my newest project

I have to apologize for neglecting my blog. I’ve been busy with a new project online and I’m really excited about it. I now have a dynamic online newsletter and I’m thoroughly enjoying it. It gives me a chance to use my creative side…something I don’t seem to get enough time to do lately. Soooo…if you get a moment check it out at “The Monthly” and let me know what you think. I’m always open to suggestions and comments.

trying to make it a wee bit easier

With the economy doing so badly worldwide I’m trying to make it a bit easier for my customers to be able to save money by switching to cloth. I know finances are tight for many so I’ve removed any shipping charges completely on all orders to Canada and the US (and I’ve discounted the shipping cost to international orders) from now through to the end of the Christmas season. That way it’s easier to buy just a couple of items as can be afforded to stock up slowly and not get dinged for shipping charges each time. So much can be saved by switching to cloth. The cost of disposable products over time adds up faster that many realize. Personally I can’t imagine using many disposable items I used to take for granted years ago….ie., (on a personal level) pads, feminine/family cloths, cloth napkins, cloth wrapping paper (yup…I’ve scrapped paper wrapping paper completely and instead I make cloth drawstring bags when I’m gift giving). There are so many alternatives. We, as a family, started using reusable cloth bags at Christmastime quite a few years ago. I made up about a hundred of them in different sizes and stored them away and now give all Christmas gifts in either cloth bags or in baskets or other reusable containers. What works great for gift giving is filling the bottom of a terra cotta plant pot (whichever size suits the gift you’re giving) with raffia or straw and then placing the gift (or gifts) inside the pot. It looks wonderful and every part of the packaging is reusable. We also use cloth bags when grocery shopping.

had a bit of time on my hands

…so I thought I’d work on the New Moon website. I’ve been concentrating mostly on the pads page (the print selections are now made by clicking on actual pictures of the pads rather than just on fabric swatches). I’ve also changed the look of the purchase buttons a bit to make them less cluttered and more streamlined. Next I’ll be working on the bags page so that instead of fabric swatches it will also have clickable pictures of the bags in the same format as the pads page. I really like the new look (I’ve added a partial screenshot below). Hopefully everyone else will as well. Oh…and I’ve also brought back women’s quotes interspersed in the site content. I used to have them way back when but when I made a complete site design change they just kind of fell by the wayside. I’ve really missed them and I’m glad they’re back because I think they add a nice touch to the site…some inspirational…some funny.

Wow…when looking at the screen shot I realized that it shows just 1/4 of all the prints I currently have available (35 in the screen shot and over 130 available total). Think maybe I have a fabric addiction? Off to see if they have a 12 step program for fabricaholics. )

happy thanksgiving canada

I know it’s tomorrow but we usually do Thanksgiving dinner on the Sunday so I’ve just pulled a couple of pumpkin pies out of the oven and in went a well stuffed turkey.  It smells so good!  I love Thanksgiving.  There’s so much to be thankful for…three wonderful happy healthy sons, a terrific husband, health, family,  friendships, my business…

My wish is that everyone has something to be thankful for in their lives.  Happy Thanksgiving Canada!

worldwide financial crisis

Somehow I’m feeling that this was inevitable.  It’s scary to think that everyone worldwide is feeling this crisis.  I know how hard it is for the “little guy” right now and with that in mind I’ve decided to offer free shipping for all orders to Canada and the US over $39 (with discounted to international).  I realize money is tight and a lot of people are reluctant (if not downright unable) to spend much right now so I want to do my part to ease the crunch where I can.  I’ve also lowered some of my prices as well.  I figure I’ll just have to work harder to make the same living I was making a few years ago but I don’t mind hard work.  I’m hoping that more businesses will take this step and lower their costs to try to get the economy moving again.  Maybe if enough of us WAHM’s do this then the big businesses will take note and possibly follow suit.  I know…probably wishful thinking.

when the wind blows…

…THINGS FALL DOWN!  Good grief!  Well, I guess it could have been worse…we could have had to replace TWO fences.  Oh well.  At least it was the fence we were planning to replace next spring.  I just wish it hadn’t taken down the clematis with it when it went.  *sigh*

we’re in for a storm

I’m sitting here waiting for this huge storm to hit us.  Wind, rain, major nasty weather.  Guess I’ll spend most of the day sewing and wait to rake the leaves until it’s over (no point in doing it twice).  So…what should I sew?  Guess I’ll do baby/mama/family wipes today.

today only…free shipping worldwide

on all website orders at SWEET CHEEKS and NEW MOON.

how to design a nursery

I love the “Wiki How” site.  There is so much information there and I came across THIS so I thought I’d post it here.

toxic shock syndrome (tss)

TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME:  Toxic shock syndrome has been associated with the use of tampons.  If you currently use tampons, be sure to read the information leaflet included in the box you purchased. 

CLINICAL FEATURES:  Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is characterized by sudden onset of fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches and rash. It can rapidly progress to severe and intractable hypotension and multisystem dysfunction. Desquamation, particularly on the palms and soles can occur 1-2 weeks after onset of the illness.

ETIOLOGIC AGENT:  Usually exotoxin producing strains of Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium.

INCIDENCE:  In the United States, annual incidence is 1-2/100,000 women 15-44 years of age (last active surveillance done in 1987).

SEQUELAE:  5% of all cases are fatal.

TRANSMISSION:  S. aureus commonly colonizes skin and mucous membranes in humans. TSS has been associated with use of tampons and intravaginal contraceptive devices in women and occurs as a complication of skin abscesses or surgery.

RISK GROUPS:  Menstruating women, women using barrier contraceptive devices, persons who have undergone nasal surgery, and persons with postoperative staphylococcal wound infections.

Content source: Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases (CDC) / Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases