New Style

Here's a little preview of my new single snap turned & topstitched pad....I've agonized over this single snap style for a while.  I love my double snap style so much, but then I realized this could be just something else I offer, for the foreseeable future I'll still continue to make and stock my double snap pads as well as serged pad and now these too!  The pads pictured are 9", 10" and 11" long, I have to admit I'm reluctant to draft a 12" single snap size, my 12.5" size is my favourite.  I'm sure I'll give it a try, I just need to think through a bit more.

Here's a peek at the wetbags I'll be stocking today too.  I'm hoping to get them all listed today.  I'll also be listing some serged pads too, these pads are wonderful...several serged pads have made there way into my personal stash too!  I found some pink and blue minky scraps and used them to make these pads, I won't be making this style often but I do like that I can squeeze some extra fabric out of my scrap basket and make something a little different too :)  

Overcast & Snowy

It's overcast and snowy here today which surprisingly gave be perfect lighting for my stock pictures (stock pictures are easily my most dreaded shop task) these ones turned out nicely though.  I've got a mix of turned and topstitched pads and serged pads to list.  And here's some previews...

I'll be listing them tomorrow morning after the two oldest are off to school.  I've had a busy week of organizing and tidying and trying to get back to stocking up the freezer.  Our deep freezer was so packed leading up to Christmas that I couldn't put anything new in, so now that there's some space again I'm getting my stock of bone broths, bread, soups, and quick re-heat meals like stews, chili, and spaghetti sauce packed back in.  I realized today that I'll be back to making school lunches tonight,  I better get them done early so I can watch the season premier of Downton  Abbey....hopefully the kids co-operate!

Pads with PUL

I was able sew up some pads with PUL last week.  I'll be adding them to my shop this evening, maybe sooner if I can steal a few more minutes at the computer this afternoon.  I also have some wet bags to add, in some great prints that I am out of now.  

 Some of these listings will be limited, because they're fabrics that I've run out.  I'm slowly starting to rebuild a stash of fabrics, I've hardly bought any fabrics in the last several months.  I will be adding them to my flickr gallery as I pick them up.

I meant to cut and sew some 12.5 inch pads (I love this size for overnights) but I accidentaly cut my 13.5 inch pattern instead, so I have four of this size (in different prints) to add to the shop.  I rarely cut this size for instock, but there they are!

 This guy is a double pocket wet bag, the last of this print.

New Wet & Dry Bags

Aren't these pretty? They're also very practical. These are wet/dry bags, after having a couple of custom requests for these (and making myself one) I decided to add them to my Etsy shop.

The front zippered pocket is lined with cotton (great for storing clean, dry pads) the top zippered section is lined with PUL to contain messy stuff. And of course you can hang it.

Use them for your cloth pads, cloth diapers, and family cloth. This bag is going to be very handy when potty learning starts, and for the pool/beach.

11" size re-drafted (again)

While working on a custom order a few weeks ago (for some 12.5" pads) it occurred to me that it would be great to re-draft my 11" pattern with a touch more flare to it. I hope you like it! It's not a huge flare, the back flare measures just a smidge wider now at 4.5".

I have three of these new 11" pads to list in my Etsy shop, plus a few other pads. Rowan *just* woke from a much shorter than normal nap so the listings will show up a bit slower than I'd hoped, sigh.

Using the heat

I finally brought our drying rack up from the basement to start drying clothes by the wood stove. I thought this was going to be an awful chore but I'm finding it very easy. I've done lots of indoor clothes drying but as a family of five I thought it would be a major pain. It's not though, and I'm only using my dryer about 1x per 1.5-2 days. Compared to my normal 2-3x per day! Plus the dryer doesn't seem to be running that well so I was sometimes needing to run the dryer 2x for a load (not something this frugal mama likes to do!) Even the diapers go on the rack. I'm sure we'll see savings on our next electricity bill. I still use the dryer to dry all the diaper wipes, dish cloths, socks, and family cloth etc. Hanging all those little things would be a bit too much for me!

Our wood stove has paid for itself in less than a season, we're so happy that we (Bill) put it in. We've even got enough wood to get us through most of next winter too, it's a good feeling. We were shocked by our heating bills last winter. The furnace is original to the house (so about 30 years old) and it's electric. Our bills were just shocking, we managed to get through but the wood stove was a necessity.

Now, a quick stocking update...

I'm busy with custom orders, but I'm sewing them up as they come in, I'll add bits of stock to my shop here and there. I added some wool backed pads to my Etsy shop today and I've got a few more pads to add in the coming days but my computer is running painfully slow today so I need a break! Here's a peek at some :)

Finally...news!

I'm later on this than I expected but here's the news, maybe I've worked this up a little bit too much but I'm excited! It's a new slightly smaller pantyliner. County Cloth liners have been in the 7" size and I knew I needed to add something smaller because I needed a shorter liner myself. Here they are, our new 6.25" liner!

There's a few in my Etsy shop already and I've got more to add over the weekend.
These pretties are some 8.5" cotton topped pads for a trade. This is a good trade, I'll be getting some much needed new WAHM made yoga pants...can't wait!

I made these liners for myself, two of them are the new 6.25" size and one is the 7" size. I backed mine with velour and flannel. We're 20 months into breastfeeding with no sign of my period returning (yet) so I just needed something that's barely there.

Phew, it was a busy sewing week. I was only able to get this many done because my mother in law was here helping out. This coming week I'll post my holiday crafting list, we had snow yesterday so it's really feeling like the crunch is starting.

oh my!

I got the sweetest email from a customer last night, so sweet I have to share it because it made a great day even better!

"Your pads are unbelievably comfortable. I'm new to cloth pads and really had my doubts about them working for me. Yours work so well I'm changing them less than the store bought super maxis. I can't believe there is no leaking especially out the sides, that was always a problem for me. The fabrics you chose are perfect, I love the patterns and colors.Your pads are unbelievably comfortable. I'm new to cloth pads and really had my doubts about them working for me. Yours work so well I'm changing them less than the store bought super maxis. I can't believe there is no leaking especially out the sides, that was always a problem for me. The fabrics you chose are perfect, I love the patterns and colors." ~j~

how kind! It's always nice when I get such wonderful feedback. This email also reminded me of how reluctant I was to try cloth pads way back (5 or 6 years ago!). I was also so surprised that cloth pads can actually work better than disposable pads. I thought I'd have to change them more often, that they'd be gross and smelly. Those are all myths. The idea that disposable is the way to go has been worked into our brains for the last two to three generations....just know that you have options ladies...pretty options!

Here's another custom order that's on it's way to Australia. It's a mix of 13.5" and 12.5" sizes in minky and flannel.

Happy World Breastfeeding Week!

I've been wanting to create a post in honour of World Breastfeeding Week, I've has some unique breastfeeding experiences between my two children that are probably worth sharing and one day I'll post them. Today though I'd like to share my two most favorite things about nursing our 17 month old daughter....how she plays with her fingers while she doses off nursing and my most favorite is when she's nursing during the night she rolls over and snuggles into me when she's done

To celebrate World Breastfeeding Week I'm offering two pairs of washable flannel nursing pads in my Etsy shop as a Pay It Forward listing. All you pay is the listing fee of 20 cents and the shipping...enjoy and happy breastfeeding!
Here's a little peek at some wetbags I'll be listing later on today....