CuddleBaby

How to Swaddle Your Baby

2010-03-05T06:48:00.011-07:00

There are many ways to swaddle your baby. When my 2nd child was born 7 weeks early, she spent 5 weeks in the hospital. This is how the NICU nurses swaddled her and I've found it to be the most effective way! We swaddled her for 8 months and she loved it!

Step 1: Lay your blanket out on a flat surface.

Step 2: Fold over the top edge about 3-4 inches. This will prevent the blanket from sliding around up by your baby's face.
Step 3: Lay your baby on the blanket with his shoulders just barely above the top of the blanket.

Step 4: Lay your babies right arm against his body, wrap one side of the blanket over the arm and across his body and tuck under his back.

Step 5: Lay your baby's left arm against his body, wrap the other side of the blanket over the arm and across his body and tuck under his back.

If it's warmer weather and you don't want your baby to have too many layers on, you can stop here. Just tuck the extra blanket at the bottom under your baby's feet. If you want extra warmth, continue on with the next steps.

Step 6: Take the bottom part of the blanket and pull it out flat.

Step 7: Lay the bottom part of the blanket over the top of your baby.

Step 8: Tuck the edges underneath his body and your little baby will be as snug as a bug in a rug!

As your baby gets older and may not want their arms in the blanket, you can swaddle him around the chest and leave his arms out.

*Thanks so my little guy, Noah, for being such a willing model. For reference, he is 6 months old. And these blankets still fit him wonderfully! To you purchase your own, Extra Large Receiving Blanket, check out my website!

Swirly Skirt

2010-01-04T15:19:00.003-07:00

I LOVE the colors in the skirt. It's so fun! Thanks to Alana from sharing!
Make your own! Click here!

Everything is on Sale!!!!!

2010-01-04T15:18:00.001-07:00

I'm in the process of closing out EVERYTHING except for my tutorials and supplies. With 3 kids, I just don't have as much time to craft. So, I'm going to focus on making more tutorials and just enjoying life. This means that everything is on sale! Help me get rid of it all!

Buy 2, Get 1 FREE PDF Tutorials

2009-10-16T14:05:00.011-06:00

Wow, It's been a while since I last posted here. I just want to announce that I'm offering a special on my PDF Tutorials right now! All tutorials are Buy 2, Get 1 free! That's $4 or less for each tutorial. I have 8 to choose from and will hopefully be finishing some more here soon.

Just in time for the Holidays, Christmas Stocking Tutorial.

The ever popular Self-Binding Blanket Tutorial.

Make your own Hair Clips.

Weighted shoulder Nursing Blanket.

My favorite, Striped Minky Quilt tutorial.

The SUPER cute Swirly Skirt tutorial. The finished product is so cute, pictures don't even do it justice!

And my newest additions, The Double-sided minky blanket and Create your own Applique tutorials each include over 75 different applique ideas.

I'm not sure how long I'll keep this special up, so get your tutorials now at this amazing price!

Coming soon: Felt Hair Clips, Flower Hair Clip, Minky Cuddle blanket, and Stacking Ring Toy.

Also.... I have a special on my Receiving Blankets as well. Buy 3 for $22.50!

CraziBeautiful Women

2009-05-25T21:35:00.002-06:00

I've been featured on the online magazine, CraziBeautiful Women! Check it out here! I'm also offering a $15 gift certificate to my shop. You can enter to win by leaving a comment at the end of the Gettin' Crazi article! So, enter to win today!

1000!!!

2009-05-18T15:04:00.003-06:00

I think when I started my business, I wasn't sure this day would ever come. And the most amazing thing is how quickly I've arrived here. On May 13th, I sold my 1000th item in my CuddleBaby Boutique shop on Etsy. I'm pretty excited about it!

It's been a while since I've updated here. Obviously, business is still going well. I have plans for several more tutorials in the works, hopefully they will be arriving soon! And I'm also going to start selling items on my blog! So, check back soon for that new feature!
In other news, my husband and I are expecting our 3rd child due September 3rd! We've opted not to find out what we are having. Our two girls are very excited for a new brother or sister.

Nursing Blanket Tutorial

2009-03-30T14:13:00.002-06:00

I just completed a new tutorial! This one is on how to make a Nursing Blanket with a weighted shoulder strap to keep it on. You should be able to find a listing for it in my Etsy shop here.

SALE! SALE! SALE!

2008-12-02T16:21:00.003-07:00

Well, Novemberfest has come and gone. Although it went fairly well, I still have a huge inventory! So, I've marked almost everything down! Check it out!
CuddleBaby Boutique

Receiving Blankets w/ free Nursing Blanket converter clips - $8
Onesies - $5
Bib and Burp Cloth Gift Sets - $9
Minky Blankets - $18-$32 (Awesome deals!)

Come take a look!

Christmas Stocking Tutorial

2008-11-18T12:05:00.002-07:00

Well, it's done! My newest tutorial - Make your Own Christmas Stockings! I'm pretty excited about it and I hope it will be a hit! They are so quick, easy and fun to make. So, if you are interested, check out this section in my shop to get your pattern today!

Christmas is Around the Corner

2008-11-12T22:36:00.003-07:00

I've just opened up a new section in my shop! Christmas Stockings! I only have one listed right now, but I should have a few more soon! However, the thing I am most excited about is the Christmas Stocking tutorial I am working on. I hope to have it available for purchase by November 18th, if not sooner! So, check my shop at the first of next week to see if it is available. Here is a picture of the stocking I have listed right now.

And the Results are In

2008-11-10T22:25:00.002-07:00

Well, my first craft show of the Holiday season has come and gone. I did better than I had expected, so I'm quite pleased with the results. It was a fun day too. I got to hang out with my mom and sister and I always love doing events like this. It's a lot of fun to talk to customers. That's the problem with selling online, you never get to meet your buyers. Anyway, I had a good time. I finally sold this quilt. It's been one of my favorites for a long time and I'm glad to see it find a home. I hope the little one that received it enjoys it! It's kind of funny though. Although I did sell a few blankets, the majority of my sales came from Hair clips and accessories. I'm glad I have a wide variety of items for sale. I think people like having a few things to choose from. Anyway...

