EtsyKids BOGO sale starts tomorrow

and ends shortly thereafter so get your goods while they're cheaper than usual.

Details:
Friday October 24th and Saturday October 25th be a part of a massive Etsy Street Team event. With over 175 EtsyKids’ shops participating you’ll be sure to find huge deals on what you need this holiday season for children big and small.

Get your shopping list ready today and beat the crowd by previewing the entire list of EtsyKids shops taking part in this colossal event.

My sale is Buy One item, Get the Second Half off. Before paying, wait for a revised invoice reflecting the new price and probably a better shipping price.

A La Mode Fabric - http://alamodefabric.etsy.com/

Ali Bug Bowtique - http://www.alibugbowtique.etsy.com/

Baby Friendly Beads - http://bfbeads.etsy.com/

Baby Hangers - http://www.babyhangers.etsy.com/

Baby Kay's - http://www.babykaysboutique.etsy.com/

Baby Peas And Carrots - http://www.babypeasandcarrots.etsy.com/

Bam Designs - http://bamdesigns.etsy.com/

Black Eyed Susie - http://www.blackeyedsusie.etsy.com/

Boo Roo's Bowtique - http://www.booroosbowtique.etsy.com/

Bossy Baby - http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5430401

Bows & Things - http://www.bowsandthings.etsy.com/

Bumble Belly Designs - http://bumblebellydesigns.etsy.com/

Chichi Boulie - http://www.chichiboulie.etsy.com/

CiCi Art Factory - http://www.cicifactory.etsy.com/

Ciuccio - http://www.ciuccio.etsy.com/

Coco and Milk Weed - http://www.cocoandmilkweed.etsy.com/

Cozy Cabin Creations - http://www.cozycabinmom.etsy.com/

Cute And Sweet - http://cuteandsweet.etsy.com/

Daisy Chains - http://daisychains.etsy.com/

Deedaloos - http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5137032

Dine.N.Doodle - http://lilbdesigns.etsy.com/

Doodies Booties - http://www.doodiesbooties.etsy.com/

Doodle Designs - http://doodledesigns.etsy.com/

Ellie Beans - http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5202542

Flora and Nicole's - http://www.flowernicky.etsy.com/

Francisbel Boutique - http://www.francisbel.etsy.com/

Going-Ga-Ga - http://goinggaga.etsy.com/

Grandmas Girl - http://www.grandmasgirl.etsy.com/

Griffin Gear - http://griffingear.etsy.com/

Happy House Quilts - http://happyhousequilts.etsy.com/

Hip Kids Tye-Dye - http://www.hipkidstyedye.etsy.com/

Hot Fudge - http://www.hotfudge.etsy.com/

Hullabaloo Boutique - http://www.hullabalooboutique.etsy.com/

I Luv U TuTu Much - http://iluvututumuch.etsy.com/

Itsy Bitsy Bunny - http://www.itsybitsybunny.etsy.com/

Jennifer's Bows and More - http://www.jennifersbowsnmore.etsy.com/

Jus Shar Designs - http://psbbdesigns.etsy.com/

Kaching Design - http://www.kachingdesign.etsy.com/

Kathy's Lil Creations - http://www.kathyslilcreations.etsy.com/

Katie Bean Kids - http://www.katiebeankids.etsy.com/

KeiKi Boutique - http://www.keikiboutique.etsy.com/

Kim's Stitch In Time - http://www.kimsstitchintime.etsy.com/

Kissie Girl - http://www.kissegirl.etsy.com/

Knit Style - http://knitstyle.etsy.com/

Lemon Cadet - http://www.lemoncadet.com/

Lilly Rose Bow Company - http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5095159

Little Bird Creations - http://www.littlebirdcreations.etsy.com/

Little Bit Designs - http://www.girliemomma.etsy.com/

Little Butterbeans - http://www.littlebutterbeans.etsy.com/

Little Duckies - http://littleduckies.etsy.com/

Little Empress - http://www.littleempress.etsy.com/

Lizzypops - http://lizzypops.etsy.com/

Loco Mo Momma - http://www.locomomomma.etsy.com/

Loopy 4 Ewe - http://loopy4ewe.etsy.com/

Love 2 Sparkle - http://www.love2sparkle.etsy.com/

Luca Bella Designs - http://www.lucabella0522.etsy.com/

LuLu & Peep Children's Shop - http://www.luluandpeep.etsy.com/

Madaline Jane - http://www.madalinejane.etsy.com/

Mami Girl Boutique - http://www.mamigirlboutique.etsy.com/

Mary Had A Little Party - http://maryhadalittleparty.etsy.com/

Michele's Jewelry Designs - http://micsjewelrydesigns.etsy.com/

MJD Boutique - http://mjdboutique.etsy.com/

Mom N Mia Quilts - http://momnmiaquilts.etsy.com/

Moochies Mama - http://www.moochiesmamma.etsy.com/

My Kangaroo - http://mykangaroo.etsy.com/

My Sugar Plum Baby - http://www.sugarplumbaby.etsy.com/

Nana McQuilts - http://www.nanamcquilts.etsy.com/

Ninkey - http://www.ninkey.etsy.com/

Odannysgirl - http://odannysgirl.etsy.com/

Olive & Ollie - http://www.oliveandollie.etsy.com/

On Cottage Way - http://www.oncottageway.etsy.com/

On The Sweeter Side - http://onthesweeterside.etsy.com/

Once Upon A Cloud - http://onceuponacloud.etsy.com/

Oscar and Theodore - http://www.oscarandtheodore.etsy.com/

Painted With Heart - http://www.paintedwithheart.etsy.com/

Petit Debutant - http://petitdebutant.etsy.com/

Petunias - http://www.petunias.etsy.com/

Pink Dixie - http://pinkdixie.etsy.com/

PJ Hill Co. Crochet - http://www.pjhillco.etsy.com/

Pretty Baby Boutique - http://prettybabyboutique.etsy.com/

Pumpkin Head Baby Co. - http://pumpkinheadbabyco.etsy.com/

Punky Fae Designs - http://www.punkyfaedesigns.etsy.com/

QB Tots - http://www.qbtots.etsy.com/

Reilly Belle - http://reillybelle.etsy.com/

Retro 80's - http://www.retro80s.etsy.com/

Ribbon and Ruffles Boutique - http://www.ribbonsandruffles.etsy.com/

Rosey Posey Bowtique -http://www.roseyposeybowtique.etsy.com/

Rozzis Sweet Peas - http://www.rozzissweetpeas.etsy.com/

Scandeez - http://www.scandeez.etsy.com/

Scissorstitch -http://www.scissorstitch.etsy.com/

Seaside Quilts - http://seasidequilts.etsy.com/

SewSoNancy - http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5198033

Sheeps Clothing - http://sheepsclothing.etsy.com/

Snap Dragon Design House - http://www.snapdragondesign.etsy.com/

SoBright Designs - http://www.sobrightdesigns.etsy.com/

Stella Bella Designs - http://www.stellabelladesigns.etsy.com/

Sunny Day Tags - http://sunnydaytags.etsy.com/

Sweetbeets - http://sweetbeets.etsy.com/

Sweet Pea Boutique - http://happygrandma402905.etsy.com/

The Bird & The Bean - http://www.birdandbean.etsy.com/

The Clever Kitty - http://thecleverkitty.etsy.com/

The Quilted Lion - http://thequiltedlion.etsy.com/

Thumbelina Boutique - http://thumbora.etsy.com/

Tiki Tales - http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=41608

Trendy Tot - http://www.trendytot.etsy.com/

TuTu Cute & Moore - http://www.tutucuteandmoore.etsy.com/

Tweet Tweet Boutique - http://www.jabstweettweet.etsy.com/

Twinkle Star Art - http://twinklestarart.etsy.com/

Whimzee Baby Boutique - http://www.whimzeeebaby.etsy.com/

Wild Olive Kids - http://www.wildolivekids.etsy.com/

Zwei Baby - http://twinmommy.etsy.com/


*Sale/sale items vary per shop, please read individual shop announcements before purchasing*

The Cloth Diaper Report . part one (newborn)

sleepy baby lemon in a diaper i made

I spent weeks researching cloth diapers before Baby Lemon arrived and despite all the work, I still ended up making some mistakes. So I decided to write up a post for all the people who are research obsessed like me. You can take my advice and buy what I think worked best.

