Baby Quilts and E-Biz – Top 5 Differences

Although quilting and starting an e-biz share some common grounds, the two projects are commonly seen as the two opposite ends of the business spectrum. Discussing their differences is not intended to glorify the one or to undermine the other and knowing them will not make you the Kaffe Fasset of baby quilts or the next e-biz billionaire. It will rather help you learn more about baby quilts and e-biz. Here are 5 differences for you to consider:

1. Process. An e-biz site is never finished and every successful e-preneur will vouch for that. E-biz is work in progress - constant adding, removing, rewriting and tweaking. More often than once, quilters wished they had this opportunity too. Thankfully, that's not the case; otherwise we might have never known the art of quilting.
2. Final Product. The virtual nature of an e-biz site limits its effect on our five senses; here is where the makers of baby quilts have the upper hand to the e-biz owners. Even the best e-biz site can't be felt against your skin, held in your hand, wrapped around a newborn or given as a baby shower gift.
3. Audience. Who you would make a baby quilt for is very different from who you would make an e-biz site for. An e-biz site tries to meet the needs and wants of a broad audience with already developed tastes. The audience can be selective, critical, demanding and sometimes with questionable taste. A baby quilt, on the other hand, besides being pleasing to the parents, has to satisfy the needs of the least demanding and most innocent customer of all - the baby.
4. Purpose. Quilting is not only an expression of creativity and skills. Besides bringing comfort and beauty baby quilts are made to show love and care, to create and store memories from truly special times. The purpose and the very existence of an e-biz are defined by profit. Virtual as it is, it is still a business like any other and emotions and good intentions are not enough to sustain it.
5. Tradition and Longevity. Quilting has been around for centuries and quilts have a long history of tradition. Quilting was known to the Ancient Egyptians as well as the Romans. It arrived in Europe in the 12th century and became popular in North America in colonial times. Throughout the years baby quilts went in and out of fashion but even when they fell in popularity families kept their little treasures. The capricious trends were never able to affect the baby quilts' heirloom quality and they continued their journey from generation to generation. As far as history is concerned Internet and e-biz don't have much to brag about - they are relative new comers to the world business stage. But I would not hold this against them; their dynamic progress and immense popularity more than make up for their short existence. However, I still find it difficult to see an e-biz being passed from generation to generation but I might be wrong. Only time will tell.

In a previous post I already introduced the similarities; now, you know the differences between making a baby quilt and starting an e-biz. Did you manage to figure out which one is easier and more rewarding? If so, please let me know as I am still searching for the answer!

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I didn't become Fairy overnight and I have all the Fairy powers to help you with your baby crib bedding and nursery decor. For handmade baby quilts, baby girl bedding and baby boy bedding visit my baby bedding boutique TheQuiltFairy.com

Baby Quilts and E-biz – Top Five Similarities

 Although making baby quilts and creating an e-biz seem like vastly different projects, they have more things in common than one might expect. I can't promise you that knowing the similarities will make you a world renowned quilter or a millionaire e-preneur. But it will give you five good reasons to appreciate the work of the other. Here they are:

1. Piecing bits and pieces together. In making baby quilts like in an e-biz, the final product is a combination of different materials and techniques. Both projects have been called 'something out of nothing' but in real terms that's quite far from the truth. Shopping carts, codes, optimization and links are for an e-biz what patterns, fabric blocks, batting, backing and threads are for a baby quilt, to name only a few. There are thousands upon thousands of bits and pieces available out there but on their own they do not account for much. Choosing the right ones and piecing them expertly is what the master quilters and e-preneurs excel in.

2. Precision and patience. When making a baby quilt or starting an e-biz 'One block at a time' principle applies for both. There is a natural order of creating a quilt or an e-biz and skipping a step might be quite costly. Neither one of the two projects is an overnight one; in quilting as in e-biz it might take longer than a few months to see the final product. Accuracy and precision are another key point in creating baby quilts and an e-biz. Half an inch here, half an inch there and the quilt ends up in the scrap bag. A typo here and wrong code there and the e-biz links point to the competitor's site.

3. Knowledge and "How-to" manuals. You'll need to know how to make a baby quilt just like you'll need the know-how to make an e-biz website. Quilting and e-biz both benefit from a good preliminary research on techniques, materials, tools and terms but learning on the go is part of the process too. There is an abundance of "How-to" manuals for creating baby quilts just as there are multiples upon multiples of manuals on how to make an e-biz site. There are also many real and self-proclaimed gurus and choosing who to follow could be quite frustrating.

4. Sloppy work - sloppy product. An e-biz site as a baby quilt will tolerate occasional 'oops' and mistakes. However, there is a limit to that and sloppy work is always costly. Poor quality of an e-biz site destroys credibility, drives away potential customers, and kills profits. A baby quilt that's falling apart, with poor construction or with an awful color combination does not tell a very favorable story of its creator and shows lack of care and love.

