New Fitted Diapers for LoveBums

So I've been experimenting with some new fabrics and new techniques for some of my diapers.  I think I've got a new fitted diaper down, and I'll (hopefully) be ready to sell some of these pretty soon.  I finished this diaper yesterday, and I'm really happy with how it fits - so glad I have a baby to fit it on :)

Ok, so here's the stats:

This diaper is made out of 4 layers of 100% organic cotton fleece (so soft!!) - 2 diaper layers, and 2 soaker-pad layers.  100% organic cotton French Terry is another option that feels very similar - the same weight of fabric, and also very soft.  They both feel like your favorite sweatshirt!  Stitched and serged on edges for durability and no raveling.
6 snaps in the front.











Soaker pad is a "flap-style" - sewn in, but only on the top edge, so it "flaps" around while in the dryer, therefore drying faster.

Elastic at legs and waist, to help contain messes.







And I know you want to see this on a baby...

Isaiah is about 11.5 lbs. right now, and this is a size small that should fit 10-20 lbs.  The smallest snap setting fits, but is starting to get snug.

              

Not super-bulky, so it's easy to move around in, but the absorbency is very good.  Isaiah wet in it twice before I could even feel that it was damp, and at his normal diaper-change time, it was wet, but didn't feel totally soaked.

     Hugs the legs without being too tight.

Doesn't it just make you want a fluffy bum at home?

These will sell for $10 (the French Terry fitted would be $8 - less expensive fabric).  Most fitted diapers you find are well above that (about $15) for different sizes, and one-size fitted diapers are more like $20.  I think that's crazy.  And remember that all of my proceeds will be going toward making diapers for those that need them!!

I'll be ordering a bunch of supplies (hopefully) this week.  So I'll be making these ready-to-sell very soon! :)

Let me know what you think!!

This and That

I need to catch-up on some stuff.

First, Neil built a fabulous bunk-bed for the kids.  Twin on top, Full on bottom.  He got plans online for like $10, ordered all the hardware online too, then just had to buy wood at Lowe's, make cuts, sand each part, and put it all together.  Neil ended up making it for less than half of what we could have bought the same thing for.  We had a guy at church, who paints for a living, volunteer to paint the beds for us as a "new baby" present.  It Blessed us tremendously, because it saved Neil a lot of time!  So we were able to get the beds up faster so the kids could adjust to being in the same room sooner.  We painted them a light cream color to match the double dresser that we already had - both of which would be in the room with 2 kids :)  The only thing left to do is the drawers that serve as under-bed storage, that will store much, much more than these baskets do.

Isn't it great??
I made the duvet covers and curtains too.  I know...they're kinda plain...but since I don't know the sex of the baby yet...and therefore what two kids would be sharing a room (2 boys or 2 girls?) I figured I'd go with something plain and gender neutral and dress it up later, if needed.  The cool thing is that I made both duvet covers and the curtains for a grand total of about $28.  yup.  I bought flat sheets from walmart.  For the duvet covers, I sewed 2 twin flat sheets together and 2 full flat sheets together - then added snaps at the bottom for an opening, so they can be taken off and washed easily.  For the curtains, I bought 2 more twin-size flat sheets, hemmed the bottom, and made a pocket at the top.  Super easy.  Plus, it gave me an excuse to use my new snap press...

I'm way excited about this thing.  It will make my life so much easier when it comes to putting snaps on diapers.  I had the pliers, but they seriously start hurting my hand after a while...and with this baby the snaps come out perfect every time.  amazing contraption.  I'm loving it!
I'll be using it a lot here in the near future...

...and that reminds me to update on LoveBums.
Here's what I've come up with so far for my logo/clothing tags for the diapers/ministry:

Feedback please!  Should I put a website (my Etsy store site, when I get it) instead of the subtitle for advertisement?  or should I have both? any other thoughts/suggestions?  Anything would be appreciated.
Other than that, I've been working on tweaking my patterns, experimenting with new fabrics, figuring out costs/ how much to charge for them, etc.  Soon I'll be ordering a LOT of fabric to start working on diapers as I have time...until I feel like it's the right time to kick-off an Etsy store and start-up this ministry.  I am super-excited about it all.

