Joyful Living Naturals

What we are working on

2010-02-09T15:27:00.000-08:00

I've been doing lots of sewing these chilly winter days, I have the sewing machine close to the wood stove in this old barn house, so I am more tempted tosit at it and sew a bit. I am now an approved or licensed seamstress for Fattycakes diapers (a nice full coverage side snapping diaper), Kaylas cloth snap on pull off in sizes infant through adult (great for bedwetters or special needs) and La Di Da diapers, a great trim fitting diaper. These will all be available in addition to my own pattern (my one size front snapping pocket diaper) I'll be putting some out as they are made, and will take special orders as well. Today I am working on some one sized pockets with minky embellished tabs :) I am planning to add some baby wipes and nursing pads to the items for sale - but with 5 mamas due in Feb, they might take a while to show up! Let me know if there is anything else you'd especially like to see.

2009-12-13T22:02:00.001-08:00

Andy,, Tish, Simeon, Erin, Sarah, David

David, Sarah, Ezekiel, Judah, Cadence

Simeon, Erin
Lydia, Hosanna, Israel, Adin

And some More

2009-12-13T12:07:00.001-08:00

Jesse, Emily, Micah

And more!

2009-12-13T12:02:00.000-08:00

Daniel

Daniel, Miriam, Michelle, Ashley

more pics

2009-12-13T11:20:00.001-08:00

Joshua

Karey

Leone
John

Family pictures!

2009-12-13T10:46:00.001-08:00

Andy and Tish, Simeon & Erin, David & Sarah, David & Tracey

Our family

2009-11-30T07:40:00.000-08:00

In case you ever wondered what I do in my spare time...

My wonderful friend Rina Marie came to take pictures for us after Thanksgiving. I was so blessed to have all but one of my children and grandchildren home!

A wonderful gift giving idea!

2009-11-30T07:36:00.000-08:00

First of all everyone, something special from Bonnie at http://fishsticksandfries.com/blog/

First, a way for you to give a gift to a poor family in Asia and maybe even mark off a few names on your Christmas list at the same time: Having trouble coming up with a gift idea for that relative who already has everything? Perhaps a gift in his or her honor for the poor in another country would be the perfect thing! As Gospel for Asia staff members, my husband and I often get to hear the incredibly heart-warming stories of how blessed people are to receive the gifts given through the GFA Christmas Catalog. Because I love to sew, the ability to give the gift of a sewing machine to a poor family in Asia brings me great joy! You can read for yourself a few stories on the GFA website about how much the gift of a sewing machine can help out a family in need: Christmas Gifts Warm Body and Heart and Stitching Her Garments with a Grateful Heart. If you’d like to check out how you can give a sewing machine, or other gifts like chickens, blankets, even a water buffalo, visit GFA’s Christmas Catalog online.

Sept 2009

2009-09-14T15:26:00.000-07:00

The babies keep coming!! I was able to hire a young lady to help me get the sewing area in order, just a little more to do and it will be CLEAN!!! I have over 300 diapers cut and ready to snap, and an Amish dad ready to put the foot powered press to work setting snaps in trade for part of their birth fee. Pads are being made, I mainly need time to list them!
Here are my fantastic foot presses:

I always said I was a bad blogger...

2009-06-21T09:45:00.000-07:00

So the last update was in Sept 2008? yikes! Ok, to bring you up to speed - October 7th 2008 our sweet Jesse arrived - a sweet home waterbirth, and a precious "little" man... all 10 lbs 9 oz of him! Fast forward - he's already 8 months old, and at this moment using my dress to pull himself up and let me know he needs me now! Ok, typing left handed now... the website stocking has been a bit slow as I had a busy spring catching babies, including 2 sets of twins. Moms needed extra care and sewing had to wait. I am continuing to do custom orders, and sell onebay. The etsy site has stood empty too long, and with no more babies due till mid July and a light August, I am hoping to get ahead. I do have over 100 diapers cut out, and David made some awesome foot press stands for the snap presses, so more diapers should be ready soon. I bought a large roll of organic bamboo velour that will be seeing the dyepots soon, so look for some cool new colors - the bamboo makes such soft pads!!

