Map of the World Tablecloth

So once a month we help organize a missionary dinner at our chapel where we focus on a different country each month. I recently decided I wanted to make a special tablecloth for the occasion! I had been using pieces of long lace to make it festive and pretty. But I went to Joanns and bought a couple lengths of this map of the world and then added some fabric to make it longer and a border. I wasn't sure what the length of two tables put together at our chapel was but I guesstimated and it fit just fine! So an easy project with just straight sewing but still it feels good to get something done from start to finish! I have so many ideas for the house that I want to accomplish...I just need to find the time!

Cloth Diaper Series: What Diapers I use

I have gotten many questions over the years about my using cloth diapers and I have been meaning to write up some posts and never got around to it. I have struggled off and on using cloth diapers because they are not always the most convenient things but I do love them! So I am doing a series this week on the ins and outs of my cloth diapering experience, I will try to do links with explanations and pictures and put my own pictures as well. Please feel free to ask questions that I can address in my series.

Chloe in one of the fitted newborns without a cover

Reasons I cloth diaper: Cloth diapers are cute, economical and I guess I can feel good about not adding to the landfill in that department...:-)

Covers and Prefolds

My history with cloth diapering is as follows: I have been cloth diapering since about three months after Gideon was born. I started out with just one type of diaper Bum Genius one size pocket diapers. I started with 20 diapers and that seemed to do fine with one child washing them every couple days. When Tirzah came along I added to my collection by making some of my own pocket diapers in two different sizes--small and medium. They worked pretty well. However Tirzah has very sensitive skin and any time she teethes she breaks out in rashes and blisters and even though she still has it if she is in disposable diapers it isn't as bad so I will often trade off an on with cloth and disposable when she has a bad rash. I also started to run into some problems with my Bum Genius--I had used diaper cream on my kids that was not cloth diaper friendly early on and so I had some stains...then the microfiber inserts started to retain wet smells...it also takes a lot longer to dry pocket diapers. So when Chloe was on her way I started to rethink my cloth diapering and decided to add something new--covers and prefolds. These are cheaper, easier to wash and dry, you can get more use out of them, have cute covers and I find them just easier. So now I have my bumgenius and covers and prefolds. Now I will break down what exactly all that means in case you are brand new!

Gideon in a GI Joe cover

My cloth diaper stash:

• I have 20 Bumgenius Pocket diapers that are one size meaning you can adjust it as your baby grows and use velcro. I have since decided I like snaps better than velcro as eventually the velcro gets very used, the upside of velcro is that you can make it fit the baby better. I also do not like the microfiber inserts any more...they are nice but sometimes can retain smell, mine don't any more due to the fact that I fixed my laundering problem...to be discussed in another post.
• I have 5 flip diaper covers that are one size and use snaps. I did not buy inserts with them as I already had some inserts and I intend on making some more (once I get my serger going).
• I bought 4 blueberry covers that are so cute and work great--I LOVE the gussets
• I have about 4 random diaper covers that use snaps or velcro that people have given me.
• I have 2 Thirsties diaper covers that are small for Chloe, they adjust a little bit and have velcro and I like them very much.
• I also have 2 minky diaper covers that are medium--they're cute.
• I have three newborn fitted diapers that I bought from someone locally and I love them but since they are just a newborn size Chloe is almost out of them and I'm glad I only bought three as she wasn't in them long. I'd rather use my prefolds, although these are so adorable! However you have to put a cover on so you can't really see it anyway.
• I have three diaper covers I made that have flannel on the inside and move aside for an insert
• I use prefolds mostly now with my covers. Prefolds are pretty much the old fashioned diapers that are now used for burp cloths. I was given all mine and some are the regular old fashioned white rectangles, some are big pieces of white cotton diaper fabric that I fold to fit the cover, some are burp cloths with prints on them, all of them work. I find with Chloe I don't have to use a snappi (a replacement for diaper pins) just yet but for Tirzah I do as she moves around a lot more and the prefold with move and get wadded up if not pinned in place. 
• I also have 10 small diapers I made long ago and 10 medium size diapers I made, I usually stuff these with my extra microfiber inserts.

  I will address the supplies and accessories in my next post.

Yay! First Completed Cloth Diaper!