I've officially (and successfully) made my first AIO (All-in-one) diaper!

It's waterproof PUL on the outside, 2 layers of 100% organic natural (not bleached) cotton on the inside, Side snaps - super-adjustable w/ 5 snap settings that don't touch baby's skin! With 2 rows of snaps, you can adjust it to be larger in the legs than the tummy, or vice versa.

Elastic legs and waist.  The waist elastic is larger for more comfort. 

On the inside, there is a flap-style soaker made of two more layers of the same fabric (sewn-in but also much easier to wash and dry). 
I had to do some tweaking to my original pattern (after trying it on a baby to get a real feel for it) to get the fit just right, but I think this one has a fabulous fit now :)  I wish you could feel how SOFT the fabric is on the inside...ooolala!

Praise the Lord for Vision!!

The past couple of years, I feel like I've been in this slump.  Lack of vision seems to have been the culprit.  I know that being a full-time mom is my God-ordained #1 ministry.  Ministering to my children should come before any other ministry in which I take part.  However, I also know that God didn't create me to be simply a wife and a mother.  He created me to use my gifts, talents, and abilities to minister to others as well.  He has a plan and purpose for me, Pam, outside of my "wife" and "mom" titles.  The question of how I can be both a full-time mom AND do something out in the world for the kingdom has been a struggle for me, yet I knew deep-down that it was possible.

Over the past couple of months, God has started to put various things on my heart.  More questions than anything.  But over the course of this past week or two, God has totally bombarded me with a very real, very specific vision for what he wants me to do for his kingdom.

Many people (MANY) - over the past 2 years - have told me that I should sell the diapers that I make on Etsy.  I never really took them seriously, simply because I couldn't see myself setting all that time aside to work on diapers, when I don't really need the cash - and I didn't want it taking away from the time I needed to spend with my kids.  It just seemed selfish to me.

However, at the same time, I've been wondering how I could use making diapers as a ministry.  I thought about teaching other ladies to make them...or making some for people that couldn't really afford them...

Then BAM!  It all just kinda came together.  So this is the vision:

I'm going to sell diapers/ diaper covers/ training pants on Etsy for the going price (on the low-end of that going price, most likely...some people charge insane amounts for them - ridiculous!).
Because they sell for way more than what it costs to make them, I am going to use all the proceeds that I make on Etsy to fund making diapers for people that can't afford them.  I know that there are people out there that have to cut back on groceries, simply because they have to buy diapers. 
For each diaper/cover I sell, I should be able to make about 4 or 5 for people who need them.

How will I give them out?
That's where networking comes in.
1. crisis pregnancy centers.  I volunteered at one in college.  Most have a program where they take donated items and put them in a store.  Moms can then earn points doing various things (going to prenatal appointments, parenting classes, etc.) and can use those points to buy things in their "store".  I figure if someone needs diapers, cloth is the best way to go, because you don't have to keep buying them!  So my first goal is to talk to the crisis pregnancy center here, in town, and see if they would want any for their store, and go from there.

2. I'm also wanting to talk to my midwife about it - both for getting the word out about the Etsy store (for funding purposes) AND for if there is anyone that needs diapers and can't afford them, so I can give them some!

3. There's also Mission Granbury, Mission Arlington, shelters, etc. that I could go to as well...the list could go on and on...

Timing, of course, is important.  With me being less than 2 months away from having a baby right now, I know that now is not the best time to go full-force into this.  Plus, there's some groundwork that I need to cover first.
So, for now, the plan is to lay the groundwork, do the networking, and order a ton of diaper-making materials, and make diapers as I have time - so they are ready to sell when I feel it's the right time to begin.  God has given me the vision that I asked for, and I'm busting at the seems to follow through - I just have to be patient now :)

oh, and I've been thinking of what to call this vision.  So far, this is what I've come up with:

Love Bums
Showing love to the world one bum at a time...

because...Those that buy diapers, are actually donating/ showing love to others though their support.  And those that receive the donated diapers, are on the receiving end of that love.

What do you think about the name?  Too cheesy?  Just right?  some feedback would be great on that one! 

Can I just say that I am super-excited about this??