye-catching surroundings actually increase a baby's intellectual capacity by helping her focus her attention. A focused attention increases her ability to concentrate. These two skills are essential prerequisites for language development and success in school. Covering a child's room with bright, colorful fabrics of high contrast patterns creates a visually stimulating environment. The side effect is the stimulus for increasing intellectual capacity.

When we proposed this concept to Benartex Inc. of NYC in 2005, they were eager to work with us to combine learning with fabric design. Benartex held a test trial to watch childrens' reactions to the eye-popping colors and patterns. The president of the company asked several employees to bring their infants and toddlers to work one morning. Sure enough, each child's attention was immediately drawn to the bold, bright colors and designs. It was easy to see that they were concentrating and engaged. Visual learning rapidly took place.

Think of all the teaching of language development you can do with these fabrics! Below is a photo that clearly shows how mesmerizing bright, bold colors and patterns are to young children. See how mother and daughter naturally interact and explore the paper SKUs of Grammie and Mimi's Baby Geniuses fabrics.

Have you noticed this phenomena? Ever watch a young child intently focused on bright, bold graphics? Please share with us and join the discussion!

More "Smart Talk" later.