Training pants

I have just started working on my version of training pants. They are waterproof and I will be making them in pocket style and All-In-One style. They have snaps on the sides in case of emergencies. If you have any questions or suggestions, please let me know! I will be asking for testers in January.

Send your friends!

I need more fans on Facebook so I can do a giveaway! And don't forget I do a lot of custom orders on pocket diapers... So let me know if you see something I've made in one of my photo albums and I can possibly make another similar item. Christmas is coming and cloth diapers and nursing covers make wonderful gifts!

Christmas Diapers- You want one, you know it!

If anyone wants a diaper like this let me know soon so it can be shipped and at your door before Christmas! I will include one hemp+zorb insert for $17, plus $2 shipping. (If you would rather get an overnight hemp+terry trifold insert, it's $19, with $3 shipping.) If I can get 5 orders, I will include a 4 load bag of Clean B with the 5th order!

My next giveaway!

Facebook has changed it's rules and I don't really understand them now, about giveaways. So I will be moving my giveaways here. I will do another one when I reach 20 more sales, 100 blog followers, and 750 Facebook fans. This is going to be a pretty nice giveaway, more than one item this time, so spread the word! The prize will kind of depend on what the winner needs, diaper/breastfeeding-wise. It could be a couple of fitted diapers and a cover, a nursing cover and nursing pads, or a couple of pocket or sleeve diapers!

I almost forgot I had a blog!

But due to Facebooks new rules, I will be using my blog more now- whenever I do a giveaway it will be based here. So keep up! ;)

I should write again, right?

I have been gone for a WHILE! So busy, with my daughter in school (which is making us all sick all the time- GRRRR), my baby, and my toddler- oh and making stuff! I've gotten a lot of diapers done, and a lot of nursing covers too. I even made a few sets of wool dryer balls too!

I will tell you how to make dryer balls now.

For each ball, you need about 50 grams of 100% wool yarn. Lion Brand Fisherman's (or something like that, you'll know it when you see it) wool works well.
Make a small ball (1" around or so) and sew the end of the yarn back into your little ball with a large holed yarn needle.
Repeat for as many balls as you need.
Put all the balls into the leg of a pair of tights you don't really like (or a knee-high, whatever!) and use non-wool yarn to separate the balls (tie between each one and at the end so the one at the open end doesn't fall out).
Then wash and dry them with a load of laundry, in tights as before or in a (tied shut) pillowcase- just not a white one, unless your yarn is white. And don't wash them with diapers (the lanolin in the wool can cause your diapers to repel- but you wouldn't do that anyway, would you? Common sense rules here- wash them in a load of not-so-dirty laundry!)
Then take them out and finish wrapping the yarn into (@50 gram each) balls.
Wash and dry them with another 2-3 loads of laundry.
Keep drying them with your laundry until there is no more sheep smell (another 2-3 dry cycles).
If there are any threads hanging off, cut them. Congratulations! They are ready to use!

Or you can buy some if that's too time consuming for you!

Hardware store adventures!

A couple of months ago I bought a diaper sprayer on EBay. I JUST tried to install it, and guess what? It is a dud. Sprayed water all over the place, and not from where it is supposed to spray from. So I went to the hardware store hoping to get what I needed to fix it. I came out with a whole new setup that cost as much as the original sprayer but isn't as pretty. You live, you learn, I guess. And I can't even get my money back for the unusable sprayer, because it's been too long and EBay doesn't have a record of me buying it anymore. (Insert great big sigh of dissapointment here.)

To-do list...

Stuff is piling up on me! I need to get the house spic and span again, and sew several diapers and inserts... I'm waiting, not so patiently, on fabric and a snap press though, so I can move forward with that. Guess my husband is glad, though, since that means cleaning will take the front seat for a bit! I actually made a to-do list today... But I'm not sharing that!  ;)

Working Wednesday: October 20

I made two fuschia and lime Chickadees pocket diapers (and sold them both already!) and a koi (bright yellow, orange and blue) Ooga Booga pocket diaper this week, along with a pink nursing cover (which has already been claimed). I've got some more things cut and marked for sewing before Saturday so I can be ready for the Farmers Market. I REALLY need to make some inserts to go with the diapers I will have for sale there. I've got some hemp fleece, hemp jersey, and white cotton terry set aside for that. I think I will do some snap-together inserts with that since hemp takes a long time to dry. It's gonna be a busy week if I'm going to have enough things to sell Saturday!