A brief update..

2008-09-30T20:52:00.000-07:00

Just to let you know - we are just a few days away from our due date, so if I am a little slow in responding to emails in the next few weeks, please be understanding!! Thank you!!!

Just a quick update.

2008-05-06T11:42:00.000-07:00

Spring is in full swing. The chicks are here, the garden calls, the flowers need weeding. The new baby calf (Marilla) is doing so well, she will be a fine milker some day. I am doing a lot of restocking on the site - and playing with lots of diaper patterns. Tiny diapers are so fun to work on, especially with such anticipation. There will be a new grandbaby come July - AND - we are ever so delighted to be looking forward to a new baby in OUR home in October! Our new baby will be aunt or uncle to some nieces and nephews that are older than him/her!! So - I will be busily sewing through the summer :-) Look for some great wool longies showing up in a few weeks, to be ready for next fall :-)

Traveling pads!

2008-01-21T05:41:00.000-08:00

Today I got a pad order from Italy! So, now my pads have traveled to Norway, Canada, England, Belgium, Malaysia, Singapore, Portugal, Australia, France and Sweden, and the next package heads for Italy!! Cool!!!

Diapers, diapers, diapers!

2008-01-20T12:01:00.000-08:00

I am filling orders for diapers right now. I enjoy making them, though I do dread setting SO many snaps! I have an order for 8 to get out this week, they are almost done! It is so cold this week! I have put a heating pad over my sewing machine pedal as the floor here still gets so cold. I'm Loving my wool socks!!! Later this week I need to make some big night time covers for a family whose older child needs night time protection. How much nicer to pull on a bit of protection, rather than waking up to wet bedding! My sewing areas get so messy - but don't you like that great pin cushion?? It is made of a sweater sleeve with a little "pillow" stuffed with wool scraps. My machine is a 1950's Singer 306, a true workhorse. Her beauty is in her work :-)Back to snap setting!!

Wow! Great colors!!

2008-01-13T17:58:00.000-08:00

The velours are out, and they look great! I love it when these things work so well :-) I am tired - the dying area is upstairs, the laundry room is down and way back - not to mention processing 6 bushels of apples into applesauce, laundry, sewing, and working on this blog! Whew!! Surely I burned a few extra calories today??

Dying new velour :-)

2008-01-13T10:19:00.000-08:00

Can you tell it is a cold, drizzly day here? The woodstove feels great, and as long as it's going, I may as well work on fabrics. I have fallen in love with the cotton velour. It is so soft, thick and thirsty, but the really good quality stuff is hard to find. I prefer the 13 oz per yard stuff, and if you can find any in the fabric store it is usually the 9 oz stuff. In velour, thicker is better :-) SO - I am special ordering the velour. It comes in a big roll, and makes the fed ex man groan a little. When I get it, I cut it into 1 1/2 - 2 yard pieces. Into the dye pan it goes, simmering on the stove. I mix dyes according to my mood - today it was purple and pink at my daughter's urging. Add a little here, a little there - some vinegar rinse... don't forget to wear your gloves as purple hands just don't look right! Rinse well, then into the washer. Hang till nearly dry, then a quick run to the laundry mat or a good friend's to dry completely and ensure any shrinkage is dealt with... Pretty stuff! I currently have the pink and purple coming out of the dye vat, a purple and blue that is all done and ready to cut, and at least one more should go in today!

Walnut dying organic Sherpa

2008-01-13T09:47:00.000-08:00

Branching out a little here - I ordered some luscious certified organic cotton sherpa, (read expensive) and this past fall I hunted around and gathered ripe black walnuts. I soaked the walnuts for several days , simmering them on the back of the woodstove. The result? (A stinky black mess) BUT WAIT! Into a large pan went the sherpa - and I dumped the walnut dye all over it. Simmered a while, added vinegar, and TADA! Beautiful brown, still 100 % organic sherpa! It looks really cool, and is so soft! Think teddy bear cuddly :-) Look for this fabric appearing soon for custom pads :-)