I am so super psyched! I completed my first diaper for Tirzah that I have been wanting to do for so long! I finally had time to squeeze in putting it together, thanks to Joshua's help. This is my first attempt at using Babyville Boutique from Joanns and I think I like it! We'll see how it washes and fits Tirzah...I have two others cut out and plans for many more! I LOVE them!I'm still learning so I'm afraid my first one is a little rough but it's cute! This one is a cover with a flap opening in the inside for you to slide in a soaker. Now I just need to test them...it looks a little big but maybe it will fit better than I think. I wish I had more energy to pump them out faster but I have to take it slowly...

Outside

Inside

Failed Potty Training and a New Project

I don't know if anyone else has failed in potty training like I have but I thought Gideon was going to be potty trained early at like one and a half, he acted interested and he could go on the potty...but here we are with him over 2 and a half and I feel like a failure! I know it's not really me completely and I'm trying to just wait till he is ready now but still it is frustrating! So I've stepped back from big boy underwear to a form of trainer underwear. Now I don't know if you've noticed but Pull-Ups cost $10 for like 20...that is insane! So I decided to make a few trainer underwear for Gideon out of fleece and PUL and we are going to try that for a while. I have five pair done and I'm pretty pleased, they are cute and we will see if they work well. Tirzah acts more interested in the potty than Gideon and I would not be surprised if she was potty trained before Gideon...as for now it looks like we will have three in diapers!

New trainer underwear

Categories in my Envelope System

I still need one for clothes, but here is what we have right now....

Relationship/Dates

Food

Gifts

Eating Out/Shops

Household

Miscellaneous

My very own cloth cash envelopes!!!

So Joshua and I use the cash system and try our best to avoid using credit or debit cards. We still use it for some things like gas but we are trying to adhere to our budget and the best way is by using cash. Amazing what you realize you don't really need when you are paying in cash. We started out just doing a "food envelope" with cash but have slowly been making more and more envelopes. If you've ever used the envelope system you know how terrible using paper ones are since they deteriorate and get ripped and you could actually lose your money. Well I've been dying to make my own cloth ones and I finally got around to making my very own set of cloth cash envelopes. Below are pictures of them and each envelope is different and has a fabric that reflects the category--can you guess what they are? Also they magnetically close which is so amazing!!!

I'm addicted...to cloth diapers!

So it seems I was about a year ahead of the cloth diaper making crowd...I had to pretty much make my own pattern out of one that I bought and try to figure out the fabrics and then buy them online since I couldn't find any at joanns that I could get cheap...well not Joanns has made a deal with a company that has a book to tell you how to make adorable diapers and all the materials and supplies you can get with a 40% coupon...and I have to admit I am so in LOVE with the diapers! They are adorable, cute and way easier to make then I thought. So be prepared for some cute diapers in the near future. I have a few other projects I'm working on but then I'm planning on making some for Tirzah--they have one with ruffles one it and they show me how I can embroider their names on it or whatever I want. I cannot wait to start! And yes I'm strange but I'm reading the book cover to cover.  Maybe in the future I'll sell some! I never could understand the addiction of buying them I guess because they were so expensive but now that I can make them for cheaper, I totally understand!

Fall Table Runner

Being inspired to decorate my house with a little bit of fall I made a table runner out of "fallish" fabrics.  I found a tutorial at this site and had so much fun making one for my friendship swap and one for our own table. Now with Kym's decorations she sent me my table looks very fallish!!!

Boxes and Surprises

So I got a big box this past week...

I found you!!!

That Gideon has really enjoyed playing in...

Peek a Boo!

I have enjoyed playing games with him but I like what came in the box more...

Just so much fun to play in boxes

Gideon shows you that no piece of what we call trash should be wasted...

Even the styrofoam is fun to play in

I have gotten a new sewing machine that can do basic embroidery! The tragedy is they forgot to put the foot pedal in the box so I can't use it yet...so here it sits while I look at it longingly...

This is what came in the box...

Meanwhile I plug away with my Kenmore and work on bridesmaid dresses in between reading Go Dog Go, changing diapers, fixing meals...and my dress is done and I am halfway through another one...

My sewing projects

Making Cloth Diapers

So for all those who are curious with what I do with my "free" time here is a little peak of the cloth diapers I am in the midst of making and a few pictures of the process! And how cute they look on my little girl!

First I cut out all the materials and then pit them in a bag for each complete diaper

Once I sew them together then I stuff them with inserts I have from my bum genius that I don't use

And then I place them on the cutest little girl in the world!

Don't babies just look cuter with pretty diapers?