School and Other Things

Good Morning, Lovelies!

I hope this is finding everyone well this morning.  "I" is sick and home from school.  We are headed to the doctor this afternoon.  Praying it's not that nasty virus going around and praying that brother, "N", doesn't get sick since he has a hard time recovering once ill.  I have been pumping him full of OJ, Vitamin C, Airborne and Vitamins trying to boost his immune system.  I'm hoping it's just a sinus infection since the season has changed dramatically here.  We went from Hot Summer to Cool
Fall all in a span of one day.

Anyway, I finished my latest weighted blanket so I thought I would share it with you.  It turned out super cute.  My new little gadget that I installed on my sewing machine has made sewing these tricky things so much easier.  Feeling blessed!

I am now starting work on a matching order of regular weighted blankets for a daycare.  Will post when I am finished with the first.  I just absolutely LOVE this fabric!!!

Ciao Ciao Brown Cow!

Busy Week/end

It has been such a busy last week and weekend.  It is looking like this week is more of the same.  It is amazing how busy your life becomes when you add a little project here and a little activity there.  Next thing you know your calendar is booked up!

So last Wednesday I completed this amazingly awesome lap pad.  Did I take a picture of it?  NOOOOO!  Of course not.  I didn't realize that little fact until I arrived home from the post office.  I do have the first one I did though.  I was over half way done with it when I decided that I really didn't like the stitching on this project.  What does that mean?  It means that I remade this customer's order in 1 day so I could get it out to her the day that I said.  I want my customers to be happy with the product that they purchase.  I try to put myself in their shoes and look at the creations that I make.  If I am not happy with it (and honestly,... I am my own worst judge) then I don't want to give it to someone else that might not be happy with it.  Anyway, here is the first one that I made....

It is a great thing that I pushed and got this order out because a few days later everyone in my house came down with a bug.  Thankfully after such a busy week we had nothing except a birthday party that was planned.  After declining our RSVP, we laid around and recovered.  The boys got to watch a Muppets Movie.  Daddy went up and borrowed Sister's TV and DVD player so "I" and "N" could watch the movie while we sat in the living room and watched football.

So Monday was the start of my work week.  The boys were off school for Fair Day, but I went ahead and worked.  "N" is way to sensitive to the sounds that occur at a fair so we just stay home.  They played and had ABA therapy.  I sewed.  So below is a picture of the fabric that I am working with to make blankets for a daycare.  Seriously, how cute is this fabric?!  I am fairly partial to bears anyhow.  I will post later in the week with some pictures of the blankets.  

Have a great week!

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This offer is good for Washington State Residents ONLY!!!

Are you a Washington Resident?

Are you a Seattle Seahawks Fan?

Are you decked out for Blue Friday?

Then this is the sale for you.

Good until midnight tonight, when you submit an inquiry for a blanket estimate by Midnight tonight, you will receive 12% off of your order (does not include shipping).  This offer cannot be combined with any other offer.

Go HAWKS!

Another Lap Pad completed and other news...

I finished up the lap pad that I was working on today.  The picture below was taken while I was still working on it so it does not show the whole length, but I think you get the idea.

I also wanted to show you another use for the weighted blanket.  "N" shutdown during lunch, so Ms. "E" his BI draped his blanket over his shoulders.  He started coming back around and was back to his old self by the end of lunch.  Again we aren't sure what triggered his shutdown, but just wanted to show you another use for the blanket.

One of those days...

I think "N" loves to save up his frustration for coming home.  I went to pick him up at school and nothing but great reports.  His teacher, Mrs. "S" said he was out on the playground with the aide and that I could go pick him up out there.  As soon as I rounded the bend, I saw "N" digging in the dirt.  Lovely was my first thought. Drives me nuts that his big obsession is digging in the dirt.  He always looks like he came straight from the coal mines.  I called over to him and that is when the day deteriorated.  He yelled back.  No!  Of course he doesn't want to come out of his very favorite place.

Long story short he yelled all the way home.  Yelled when we got in the house.  He didn't eat much of his lunch at school so I sat it on the table for him.  He crawled up and ate a little then started yelling again.  Finally I just removed myself from the table and went up to the sewing room.  Sometimes this is the only way that I can get him to calm down is actually by removing myself.

I am sitting working on a project and getting extremely frustrated because I marked the wrong measurements AGAIN.  (My latest habit is marking things wrong so as to cause the utmost frustration in my life.)  That is when "N" comes in and asks for Legos.  I am busily pinning an identical project to resew rather than ripping out a gazillion stitches.  All of a sudden I get a whiff and realized he had peed his pants.  Rather than getting up and going to the bathroom while playing with his train set, he just sat on the carpet and peed.  Yay!

