Stinkerblogs

Moon Over Morocco

2010-12-29T12:12:00.016-06:00

A while back we gave our newsletter recipients a sneak peak at our latest baby bedding project: a Moroccan inspired set for our awesome client, Amy. At that time we were still in the design phase, working on all the details and fabric selections. Well, the set is now complete and we're happy to reveal the finished product!

With our help, Amy selected bold geometric patterns and silky shantungs which paired to create a warm and colorful nursery. This one of a kind bedding set includes a floor length gathered bedskirt in silky teal with a decorative gold border, a boutique pillowed bumper in orange floral and "Moroccan" geometric prints with orange and teal shantung ties. We also made three decorative throw pillows in coordinating fabrics and Kirstin's signature "cozy throw" quilted blanket.

We want to say thank you to Amy for allowing us to create such a unique and custom set as well as say CONGRATS!!! Amy delivered a beautiful baby girl this past week.

Nothin' But Net

2010-11-24T23:15:00.010-06:00

One of the recent endeavors by Stinkerbell Designs was a custom bedding set for our awesome customer, Angela.

Her daughter emailed us the jumpman logo to be the inspiration for her custom baby bedding. She also specified she wanted blue, white, gray and black fabrics used. We immediately went on a search for the perfect fabrics to use for this unique design.

Our eyes were immediately drawn to a bright blue basketball jersey fabric at our local fabric store! We had to line it so that so that the stuffing didn’t come poking through the holes, so we naturally chose the same bright blue in a lightweight cotton. This gave it a little extra stability too.
To complement the jersey fabric, we chose a heavy twill in gray and black. We also used white twill for the ties and squares in the blanket.

Each long side of the bumper has the jumpman design on the inside and the outside so that whichever side the customer chose to have facing out, the baby and visitors would still be able to see the logo. We also put the jumpman on the lower right corner of the blanket too. We used a white vinyl for the jumpan to add texture and variety. Each jumpman was handcut and painstakingly stitched in place.

Our original design included the full bedding set, a toy hammock, a diaper organizer, a set of three 20”x20” throw pillows, curtains, a rug, hanging wall art, lampshade and also a diaper stacker. We came across an orange basketball textured vinyl that we were going to use as an accent on the organizer, tabs for the curtains and one of the throw pillows. The customer ended up going with just the bedding set including the bumper, bedskirt, blanket and crib sheet.

This bedding set really challenged us since we worked with the jersey fabric, a textile we had never worked with before. This is also one of very few boy sets we’ve completed. Not that we don’t do bedding for boys, it just seems that most of our customers have ordered bedding for little girls.

Having been given the opportunity to complete such a unique bedding set not only stretched our creative muscles, but was also very rewarding and ultimately, the customer loved it.

The Pillowcase Project & Stinkerbell Designs

2010-07-02T11:17:00.008-05:00

If you're our fan on Facebook, you know that we've participated in 3 sewing parties making dresses for The Pillowcase Project. This is an amazing organization that is very near and dear to our hearts. With each dress we design and make, our hearts bleed a little more for these orphaned children in Uganda.

After participating in this special project, we feel a particular draw to do something more. We have talked to The Pillowcase Project's founder and will be partnering with this special organization by donating a dress for every dress we sell. Customers will even have the opportunity to send a note to the child along with the dress!

The specifics haven't been completely ironed out yet, but we couldn't keep our excitement contained any longer!

We are so thrilled to have this opportunity and can't wait to get started!

If you'd like to purchase a dress email us at stinkerbelldesigns@gmail.com or contact us through our shop on Etsy. You can also become our fan on Facebook.

Please spread the word and help us get dresses to Uganda! To learn more about The Pillowcase Project, check out their blog.

UPDATE!
We've had some time to work out all the details,and we are proud to announce Stinkerbell Designs Get One Give One Program.

Get One Give One Program
Stinkerbell Designs has partnered with The Pillowcase Project to created our Get 1 Give 1 program. For every pillowcase dress sold we will create and donate an additional dress to The Pillowcase Project. When you participate in the Get 1 Give 1 program you will also receive a picture via email of the dress that was made possible by your purchase. You can even include a personal note to the dress recipient, just email us what you would like to say and we will be happy to include it with the dress. To learn more about The Pillowcase Project please visit them on Facebook or check out our blog at Stinkerblogs.blogspot.com

StinkerPhotos

2010-06-25T21:04:00.013-05:00

For the first time, we braved the idea of getting all 5 of our little Stinkbells together for a photo shoot! This proved a lot trickier than we ever imagined, but the results were fabulous thanks to Emilee McCurley of Hogarts Photo's.

Throughout the day, we faced a few challenges (who wouldn't with 5 little girls all under the age of 10?), but Emilee was a total pro, took control of the photo shoot and made our little girls look great!

