Christmas Discounts!

I LOVE the holiday season! I'm offering 10% off your order in either shop to celebrate. :)
Suzannes Special Kids use code "Christmas" (no quotation marks, please)
Quality Fabric Destash use code "Christmas10" (also no quotation marks)

I've also listed a few diapers in Suzannes Special Kids. These are regular infant/toddler sizes. I did list a youth cover as well. It's a beautiful pale yellow and works great for day and night use over cloth diapers or just over padded undies for extra protection during potty training.

Have a wonderful holiday season no matter what holiday your faith celebrates!

Merry Christmas to all!!

Black Friday Sale!!

I'm adding a coupon code for each shop! The code is "BlackFriday". It's worth 15% off your total purchase in either shop (before shipping). I'll leave it up for Friday Saturday and Sunday. I just wanted you all to know how much my family and I appreciate you supporting my small business. Thank you!
Suzanne W. :D
SuzannesSpecialKids
QualityFabricDestash
p.s. The code works now if you're reading on Thanksgiving. ;)

Another (ad)venture....

I did it. I opened another shop. Why? Well...I guess 'cause I "just wasn't busy enough", lol! Seriously though, I've got loads of fabrics here and not as much time to sew as I'd like. I hate to see it just sitting so I'm selling some of it off.

If you like to sew and want some wonderful great quality fabrics then you should definitely check out my new shop. I'm selling PUL, flannels, cotton knits and even a few specialty fabrics. I have yardage and diaper cuts. I'm still listing what's available so if you're looking for something specific just convo me....I may just have some not listed yet.

Oh, and if you use the coupon code "Blog10" you get 10% off your total (before shipping). Happy shopping!!

Quality Fabric Destash

WOW...I am finally catching up!

The title says it all, lol! For those who don't already know...I started college full time again in September. WOW, I forgot how intense it can be. ;) I'm getting back into the groove again and now I can start sewing. Since I started back I've only been doing custom orders but now I'm mailing out the last one today and starting to sew for my shops and family. YAY!! I'll be re-opening/restocking the Hyena Cart shop during the month of November. I'm working on several holiday themed items so be sure to take a peek!
Enjoy the rest of the week everyone!

Shop Updates..

Sorry I'm late posting this. It's been crazy here.
Everyone who's purchased something should have their items. All custom orders are completed and shipped. YAY!!
I'm working on a few new items for each shop. I've also ordered more cotton knits and I'm going to add a few prints to the adult line.
I'm doing the birdeye style in cotton knit so they look & feel more like the undies you buy in your local "Mart" store. (Better quality of course!) They will still have the absorbent core and hook & loop or snap open sides. Now they will have hidden elastic at the waist & leg. Waterproof fabrics are also still available-just use the contact seller to have a custom order set up.
Sorry guys but I have only found "girly" and "little boy" prints right now so men's non-white absorbent undies will be a bit longer. I can, however, do them in solid colors if you don't want white.
I think that's everything for now.
Have a great Sunday everyone!

Custom Orders Update for 8/28/10

I must apologize for my delays in getting these orders out. I'm very sorry. Apparently one of my kiddos brought home the latest virus from school and we have all been ill. I'm about a week behind but catching up as quickly as I can.
Here's where things stand...

Shipped:
Menfusse, HCleckler, JEbersole

Pending Shipment:
Koreydanulle: finishing the g-tube pads then ready to ship

Have a wonderful weekend!

Custom order updates for Etsy and Hyena Cart

Etsy
Koreydanuelle: cut and partially sewn. Should be shipped in the next 2 days! :D
Hcleckler: cut and waiting for a turn at the machine. Also should be out in the next 2 days.
Menfusse: partially cut.

Hyena Cart
JEbersole: fabrics chosen & some are cut. Should be ready to sew by Friday and out Monday or Tuesday.

Broken Laptop...sick family...Grrrrrrrrr!!

Well, my wonderful laptop has broken. It's still usable (sort of) so I can get on the internet but I'm rather limited. I'm almost done with the new job (last day is Sunday) so my weekends will open up which frees more weekday time for sewing (YAY!!).
Both kids went back to school and ended up with 102.5 fevers! Needless to say we're all sick now and this stinks but we're also on antibiotics so should be better soon.
More updates coming soon! I'm posting status on custom orders next so check back if you have placed an order. :)
Have a quiet and peaceful rest of the week!

I found this interesting article about Zorb....

As many of you already know I really like this new product called DiaperMaker Zorb. It's for the absorbent hidden layer in diapers, trainers and absorbent undies. It's trim and when paired with a fleece or microfiber it holds quite a bit but still dries rather quickly.

