Thursday, March 25, 2010

Kiddo Travel Desk: Thanks MerMag!

Made this on on Monday for Beeper--an uber-handy-dandy travel desk for kiddos. Check out all the cool features...
...handy pockets to hold a gaggle of markers, and anything else you want to zip into a little pocket...
...an applique monogram so your kid will not confuse his travel desk with anyone else's in the car, plus nice button and loop closures for the EXTRA pockets that reside behind other pockets (yes, that's right, pockets on pockets...oh the stuff you can stow...)
...and even more handy pockets on the other side to hold more stuff and a water bottle if you want...
...and while I forgot to take a photo of it, this is the pillow that slides into the pocket on the backside of the desk, under the board that sits in there too. This means you can remove the board and the pillow at will so you can launder the desk when your kiddo spills his grape juice all over it (oh, and did you note the convenient carrying handle pictured in the first photo?)...
And you can make one too! Simply visit Merrilee's blog--MerMag--where you can find her tutorial on how to make a travel desk like the one she made for her own kiddo (see more photos of her desk design here).

I did make some small modifications to Merrilee's design--1) appliqued the desktop initial instead of embroidering it 2)did not make the pockets slotted to hold individual pencils--I wanted my pockets to be deep and big enough to hold a handful of markers or crayons so they could be at the ready for Beeper to color (when you color everything in rainbow colors just 4 crayons will not do) 3) I made my slot for the desk board big enough to accommodate a pillow insert (then skipped the step of creating a stuffed pillow pocket to the desk)--what I love about this particular modification is that I sewed a cotton fleece cover for the pillow insert so it can do double-duty as an actual pillow when pulled out from the travel desk slot.

And I have to tell, you we put it to use last night during our 10 hour drive to central Illinois (doing time with the in-laws), and it worked beautifully--Beeper colored and did dot-to-dots and played with his monster magnets and then ate his dinner on it...this travel desk comes highly recommended by 2 out of 2 moms (um, that would be me and Merilee).

12 comments:

Christina said...

What an awesome idea! I love it and will bookmark it because I think a little desk like this would come in handy on one of our long-road-trip-with-children vacations. : )

Sarah said...

This is great! Adding this to my to-do list!

eatmoresmores said...

I've made this travel desk for both of my children and can attest to the fact that its awesome. My in-laws are an 8 hour drive from home and it provides a LOT of entertainment time for my 2 and 4 year olds on those trips. Your's looks great!
Alice

Liz @ LivingMySweetLife said...

i am so making one of these!! thanks!

Colleen said...

Yea... I have to make one too! My little one is getting to the age where this would be perfect for out long car trips! Thanks for posting this awesome idea!

Amanda Pedro said...

Oh this is a great idea. my kids used the 2 baking sheets i threw in the car at the last minute on our 26 hour drive. Should we be crazy enough to do it again, I would just have to make these!
thanks for sharing

Sara said...

how fantastic! I love your version, my two would love these.

Love your felt books too. So cute!

Unknown said...

how cool. what's the name of the drawing book on there?

Holly said...

The red coloring book is The Boy's Doodle Book-a creative coloring book that engages kids to add to the picture rather than just coloring something in. It is a great coloring book. The two small coloring books were ones I made for Beeper using my how to make a little coloring book tutorial--you can find it in my project downloads.

Colleen said...

I wanted to let you know that I made my little guy a lap desk. Due to time shortages during our move I didn't get the post done until now. :) Thanks for sharing!

http://sewtheday.blogspot.com/2010/08/travel-lap-desk.html

mer said...

you did a great job! glad to be of some inspiration.

xo
Mer

DanishAmericanCouple said...

I mentioned this idea on my blog. Onetwoplusmeandyou.blogspot.com

Thanks for the inspiration.
-Kelly