Slight Success

Well... I sold enough to pay for my entry fee and a little more. Granted, this week's entry fee was higher than it will be for a long time!

It's been a long time! I've been so busy...

I've been very busy with sick/allergy ridden kids, not enough sleep, trying to sew enough things to go to the farmers market, and still trying to keep the house reasonably clean. I think I've been doing most of these things halfway! Anyway, tomorrow I will attempt my first farmers market booth in years. I will be thrilled if I sell enough to cover expenses. But hopefully I will get word out about my business and have people calling me back about what they saw! Wish me luck!

My latest diaper creation

Working Wednesday- October 6

Today I am making a Christmas Ooga Booga pocket diaper. I am taking it and some other things in the morning to the Farmers Market Jury to see if I can sell my things at the local farmers market. Hopefully they say yes... Don't see why they wouldn't!

Busy Thursday!

Well, Thursday was a big day! I cleaned a little, and then right after lunch my best friend since forever called and said she was in labor and in the hospital!
I knew I had a little time, as this is her first baby and her contractions weren't really hurting yet.  So I dropped my son off with my mom. Then I  picked my daughter up from school, took her with me to pick up a serger sewing machine, and then dropped her off with her aunt. Then the baby and I drove to the hospital. I had to take the baby because she refuses to take a bottle or eat baby food- she truly believes the Breast is Best!
I got to the hospital at about 3:30. Contractions were 3 minutes apart and hurting more, but not awful. The IV drip contained saline solution and Pitocin. And she was having back labor. As it started to hurt more, I convinced her to sit on the exercise ball and I pushed on her lower back with my fists, which my husband had done to me when I had my back labor with my oldest baby. Her husband cupped her knees so I wouldn't push her off the ball. (Ha ha!) At one point, she got some Stadol injected into her IV but she said it didn't help her with the pain, just made her a little loopy. At 6:00 she was 6 cm. At 7:00 she was ready to push! she pushed from 7:05 to 7:40 or so and out came her perfect little boy!
I have never been in the room for any delivery not my own, so this was all very new for me! It brought a few tears to my eyes! They are going to be wonderful parents.
My daughter (she's 4) wanted to be there for the birth so she stayed on the phone with me the whole time- I told her it was just like being there... My other daughter, the one I had to take with me (5 1/2 months old) was remarkably well behaved! I only had to leave the room once or twice with her, to feed her. Although at 5:30 or so my friend's husband did take over the back-pushing... But that's good. It was his job anyway! :)
I got home just a little after my kids' bedtime- lights out!

Fun Friday!

My kids have no idea I'm taking them to Tweetsie Railroad tomorrow!!! Maybe I better find some sunglasses so we don't get cinders in our eyes!

Trck or Treat with me!

Go to http://www.mamaandruby.com/ to register for tons of great prizes from WAHMs, including me!

Working Wednesday: September 22

This week was the week of the fitted diapers! If I can get my sewing machine to cooperate, I will have 3 more done by tonight, making a total of 13 diapers completed this week. If not, then 10. After I finish that, I will do a couple more nursing covers and some pocket and sleeve diapers. Then I will be out of fabric until my new prints come in! I am so excited to be getting Ooga Boogas, Ice Giraffes, and Chickadees for the outside of lots of pocket and sleeve diapers! I will try and post a pic later of the finished (and unfinished fitted diapers from this week.

I also made a diaper bag and some training pants...

Working Wednesday: September 15

Since I last wrote I haven't made much that I can sell. By that I mean, I've gotten things done, but most of it was just prep work.
I did finish two diapers; a purple and pink sleeve diaper, and a red pocket diaper. I made another purple pocket diaper but haven't put the snaps on yet. I got 3 inserts completed, and loads more cut and ready to sew.
I got the outsides cut for 13 fitted diapers, and the soakers for several of them cut as well. Now I just need to cut the insides and put everything together! I will have Newborn, Small, and Mediums in pink and blue then. The cutting is the tedious part for me. I'll be glad when that's done!
Soon I will be able to stock my store really well.
I've also got plans to go to the local Farmers Market and try to convert the locals to cloth!
I almost forgot! I ordered some business cards yesterday! Can't wait for them to come in!