I've known it is a man-made fiber product but never what is really in it. It turns out that it's a blend of bamboo fibers, cotton fibers and polymicrofibers. So basically it's my 3 favorite soaker fibers all shredded and "squished" together (for lack of a better word, lol).

This article from All About Cloth Diapers goes into a bit more detail but I'll post a bit of it here so you can see what I'm talking about. Be sure to click the link and read the entire article. It makes me more comfortable about using the product on my son and selling items with it in it.

"I am quoting Mike the head of textile design at Wazoodle:

What is it made of?

We’re known for a lot of things good and bad, but when it comes to innovative diaper making textiles our attention to innovation, environmental and product safety, is second to none.

Zorb contains only tangled cellulose fibers from bamboo/cotton/viscose and poly micro fiber, the same fibers found in virtually every AIO diaper on the market – nothing else. These non-allergenic fibers are non-allergenic, durable and easy to sanitize We manufacture Zorb in the USA and Canadian in modern facilities that are safe & friendly for workers and the environment."

The article goes on to discuss thickness, wicking properties and that it does not contain hemp.

Many thanks to Autumn Beck of All About Cloth Diapers for finding this information for all of us!

Look at what's new...

I'm adding 2 new items to my stores.

The first is a side opening PUL cover for elementary sized kids. (I'm still working on larger sizes but they're coming too.)






My other new item is a "Big Kid Onsie". This will be a semi-custom item so they'll take about 2 weeks to complete and mail but I LOVE them for my son.
They will be available in sizes 4 to 14. I have 2 styles of sleeves...raglan or traditional set in style. I'm adding a g-tube access pocket if you want one (no extra charge either). The leg openings can also be cut higher if preferred but I like the lower cut over diapers. I also prefer the raglan because they are more comfy for the kids and easier to get over the kiddo's noggin. ;)
I'll need some measurements for the child's body length and chest width for each one. The buyer can pick the body & sleeve fabrics. I'll coordinate the rest.



These will be in all 3 stores. I'm going ahead and previewing them in the Hyena Cart store and on the Congo. They will go up in the Etsy shop later in the week. If you want one from the Etsy shop just convo me and I'll do a custom listing for you.

Have a great Sunday!

ABC is now OPEN!!

Amazing Baby Creations is now open on Hyena Cart. This congo (think mini-mall or strip mall) is group of several different online stores. We cater to babies, toddlers, moms and I'll be doing all the same kinds of things for special needs that I've always done and some new things too.
I'm adding larger sized bodysuit style shirts for kids up to size 14. I've got a cover listed now that fits most elementary sized kiddos if you still need cloth diapers or use training undies that aren't waterproof. These would be great to cover the rump for bedwetters. It's just a simple cover that can be wiped clean and reused a few times before needing washed.
I now have 3 online stores. They are my Etsy, my Hyena Cart and I'm also a part of Amazing Baby Creations Congo.
I'm planning on keeping similar items in each store but there will be different prints and I will have different custom options in each store. There will also be store specific items sometimes just to mix it up. :)
There are a lot of Free For Shipping items listed in the different stores too right now. I've listed nursing pads and there are soaps, wipes, diapers and lots more. All you have to do is enter and if the system picks your entry you get the item for the cost of shipping only! You can enter until the 18th at noon so stop in and enter for some really cute stuff!
Have a great weekend!

New Congo!

I've joined Amazing Baby Creations Congo! It's a wonderful group of stores on Hyena Cart that cater to babies and children. Our Grand Opening is July 15!

I'm a Fattycakes Approved Seamstress!!

It's official...I've submitted my sample pictures and gotten my approval to be an Official Fattycakes Seamstress! These awesome diapers range from newborn to extra large (which fits my 45 pound 6yr old). I will be selling these in my Etsy shop, my personal Hyena Cart store and in my Amazing Baby Creations Congo store.
Each store will offer different prints and custom listings so feel free to browse them all at will!

Apparently our congo is closing temporarily

Well, I got an email this morning that our Congo is closing for awhile. I do wish I had more time there but as it happens it's already been closed.

However, I moved all my stock to my Hyena Cart shop so everything will still be available. I have a few adult sized birdseye briefs ready to ship and some really cute stuff done so take a peak.

I'm getting ready to get things rearranged since my SIL is in labor and MIL will be staying with her soon. I've got a few new brands that will be in the shop too.

I'm in the process of getting my LaDiDa diapers approved. I'm sewing up some trainers called Overnight Solutions (larger sizes of the Tinkle Time Trainer) and some of my pattern as well. I'm also looking into Very Baby just because I'd love to have a one-sized diaper in the shop. I've got some of each out and partially sewn so the biggest part is taking lots of clear pictures and paying the licensing fees then everything will be available in the Etsy and Hyena Cart shops! It's a really exciting time for me & I can't wait to offer these wonderful items.

