Keeping Quiet in the Pew

With 7 children of our own, it has been obvious that some productive entertainment is necessary for many families to have along in the church pew at Mass, weddings, funerals and other services. In the past year I've been developing products that are great Catholic accessories to have in your own church bag - or "Quiet in the Pew" bags as I've named them. Items that will enrich their experience of the Mass, not deter from it.

Catholic Seek and Find Card Set

  

Each set of 30 colorful and child-friendly cards comes as a Digital (PDF) File for you to print as many times as needed. (I currently do not have these premade to ship on my shop).

Catholic Seek & Find Cards 14pg PDF File

For Personal Use $8.00 USD For Classroom Use $10.00 USD

More ideas to add to your bag can be found here:

Quiet in the Pew Bags

I've really enjoyed sewing many totes over the past years, including a little more than a dozen for our parish. These are holding all the fun Catholic books and activities they need to keep occupied and engaged in the Mass. They also make great gifts for Baptism and First Communion.



This bag is a basic quilted front panel (Fabric: Timeless Treasures "God Gave Us") with a corduroy back panel. Lined inside with fleece for softness and padding. Both styles of bags are padded so there is no thumping on the wood pew throughout the Mass, wedding or funeral.

These bags are easy to make with pre-quilted fabric, ribbon handle and a Christian fabric top edge. 

These may be available in my Modest Mommies Etsy Shop,

filled with the custom items I've designed. Visit my shop - or request a special order!

The Church Bag Stand

And finally, for those who wish to have these in your home parish, we designed a church bag stand that is inviting and functional for holding all those great quiet bags! I couldn't find anything I liked online, to purchase or ideas from other churches. So I made one up myself! A Modest Mommies original.

"Let the children come to me…"  Mark 10:14

I would like to price these for sale, but until I have a spare moment for woodworking.... I thought I'd share the basic design. It's more important that these are available in churches around the world. Please excuse my casual, non-carpenter descriptions!

*This design is copyrighted, this design/pattern is not to be made to sell without permission. However, you may make it for your home or a church donation as we did.

First, build your cross.

1. Using a 10 ft 4x4, cut a 4.5' section (verticle), and a 4' section (horizontal).

2. Line up the horizontal piece 2ft down on the verticle piece. Mark board width on both pieces.

3. See photo for layout. Cut to interlock, cutting half way into the 4x4 the width of your pencil marks. Make it a tight fit.

4. Do any joint sanding now.

5. Piece two sections together, with wood glue in the joint. No screws. (A rubber mallet helps)

6. Sand again, rounding edges.

7. Drill a hole in the bottom of the cross in order to insert a long bolt from the base into the cross.

Next, build your base.

8. Cut two sheets of 1/2in MDF to 2'x2' and screw together.

9. Drill a 1/4" hole in the middle. Put bolt through hole in base and into the cross. Add long screws in corners for stability.

10. Layer 2x4s on top of base. Add mitered trim around cross base.

11. Use home base trim around the sides, and caster wheels on the bottom.

12. Woodburn if desired. Sand and Varnish entire piece.

13. Add hooks on bottom side of horizontal 4x4. Add posts on front and back for extra hanging. These are actually coat hangers and shelf brackets found at Menards.

14. Our finishing touch was an invitational sign so people knew what it was.

I hope you've enjoyed these ideas and products to keep yours or other children content and Quiet in the Pew! Please comment with a link if you've seen these items in your church, if you'd like to order something, or have seen similar posts.

God Bless!

GIVEAWAY PRIZE No1

It is the season of Lent and First Reconciliations. A time for spiritual renewal and further study of God's purpose in our lives. With that in mind I'd like to help you teach your children, at home or in religion class, about the Mass. I've created a bright and fun illustrated set of flash cards about the parts of the Mass as well as people and objects in it. Take this chance to win

A FREE DIGITAL DOWNLOAD GIVEAWAY

of my Catholic Seek and Find Cards set

for you and a friend!

For a chance to win, leave a comment on my Facebook post about the Giveaway and tag a friend! One comment per friend tag please, only 2 will win. Drawing will be this Sat 2/21/2015.

It's a great addition to your child's church bag or religion lessons. This is a digital file. Print and enjoy with your whole family or classroom these brightly illustrated cards and Bingo game about the Catholic Mass and Spiritual Gifts. 42 original images used on 13 pages of printables are included for personal/classroom use. Print as many as you need, refresh your current copies when children wear them out.

We've included these in our children's church totes to help them "Keep Quiet in the Pew." You can cut and laminate these, hole punch with a ring, or bind with a rubber band. Any way, these have kept many kids in our church (incl my own) busy for a good portion of the Mass. All the while learning about Catholic symbols, the Liturgy, Sacramentals, Sacraments, and Holy Men and Women.

Plushie Peeps

I found an online tutorial to make plush marshmallow peeps bunny, a perfect toddler gift for Easter. I wanted to share it with you, as it is simple and fun to sew!
The bunny is about the size of an adult hand when complete. I found that stuffing it firmly, it will have more wear and looks best.
 

Go to this website for a printable pattern and instructions:

http://dandelionsandlace.blogspot.com/2011/03/marshmallow-bunny-plushie.html


http://dandelionsandlace.blogspot.com/2011/04/marshmallow-chick-plushies.html

Rosary Hangers and Lenten Crosses

While looking around at the options for rosary holders, I really came short.  I came across these inexpensive wood crosses just before lent.  

I had the kids “Carry their Cross” around during lent, especially to the Friday Stations. It was worn and dirty, and sometimes to them it weighed a hundred pounds. We put the crosses away for Holy Saturday. Then on Easter Sunday we decoupaged them adding a hook to make rosary hangers from them.

Find these crosses at your local craft store.