I just want to thank For the Love of Baby for blogging about my shop this week! You can win a $15 dollar gift certificate from my shop, so take a look at the post!

Tomorrow is the Day!

2008-11-07T09:47:00.009-07:00

Don't forget to come to my Craft Show tomorrow! Here is the information again!
Pioneer Valley Lodge
Sat. November 8th, 10-3
2351 North 400 East, Logan, UT

I hope to see you there! Here are a few more pictures of Items that will be available for purchase! To see even more, click here!

Pioneer Valley Lodge Craft Show

2008-11-06T10:06:00.008-07:00

Don't forget, this Saturday is my first Craft Show of the Holiday Season!
Pioneer Valley Lodge
Sat. November 8th, 10-3
2351 North 400 East, Logan, UT

Upcoming Craft Shows

2008-10-30T18:58:00.004-06:00

November is almost here and thus the time for Holiday Craft Shows! I am signed up here in Logan for 2. The first one is November 8th, from 10-3 at Pioneer Valley Lodge - located at 2351 North 400 East. This is a fairly small Craft Show, but last year there were some awesome vendors! Come take a look. The other Craft Show I'm doing is NOVEMBERFEST! Yes, sigh, I decided to go out on a limb and try it. I'm sweating bullets that it will go. I've never paid such a high entrance fee, but Novemberfest is a big event here in Logan. I'm pretty confident that I will at least make my fees back, although I'm hoping to do awesome! Novemberfest is Friday, November 28th, 10-7 and Sat. November 29th, 10-6 at 195 South 100 West. I believe there is a small entrance fee, maybe a dollar or so. But this is a huge event. Over 100 vendors will be there and I'm sure you'll be find something for everyone on your shopping list. So come and visit me at one or both of these fun holiday events! You are sure to find lots of these there! Minky Blankets!This past month I have been going crazy trying to get ready for these shows. I can't believe how much sewing I've done. I have to admit though that I am getting a little burnt out and will be taking a break after Novemberfest. During the month of November, I won't have anything for sale in my shop that isn't already made and then after Novemberfest, I will just be trying to sell out my inventory. I'm not sure what my plans are for the beginning of next year, but I'm sure I'll still be selling on Etsy.

Another Milestone

2008-10-21T21:39:00.005-06:00

Today, I reached 500 Sales on Etsy! WooHoo! A year ago, I never thought I would reach this milestone so quickly! It's been fun getting here. I am still so excited about every single sale. This has been a great experience for me. I've learned a lot of new things and have heightened a lot of my skills along the way. It's been fun. Now, I'm looking forward to the next 500 sales and many more! Thanks to everyone that has helped me out along the way.This is a picture of my 500th item sold! Pink Flamingo Onesie. The last one!

Novemberfest

2008-10-05T13:14:00.002-06:00

Well, I've decided to go out on a limb and do a big Craft Show! Novemberfest is probably the biggest of the year in Cache Valley and I know a lot of people come from all over to it. It's a scary thing to do since the entry fee was so expensive, but I'm really excited about it. So, I'm going to be very busy the next couple of months building up my inventory. I have supplies for a ton of different projects, not I just need to get them made. I think after Novemberfest, I'll probably take a break and only offer already made items in my shop, so I don't have to do too much work during December. Anyway, I'm really excited about Novemberfest. It's the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving, here in Logan, so save the date! I'll post more about it later!

On another note, I wanted to show this new blanket that I made. It's a double-sided Minky blanket and is probably one of my favorites! It's so soft and cuddly. I appliqued a heart to the corner for an added touch. I actually sold it last night, but I created a new listing in my shop where a buyer can create their own double-Minky blanket. I have pictures posted of the different Minky colors I have in stock and the different applique's they can have put on the blanket. This way, the buyer gets to choose their own favorite colors and design. I'm also going to just start making a bunch more of the blanket to sell at upcoming craft boutiques.

Wow!

2008-09-26T16:19:00.003-06:00

September has been an awesome month for me on Etsy! I've had a large number of sales, largely contributed to my Tutorials. My blanket tutorial has done great and I also finished another one for making hair clips. Now I'm just trying to come up with more ideas. The tutorials are great. When someone purchases it, all I have to do is email it to them. I don't have any cost for supplies, shipping, not storing items. It's great. I think at some point I want to convert my shop entirely over to PDF patterns, perhaps even open up another shop since I don't know if I will do all baby/kid patterns. I love making the blankets and other items, but it continues to get more difficult as my kids are getting older, sleeping less during the day and overall taking up more of my time. Anyway... So, if you have any great pattern ideas, let me know!
Needless to say, I've enjoyed September on Etsy and I just hope it continues! I keep having to readjust my goals. I make them so that I think there is no way I'm going to achieve them, then something happens to make me have to reevaluate them again. No complaints though, it's great.

My first Tutorial - Self-Binding Blankets

2008-08-30T17:46:00.003-06:00

I just finished writing my first tutorial and am selling it in PDF format on my Etsy website. It is for a Self-Binding Blanket. They have been my favorite item to make ever since I first learned how. I've had several people ask me how to make them and I found it was pretty difficult to explain, so I thought I would do a tutorial so that people can see how they are made. The tutorial has photographs throughout it to show the different steps. It is easy to follow and would be great for a beginner. It was definitely a different experience going from making the blankets to teaching how they are made. I hope it goes over well in my etsy shop.

Etsy-Versary GiveAway!!!!!!

2008-07-27T20:38:00.002-06:00

On August 3rd, I will have been in Etsy for 1 year. When I first started, I had a goal of making 5 sales a month. I've had to change that several times as my shop grew and in February I made the goal of 300 items sold at my one year mark. It was pretty out of reach at that point and I didn't think I would make it, but I passed 300 sales just a week ago. It's been a fun year.