Since I sew, I came to the decision to use fitted diapers with covers for the tiny baby stage. I love to sew but I don't like too much of a challenge so I didn't want to deal with the PUL (that's the waterproof stuff they make covers and wetbags out of). I can sew a fitted diaper for about 2$ (maybe less, I didn't really do the math). You can buy fitted diapers from $16 - $24. Time is money but since I'm on maternity leave, I got plenty of it.

But who wants to sew diapers when you have a wailing infant? (So more on fitteds with part three.)

We started with a set of unbleached newborn size prefold diapers and 9 covers. People will tell you that you need 4 - 6 covers but I think more is better. Your baby will be able to wear the covers for long after they're out of the newborn size prefolds so they have a lot of staying power (and so does the smell of hot pee so you really want to wash these every other diaper cycle). We use the bikini twist and it has kept in most poonamis.

You'll need about 4 Snappis as well. They are these little plastic thingys that are pretty cheap and much easier than pins. If your newborn is sedate, go for pins if you dare. My baby is Ms. Squirmalin so we "stick" with what's fastest. We keep a couple of the Snappis by the changing table and a couple with the pack n play.

I got several covers from a friend of mine but they're really inexpensive. I paid just over $1 each for the prefolds and washed them 6 times (hot/hot in the wash with a hot temp in the dryer -- that's called "prepping"). The covers I pre-washed just once because I always wash everything that goes on the baby's soft sensitive skin.

I alternated a pinch of Dawn dishwashing liquid with some eco-friendly Planet detergent we were able to find here at our Kroger. Now we just use the Planet for every wash. If your diapers start to become less absorbent, it's time to use the Dawn for a cycle or two to strip the dipes of any residue that's caused the situation.

I also bought 24 unbleached infant size prefolds. (I actually bought a mix of Indian and Chinese prefolds to see what was best and I can't even tell them apart now. They are equal). We used the newborn size during the day and the infant size at night. The infant size is a lot bigger and more absorbent. At 9 weeks, she has long outgrown the newborn dipes but still fits into the infant sizes. Our baby usually cries within seconds of wetting her diaper so we change often.

This situation lasted great for a few weeks. Then she started wanting to sleep longer at night but was waking up because she could feel the wetness -- not because she was hungry. We changed our plan of attack. In my pregnant crazy state I bought a wide variety of diapers and this is when they came in handy. We have two scenarios that work for us: 1. a Happy Heinys pocket diaper (size S) stuffed with one soaker insert and one folded up prefold and 2. a Thirsties "fab" fitted with a prefold folded up behind it (not inside it) and all wrapped up in a cover. These worked well because the layers touching the baby are synthetic fabrics so they wicked away the wetness from the baby and she felt dry. We are still using this method and the baby is now sleeping almost 8 hours a night before she wakes up. It's heaven.

Best of all: the diaper in the picture! It's the one that I made. It has a cotton velour inner layer that touches the baby so she doesn't feel dry (it's 80% cotton). The outside is two layers of flannel (an ugly one that no one sees and the cute outer print). It has a pocket for the soaker inserts. I'm making those too (they're cut but not stitched yet). I have no plans to sell these in the shop. I used a free pattern I got online and it fits perfectly and will fit for some time. It does require a cover. It's actually quite wet in this picture (on a very sleepy baby just waking up!).

I'll write up another post in a couple of weeks once we get into a new routine. We're still sticking mainly with the prefolds and covers at 9 weeks.

We have enough diapers now that we only do laundry every other day. Our washing machine has a water level setting so we only use what we need and we hang everything out on the line to dry. When it's raining, we use a drying rack in the basement.

An infestation of ladybugs

I've been working on custom designs for my Etsy shop, Lemon Cadet. My mom asked me to make something with a ladybug on it for my cutie cutie niece, Keaton Mackenzie. We went out to the stores because I didn't have anything in stock in her size. Mom didn't want a onesie because it's winter and she didn't want my designs to get covered up. How nice is that?

We were so lucky to find these super soft 100% cotton cardigans on sale. I happened upon a pair of little jeans in the right size and the inspiration was there. I stitched an open ladybug on the cardigan (almost like a monogram) then added a sweet walking ladybug on the jeans near the cuff. It's adorable, if I do say so myself.



The ladybugs will be added to the shop later this week and will soon be available for custom orders. My sister-in-law loved the set so much she ordered one for her friend's little girl. Bunnies on the way!