Nursing pads

Are you noticing a theme?  

Yes, I'm on a major sewing and getting ready for baby kick. 

I had registered for some reusable nursing pads.  It cost $10-15 for six pads.  It made me feel bad to ask someone to buy circles of cloth for that.  So I read up on it and made some out of two old shirts, a microfiber towel scrao and some fleece scraps.  It cost me $0.50 for the scraps I had left over from other projects.

Layers- blue fleece, 4 layers of T-shirt and the light blue microfiber towel in them middle. 

 First I drew five inch circles on a pile of fabric.  Then I pinned and zigzagged around them twice.

Cut carefully

Done. The blue microfleece will wick so I'll be dry.  The other side is white. 

Cloth Diaper

I have decided to use cloth diapers with our new little guy coming in December.

I enjoy saving money, maybe more than spending it!

I like spending on experiences, vacations and family times, but I really don't like spending money on things I throw away.  Things like paper towels, expensive toilet paper, zip top bags, paper cups and plates are wonderful to have, but annoying because I'm essentially paying for something to use one time and throw away. 

As I think on the coming years of baby wonder, I don't relish the idea of spending hundreds of dollars on diapers and wipes to let baby make a mess on and then throw away.   I would so much rather work a little more to wash and save up and buy a plane ticket to see my precious family in California and Arizona.

So I began my quest of cloth diapering.  Man, there are many options!  It's not grandma's diaper and pins anymore, thankfully!

As I sorted through these piles of options, I was shocked to see how much diapering could cost.  The point of using cloth is to save money right?!

Some diapers were so expensive that I couldn't imagine spending all the money up-front to save money eventually.

So I googled and read and found that I can make my own diapers. I dusted off the old Singer and got to work. I did buy some materials, but mostly I upcycled fabric!

I bought some water proof covers for them to keep all dry and tidy.

This is a fitted diaper.  I made it out of Grandma Smith's towels.

I lined it with new fleece so that baby will feel dry! Added elastic for a better fit.

I left the pocket open so I can add a more absorbency if needed.

This funky pattern is called a Quick Flap Wrap Snap- you fold in those wings to make a soaker-

OFWS folded up.

Upcycling

That is such a nice word that means to reuse something to make something new.

Perfect idea for people who love second hand shopping, like me!

I am a no nonsense thinker and also I am a thrifty (read cheap!)

Yesterday at the thrift store, I found a big ole bag of 6.5" quilt squares. It looked like someone planned to make a T-shirt and flannel quilt and then decided to donate it to the thrift store instead.

What did I see?  Upcycled cloth wipies!

 

Today I sewed 35 double sided wipes! I just zigzaged around he edge and trimmed close to the seams.  I think the knit will wash great.  Hubby won't be using these to change baby, but I figured I could use them and save a few dimes for airfare and vacations instead.  Priorities you know!

Overwelming gratitude

Today I'm so thankful for what I have and the things I've been given. God's blessings are so evident.

Fall is my favorite season and because of years of school and teaching it reminds me to take stock of all I have, organize anew and prepare for the year.  It is more motivating to me than New Year's or Spring cleaning. :)

I love my town: small streets, each with a sidewalk with fall leaves floating down from the trees above.  love!

My kid's sweet teachers: helping me to raise them giving me sweet reprieve and a time for renewing.
 
My home and all that fills it:  No nonsense things that never go out of style like cast iron frying pans and old fashioned arm chairs I found and fixed up.

My dear children:  I love checking on them at night; seeing their beautiful angel faces and having that sweet time to pray for them and remember that everything is going to be OK, no matter how hard the day may have been.

 My sweet husband: and his patience for me.  That guy knows me and all my crap, and still loves me, how can it be?

New blogs to start again fresh.  I hope to be an encouragement here to love what you have, live how you need to and realize that not "everyone is doing it" and that the "Jones'" don't matter. 

A joyous day to you!