To celebrate, I'm running a promotion where you could win a $25 dollar Gift certificate in Bath and Body products from Country Heart Gifts! She's got all kinds of yummy soaps, lotions, bath items, lip balms and more! Check out her shop! For every item you purchase from my shop during August 1st and August 31st, you get entered into a drawing. On September 1st, I'll draw out the winner and post their name. I hope this will be a great month! Thank you to everyone for a wonderful 1st year on Etsy!

Fantastic Day at the Market

2008-06-21T22:31:00.005-06:00

I've really not been keeping up with this blog lately. Life has been so hectic - with new carpet and painting the house. Plus, I have been very busy with the business. This months has been the best I've had so far. I've been selling at the Gardener's market and the past few weeks have been fairly dismal. Not awful, but not great. That is, until today. I sold 3 of my more pricier items. It was great. Here are pics of the blankets to leave my store.

I sold a lot of hair clips and hair clip holders and even have a Custom Order for a minky blanket. I'm surprised that my Receiving Blankets haven't done real well at the market. They are my biggest seller online. Oh well. It was nice to have a day like today!

Gardener's Market

2008-05-16T21:29:00.002-06:00

Wow, I haven't posted on here for over a month! Yikes! I have been so busy. We've had a lot going on this past month and I have been really busy trying to get ready for the Gardener's Market. It actually started last weekend, but it was my daughter's 3rd birthday, so we chose to play instead. So, tomorrow will be my first time there this year. I'm very excited, but also kind of nervous. I always worry that I've gone to all this work and then no one will buy anything. Anyway, I've been working on all kinds of new things and I hope that they do well. I will try to keep the upper right corner of my blog up to date on when I will be attending the Gardener's Market. It's held every Saturday, but I'll probably only go every other Saturday. I want to spend those nice summer days with my family.
Anyway, come visit me if you are in the area. I hope to see you there!

Featured Seller #4 - CoconutPalmDesigns

2008-04-10T11:14:00.004-06:00

In her own words, the owner of Coconut Palm Designs is a Canadian living in Belize, Central America and also a graphic designer. Woodworking and sign design is my newest crafting passion but art has been in my blood since birth.

Sign making has turned into a great outlet for my creative energies and finally I am using my graphic design training for something exciting.

I was excited to stumble upon this Etsy shop because my husband served part of his LDS mission in Honduras and Belize. Anyway, CoconutPalmDesigns has a variety of signs and ACEO art cards available in her shop. Take a look. There are some beautiful water coloring paintings and some fun signs.
Shop: www. CoconutPalmDesigns.etsy.com
Blog: www.coconutpalmdesigns.blogspot.com

Featured Seller #3 - SoandSewCrafty

2008-04-02T15:19:00.004-06:00

The owner of SoandSewCrafty, Karen Copeland, states "Sewing in my passion." And if you take a look at her shop, you can see that she means it! Sewing and crafting has been a big part of her life and now that her 4 children are grown, she has been able to turn her hobby into a business. Take a look at her shop for a variety of Baby and Toddler items, Quilts, Stuffed Animals, bags and more. I first came across this shop through Etsybaby, which we are both members of. I really admired her cute stuffed animals. So, visit her shop today!
www.soandsewcrafty.etsy.com
And her blog:
http://soandsewcrafty.blogspot.com/

Featured Seller #2 - Ellebelleonetsy

2008-03-28T13:28:00.003-06:00

Elle Belle is the place to find handmade, boutique quality baby items that make being a Mom easier and more fun! That's what it says in their profile and by the look of the shop, there are a lot of great items for baby!Besides the usual needed baby items such as blankets, clothing and diaper wipe cases, you'll also find shopping cart covers. This is such a great idea! I'm sure the shopping carts at the local grocery store never get cleaned and who wants there sweet little baby touching all those germs? You can also find slings. Baby wearing seems to be a really hot trend right now. I've not done it with my two kids, but I wish that I could have tried it. I'll have to get a sling with my next one, whenever that day may come. There are also several items that you can have personalized. That would make a great unique baby gift! Check out this shop. There's lots of fun baby stuff!

Featured Seller - Sweet Irie

2008-03-26T18:38:00.004-06:00

There are a group of people on Etsy that are blogging about each others shops. I found out about it and thought it would be a fun thing to do. They are trying to get 90 shops to blog about each other. So, check back as I learn more about these fun shops and what they make. I'm sure there will be some great finds that I wouldn't have otherwise found out about.

Featured Seller #1 - Sweet Irie

The owner of Sweet Irie is a an art student going to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online. She came up with the name Sweet Irie because of her new kitten, named Irie. Irie, meaning supreme joy, use to help out with Sweet Irie's jewelry making, although she wasn't too much of a help. Sweet Irie makes all kinds of jewelry items including, bracelets, anklets, rings, earrings, necklaces and more. I think her shop has a nice variety of colors and styles and the prices are very reasonable. Check it out! You might find something you like! Here are pictures of my two favorite items from her shop.

Two in One Day

2008-03-21T21:54:00.003-06:00

Ok, so I know I've already blogged here today, but I found this awesome shop tonight and just had to share it! SuzanneGlass is owned by Suzanne Ayala from Daytona Beach. She is completely self taught and makes these amazing lampwork glass pendants and figurines. They are amazing. This turtle is my favorite, because I love turtles. She also has beautiful pendants, figurines, sculptures and more! Check it out! It's probably one of the coolest shops I've seen on Etsy so far.

New Stuff

2008-03-21T13:58:00.004-06:00

Ok, So this is mostly an excuse to show off my adorable baby. I've started making pillowcase-like dresses and skirts with onesies. I think they are really cute, especially modeled on my little one, Alexys. I've found the most adorable fabric to make them out of and I hope they fly out of my store. If not, my kids are going to be looking good for a long time to come! :-)

Changes

2008-03-19T16:14:00.005-06:00

So, I've decided that I enjoy blogging more about other people's Etsy shops than my own. I think that from now on, I'm going to mostly spotlight shops from Etsy that have really cool items. If I work on something new, I'll stick that in also, but there are so many great Etsy sellers out there, that I think I'll enjoy this more.

