Francine made this decorative piece for her son's room that combines two of my favorite things: maps and type. She did it cheaply, easily and, I think, ended up with an even more attractive letter than the version that inspired her.
Beautiful, yes? If you're looking for me this weekend, try my neighborhood used bookstore where I'll be scouting for some cool maps to try this myself. I'll be looking for either a vibrantly colored map or a local one that has meaning to my family. Would you like to make your own? Francine has documented the process on her blog Callaloo Soup where you can also see the letters that inspired her to try her own hand.
Thanks Francine! Readers, poke around Callaloo Soup, I especially liked her son's handprint Valentines.
(Images: Francine Clouden/Callaloo Soup)
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love this & also love the felt alphabet - anyone know where its from? maybe she made that too?
Really cute. If only I had seen this before I was late and scheduled for a Monday induction. It would have been perfect for my son's travel/geography themed nursery.
love love the felt alphabet...
Love the letter and the felt alphabet! I wonder if those are pockets on the alphabet. If so, you could play a game with your kid where they try to sort little objects into the letters that match the beginning sound of the word (like a matchbox car for the letter C, a barrette for letter B, etc.). I teach kindergarten and have something similar in my classroom--but not nearly as pretty!
Thanks for the lovely comments! I did make the felt alphabet as well, and I will be posting a tutorial for it soon. They aren't pockets though, but that is an awesome idea, wish I'd thought of it. It would also have meant less stitching! :)
I am so inspired by this idea! I am slowly compiling things for my boys' "new" more grown-up room and I'm going with an around-the-world theme. This unique use of maps is just perfect.
Hello, just dropping in to say that I posted a tutorial for the felt alphabet hanging today. http://francineclouden.typepad.com/callaloo_soup/2011/03/tuesday-to-do-felt-alphabet-hanging.html
I too was lusting after the alphabet letters so I made some and popped a tutorial up http://www.instructables.com/id/Customised-Map-Letters-on-the-cheep/ (yes I know I spelt cheap wrong! it won’t let me correct it)
Although I love the map letters I have a bit of a thing for local street maps and so made them with printed ordinance survey maps. I just think that having local letters has such potential for teaching kids about their local neighbourhoods and introducing them to maps.