Whose Team are You On?

A very smart woman (my mother) said today, God and Satan could be considered in a game together. If you are at a ball game you cheer your team on. You are loud, and exuberant, and really care who wins and how well they are doing. Christians are on God's team, right? So... Do you cheer when He does something for you? Or do you take it for granted? To really be cheering for His team, we need to be more gung-ho than most of us are. I know I could work on my cheerleading!

Cloth Chronicles: Pixie Fluff Nursing Cover Giveaway

Cloth Chronicles: Pixie Fluff Nursing Cover Giveaway

Working Wednesday: September 1

This week I think I actually did all I set out to do. I made two nursing covers, five inserts, one pocket diaper and started one and finished another, 4-6 wipes/washcloths, and created a pattern for and made 3 medium fitted diapers! Here is a picture of some of it. I already found homes for the wipes, inserts, pocket diaper, and two fitted diapers before I took the picture! What a productive week!

I hope next week I can do this well again. My plans are: two sleeve diapers, three fitted diapers, and two nursing covers. And the inserts for the sleeve diapers as well. If you like the things you see here, visit my Facebook page by clicking the pixie!

Yet Another Pixie Fluff Giveaway!

I am doing a referral giveaway on Pixie Fluff's page on Facebook. It will run until September 8. The prize is a Pixie Fluff nursing cover.

This is how it will work: go to my Pixie Fluff page (click the Pixie to the left). "Like" it. Then suggest me to your friends (I think a post in your status like "@Pixie Fluff is having a giveaway, tell them I sent you!" would be the way to go.) The person who sends me the most people will win a free nursing cover (also shipped free). The winner will need to tell me if the baby who will be hiding under there is a boy or a girl so I can pick an appropriate color.

Good luck!

Working Wednesday: August 25

I didn't quite get all I wanted to done this past week. But I did get most of it finished! Here is some of what I made:

I made one tie-dye nursing cover, three diapers, one of which is in the laundry right now (but unfortunately no inserts, and some blue and white washcloths (there are more but this represents what they all look like). All of these things have already been claimed by new owners!

Next week I hope to make some more diapers, lots of inserts, and at least two nursing covers!

Tasty Tuesday: Homemade Bread

I have spent years trying to find the perfect bread recipe. As far as I am concerned, I just found it! I got a recipe for Delicious Whole Wheat Bread from Recipes for the future and tweaked it a little. I love it! So here it is:

Combine (in a 1 cup measuring cup):
1/4 c lukewarm water
1/4 tsp sugar
1 Tbsp instant yeast
Stir it and let it rest while you combine:
1 c potato water (make this ahead: boil 2-4 potatoes and save the water)
1/2 c lukewarm milk
2 Tbsp melted butter
3 Tbsp honey
1/4 c nonfat dry milk
When the yeast mixture has foamed up to about 3/4 to 1 cup in the measuring cup, combine the two in a large bowl and add:
3/4 c all purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp salt
Mix well. Then add, gradually:
3 c whole wheat flour.
Knead for 5-10 minutes, adding extra whole wheat flour as needed (probably about 1/4 c more), to keep the dough from sticking to whatever surface you are kneading on (and your hands).
Oil a large bowl, cover loosely with plastic wrap, and let rise 60 minutes or until doubled.
Grease a bread pan. Form the bread into a loaf and place seam side down in the pan. Cover with the same plastic wrap, loosely. Let rise 40-60 minutes or until the dough has risen to 3/4 to 1" above the top of the pan (in the middle of the loaf). Place in a cold oven, set the oven to 350 degrees and set the timer for 15 minutes. When the timer goes off, carefully put aluminum foil over the bread and bake for an additional 45 minutes, or until the loaf sounds hollow when you take it out of the pan and tap the bottom.
Enjoy!

No Judging!

"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgement on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgement do the same things." --Romans 2:1 NIV

I hope not to judge anyone else. I don't want to be judged myself, except by God, in the end. And I hope that He is merciful. I know I am far from perfect. But that is the beauty of God. He loves us for who we are, even if we sadden Him with our actions. We should not worry so much about what other people think of us; only to try to be a good example. In my life, if people look at me and see Jesus sticking out all over, I have done well. Please, Lord, give me the strength to not judge, and to do my best to show You off to those who are watching me.