So, for my next spotlight, take a look at this shop! CreationsInGlass creates amazing Stained glass items. I came across this shop quite a while ago. It caught my attention because of these two items pictured. I thought they were amazing. I think they are absolutely beautiful - if only I had more money! It's always amazing to me the many things that people are able to create. The owners of CreationsInGlass are from Idaho, where making custom Stained Glass items started as a hobby in 2000. And the most amazing thing is that they can work with you to make a custom order and create your own one-of-a-kind item. Cool, huh? They have jewelry items, nightlights, wind chimes and more. Check it out!

Need to Clean Up A bit?

2008-03-18T16:49:00.005-06:00

Not only do I sell on Etsy, but I also buy on Etsy. Not as much as I would like, but I've splurged a few times. The thing I'm most interested in is the Bath and Body items. I think that handmade soaps are so much better than those commercially made. They smell fantastic, they are mild and rinse off really well. My first purchase of handmade soap came from a shop called Cypress Lake Soaps. This shop was new to Etsy and I was one of their first purchases. I bought the Rosemary-Mint soap. I was so excited when it came with 2 smaller bars of "extra" soap, Peppermint and Patchouli. Although they were all great, my favorite was the Peppermint. CypressLake Soap is a family business. In their search for milder, safer and more environmentally safe soap, they began using only natural ingredients. They make their soap in small batches and they are cured for up to 6 weeks. I didn't know that soap had to be "cured." Anyway, I love this soap! Check out Etsy for more great Handmade items!

♥♥Etsybaby Weekend Showcase #5♥♥

2008-03-09T13:54:00.001-06:00

SALE! SALE! SALE!

2008-03-04T21:23:00.006-07:00

During the week of March 3-9th, I am having a huge sale on all of my Onesies! All onesies are only $6 dollars! You can even pick out what size you want it made in. This is a fantastic bargain. I just want to make room in my shop for some new items. Shipping is $2.50 for each purchase. So buy as many as you want and you'll never pay more than $2.50 in shipping. Click on this Link to visit my store!

EtsyBaby Weekend Showcase

2008-02-29T23:18:00.002-07:00

Every weekend, Etsybaby showcases 12 of their members shops. That means, the entire weekend is devoted to all of Etsybaby promoting those stores. Well, this weekend, it's my turn. So, come take a look at my Etsy shop, Cuddlebaby. Ok, shameless promotion, I know. Well, now I want to introduce you to the other 11 shops being showcased this weekend. Hopefully, I can start doing this every weekend. There are some very incredible shops out there on Etsy!

Chocolatelollipop Boutique has the most adorable monster bibs you have ever seen! The owner resides in Canada and claims to be a fabric addict. I can relate! She also carries bibs, burp cloths, blankets and more.

Bundles of Joy, AKA CindyJoy is the promo queen on Etsybaby lately. She's all over the promotion thread to keep it going. She's selling the cutest onesies with art done by her own son! You can also find blankets, onesies and lots of great sales in her shop!

If your little one needs headgear, check out CiteFuzz. The owner is a mom of three girls and how she finds time to make all of those awesome items in her shop, I'll never know. Her knit hats are adorable! She also sells blankets, bibs, burp cloths and gifts sets in her shop.

Cottontail claims that her business is her 3rd child, after her two girls. One of the most creative things I've seen is her Burp Cloth Bouquet. Check out her shop for burp cloths, clothing, shoes, toys and more.

If you go to Customdesignsbymimi, you'll find her shop "closed" because she's expecting her own little one any day now. Congratulations! But don't worry, if you in need of an adorable tag blanket, it's Ready to ship, as are all of the items in her shop right now, including burp cloths and blankets.

Cutifruity hails from Australia, which I hope to some day visit! She likes to make things for family members. I'm sure the little ones love items like these adorable baby booties. You can also find bibs, aprons, skirts, pants and other accessories for the little one.

DolceBaci Boutique, which is Italian for Sweet Kisses, started as a hobby making clothing for her two kids. Now, you can find this most adorable plush toy in her shop. Check out her store for blankets, bibs, burp cloths and clothing for your little one.

Read EdibleBaby's profile and you can see where she came up with the name and theme for her shop. Who wouldn't go bananas over this adorable onesie? Check out her shop for all things yummy! And she was even featured on CNN.com by InStyle Magazine. Congratulations!

CrawlerCovers and More, AKA FateGoddess has probably one of the most successful shop on Etsybaby. Take one look at these adorable Crawler Covers and it's not hard to see why. I actually purchased a couple from her recently and they are amazing. She also carries Doll diapers, tutus and clips.

GirlieMomma's Baby Gifts Shop started out of making things for her own two little ones. You can find these adorable non-slip socks in her shop! What a unique idea. Look for car seat strap covers, blankets, wash cloths, gift sets and other items in her shop.

And finally, GoldtoneDesigns, our fearless leader! As the co-leader and founder of Etsybaby, I don't know how she finds time to make any of her amazing Baby pillows. She has an awesome shop and above all, we here at Etsybaby all appreciate everything that she has done to keep this team moving! Thanks for everything!

Well, that was a lot of fun! It was great to be able to learn more about everyones shop and the people behind them. So, go check them all out. There are some amazing things on Etsy!

2008-02-26T13:50:00.003-07:00

It's been so nice to be busy with business the past 2 months! I've really enjoyed it. I recently sold two of my quilts and I just finished another one. It's my favorite, but has so far not had many views on Etsy. I decided to name it Early Spring.
I'm working on putting together crib bedding sets. I'm really excited about this new project. Hopefully in the next week or so, I'll have one done to post. I'm hoping that I can mostly do the bedding sets as Custom Orders, since i don't have a lot of space to have inventory just sitting around.
Also, my sister, Breanne, just opened up her own Etsy shop. I've had a few of her items listed on my site, but now she's ready to have them on her own. So, check her out! www.calicorose2.etsy.com

My New Toy!