Later it was time to go get "I" from school.  I tell "N" to get shoes on and away we go.  I get to school and realize they are having a volunteer meeting so I decided to sit in and listen.  Next thing I know "N" is outside and he is back in the dirt.  I shuddered.  I knew what was about to occur, but instead of breaking from the meeting to attend to it I let it happen.  Sigh....  Dirt happens to be my son's FAVORITE place to do his #2.

At this point of the day, I am tired.  I am just finally done with the whole day.  He just came in and screamed because I wouldn't put his jammies on.  It's currently 6pm and he is still covered from head to toe in dirt from the day.

I am off for a glass of wine while I cook dinner.  I think I earned that glass today!

Ciao Ciao Brown Cow!

P.S.  Just a little back story.  This past week he has had more aggressive shutdowns, accidents, screaming.  It's back to school time people!  ;)

Newest Project....

Good afternoon, followers!  Thought I would give you a little update today.  We had such a busy weekend.  It started out having just one thing on the agenda which quickly turned into us not sitting down for one moment.  The good news is that I was able to fold 5 baskets of laundry.  Notice I said fold and not put away.  It is still laying on the bed in my sewing room calling to me.

So today I have started work on a lap pad for a teacher in CA.  Here is a little preview picture.  (Forgive the terrible quality, it is cloudy here today so the image is just not the best.)

Hope your week goes well!  I have a couple more projects that need to be made this week so stay tuned to this Bat Channel!  ;)

Introducing My Latest Creation!!!! The Sensory Blanket!

Alright, for those that have been following me from the beginning, if you remember I teased you with "something in the works."  Well it's finished and I think it turned out even more amazing that I thought it was going to.  Allow me to introduce.... The Sensory Blanket

It has wonderful colors to stimulate vision.  Different textures that will feel wonderful in your special someone's hands.  They will be eager to explore this blanket over and over.  It has has hidden inside wonderful little crinkly paper to give their ears a delight every time they smoosh the fabric.

It has crazy stitching all over it for them to investigate, find and feel.

10 wonderful little fidget ribbons.  Each ribbon is different: color, texture, pattern.

And, of course, it is backed with the dot minky fabric which is also bright, soft and has texture.

I decided to see if this was a home run or not with my own sweet "N" who is very attracted to anything that is sensory friendly.  See for yourself....

Not only did "N" immediately rub his fingers through the white furry fabric, but he found the hidden stitching.  Then, of course, it went immediately to the face to test the softness.  I think my little project was a success!!!

If you are interested in ordering one, please visit my Etsy page:  https://www.etsy.com/listing/202570023/sensory-taggie-blanket?ref=shop_home_active_1

Our Life Today

Today started out well until "N's" therapy session.  Then he shutdown immediately and for a long period.  We haven't seen one of these "little" episodes in awhile.  He responds so well to his Ms. "E" that even she was surprised.  She ran up and got his "heavy" blanket and wrapped him up like a burrito.

After about 15 minutes of heavy blanket therapy, we finally got him to do his visual chart and say the words "potty time"although it was barely above a whisper and fairly unintelligible.  During potty time, I gave him some story prompts to talk to Ms. "E" about when he was finished.  He walked out and started talking.  The more he talked, the more he came back to himself.  Not sure what triggered this shutdown since it was in the middle of lunch, but really glad we are done with it for now.

This is what I am working on currently.  It is a heavy blanket for a friend of ours.  I am really behind on this project so I am trying very hard to get it finished for him.  So on that note.... Ciao Ciao Brown Cow!

New Added Features

So my sweet son, "N", went back to school today.  He attends a preschool at a Lutheran School on Monday through Wednesday and then he attends a regular public school Thursday and Friday for Developmental PreK.

I decided since he responds so well to the weighted blanket and I now make lap pads for everyone else that it seemed like I should at least make one for him.  Makes sense, right?  So, I decided to do a little updating on my normal lap pad and this is what I came up with.

I added a cute little name tag that will be super useful for those kids that take their lap pads to school and I added fidget ribbons to the end.  What are fidget ribbons?  Glad you asked.  They are soft, some have textures (like the polka dot ribbon) and are visually stimulating.  The idea of them is to help calm them when they feel stressed.  As I have written about "N" liking to wrap his finger around ringlets of his hair and then yank them out, this will help (hopefully!) to prevent this self-destructive stim.

I can add them on weighted blankets as well as the lap pads.  Stay tuned because I still have another idea in the works that will just be wonderful for our special kiddos!!!!

All Done!

Finished this awesome blanket over the weekend.  Makes me feel so blessed that it is going to be put to good use and will help this little guy.  :)