Flickr Finds

My EcoCraftiness Flickr pool still gets submissions all the time, which I love. I browsed through it tonight to find some representations of what I'm up to for the next week. Can you guess based on these photo clues?


Aluminum Can Earrings-"Jets" by Urban Woodswalker


Rough Sea, Stormy Sky - Painting on Driftwood by tiddu


Recycled Travel Journal by PrairiePeasant

(Hint: don't take the 3rd clue too literally)...

Knitter's Delight

I've been a knitter for years now, and have never tired of it! Well, except for that brief 9 months of pregnancy when hormones took over and things I had loved I didn't care for so much. But as soon as I gave birth and could pick up a pair of of needles again, I was right back on the knitty wagon.

Knitting has always felt so second nature to me from the moment I taught myself how. I attribute that feeling to having ancestors who knit. It's ingrained in my DNA!

Browsing through my Etsy favorites tonight, I've compiled a little collection of items that I, as a knitter, and lover of all things knitted, seriously covet...


This yarn bowl, by MaidofClay, seems like the most adorable solution to knitting with an unwieldy ball of yarn.


A scotch on the rocks would go soooo well with a night in and some not-too-complicated knitting. I'm game.


Everything about this knitted pouf ottoman amazes and draws me to it. If I had the cash, this sweet baby would so be mine!

If you knit, what would be your number one outlandish knitting accessory to own (or perhaps that you already own)?

Some Cloth Diapering Resources

I have a few favorite online sources where I go to learn about the different types of cloth diapers, read and watch reviews, get tips on washing/caring for diapers, and of course, places to buy said diapers too. Here's a short list of my most frequented cloth diapering resources...

DiaperPin - A review site where CDing parents can rate the diapers they have used on their kid(s).

Dirty Diaper Laundry Blog - A wealth of video reviews on all kinds of cloth diapers (these videos and reviews really are essential to getting to know the diaper(s) you might potentially buy), plus cloth diaper giveaways, CD discussions, and so much more.

The Cloth Diaper Whisperer - Another great blog with lots of information on different types of cloth diapers, diaper care, and giveaways galore!

Zany Zebra - I found this page to be very helpful and thorough in explaining how to care for different types of cloth diapers in different ways.

Kelly's Closet - This is where I've done the majority of my cloth diapering and CD accessory shopping. I love it because they always have promotions going on (i.e. free one size diapers with a purchase of X amount, free shipping, etc). I also love that you can rack up points with all of your purchases and when you accrue enough points, use them for store credit. I've made many purchases from this website and have never been disappointed with the service or speed.

BTLdiapering Yahoo Group - This forum is awesome if you're looking for answers to your cloth diapering questions. I've always received great answers and support every time I posted a query.

Have any questions about cloth diapering? I'd love to share what I've learned with you, so feel free to ask in the comments section!

Thanks

It's the simple little things in life that make me happy, and thankful. Like my sweet bub. He's been around for only a year and a half now but it seems so much longer and I can't imagine things without him!

An Ode to Cloth Diapering

For the last 6 months now, I've been cloth diapering my son. It's absolutely addicting, and I wanted to give a special shout out to a few cloth diaper makers who do it by hand!

First up are Bella Bottoms cloth diapers. This shop is run by a Momma out in Texas! I have tried 3 of her one size fitted diapers, the "Hook 'Em" Hemp One-size Diaper, Single 100% cotton Fitted Diaper, and INCREDIBELLAS one-size pocket diaper. All 3 are absolutely awesome.

Using Bella Bottoms has turned me into a fitted diaper addict. I find they are awesomely absorbent like prefolds, but with less bulk and more room to breathe than prefolds lend themselves to, which is great for rash prevention. Her pocket one size that I tried is great in and of itself. The photos of my son in the white fitted diaper seen above are Bella Bottoms 100% cotton one size fitteds. Thanks to these diapers, I find myself drawn to fun waterproof (PUL) covers to go over them.

And oh, what diaper covers I've found! My cousin knew I was going to be cloth diapering and gave us an awesome diaper cover that she bought in a boutique in PA, made by Brookiellen. It came with the maker's card, which is how I found her Etsy shop. I am in love with the designs used on these covers, not to mention how well made they are! I started off using them over medium sized prefolds, but once I found these Bella Bottoms fitteds, I ditched the bulky prefolds altogether.

I just recently ordered a cover with snaps from Brookiellen's shop, in an adorable frogs design. My little guy is 6 months old right now, weights 15 lbs, and is in the 50th percentile for height and 10th for weight, and the medium covers are fitting him quite well. I use the Bella Bottoms fitteds with these Brookiellen covers mostly for bedtime and naps, and for when the daytime stash runs out. I reserve them for night mainly because they are way more absorbent than my daytime stash. I've found that the Bella's fitteds (plus a microfiber doubler) have held up for 11 hours of sleep, with no leaks, thanks to these wonderful covers.

I love that both of these shops supply me with handmade options to cloth diapering. After all, handmade diapers are the perfect mix of both eco and crafty!

EcoEtsy's Earth Day Auction Starts Today!

I'm a member of Team EcoEtsy, a collaboration of crafters, artists, vintage and supplies sellers on Etsy.com. We're very devoted to greening our wares and our businesses.

We are currently auctioning off collections of items created and donated by team members, through a silent auction, which begins today!

Please check out the main auction page for information on how to bid, along with links to each section of handmade wares up for auction. Proceeds raised will be donated to the World Wildlife Fund!

I submitted a set of wrist warmers made from recycled silk/cashmere blend yarn. They are in the fashion section of the auction, and pictured below, along with the rest of the fabulous eco items up for bids in that section...







Even if you can't make a bid, just spreading the word about this auction would be a great help to our effort! You could blog about it, tweet about it, let your Facebook friends know about it, link back to the auction from any webpages you're on, etc. Please do whatever you can to help out!

Repurposed Flicker Finds

Some beautiful and ingenious repurposed crafts I found through our EcoCraftiness Flickr Pool...

Afternoon Tea


Hayden's Trellis Twirly Skirt
{Made from an upcycled vintage feedsack table runner, and trimmed with vintage gingham bias tape.}


duo noeud papillon
{bowties made out of recycled vintage ties}

Win a Tea Mug Cozy from KnitStorm!

One of my tea mug cozies is up for grabs over at Sweet Greens. There are multiple ways to enter and up your chances of winning.


The cozy that you could win (pictured above and below) is hand crocheted by me, made from a gorgeous red recycled cotton yarn. It is embellished with a felt "tea bag", containing the word "TEA", hand embroidered onto it. These mug cozies are the perfect way to decorate and insulate your cup of tea!


For your chance to win, go to the Sweet Greens blog and learn how to enter the giveaway for this KnitStorm Mug Cozy! The giveaway ends May 5th. Good luck!!!

Kiwi One Size Fitted Giveaway!

Check out the Dirty Diaper Laundry blog for a review on the adorable Kiwi One Size Fitted Diaper, and the giveaway they're having for 2 of them!

Here's a direct link to where these diapers are sold if you just can't wait to find out if you're a winner:
Kiwi Pie One Size Bamboo Fitted

I particularly dig the Eliot Elephant diaper (pictured on the left) but they have many adorable diaper patterns. Some others that I think are great, and would love to get for my little boy-on-the-way, include...

Olive Stripes


Ooga Booga

Flickr Full of Color

Here are some Friday EcoCraftiness Flickr Finds, straight from the EcoCraftiness Flickr Group...