2008-02-15T16:08:00.003-07:00

After all the hard work the past few months, I finally decided it was time to take my business up a notch. I purchased a new Serger! The one I've been using was a mini-serger that didn't do much more than edges and with all the work I've been doing lately, I needed something that was a little more heavy-duty. I just received it in the mail today. I'm a little intimidated! It's much more complicated than the little one I've been using. However, it came with a couple of instructional dvds and a big instruction book. Hopefully I'll be up and running soon!

My Dilemma

2008-02-04T21:06:00.000-07:00

I keep finding myself in a dilemma. I keep coming up with more and more fun ideas of things to make and post in my shop. The frustrating thing is that they aren't leaving my shop as quickly as I'm putting more things in there. Oh well. I keep telling myself I should wait to do more projects until after I've sold a few things, but I'm just too impatient. So, here it is, my newest project. I guess it's not exactly a new idea, but I've just jumped on it. I went through all my leftover/scrap fabric and cut out cute designs and am going to be putting them on onesies. I've set it up so that the buyer can pick out what size they want. I think they turn out really cute. I have over 40 different designs to list, so it's keeping me busy right now. Etsy has become so competitive though lately. When I first started back in August, if I did a search for Baby Blankets, about 3000 items came up. Now almost 8000 items show up. Wow! I don't know if that'll taper off, but it seems like it's just continuing to grow. It's hard to be seen without renewing or listing constantly. But, I'm still enjoying it. Anyway, I shouldn't complain. I feel like I've been doing pretty well lately. It was so fun in the beginning of January though, when I had orders almost every day. I miss that. So, we'll see how this new project goes. Here are some pics.

Order yours Today!

2008-01-29T11:37:00.000-07:00

I've decided to offer my Argyle and Bubbles baby sets for a special price if purchased through my blog. Here's how it works. Go through the following steps to pick out what items you want. You can buy one thing or as many as you want. If you purchase a complete set - Receiving blanket, onesie, pacifier clip and burp cloth, you get all 4 items for only $25 (This price is for shipping within the United States - see bottom for Canada and International pricing!) - that includes shipping! That a savings of $7! If you purchase items separately, they will be the normal price found on my webstore. Once you've made your decision, either leave a comment on this blog or email me at cuddlebabyblankets@gmail.com! Check out my webstore for more beautiful and fun items!

Getting Started!

1. Choose a Receiving Blanket:
They measure 43"X43" and are made of 100% cotton flannel with rounded corners and serged edges. They are great for swaddling newborns all the way up to a blanket for a toddler. They are lightweight and great to take with you anywhere! See bottom for individual purchase prices.
Choose your Color:
A. Pink Argyle
B. Blue Argyle
C. Pink, Yellow and Peach Bubbles
D. Blue, Yellow and Green Bubbles

2. Choose a Onesie:
These onesies have an applique design and color of your choice stitched onto the front. The onesies are 100% cotton Gerber onesies and the applique is made of 100% cotton flannel. See bottom for individual purchase prices.
Choose your Size:
A. 0-3 month
B. 3-6 month
C. 6-9 month
D. 12 month

Choose your design:
A. Bird
B. Heart
C. Triangle
D. Elephant
E. Bear
F. Turtle
G. Circle
H. Whale
I. Rhinoceros
J. Star
K. Square
L. Giraffe

Choose your Color:
A. Pink Argyle
B. Blue Argyle
C. Pink, Yellow and Peach Bubbles
D. Blue, Yellow and Green Bubbles

3. Choose a Burp Cloth
The burp cloths are made out of 100% cotton flannel on the top with a super absorbent 100% cotton terry cloth on the bottom. They measure 16"X10". See bottom for individual purchase prices.
Choose your Color:
A. Pink Argyle
B. Blue Argyle
C. Pink, Yellow and Peach Bubbles
D. Blue, Yellow and Green Bubbles

4. Choose a Pacifier Clip
The pacifier clips are great to attach a pacifier or toy to your child's clothing, stroller, car seat, etc. This will help eliminate the constant need to pick up your child's binky. They have metal snaps on one end to hook the pacifier to. The other end is a plastic, high-quality alligator clip. The color of the clip will depend on what I have in stock, but it will match with the fabric. It will be either pink, blue or clear. The clips measure 9" long once snapped shut and 3/4" in width. They are made of 100% cotton flannel. (Hand wash and lay flat to dry. ) **Don't let child use unattended. Not meant to be used while sleeping.** See bottom for individual purchase prices.
Choose your Color:
A. Pink Argyle
B. Blue Argyle
C. Pink, Yellow and Peach Bubbles
D. Blue, Yellow and Green Bubbles

5. Now that you've made your decision, leave a comment on my blog or send me an email at cuddlebabyblankets@gmail.com with your choices. Send me your PayPal address and I will send you an invoice. Once I've received payment, allow 5 days for your items to mailed out to you. Please contact me with any questions!

Pricing (includes shipping):
Set of 4 items - Receiving blanket, Onesie, Burp Cloth and Pacifier Clip
United States - $25
Canada - $27
Everywhere Else - $30

Receiving Blankets (includes shipping):
United States - $12.50
Canada - $14.50
Everywhere Else - $17.00

Onesies (includes shipping):
United States - $12.50
Canada - $14.50
Everywhere Else - $17.00

Burp Cloths (includes shipping):
United States - $7.00
Canada - $9.00
Everywhere Else - $12.00

Pacifier Clips (includes shipping):
United States - $7.00
Canada - $9.00
Everywhere Else - $12.00

Note - I will adjust shipping pricing for purchase of more than one item when I send out the invoice.

Thanks Again for looking!

Argyle and Bubbles

2008-01-28T18:29:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty excited about my newest project. I thought it would be fun to offer several items all made out of the same material. But, I didn't want it to be too boring, so this is what I came up with. I'm now offering onesies, receiving blankets, burp cloths, and pacifier clips that all match. Click on any of the items to see the listing. I think they are very cute. I'm especially excited about the Onesies. Not only do you choose your color, but you get to choose what design you get. I'm including the option of a bird, bear, giraffe, elephant, rhinoceros, heart, square, circle, triangle, whale, star and turtle. I have it set up so that people can purchase any of the items individually, or for no extra shipping charges, buy them all as a set. I hope they end up being a big seller. I think they will be fun. Here are some pics.

