Starting a home based business is a dream many cherish, but it is easier said than done. This is the story of a mom who has done just that. Hope it inspires more of us who have been wanting to do something for ages but are afraid to take that first step.
Priya first chanced upon Quiet Books online on Pinterest and wanted one for her daughter, Meera. She realized there wasn’t any available in India and decided to make one herself. A lot of months, procrastination and difficult handiwork later, she had made one simple cloth book. Then something happened, she felt so wonderful for having created it and it gave her daughter hours of enjoyment.
What is a quiet book? A quiet book is a series of fabric “pages” containing quiet activities to entertain small children. These homemade activity books can be used while travelling, during ceremonies, or whenever you want to keep your child entertained.
It dawned on her that this was the perfect opportunity as there was nothing of the kind available on the market. Since leaving her job at KPMG, she had been scouring for something to start on her own. She says, “I did not even know how to sew a button but I did not want to let this chance go“.
The learning curve was steep in the beginning. She had to learn everything from scratch: what fabrics to use, what were the fabrics called in the local language, the local languages itself(Hindi & Marathi), where to source materials from, and make the product toddler-proof. And finally, learn how to sew on tiny shapes and designs and make sure it looks professional. “It is not like sewing pants, it involves slow intricate work“. Everything was self-taught. Then came the battle to convert the craft into a business. Numbers and margins almost had her backing out. Convincing women to work for her as opposed to a tailor and teaching them to do it to perfection was yet another hurdle.
In the end, it was all worth the effort. The result was the launch of her own online business “Cubs & Calves“. Her books are so beautiful. They provide hours of playtime & learning for your kid and is sure to impress you as well. Look at this video to know what I mean.
Currently, she is planning to expand by setting up a factory in Delhi. We wish her all the very best in all her efforts.
This is a very inspirational story. Thank you so much for sharing it, and for teaching us about these books. Congratulations to their creator.
Thank you:)
What a lovely idea! Wonder why nobody had thought of it before. The sense of touch is a great way to learn, and I am glad that Priya made one for herself, and paved the way for a business.
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There are a lot of moms doing this in other countries. This is one of the first I have come across here. Also, it takes a lot of time and patience to get a good looking product!
Wow! this is neat. I must order a few for my nephews and neices – thanks for the share Namy!
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You definitely should:) They are lovely.
I found these Books when I became a Mother and was trying to find some busy activities for Babies. They really fascinated me but did not try them till yet. Thanks for introducing us to Priya.
It is difficult to find this in India currently and I was really inspired by her drive & enthusiasm
Fabric books can be a real labor of love. Interesting to know someone is making quiet books in India!
I tried making one before for my son and did not have the patience after a couple of pages. That’s why I appreciated her work so much.
Never heard of that. Very unique and sure a great thing for children to explore. Thank you for sharing!
It is unique indeed! And very engaging for children