Busy Busy Busy...

Thought I should get a post up of some of the latest things happening at A Lovely Start and share some pictures with you! My FaceBook page has been buzzing lately with new products and giveaways! I know some of you don't have a FB account, so I need to hold a giveaway over here on the poor neglected blog. Tell you what, if I get 100 follows over here, I will hold a giveaway over here! *wink*

News: March 4th is my guest appearance on Bitty Fluff! I have so much to do for that stocking and I think I still need to confirm my place with them. The time sure gets away on me!

What I have been sewing up:
Wool Footies Gift Set

Lots of Super Soft Deluxe Waterproof Change Pads

A bunch of multisize diapers. These come in two sizes, Size 1 (NB/s/m) and Size 2 (m/l/xl)

Some more Appliqued longies

And there is so much more going on right now! Will try to post some more really soon!

A Lovely Baby Gift...

I made this cotton, bumpy minky, ribbon, and fleece Texture Lovely and and Change Pad set for a cousin`s new lil`bundle!

And I also included a hand dyed OBV Cuddle Blankie in blues and pinks.

Something New...

Are you looking for the perfect baby gift? Check out these!
I made some of these change pads up for some give-aways over the past few weeks.  I am so happy with them, and the response from the recipients was fabulous!   

Like this review from Stephanie: (can be found on my Facebook Page)

"I won a changing pad in the Hippo Bottoms 1000 fan giveaway and I just received it this afternoon - can I just say it is BEAUTIFUL! LOVE it! Great craftsmanship (or womanship, LOL) and the customer service was impeccable! Super fast shipping and very friendly correspondence - all in all one of the best transactions I have had with a WAHM for a while! Thank you so much!!! I LOVE my prize:)"

I will be adding them to my product line.  These Deluxe Waterproof Change Pads are very luxurious for your baby.  They are topped with ultra soft Minky which stays soft wash after wash.  Under the Minky, there is a layer of absorbent fabric to soak up any messes and to add some cushion.  Then there is some PUL to make the Change Pad Waterproof and a layer of fashion cotton because, well... because we all love pretty things!
I have a semi custom listing on Hyena Cart for a few current combinations I have available and I will be adding some fun new options soon!  To round out the perfect gift, add a matching wetbag or some wipes!

A few things that will be for sale at the craft fair...

Don't forget, next weekend I will be at the AP Village Craft Fair in Calgary, so come on by and say HI!
Sunday, November 21 · 10:00am - 3:00pm
Winston Heights Community Center 520 - 27th Ave NW Calgary, AB

Here is a sneak peek at a couple things that I will have with me.
Newborn Pink Giraffes Set includes Upcycled wool footies, crossover shirt, hat and bamboo diaper.

Fleece soakers and matching Quick Dry Bamboo Fitted Diapers

A Lovely Gift for a Lovely Little Man...

A few weeks ago I did some hand dying for the first time on some wool. (which I have been meaning to post about...now on my blogging to-do list!) It was so fun and seeing the new colors at the end was very rewarding.

I have been dying - pun intended - to try it out on some organic bamboo velour. So when hubby brought my new roll home I couldn't wait to get some color on some. I could not find any fabric-reactive dye locally, so I used a tie dye type dye this time until I have a chance to order some proper dye. I think it turned out quite nice and the dye set up better than I expected. After a couple washes, there is not trace of any color running.

I used turquoise and steel blue dye and 'crinkle' dyed a couple pieces of OBV. Then I sewed the front panel in a patchwork style and attached a solid back to it then top stitched all around. It is the softest squishiest blanket! I sure hope it is loved by the sweet little boy it is on its way too!

Two-Handle Hanging Diaper Pails and a wetbag...

This custom order consists of 2 two-handle hanging diaper pails and a matching large wetbag.  I think these are going to be baby gifts for a couple lucky mamas!

These diaper pails are fantastic!  They save on space - hang them from a change table in the nursery or a towel bar in the bathroom.  The inner waterproof PUL layer is sewn completely separate from the outer decorative cotton layer layer to prevent moisture wicking out of the bag.  The two-handle design keeps them hanging neatly and puts less stress on the fabric for a long life.

Here is the entire order together.  I think this is the only picture you can really see the handles.  they are a pretty chocolate brown, but I had trouble getting them to show up in the dark background in the other photos.

Front view of a two-handle hanging diaper pail.

Side view of a two-handle hanging diaper pail to show the gusset (flat bottom).

Large basic wetbag with loop handle.

Lady Bug Gift Sets...

A while back I made an Itty Bitty Pocket Diaper that was red with black snaps and my son named it "Lady Bug". I fell in love with that diaper and received many compliments about it. Several months later, I found this adorable red, white and black fabric that I knew needed to become friends with "Lady Bug"! (and the many offsping I have been creating all also named "Lady Bug"!) So I created a couple gift sets for friends that were expecting. The set below is "Lady Bug" with a pillow topped change pad and wetbag. "Lady Bug" also took along a wetbag and went to live with a very sweet mama and her Christmas Eve Blessing! My only regret, I didn't buy more of this fabric! I only have enough left for about two more sets.

A gift for a new little baby...

This "Chocolate Lime Gift Set" is done in beautiful shades of greens and browns. It includes a large wetbag, a wipes bag, 4 matching wipes, a waterproof change pad and two NB/Small pocket diapers with inserts.
Also included in this gift set is a large two handle hanging diaper pail.

A gift set and some odds and ends...

I was pretty excited to cut into my Michael Miller "Rustic Guitars" fabric for this custom wetbag/change pad gift set. I started with the change pad and ended up with something wonderful, but when I went to work on the wetbag, I realized I had overdone it with the size of the change pad! The set is meant to have a wetbag with a pocket that neatly holds a change pad for when you are out and about. So I went back to the cutting mat and created a reversible change pad that was travel size - not home size!

I love how this set turned out! This picture shows the set opened up with the corner flipped to reveal the coordinating Rock'n'Roll fabric.
All packed up and ready to go! There is enough room left in the pocket to stuff a couple wipes as well.
And here is the first reversible change pad. It is pretty cute, though it has some slightly crooked stitching around the edge. Nothing that will effect performance though. Not sure yet if I am going to keep this one or post it in my Instock Items or make a set with it...hmmmmm
I had a mama purchase some Dry Nights Ditto Daddy Boxers with Beefed-up inserts and doublers from me a little while back. She loves them and needed some more so she found some gently loved ones and scoped them up. The only problem was the inserts were not enough for her heavy night wetter. We came up with a Beefed-up doubler insert to work with her single snapping boxers. Hopefully these will keep her son leak-free and sleeping soundly!
And last but not least, a cute little fleece soaker for sweet mama!

Baby Gift Set...

I was asked to come up with a gift set for a cloth diapering mama. I enjoyed this project as I would have loved some cloth diaper friendly gifts when my second baby came around. I stuck to fun and funky earthy colors as the gender of baby is a surprise.
This set consists of 1 small basic wetbag, 1 change pad - cotton backed and bamboo topped with hidden layer of PUL, 1 small side snapping pocket diaper with a 4 layer bamboo insert, and 3 small bamboo terry/bamboo velour wipe-ups. This gift set could easily be switched up for a non-cloth using mama as well. Switch the wipe-ups and diaper out for a bib and burp cloth. I think a wetbag would be loved by both cloth and non-cloth mamas. Soiled clothing, messy burp cloths and dirty bibs can really muck up a diaper bag!