NEW NEW NEW

2008-01-27T18:29:00.000-07:00

Well, things have definitely died off a little in my shop. :-( I'm sure that's to be expected, but I had hoped the buying trend would continue. Anyway, it's given me a chance to finish a project I've been working on for a while. I decided to start making Minky blankets that are similar to the pink striped quilt that I made, only backed in solid Minky. I just finished the first one, and I have to say that I think it's the best I've made yet. I'm excited to get started on another one. Here's a couple of pictures.
Take a look at my webstore for more pictures.

I'm still running my Bow-Bear promotion, and still no one has found him. Hopefully soon he'll be spotted.

No one's found Bow Bear, Yet!

2008-01-22T14:28:00.000-07:00

Bow bear is still lurking around in my shop and I've added a lot more
choices of the bags you can get if you find him. Here's some pics.

Can YOU find Bow Bear?

2008-01-21T09:54:00.001-07:00

This month on Etsy, I'm offering a promotion, along with several other EtsyBaby Shops! Here is your mission!

Cupid needs your help to find his bow & arrow! Bow-Bear has been wandering around looking through all the EtsyBABY shops trying to help cupid find special things for those special someones, but now he's lost!!!!!
Cupid is offering a reward and has been posting pictures of his bow & arrow in the EtsyBABY shops.

The way the promotion works is, if you find an item in my shop with Bow Bear and his bow and arrows, you get to claim a prize if you purchase that item. So far, Bow Bear has been rumored to have been prancing through at least 10 of my items! And I'm so excited about the prize you will receive! If you purchase a Bow Bear item, you get a free bright and colorful Tote Bag. They measure about 12across X 13tall X 4width. They have extra pockets, zipper section, water bottle holders, cell phone holders, and change purses attached to them. Each one is different. They are perfect for library bags, diaper bags, purses, anything! Until tomorrow, I only have 2 colors to offer, but then I will have a bunch more to display. These are the two designs I have for right now.
I'm really excited about this promotion and I hope that I'm able to give away a lot of these cute totes! So, come visit my shop and see if you can find Bow Bear!

Back in Business

2008-01-12T23:09:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's been so long since my last post on this blog. Christmas was so busy for us. I finally finished the blankets I was working on for the girls. I think they turned out really cute. Here's a pic. We had a great time visiting with both sides of our family, but it was also nice once the craziness was over with and we were able to relax at home again. I had my birthday on January 1st. It was nice. My husband always makes a big effort to make my birthday extra special. However, after that, the new year started and we picked up our busy lives again. Chad started school again and he has been so busy getting ready to go to Colorado next week for a big convention. I have been extremely busy as well. I don't really know what's going on, but business is booming! I've sold 37 items so far this month! That's double my sales since starting last August. My goal was to have an average of 5 sales a month during my first year of business, but I'm having to readjust that now since I've passed it. As of today, my Etsy sold total is 70 items. I had a large order for receiving blankets, but all of the other ones have been individual sales. My husband and I joke that he's buying everything and having it shipped out to random addresses. Since the beginning of this month, I've only had 3 days that no one purchased anything and I've had a couple of days with 3 separate purchases. It's been amazing. It certainly has kept me busy though. And my 2 year old, Myra, loves it, because we go to the Post Office almost every day. She really enjoys the post office because they have a little kid-size bench and TV for her to watch. When she sees me packing something up, she gets so excited. Anyway, whatever is going on, I sure hope it continues! This must just be a busy time of the year for people having babies? I'm also working on a few new ideas right now. And I'm trying to find ways of making my business more professional, like real business cards and gift tags, instead of what I'm just printing off my computer. But, for now I'm having fun with it.

Christmas is right around the corner

2007-12-20T13:17:00.001-07:00

I can't believe it's the 20th already. I have so much to do to get ready for Christmas. My big thing is that I've been making blankets for my girls. I've finished one, but I'm running out of time for the other. Oh well, she's only 9 months, I'm sure she won't care too much.
I haven't really been making too many things for the business lately. I worked real hard last week to get ready for the Sugared Plum. I made onesies, bibs, burp cloths and pacifier clips, along with a couple of new blankets. The boutique itself turned out to not be very profitable for me. Oh well, that happens. I've done pretty well online this month though. I hope it continues after the first of the year. I have a lot of new ideas for some blankets and other stuff. Here's a picture of one of the onesies I did last week. I appliqued matching designs from my blankets onto onesies. They really turned out cute. This is the only one I've posted so far. So keep your eyes open for a bunch of new stuff!

The Sugared Plum

2007-12-11T22:37:00.000-07:00

So, much to my husbands chagrin, I am doing another Craft Boutique. Actually he's very supportive, it's just a busy time of year. The Sugared Plum boutique is going to be held in Herriman on December 14th and 15th from 10am-7pm both days. It's going to be held in a house that is for sale and there are quite a few vendors signed up for it, so I hope that it has a really great turnout! This month I have been mostly working on some things for my girls and getting Christmas ready, but this week I am busy at the sewing machine again trying to finish up a few things for the boutique. I always get kind of frantic when I'm preparing for one of these. I keep thinking of all these ideas of things I want to make and I feel like I just need to hurry and get more things done so I can sell them. I really hope I do well at this one. I could use a good boost before Christmas time. Anyway, wish me well. I'll be back after to report how it went. And if you're in the area, come and visit.

