Elemental Aurora

Here is my contribution to Firefly Collectives stocking tonight!  Her name is Elemental Aurora and she is a full buckle OOAK Traditional (no headrest) Beetlebum in a standard size.  The wrap I used was a Lago Old Standart from Didymos with countless hours of ice-dye work done by me using Procion Dyes.

What you see here is a significant change to the Beetlebums waistband.  It now cinches down to a teeny 25" and the buckle rests over padding, making it much more comfortable!  I haven't changed anything with my design in years, so it is quite the occasion!  The new design is infinitely better than the old :).

Anyway, got lots to do, so must be off!  The Firefly Collective stocking will start at 8pm tonight, Elemental Aurora will be listed as a lottery (enter to win to purchase much like random.org) to give everyone a fair go.  As she is being listed elsewhere, this carrier is available worldwide!

Good luck tonight, and be sure to go look around at what the Firefly artisans have to offer!

the Beetlebums Ring Sling!

You do know that I launched my Ring Slings last year.  The shoulder is a personal *ah-ha* moment for me - you can see more information here.

It isn't only the shoulder that rocks my world, the top stitching and label placement rock too :P.  The label is placed at the center of the shoulder so you know exactly where to place the Ring Sling on, over either shoulder.  The label should be at the edge of your shoulder, with both rails (edges) cupping your shoulder for ultimate support.

Once again I am seeing 'similar' adaptations to my unique design, and I cannot stress enough that the original is always the best.  Don't you know it!

You can buy Beetlebums Ring Slings at Finely Woven, and through my store when they are available.  I do announce on my Facebook page and here on my blog when I have items ready for sale, so keep an eye out! I am having problems with my mailing list, so please bear with me while I start up a new one :D.

WOWWWWWW!!!!

Just last week I was lucky to participate in the Advanced Course in Baby Wearing Consultancy!!  Thank you goes to Manduca and Fertile Mind Australia for bringing Ulrike from Die Trageschule in Dresden, Germany to us, here in lil ol' Australia!!  And just because Ulrike is so gosh darned awesome, I am learning German just so I can be as cool as her!

It was such an amazing experience, and I am all the wiser for it!  Since the course I have done two consultations, and am totally loving it!

Included in our course was communication, and we focused on special needs children.  I am a mother of a beautiful son who has Autism, and I shared my story with the class.  Through the tears I felt happy and scared to share my experience, and Ulrike did something amazing for me.  She applauded me.  It made me weep so deeply, as this has been my (for lack of a better word) burden to bear.  It has been lonely, it has been hard.  I judge myself constantly, and although I am a very outwardly confident person, I felt such fear of judgment by others.  It was such a momentous experience, and I have to admit that I felt kinda... weird when the class joined in applauding me.  Then I felt grateful.  Then I felt acceptance.  I have an amazing circle of friends in my life that also live with Autism, and we live in our bubble.  Our safe little bubble. I have never reached out to anyone who hasn't dealt with Autism in the past because there just is no way that anyone could ever ever ever ever understand.  Ever.  However now I have been proven wrong.  There are people that don't live with Autism that want to understand.  Hooray!!!

Of course we dealt with so much more than that.  We covered SO much, it is overwhelming!  I am practicing everything I learned (including the 'baby jail' :P)  (sounds bad but it is a BWCC with a whole lot of AH-HA moments!) and just can not wait to share with the world what I am about.  As an educator, I am bringing those who seek my services a holistic approach with more than a dash of fun.

So now while I talk about what I learned, I want to share with you what I saw today.  I am shocked and saddened, as this is a post made by an (apparently) popular mother blogger (like how do you even DO that??).  This is a prime example of what NOT to do

Look HERE for the blogpost I am talking about.

There is not ONE image that displays optimal positioning!  Knees are NOT held above bottom height, in the squat-straddle position.  There is ALOT of slack in the wrap.  The images are just wrong wrong wrong.

Flame me if you will but as an educator I have to highlight examples such as these, they show exactly what goes wrong when people don't read instructions or seek the advice of a more experienced babywearer.

And now for a perfect example of knee to knee support, crease free wrap over babies body, hands free baby wearing.  Amen.

*eep sorry about the non whimsical photo! I am a bit fat too, hope that is ok!!!! Please note the sarcasm as I am far too busy caring for my children to bother about frivolous things like my ... hair? :P*

While I am here, I may as well share with you my new guidelines to safe babywearing.  They are called the ALWAYS guidelines.  They follow much of my education (yes!  Baby Wearing is a big YES!), and are so easy to remember!

ALWAYS baby wearing recommendations

A – Always wear your baby high enough to kiss the top of their head in a front carry, in a back carry, high enough to touch their forehead with the nape/occipital bone on your head if you look upward.

L – Learn with your baby! Baby Wearing is a wonderful bond and when you take it slowly and choose a good time of day to try new carries, like after baby has rested or eaten, you will be assured success! Use a mirror, practice over soft surfaces, ask a friend to 'spot' you.