Below are just a few samples of our Stinkerbells modeling their hand-made tutu's with matching t-shirts (for into on how to get your own Stinkerbell t-shirt, email us at stinkerbelldesigns@gmail.com). To view the entire album, visit our Facebook photo album.

Of course, with this photo shoot comes the announcement that Stinkbell Designs will be adding tutu's (with or without matching bloomers) to our Etsy shop and other items we currently make. If you're interested in having us create a custom set or just a tutu for you, please don't hesitate to email us. We love custom orders!

Check back for more announcements. We have lots of exciting things planned for this summer!

Why does custom baby bedding cost so much?

2010-02-17T22:51:00.008-06:00

After reviewing our last entry about what you really need as a new parent and looking over our current bedding set designs, we're inspired to blog about a common question we've even asked ourselves: Why does custom baby bedding cost so much?

The short and simple answer is that there is a LOT involved! A good bedding designer doesn't let on to the customer exactly what all is entailed in the process of creating the perfect baby bedding; it's all part of the mystery and the element of surprise.

The main thing that is involved when creating custom baby bedding is math. Remember being told in elementary school that math is something you'll always use? Well, we've learned that first hand when designing custom bedding without a pattern! For those non-sewers out there, you might not be aware that fabric comes by the yard and is available in a wide array of widths ranging from 44"-60"! It takes some careful planning and, you guessed it, math, to make sure the correct amount of fabric is purchased without overbuying or worse, under-buying.

Of course calculated into the price of custom bedding is that you're paying someone for their creativity. It's very hard to put a price tag on that. For someone like us who truly loves to design, enjoys getting to know their customers, and thrives on the creativity, it's easy to overlook the time and energy that goes into designing custom baby bedding. It can be a challenging experience in some cases.

Some other little things to consider when looking at the price sticker of some custom baby bedding out there: What type of fabric is used? Is it really high quality and durable so it will stand up to the infinite number of times it will go through the wash? Is it even machine washable? Has the designer taken the time to think of little things like the poor Dad changing bedding in the middle of the night?

What about creativity? Did the designer go over every detail with you before finalizing your order? Did they take into account that Dad-t0-be has an undying love for Monty Python while Mom-to-be hates the color blue?

It's those fine and often forgotten details that add up to the real cost of custom baby bedding. The main thing to remember is that you're really paying someone for their creativity and time, which is not something to take for granted.

Consider why you're looking at having custom baby bedding made. Is it because you are just drowning in the overnight success in your stocks? Is it because you haven't found exactly what you have in mind for the newest edition to your family? Or is it because you want to have something unique and one-of-kind that will just blow the socks off all those visitors?

Whatever your reasoning for getting custom baby bedding, it's important to fully appreciate the creativity of your designer and that you're paying for something that you might not have the ability, or time, to do yourself.

Shameless plug: Ask about a matching Cozy Throw Blanket to go with your custom order! Check them out at www.stinkerbelldesigns.etsy.com

Galatians 5:22-23
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

What do you really need for your new baby?

2009-11-04T20:06:00.021-06:00

After a recent trip to visit the recipient of the Pooh Meets Planes bedding collection, Kirstin was reminded of how overwhelming being a new parent can be. Everyone telling you what to do, how and when to do things can be mind-blowing. Being a new parent is wonderful and exciting, it should be simplified, not more confusing.

Having been through the new parent stage ourselves many times over at Stinkerbell Designs, we think we've gotten pretty good at separating the things that are really important apart from those that are just a waste of time... and sometimes money.

With so many options out there for new parents, how can you know what's a good deal and what's just going to take up space or collect dust? We've taken the time to compile a list of things that are really necessary, good for everyday uses and could possibly save you some money in the long run.

Starting from the moment your precious little one arrives, you have to have a way to cart the little guy around. A good car seat is a wise investment and one you should think about. While a carrier-base combo is most popular and usually comes with some sort of stroller attaching option, it doesn't take long to be bulky, especially once Jr. starts getting bigger. A convertible car seat is another good option. It grows with your child and can save you from having to upgrade to a booster seat for a little while once your little one is forward facing.

Of course, using a convertible car seat that stays in your car means that your travel system stroller will miss it's buddy. That's why it's not a bad idea to think about an umbrella stroller, like Joovy Kooper (shown right). They are less bulky and a nice one comes with the larger "deluxe" wheels like you see on the travel systems, a basket under the seat and even the coveted cup holder! Take it from us, trying to manage a carrier with a hefty 6 month old while struggling with a cumbersome stroller can turn a quick, simple trip to the grocery store into a sweaty workout!

When you're not out and about, you want to keep baby occupied. Believe it or not, babies get bored! When Baby is bored, mom is on full alert. If you need to take a minute or two to fold some laundry, load the dishwasher or just sit down and recuperate, a swing, bouncy seat, Exersaucer or playmat can be a lifesaver. Make sure baby has something to look at or listen to. High contrasts like black and white stimulate their senses and keep their attention drawn. Changing Baby's position after a few minutes piques their interest and keeps them from getting bored as well.