Haven't Done Too Much Lately

2007-11-30T23:13:00.000-07:00

I've haven't really worked on too many new things lately. I keep relisting on Etsy, but haven't had too many sales. Although over Thanksgiving weekend, I sold 4 things! I was so excited. When that happens, I think that things are really going to pick up, then another week goes by with nothing. I've got to find a way to sell more. I need to get into advertising or something. I just don't know where to begin. Right now, I'm working on blankets for my two girls for Christmas. I figure I'll continue relisting and hoping that things will sell until after Christmas, then I can start working on new designs and finding ways to sell more stuff.
I'm really excited about the blankets I'm going to be making the girls. They are "rag" blankets. I've never made this kind before, so we'll see how they turn out. I cut the material for the first one today, but am having a hard time coming up with a design. So, who knows how it will turn out. That's the funnest thing about this business - trying to come up with new ideas and figuring out how to make them work. My favorite so far has been the pink and brown quilt, mostly because it was something new and a challenge. It's had over 900 views on Etsy in the few weeks that it's been there, but no takers. People on the forums don't think I should lower the price, so we'll see what happens. Someone out there will eventually find it and have to have it.
I got a bunch of fabric on after Thanksgiving sales, and have been working mostly on Receiving blankets. Here's a picture of Alexys "modeling" the swaddle look. Isn't she cute?

4th Anniversary

2007-11-15T11:39:00.000-07:00

Today is our anniversary. Chad and I were married 4 years ago, on November 15, 2003. I thought I would just post this slide show with pictures of us and our kids during the past 4 years.

My favorite so far!

2007-11-12T20:56:00.001-07:00

I just finished this blanket. It's larger than the others that I have made, so it would be great for adults as a lap blanket, etc. Anyway, I hope it attracts a buyer quick, cause I just might keep it. It took me a while to figure out how to do parts of it, but I think it really turned out great. Probably one of my best. Here are some pics.

Craft Fair Followup

2007-11-03T21:52:00.000-06:00

Well, I was a little disappointed with the Craft Fair. I guess after being so busy this week trying to get ready for it, I had gotten my hopes up. I also had anticipated a bigger turnout. I know it was advertised in the paper here every day for a week and the place said they spent quite a bit advertising it, but it just didn't pull too many people in. Oh well, I at least sold a few items, although I didn't receive my goal. That's okay though, I'll make it next time. The best thing about the craft fair was that my mom and sister came up. My sister makes these really cute memory boards and she thought she'd try to sell some of them. I'm going to start posting them on my ETSY website, so if you're interested, go take a look at them! Here's a picture of one of them. Anyway, I was up late last night getting ready, so I need to get some good sleep tonight. Oh, I almost forgot, I one a Scentsy fragrance warmer at the Craft fair today, so that made it an even better day! Lucky me!

Getting ready for a Craft Fair!

2007-11-02T08:57:00.000-06:00

It's been a while since I last posted in here. My problem with this blog is I don't usually have anything very interesting to say. Just things like, Oh, I made a new blanket today or Oh, I sold a blanket today. Doesn't make for a very interesting read! I need to spend some time looking at other blogs to see what they right about, maybe then I can come up with more interesting blogs. However, thanks to all of you who do read this.
This week I have been sewing like crazy getting ready for a Craft Fair I am doing this Saturday. I've made 9 blankets so far this week and I still feel like I have a ton to do before tomorrow. Yikes. I should probably be sewing and not blogging. The past little while I have been working on Minky blankets. They've all turned out really cute, but can be a pain to sew because the fabric is so stretchy. Thanks to my mom, I was able to get the pinning figured out. Just a little side not, my 2-year-old will come up and pick up a pin and say, "I found a pencil mom." She's so cute. I've also been making more nursing blankets. Today I am hoping to make some pacifier clips and a couple binky blankets. We'll see how that goes. Well, wish me luck for tomorrow! I hope I come home with no blankets!

My first project in over 2 weeks, hurray!

2007-10-19T16:41:00.000-06:00

I was finally able to make another blanket after over a two-week hiatus. It felt good to get back to the sewing machine. I have fabric to make a bunch more blankets, so I've got to get moving. I'm hoping to do at least one craft fair before Christmas and I'd like to get my inventory up a little more. I also have a bunch of ideas for other things I want to make. I'm going to try to make aprons and i want to get going on my jean blanket. Hopefully that turns out well. I also have a lot of ideas for baby onesies and burp cloths, so I want to jump on that too. Whenever I go to the store and look at their patterns, I have a tons of ideas of things I want to try and sew, whether I attempt to sell them or not, I just want to try and make them. So, I think I'm going to try and just finish the blankets I have, then start making other items. We'll see how it goes.

Business As Usual

2007-10-17T20:24:00.000-06:00

I'm back from Florida, so business is up and running again. I actually sold 2 blankets while I was gone so I was happy about that. I'm excited to start sewing again. I brought some fabric back with me and I'm hoping to start making some new kinds of blankets and other items. I'm also interested in getting into some Craft Fairs coming up here before Christmas. I'd like to get my inventory moving so I can make some new stuff.
Our trip to Florida was a lot of fun. I had a great time with my kids. They are so much fun. Florida was nice and warm. Kind of sad getting back to Utah and having it so cold and rainy. We did a lot fun things. To read about it more you can look at my personal blog, http://chadshannonandfamily.blogspot.com.
Well, I hope to be posting some new things in the next couple of days. Meanwhile, here are a couple of pics of Florida.
Oh and when I got back, my husband had cleaned the entire house and painted our front room. It looks great! I've got the best husband!

Here in Florida

2007-10-03T21:48:00.000-06:00

My business has been put on a temporary hold since I'm here with Myra and Lexi in Florida. We're visiting grandparents and having a great time so far. The kids are loving it and I'm loving the warm weather. Chad's at home, holding down the fort and hopefully I'll sell something while I'm gone so he has to take care of the boring stuff like packaging and shipping. Anyway, I'm still busy thinking of ideas and have spent the past hour promoting on Etsy. Hopefully I'll get a sale soon!

Nursing Blankets

2007-09-30T19:46:00.000-06:00

I've started making Nursing Blankets recently, so I thought I would post a picture and tell about them. A friend of mine had a similar nursing blanket, so I thought I would try to make something like it. It just a serged-edge receiving blanket with an extra strap filled with polyfil beads, which you toss over your shoulder and this keeps the blanket in place while you feed your baby. I think they turned out really good, but we'll see if they sell. I'm also thinking of making them with a detachable strap, so the weight can be taken off and it can be used as just a blanket. Here's a picture.