Have a great weekend!

Hyena Cart and StalkShop Congo are stocked!

OK, the StalkShop Congo on Hyena Cart is open and stocked a bit.

I've got my new logo and most of the bit's & pieces already and the new Hyena Cart shop settings are nearly ready. Heather of Dragonfly Graphics is doing all that for me. (Thank you-I know there's a lot going on in your life right now!)

Finally.....SUZANNES SPECIAL KIDS on Hyena Cart opens TOMORROW!!!

YEA!! It's been almost 2 months coming and honestly, I don't have as much in there as I'd hoped but there are custom slots for diapers, g-tube and nursing pads that are ready to ship and some fabric yardage I just need to find a new home for. I will be listing both ready made/ready to ship and custom items. I also plan on continuing to add more and do a "stocking" every 10 to 15 days. All items "go live" (can be purchased) at 11 am EST on Tuesday the 11th!

If you've never shopped on Hyena Cart and love handmade items for your family then, please, take the time to browse and buy there. I've found some AMAZING items there and can't wait to own some of them myself.

Oh, and I hope all you mamma's had a wonderful & relaxing Mother's Day yesterday.

Another passing and delay

Well, the plan was to open the Hyena Cart store this weekend. It's going to be another week or so. We've had a passing in my husband's family and I've been preoccupied with all the things that go along with helping my husband and his mom deal with her sister's death. It's been coming for quite a while but you still have much to deal with and work through when a loved one passes. The funeral was yesterday so that part is finished.
I will try to get some things created so I can get this store open asap. Thanks for understanding!

Check out Spot's Corner on Hyena Cart!

OK, I've decided to start thinning Boo's stash. After all nearly none of it fits and there are a few things that should be passed on to keep other little ones bums happy.
I opened a Hyena Cart store then I found "Spot's Corner". It's a place to sell off your gently used items! YEA!!! So anyway I have to wonderfully loved wool soakers that Penny hand knit for me a few years ago (thanks again!). There's just now way to make them fit him any longer so I listed both for sale there.
If you know anyone who can use them, please send them over here and here. They are both large/x-large so probably about 24mths-3T give or take. I put measurements in so you can check over your kiddo's best padded bum. :)