5. "Start-up" enthusiasts and "drop outs" aplenty. Making baby quilts and running an e-biz are not 'get rich easy' formulas as some might want you to believe. The 'burnout' factor is quite high and even though there is no statistical data the numerous 'ghost' e-biz sites and unfinished baby quilts can testify for that. In 2006, the Quilter's Newsletter Magazine estimated that 27 million Americans, 17 percent of the US households, enjoy quilting as a hobby. With the vast amount of retiring baby boomers this number is growing steadily. In 2007, the Netcraft Web Server Survey found 108,810,358 distinct websites but how many of them are e-biz sites is unknown. As more and more people are actively seeking to develop new sources of income the e-biz startups are experiencing a significant rise in popularity.

These are just five of the many similarities between creating a baby quilt and an e-biz. Now, if you are wondering if the best quilters are the most successful e-preneurs you are forgetting that there are differences too; which, however, are the scope of my next post.
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I didn't become Fairy overnight and I have all the Fairy powers to help you with your baby crib bedding and nursery decor. For handmade baby quilts, baby girl and baby boy bedding visit my baby bedding boutique TheQuiltFairy.com

Being Well Prepared - What to Buy Before Your Baby Is Born

The moment you find yourself pregnant and once you get over the shock or your sickness, look around the house to see what needs to be done.  The baby’s room we will take for granted but is there any other decorating which needs to be done? Once your baby arrives there will be very little time for anything other than the baby, so now is the time to decorate and streamline.  Make sure all the paint is washable and start to think about how you will move items out of reach of small hands. It’s amazing how quickly they seem to reach the walking stage. If you need or want to renovate the bathroom, now’s the time to get that done too.

• You will go through many diapers when the baby first comes home, buy two packs of ‘New Born’ and several of size ‘One’ and nappy sacks, scented, if possible and a diaper bag.
• A basket for holding toiletries, such as a brush and comb, tiny nail scissors, Q Tips, baby wipes, petroleum jelly, diaper cream, baby oil, talcum powder, mild baby shampoo and soap, a natural sponge and face cloth a changing mat or station and a baby bath soft towels or baby robes.
•  If you intend to feed baby yourself you will need breast pads and two or three nursing bras, depending how you get on you may need a breast pump and storage bags and 6 x 4 oz. and 6 x 8 oz. bottles. If you are going to bottle feed, you will need at least 12 bottles and baby nipples and for them both you will need a bottle sterilizer hot or cold, if cold, you will need sterilizer fluid, two bottle brushes for cleaning before sterilizing, extra teats and a bottle warmer, much more reliable than the microwave and Formula, either powder or ready-made.
• A cradle or bassinet is ideal for the first few months to keep your baby close at hand. For this you will need a mattress, 2 mattress protectors, 3 pairs of sheets and a blanket or blankets. When time comes for the crib make sure it meets with federal safety requirements and that the latches hold the side securely. You will need a mattress with good back support that fits snugly, 2 mattress protectors, 2 pairs of sheets, baby quilts or blankets and a musical mobile for obvious reasons. 
• Car seat, you need to be sure when buying one that the safety features are up to date. However many parents prefer an infant carrier as it is easy to transport and fits into a grocery cart making shopping more convenient.
• A stroller or pram with covers etc.
• A bouncy chair of the vibrating kind - babies love them.
• 2 hats, 1 hooded sleeping bag, a few outfits, socks, scratch mittens, bootees, 1 sweater or jacket, 6 sleepers to keep baby warm, 6 vests and 6 bibs.

There’s no way of knowing how large your baby will be when it’s born, so don’t buy too many new born items, babies can pass through this stage in a very short time, and when it comes to the others, think about what will be easy to use. Baths, for example which go into the bath, require you to bend over. Baths on a stand mean you have to stand up.

Babies are important, but they rely on you. So the items you need to gather aren’t just those your baby will use, they are items you need to make your life easier and ensure you get to spend all the time you can with the new love of your life.

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I didn't become Fairy overnight and I have all the Fairy powers to help you with your baby crib bedding and nursery decor. For handmade baby quilts, baby girl and baby boy bedding visit my baby bedding boutique TheQuiltFairy.com

5 Baby Girl Quilt Designs to Consider When Decorating Your Nursery

You are having a baby girl – what an exciting time in your life! You just can’t wait to spoil her and start decorating the nursery.  One of the ways to start working on the baby room’s décor is to choose a baby quilt or even the entire baby crib bedding and further develop the design throughout the nursery.  Usually the bedding in general and the quilt in particular are major design elements and are a perfect reference point when choosing complimenting colors and accessories in order to finish the picture. Baby girl quilts and crib bedding come in hundreds of styles which might be a bit overwhelming but here are five popular ones to consider:

1. Fairy princesses are a great and versatile baby girl design. Most of these baby girl quilts are based on the fairy tale of Cinderella and have scenes with the beautiful princess and her carriage, the fairy Godmother with the magic wand, the handsome prince, the multi turreted castle, the legendary glass slipper. Earlier designs were overwhelmingly pink and at one time parents turned their backs to the ‘sugary’ theme.  However, the contemporary designs introduce new colors like gold, sage, whites, and shades of blue which add vibrant and fresh feel to the design.