New Design

2007-09-26T22:07:00.001-06:00

I'm so excited about my new blanket. So far I have just made what I know how to make, but I finally got up the guts to try something new. I've had 73 hits on Etsy already, hopefully someone will buy it! Here's a picture and the link. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7223396

Too Early for Christmas?

2007-09-22T22:26:00.000-06:00

Yikes, Christmas is already in the air. I can't believe that many stores are already getting up their Christmas items. It seems that Christmas shows up earlier and earlier every year. Oh well. I figured, if you can't beat them, join them. So, since the stores have been carrying Christmas fabric since July, I figured I had better buy some before it was all gone. HaHa! Here are my 2 newest creations. I thought they turned out so cute. Myra especially like the blue one. She kept trying to lay on it. But then, she wants every blanket I make. On ETSY, there are a lot of posts in the forums about Christmas items. I guess i need to start my Christmas shopping. It would be nice to get it done early this year. We'll see. I'm sure I'll probably be out on Christmas Eve, getting that last minute gift. But who knows, Christmas is still ONLY 3 months away.

Wal-Mart is a Bad Word

2007-09-21T10:02:00.000-06:00

I hate Walmart! I dislike their long lines and lack of customer service. The other day I was shopping for new fabrics and decided to take a little trip to Brigham city (20miles away) to look for new designs. Once around the fabric tables I realize I had made a mistake. They didn't have anything I was looking for. I did find a couple of cute prints and made my way to the cutting table, where I had to wait for someone to show up. The lady helping me was totally grumpy and when I told her I only wanted 44 inches, she acted as if I was a retard. "You mean 48 inches, not 44, whatever." After she begrudgingly finished cutting my fabric, I asked her the location of another item. Her curt reply, "We don't have that." Was followed by a swift exit, leaving 4 other people to be helped my one worker. I eventually made my way to checkout where I thought I was lucky to have on 2 people in front of me, especially since the baby was beginning to fuss. Fifteen minutes later and after a lot of tears, it was finally my turn. Talk about slow! When she rings me up, I realize that I had been overcharged for some of my fabric. It hadn't shown on the tag, so I couldn't have caught it earlier. When I tell the worker, she shrugs and says, "You'll have to have the fabric department fix it." As I glance behind me at the 10 or so people waiting in line, I figure it's not worth it and go on with my purchase. By this point, the baby is hysterical and so I finally exit Walmart. This was just one experience, let me tell of some others. At the deli counter, I was told, after asking for 2 slices of ham (I only needed 2 for what I was making) that next time I would have to purchase more or they wouldn't sell it to me. Why would I buy more if I didn't need more? Another time I attempted to buy an item and was told at the checkout stand that I couldn't purchase it. She couldn't even give me a reason. She just said that she couldn't allow it. Walmart has long lines, the aisle are often blocked with boxes, they are often out of what I need and I can never find anyone to help me. I hate Walmart, but, despite everything, I'm not going to quit shopping there because they are just so darn cheap!

Busy day on the Web

2007-09-17T22:34:00.001-06:00

Is using the phrase "the web" outdated? Just wondering. I've spent a bunch of time trying to get my website and blog name out there into the world. There are so many places to go. The frustrating thing is that after so much work, no more sales. Oh well, patience. I'm sure learning a lot about the internet. It's great fun. The kids have kept me busy today so I didn't get much sewing done. Chad's up at school tonight working on a presentation, so I have the evening to myself. I have so much to do, where to begin. Probably shouldn't be on the computer any longer. Well, I thought I'd post tonight, a couple pictures of my adorable little girls. Myra is 2 and Alexys is almost 6 months. They are so much fun. I just adore them.

Purple Monkeys

2007-09-15T22:59:00.000-06:00

Today has been a fun day on the web. We just got DSL, so I was actually able to do a little skipping around on the internet. I have started to discover the world of forums on Etsy and although I only looked around a little, I found a bunch of cool things. I was able to post to have my shop critiqued and got some helpful tips. I also sold a blanket. It's been a couple of weeks since I've had any action on the internet for sales, so I was pretty excited about that. It was one of my favorites, the purple monkey blanket. Well, here are a couple more pics of recent products, the Keep on Trucking blanket and some fun colored burpies. Check them out on my website. Until later...

Blue Ducks, Teddy Bears, Pink Frogs and More...

2007-09-13T19:59:00.000-06:00

I'm still continuing to make blankets, although I'm just about out of all the fabric I purchased on our trip to Yellowstone. These blankets are so cute, I really hope that people can get into them. I went with my friend Janelle to a fabric store today to look at fabric, but it was so pricey. However, I got a lot of good ideas. I need to own a fabric store, then I can put all my good ideas in motion. I also have had an idea to look for a hemstitching machine. Then I could advertise to hemstitch people blankets for them. It would be a good job to do from home. Now I just need a hemstitching machine. I guess they don't even make them anymore so they are pretty difficult to come by, so if anyone has any ideas. Let me know. Also, my sewing machine was having problems today. I fiddled around with it forever and finally found out that I should have been oiling it. Oops! That fixed the problem in a jiffy, so I'm back on line to complete a bunch moresewing projects. Here are some pics of recent blankets I've made.

CuddleBaby Blankets

2007-09-12T11:42:00.000-06:00

I've recently started an online business called CuddleBaby. I specialize in handmade Baby to Toddler Blankets along with other kids items, such as; onesies, burpies, binky blankets, pacifier holders, and more ideas to come. I've been selling my blankets through Etsy.com, this great place where you can find tons of handmade items, and through Mafooku.com, an online listing. I've been doing this for about a month and have done okay. I'm hoping to really get going with it. I have so many fun blankets I've made and I want people to see them. I've also sold blankets a few times at our local Gardener's Market. That's been fun and I've also done pretty well there. So, check out my website! I'm continually adding new products, so the store will change often. Check it out!