Working Wednesday- What I Have Planned this Week

This week I plan to make at least two nursing covers, finish one sleeve diaper, make a pocket diaper, make 3 inserts, and some washcloths/wipes. Hopefully I can get even more diapers done than that, but it's hard to do when you've got a lot of little "helpers" trying to cut things and put on snaps! I will try to post some pictures of my work!

Tasty Tuesday: Banana Oat Muffins

This is a recipe I came up with myself. It's really moist and delicious. I don't know the calorie content, but it is made with a lot of healthy ingredients.

Banana Oat Muffins
Preheat Oven to 350 degrees (F)

Mash:
2 bananas

Mix into the bananas:
1/2 cup vegetable spread like Country Crock (melted)
1/4 cup strawberry banana yogurt
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup honey

Then add, a little at a time, without over mixing but until combined:
1 cup whole wheat (or white wheat) flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup quick oats
2 Tbsp wheat germ
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt


Put into greased or lined cupcake pan (makes 12 muffins)
Top with a sprinkle of cinnamon and raw or other coarse sugar.

Bake for about 19 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.

Bargaining Chips

My four year old daughter did not go to preschool today. I went to her room at 6:00 to wake her up so she could catch the bus at 6:40. She would not get dressed or even budge from her bed. Well, not until she heard the bus blow its horn as it went by! I told her this was the first and the last day she was going to do that. Later on I had a light bulb moment. I decided to tell her, since she loves the library so much, that we will go to the library once a week, IF she goes to school EVERY day. (We don't go to the library all that much lately because it is hard with a 2 year old and a baby, and also because we have loads of books at home already.) She said OK, just like that. I wish I had thought of that at six this morning. But I don't think that clearly so early. Getting up this early is new to both of us... I haven't done that in years myself.

The other day I had to look at fabric at the store. In the meantime, my four year old and two year old wanted to play hide and seek in the aisles near me. I am uncomfortable with that, as I am sure most mothers are. So instead, I instigated a search and find game instead, asking them to find snowflakes, butterflies, horses, and so on, on the fabrics next to us. To my utter amazement, it worked!

Thankfulness

"Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done. Sing to Him, sing praise to Him, tell of all his wonderful acts."     -- 1 Chronicles 16:8-9 NIV

We should really than God more for the good things He does for us.

Maybe you're having trouble making ends meet and can't go out to eat, but there is still food on your table. Maybe you don't have food on your table, but there are places you can go to eat.

Maybe you are sick, but at least you're not dying. Or maybe you're dying even, but you have loved ones to lean on. Maybe you're dying, but if you trust in the Lord you will still have everlasting life in a new, healthy self in Heaven.

A lot of people have tough times, but try to remember what blessings God has given you- sing praise to Him- and you will have a lighter heart.

Trying to Lose the Baby Weight

Well I am at it again. I don't like to diet. Food is my friend! Especially chocolate. But chocolate and dieting don't go hand -in-hand very often. I lost the baby weight last year about this time with the Self Challenge. This year I'm starting with Baby Fit. I can't seem to produce a baby without gaining at least 45 pounds. This time it was over 50! I've lost about 25 pounds of that without much effort, but my baby is now just over four months old, and while I'm not extremely impatient yet, I want my body back! So here goes! Maybe Fridays should be Fitness Fridays! It might keep me motivated.

Themes

Thursdays will be Thinking Thursday. Sunday: Spiritual Sunday. Tuesday: Tasty Tuesday. Wednesday: Working Wednesday. If you can think of things for Monday, Friday and Saturday, let me know!
So the thought for the day is this... I'm puzzled. Why, if my daughter is the last person to get on the school bus in the morning, and we live 25 minutes from her school, which starts at 8:00, does she have to get on the bus at 6:40? Does it really take the bus that much longer to get to school than it does my car? It's a good thing she wakes up easily!

Giveaway

When my Facebook fan page reaches 500 fans I will be giving a nursing cover away to one lucky winner!

My First Post!

Hello and welcome to Pixie Fluff! I am a stay at home mom of 3.167 kids; two boys and two girls. This is an exciting day for me because today my odest daughter started pre-k. She had a great day! I'm so proud of her! Needless to say, I haven't gotten a lot of things done lately as far as making diapers and nursing covers... I've been focusing on getting her ready to start school. But once we're in the swing of things I think I will be quite productive. Until next time!