Hi! I’m Suzanne…

I’ve been going back through my blog and I realized that I’ve never done this so here goes. Who am I and what brought me to making and selling diapers and special needs items.
Who is the “Suzanne” in Suzanne’s Special Kids?
I’m a late 30’s mom of 2 wonderful kids. Both of them are challenged but in very different ways. My oldest is extremely bright, high IQ, and is an Aspie. She has OCD tendencies, ADHD tendencies, and sensory issues. She loving and wonderful and turning 14 so becoming an independent young lady. The tendencies she shows makes her a bit challenging as does the fact that she is now a teenager.  My youngest is multiply challenged on the other end of the rainbow. He has so many physical and cognitive challenges yet he has the most gentle and loving personality. I am first and foremost a mother. It’s all I ever really wanted to do. I love to sew. I got this from my mother and her mother who both sewed regularly. Now I have the opportunity to provide options to other mothers with challenged children. This makes my passion well worth it.
I also love to read, cook and bake. I picked up a love of gardening from my grandmother and I always have plants inside and out. I am a Christian and very proud of that. I believe that God doesn’t make bad things happen to people but he does sometimes allow them so that we may grow. I believe that children like my son are born different so we may be reminded of what pure love is. I am honest, trustworthy, and humbled that God chose me to care for 2 of his precious souls. I’m happy to be a mom and wishing for more.
Why do I sew cloth diapers?
I used cloth diapers part time for my oldest because they just weren’t that easy to use. When I got pregnant with my son I found the PooPockets pattern. I loved the idea of a “one size” diaper. Birth to potty training all in one…YEA!! Just add a few pairs of plastic pants or wool covers and diapering is done. That pattern is so quick to sew and uses easy to find fabrics. I fell in love with making them and how cute they look. The creative process just took over. I could use any soft flannel and have unique cute diapers that were easy to care for. The best part was that I only had to pay for them ONCE! No buying more every few days and throwing them in the trash after each use. I began buying other patterns and drafting my own. I think I printed off every free pattern on the web! LOL!! If you love cute baby bums and even tolerate sewing….this is addictive!
Why sew with special needs in mind?
At my 20 week ultrasound we were given some challenging news. Our baby has congenital hydrocephalus. He may or may not have spina bifida. We were sent to see a few specialist and my journey into the world of special needs began. Our son will be born at 30 weeks with parts of his brian never forming. He will have cerebral palsy, epilepsy and lung disease among many other issues. It is a learning process every day. My designs are based on what works or doesn’t work for my son. Many of my testers will never see anything but my son’s bum…they aren’t all wonderful. ;) Every so often…one really works. It fits well, absorbs wonderfully, washes thoroughly, and dries in a decent amount of time. For me…that’s the perfect diaper. I really like 1 piece items since issues with high tone during a diaper change make it hard to get things fastened sometimes. I look at our challenges when diapering and use them to work toward the perfect diaper.
What made me choose toddler sizes and larger?
I’m usually up for making some wonderful itty bitty diapers so feel free to ask. However, I decided there are so few options for toddlers and larger. My son is now in kindergarten and wearing little boys clothes-not from the toddler section anymore. The options are, well, not that great. I will continue to redesign my patterns to fit as my little guy grows. I have patterns for newborn all the way up to 2XL.
I know that kids and adults alike will need undies. Just because their body gets larger doesn’t mean they can always use the potty. More likely than not, my son will always need absorbent undies. I prefer that phrase to diapers. “Diapers” just seem so babyish and he’s a big boy now. Besides, adults don’t wear diapers…they are absorbent briefs or tabbed briefs or something like that. It’s about preserving dignity and being respectful.
What are my favorite fabrics and why?
I’ve tried sooo many fabrics. I am currently in love with a bamboo/hemp blend. It’s super soft, highly absorbent and just a wonderful diaper and undies fabric. It stays soft when line dried and doesn’t hold odors. Honestly, I love most fabrics so this is a difficult question to answer. I still love cotton flannels, hemp/cotton fleece, and the old standby… cotton birdseye weave. I have really begun to love wool. I know, when most people hear “wool” they think “itchy!”. That is deceptive because it becomes itchy based on how it is spun and processed. I have a wonderful supplier, Jeanne, at Natures Fabrics. She carries only the best, softest wools. You’ll never believe it’s wool, honestly! I’ve had my mom rub it on her arm (she allergic, btw) with NO REACTION. It’s all in the way it’s spun and processed. If you aren’t sure…please, go to NaturesFabrics.com and get a sample…you’ll be very pleasantly surprised.
WOW, this got longer then I planned. Well it’s by no means everything but it’s a little insight into my mind and my life.

How do I....?

I thought it was time to list a few posts with tips I’ve learned over the years while cloth diapering my kids. Today I’m starting with washing tips.
There are lots of ways to wash your cloth diapers. Lots of detergents, homemade laundry soaps, tips for the type of washer you have, people who say you “must” do this or that. Honestly, I think simple is better. I mean we do this for a lot of reasons and one of them is usually to be “greener” which means less water and chemicals to me.
I’ve tried just about every kind of “off the shelf” detergent at our local Mart and grocery stores. Honestly, our water is so hard that there wasn’t much difference for us. Off the shelf, I do prefer Purex Free & Clear or All Free & Clear. The free & clear detergents tend to rinse more thoroughly the first time thus not requiring a second rinse for us. I use an oxygen bleach if I think about it a few times a month. Sun makes a reasonably priced one that works well.
By far my favorite detergent is soapnuts liquid. I make it 2-3 times a month by boiling about 15 soapnuts in 7 cups of water for 30 minutes. I add a few drops of tea tree oil for it’s antibacterial properties and viola! Laundry soap that is perfect for all the wash you do. Whatever type of soap you use…just be sure to use ½ less in your diapers.
Here’s a run down of how I store and wash Boo’s diapers.
 I use a dry pail. I dump any solid waste into the toilet before putting the diaper in the pail. I now own a diaper sprayer but still don’t use it often…it’s just not a necessity for me. I do put tea tree oil on a scrap of flannel or baking soda sprinkled into the pail to help with odors. I just toss it all into the washer when it’s time to wash.
 I do un-stuff my DS’s pocket style diapers if I remember. Sometimes they won’t do it themselves in the washer. :)
 I wash every 3-4 days. I just dump the pail in the washer and run a cold rinse cycle. This takes care of any solid waste that I missed. I also like to add an enzyme treatment like Totally Toddler, OUT (same stuff), or BacOut if I have one. If I use it I will fill the washer and let it sit for a few minutes before I run the rinse cycle the rest of the way.
 I wash on the longest hottest wash my machine does with a single cold rinse at the end. I have a top loader so I fill the load completely and only rinse once unless absolutely necessary. This saves a bit of water since it hold so much.
 I love to line dry them if it’s warm enough out. The sun does wonders to remove stains and kill bacteria.
 If it’s not seasonally appropriate to line dry then I set the dryer on hot and dry for 60-70 minutes. I have a mix of flannel pockets and bamboo/hemp fleece so the longer time works to get them dry. If for some reason they aren’t I also own one of those folding laundry racks so I’ll drape them over it to finish. They’re about $15 bucks & great for all damp stuff, plus they are easy to store since they fold flat.
 Toss in a basket or drawer…no need to fold unless you want to pre-stuff your pockets. I’m lazy…I do that when I grab it to use it. Now that wasn’t not so hard was it. ;D

Embroidery and the new stash!