W – Wear your sling or baby carrier tightly. There should be no loose fabric over babies back, buckles should be tightened, baby should be held firmly to your torso. This ensures that not only will baby stay where you want them to in the carry, and not slump down, but that you will be more comfortable.

A – Airways should be clear. You should not hear any grunting. Babies head should not be resting on his chest. There needs to be at least a fingers width between babies chin and chest.

Y – of course Baby Wearing is a BIG YES!!

S – Squat Straddle – your babies legs should be in the 'M' position (aka Squat Straddle), with his spread knees above his bottom. The carrier should travel from the hollow of the knee all the way to the opposite knee. This is called 'Optimal Positioning' and must be adhered to for babies best development.

Double AMEN to that!

It is my baby's birthday tomorrow....

My darling Phoenix.  My rainbow child.

How I love you, I cannot believe that you have grown so quickly.  How lucky I am to be able to spend as much time in these precious formative years as I  can with you, watching you learn.  Watching you grow.  Admiring you.  And loving you.

Just born, total bliss

He didn't really need it but spent the first 24hrs in NICU :(.  I spent every minute I could in there with him, I was devastated to not have him with me.

Home!!!  Home home home!

Lola was so hilarious - this is her 'baby chain'.  Geddit???

She started school less than two weeks after Phoenix was born, it was such a busy time!

Our first official outing in my beloved Rainbow dyed Pamir

Peekaboo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Our first backcarry at around 4wo

Giggling

I adore this photo so so so much.  He was such a delightful baby.  It was only a slight hint of how delightful he would become!

now that ^^^ one and the following one are both amazing, I adore them so!  They are such cuddlebunnies!

In his baby sized Beetlebum, about six months old.  I think.  LOL

I have teeeeeeeeeeeth! And yes, his Amber necklace is far too big.  It was Lolas.  Desperate times call for desperate measures!  Oh, and he is very nearly one year old!!!

And fast forward to now.   These two photos absolutely capture his joyous nature.  He has changed my life.

Happy 3rd Birthday to you Master Phoenix!!!  We love you!!!!!

A little Firefly is lighting up my day!

OK, there will be two blog posts today - because it is a big big ol' kinda day!  The news I have been hiding for so long now is that I am guest WAHMing on the awesome congo, Firefly Collective!  I have been so busy creating some really special items for our stocking.  Of course there will be many more hints, sneak peeks and general shenanigans to come!

Head over to the FB page and like it!  Head over to the website and start stalking!!  More news to come!

I am stoked, it is such a wonderful group of women.  Squeeeeeeeeeee!

The Beetlebums Ringsling!

I love me a good ring sling.  I think that they are the unsung hero of the baby wearing world. 

They are very easy to use, once the basic skill level is mastered.  Ring slings are commonly recommended from birth - they are completely wonderful for newborns and toddlers alike.  My friend Jillian at PAXbaby has some wonderful YouTube videos on how versatile a ring sling can be.

Some may know that last year I launched the Beetlebums Ringsling!  It has a unique shoulder which cups the wearers shoulder like a glove.

The always amazing Suse from Finely Woven is the only vendor to stock the Beetlebums Ring Sling.  I mean, I might occasionally stock the odd one or two in my store however Finely Woven is the place to go if you are looking for (what I think is) the very finest in ring slings.

An example or three of the latest batch I sent to Finely Woven

Finely Woven have a couple of Beetlebums Ring Slings left in stock.  I spy some hand dyed Colimacon and Cie ring slings there too!  They are truly spectacular - dyed by Sarah from Earthylala here in Australia.

Suse took the above photos - I particularly love the action shot with that special baby-uh-dolly.

The pictures following show how the combination of sewn pleats and gather in the Beetlebums Ring Sling shoulder that makes the slings wonderful to wear.

Finally!  Finally finally finally!  Do you like my new blog design?  I got to playing around with it, after a friend of mine at Belloborn Designs started up her blog.  I was playing around telling her what to needs doin' and thought, hmmmmmmmmmm lets have a go Ms Beetle!

It is late and stormy here in the land of Beetle.  Time for this woman to put my tired feet up.  Oh, come back tomorrow - I have the BEST news EVER to reveal!!!!!!!!!!!

a little crafty behaviour

I love to create, not only for Beetlebums, but for my home.

I have re-upholstered lounges, restored antique chairs and an Art Deco dining table along with making many soft furnishings to decorate my personal sanctuary.

Just this week I finished my very own quilt for my bed.  I made it using many and varied wrap scraps, and upcycled my grandmothers sheets - that I slept between as a young young child, mind you!

I have also been creating on ME!   I am a hairdresser by trade, and love playing with hair (of course!), so six months ago (two days ago!) was my dreadlings birthday.  I know dreadlocks are not to everyones taste, but hey - each to their own.  And yes, I wash them twice a week :D

^^ thats me!

and last but not least, I have a Natibaby Mea Beetlebums shouldered Ring Sling available for sale right now. I currently have it listed on my Facebook page.  If you are not on Facebook, please email me at melbeetlebums.com.au if you are interested.

Big loves and more to come!!  I might even share current photos of Possum Hollow tomorrow - once again, it is just one of those places I have to keep decorating!