For the times Baby is sleeping, invest in a good monitor. It doesn't need to be fancy and if you're easily distracted, the new video monitors might not be such a good idea because it could be very tempting to just sit and watch Baby instead of getting the rest you need too!

A good monitor doesn't have to be expensive. Fisher-Price, Sony and Graco make several quality, affordable monitors and most come with two receivers. It's always a good idea to get the monitor before the baby comes and test it all over your house, garage and yard. You want to make sure it will reach throughout your home and don't be shocked if you happen to pick up a random cell phone conversation, or even a neighbors baby monitor on occasion!

Another important item that is a must have for sleeptime is a waterproof mattress pad. In fact, get two: one to have on the mattress and a spare for when the other is in the wash. The same goes for regular sheets too, but we recommend having more than 2. When Baby is about to transition from one size diaper to another, you could go through several sheets in one day.

Since diapers are a fundamental part of having a baby, it's a wise choice to keep multiple sizes on hand. That way, you're always prepared when one size is too small.

For disposing of those diapers, Diaper Genies and Diaper Champs are very popular. However, once Baby is eating more solid foods and past size 1 diapers, you'll be changing out the disposal system almost as much as you're changing diapers! It's perfectly reasonable to consider if a diaper discarding system is really the right choice or if using a discreet trash can is just as acceptable.

Lastly, our all-time favorite must have is the horseshoe shaped nursing pillow, similar to Boppy. It's so versatile and perfect for feeding, especially after Baby is able to hold her own bottle. And while she's still young, it's great for tummy time or lounging under an activity mat.

There are a lot of great products out there for new parents. The options can seem overwhelming and hopefully we've helped shed some light on those things that are really necessary.

Shameless Plug: don't let your Boppy go bare! Get custom nursing pillow covers at stinkerbelldesigns.etsy.com

Proverbs 14:8
The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways...

Pooh Meets Planes Custom Baby Bedding Set

2009-09-17T00:43:00.009-05:00

Kirstin, our talented graphic designer here at Stinkerbell Designs has recently completed a TOTALLY custom bedding set as a gift for her best friend and mom-to-be Dianna.

For her little boy, mommie-to-be requested a classic Winnie the Pooh theme, which Kirstin paired with vintage planes in honor of the dad-to-be who is a pilot. This set features two beautiful cotton print fabrics in vintage planes and a classic Winnie the Pooh toile. The colors in the airplanes are accented by bright red and teal cotton fabrics to create a unique look that is bright and modern and at the same time, subtle and classic.

The bumper pad is made in four parts that can be mixed and matched to create different looks. One side of the center bumper section features the airplane fabric, while the reverse features the classic Pooh toile. The short sides of the bumper are solid red cotton on one side and solid teal cotton on the reverse. The double pleated crib skirt features both print fabrics separated by thin teal piping and red pleat insets.

Kirstin also created a warm and cozy quilted blanket in coordinating fabrics. This block style quilt features the airplane, classic pooh, red and teal fabrics found in the bumper and crib skirt paired with a darker blue cotton and white chenille. The quilt is backed with classic Pooh themed embroidered fleece in sky blue. And just for fun, a vintage Winnie the Pooh stuffed bear sports a custom made bomber jacket and chenille scarf to complete the gift.

Custom Baby bedding Set Completed for Sacha

2009-08-17T17:03:00.013-05:00

The crew at Stinkerbell Designs has just completed this totally custom baby bedding set for our wonderful customer Sacha in Australia. Sacha has a black and white print of an owl on a branch with teal accents that she LOVES. We created this bedding set to compliment her owl print for her little boys nursery. This set includes an extra long pleated crib skirt with contrasting inset pleat, crib quilt with contrasting back, detailed quilt stitching around the trees and piping trim, a 14 X 14 coordinating throw pillow, and fitted crib sheet. We used IKEA's Fredrika print decorator weight cotton fabric, Stonehill Windchime in Teal and Windchime Stripe cotton fabrics to create this adorable, modern and funky bedding set. The crib skirt and fitted sheet were made to fit her cribs specific measurements. The throw pillow features a zipper closure for easy removal and cleaning, and all pieces are machine washable.

All Stinkerbell Designs custom crib bedding sets are made with you and your baby in mind. We take great care in creating beautiful, durable bedding sets that are easy to clean and safe for your baby.

Check out the other custom crib bedding sets in our shop at Stinkerbell Designs.

Welcome to Stinkerblogs!

2009-07-26T01:59:00.004-05:00

Stinkerbell Designs has a blog! Stay tuned for shop updates, helpful articles, parenting tips, recipies, and product reviews.

We love our DADS! Tuesdays are Dude-days so check back for Dad's only blogs from the Stinker-dudes.