I'm am so excited! I finally got my embroidery machine fixed and now I can embellish diapers and clothing again. :D

I've been thinking about how to best create & embellish undies for our special family members. I know for my son, fitted diapers with separate covers tend to work best but for our school & caregivers I need AIO's. This means that since it's time for a new stash anyway, I will make both styles in his new larger size. I still love the fit of the Rita's Rump Pocket so that's going to be our fitted style. I'm still debating between 2 AIO styles that both work well for us. I have my pattern that has been redesigned & resized and I have the KCK One larger sizes pattern. All 3 will be wonderful with some embroidery on the front or back. I love seeing my son in unique clothing that is made with love. Besides, when I make it...it actually fits. :)

Just search "etsyclothdiaper embroidery" and you can see how cute cloth diapers are when they have some embroidery. (That's just a sample of what can be done.) Lots of us have cute characters or designs on our undies so why shouldn't our special family members. I'm excited to get all the different characters off my machine and on the undies & clothes I'm working on.

I'll be adding them to some of the ones I'm listing as well. I think putting them on undies and also on the covers will make them extra special, don't you?

New Undies!

Well, I'm still loving the Rita's Rump diaper pattern so I just had to re-size it again. I'm pretty happy with it so if a few more samples work for Boo then it will begin listing in both Etsy and StalkShops by the end of February.

I plan to make flannel & knit versions plus trial packs that are a few diapers and a wool cover since they won't be waterproof. It has been re-sized to fit approximately35-50 pounds (21-22" rise) and I'm working on one that will fit 50+ pounds with a 23-24" rise.

My biggest question right now is should they be pockets or fitteds? I'm not sure. Fitteds may be simpler since they are already stuffed but pockets would make them less expensive, quicker to wash & dry, and more flexible because you can use different inserts based on need.

If you have a preference, please leave me a comment! I'd love the input. :)

StalkShop dot com

I've just opened a new shop in a handmade venue! The venue is StalkShop.com/ . It's got the potential to be a wonderful place to find handmade quality items. It's a great way to help keep some of our small businesses going and support our American families. I try to buy US made whenever I can and even prefer "mommy made" if I can.
I know I can probably make it myself but why do I always need to. There are a lot of other seamstresses who can use the cash and I just don't always have the time or energy. It's a win-win situation.
I encourage everyone to visit these venues for handmade. There are so many gems to be found! Happy shopping!

Slow sewing...

Well I'm cutting and pinning and even creating new youth diaper patterns. You see no sewing listed...umm well that's because the machine ended up in the shop. I do have the serger still and the "diaper" sewing machine is here but they are buried in my closet. There have been a few emergency changes here so the sewing room is now our bedroom (long story...if you're curious just go to my family blog for the basics).

I'm still working on setting up a sewing place so I figure this was a good a time as any for the machine to need fixing. Any way I'm going to work on sewing diapers and serging g-tube pads over the next week. Life happens and I just work with what I'm handed. :)

A New Year and A New Shop!

I'm finally ready to re-open my Etsy shop. I will be starting slow and will only take on minimal custom orders right now but I am finally able to start sewing again!

I am making a few changes too. I will be streamlining my fabrics including the prints. I'm going to be using primarily bamboo based fabrics or cotton birdseye and Zorb for the extra boosting power. (I really love that stuff!) I also plan on adding wool blend covers and PUL covers.

I won't be doing KCK Ones right now. My license is expired so I do not have the right to sell them. (If they are your preferred style, please check the KCK One website for a licensed seamstress.) I have other patterns I have used for years with great success so I'm sticking with them for now.

I will be listing the last of the flannel prints I have shortly and I'm probably going to list some fabrics for bulk sale so if you like to sew your own then I've got some fabrics for you!

Please bear with me as I slowly get back into the swing of things. I'm planning on making this new shop a much bigger thing than ever before so I'm working into this and all the new legal requirements carefully and taking my time.

I can't wait to start working with you all again!