2. Angels and cherubs on a baby girl quilt are always comforting and are another excellent choice for a nursery decor.  You can find designs with angels playing or flying around in pairs, or just holding little stars while guarding the peace in the crib.  There are also girl quilts depicting baby cherubs that are sleeping, smiling or causing mischief surrounded by fluffy clouds, flowers, blue skies, etc. The colors are bright and clear and can be a mixture of heavenly blues, light pinks, shades of white, fresh green and some yellow.

3. As a lot of parents already know, dress up time is one of little girls’ favorite activities. There are a lot of baby girl quilts depicting little girls in various period dresses or collections of party dresses, frilly dresses, funky dresses.  The appealing outfits worn by pretty little girls and the special dresses are presented in a variety of cheerful colors - pink, lavender, mint green, blue and yellow.

4. Puppies, kittens, teddy bears and all cuddly creatures and pets are the other popular designs for baby girl quilts. Friendly teddy bears rolling a ball or sharing building blocks, kittens drinking milk or playing with string of yarn, puppies curled up sleeping or chasing butterflies – the designs are endless. The color palette is not limited to the traditional pink but is cheerful and bright mix of blues, browns, reds and even purples and yellows.

5. Another popular theme for baby girl quilts involves flowers in bouquets or in meadows, in cute little gardens in the company of red lady bugs and brightly colored butterflies, or tended by pretty little girls. Sometimes they come with the 'flower power' message and sometimes they are just tender little buds pretty and gentle, swaying in the summer breeze. The blues of the sky, the greens of the grass, the yellows of the sun and the whites of the clouds are nicely combined with every flower color possible.

The quilts’ designs are only the starting point when decorating your nursery. Painting the walls, adding accent pieces, area rugs, wall hangings, toys and drapes will all bring the chosen baby quilt theme to life and make it your own and unique – a perfect sanctuary for your little baby girl. 

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I didn't become Fairy overnight and I have all the Fairy powers to help you with your baby crib bedding and nursery decor. For handmade baby quilts, baby girl and baby boy bedding visit my baby bedding boutique TheQuiltFairy.com

Choosing Baby Crib Bedding - Gender Specific Vs. Neutral

Choosing baby crib bedding may seem like a small decision, but it's one of the most common design issues faced by expectant parents. For first-time parents especially, there's a lot of pressure to get the baby's room "just right." Selecting a wall color and furnishings is half the battle, but there are plenty of "soft" details like baby quilts and curtains to consider as well. Much like the comforter or duvet in an adult bedroom, baby quilts and crib bedding dictate the color palette for other soft items in the room.

For many parents, the biggest hurdle in choosing items for the nursery is deciding whether or not to use a gender-specific theme. Particularly for parents who already know their baby's gender, it's often tempting to go for the quintessential "boy" or "girl" room. Baby boy bedding might feature baseballs or puppies, while baby girl bedding often displays flowers, lambs or other feminine details. Choosing baby crib bedding based on your baby's gender is a great way to tie the room together if you're already using a gender-based theme or palette. For rooms that are decorated in neutral shades, opting for gender-specific baby crib bedding is one way of establishing the new baby's identity in the space.

Selecting baby quilts and other textiles based on your baby's gender isn't always the right answer, however. For the many expectant parents who'd rather not know whether they're having a boy or a girl, choosing gender-themed baby crib bedding is a gamble. It might seem easy enough to "double up" and purchase sets for both sexes, but returning the unneeded set later will just add hassle to the already overstressed schedule of a new parent. Speaking of doubling up, selecting only baby boy bedding or girl bedding may not be a good choice for parents expecting multiple births.

From a frugal perspective, buying baby crib bedding that leans toward a specific gender may also increase expenses for parents who hope to eventually have more children. Having another child of the opposite sex will mean purchasing different baby quilts, sets of crib sheets and pads, and other textiles to decorate the nursery. While these may seem like insignificant costs with your first child, it's important to remember that you'll have more expenses after your baby arrives. Particularly if you'd like a large family, it's wise to cut corners wherever you can. By examining your budget and predicting how much you'll have to spend when planning for subsequent children, you might find that discarding the baby boy bedding and selecting brand new baby girl bedding later is impractical and costly for you.

Only you can decide whether gender-specific baby crib bedding is right for your nursery. By examining your unique situation in terms of design style, family planning, available budget and some other factors, you'll be able to make an informed choice about the bedding that's best for your home and your wallet.

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I didn't become Fairy overnight and I have all the Fairy powers to help you with your baby crib bedding and nursery decor. For handmade baby quilts, baby girl and baby boy bedding visit my baby bedding boutique TheQuiltFairy.com

How to Decorate a Baby Nursery Stress Free

If you are pregnant, then you are undoubtedly anxious and a bit overwhelmed with all the decisions you have to make.  There are many things that need to be done in preparation for the birth of a baby and one of them is the nursery.  Sometimes designing it turns into a fierce competition among expecting moms.  You do not have to please or outdo the neighbors; after all it’s your baby, your nursery, your taste.

A nursery is important because it’s your baby’s safe cocoon as well as his playground.  Also, through colors, textures, and shapes you introduce the outside world to your baby for the very first time.

Before you create the nursery you have to decide which one of your rooms the nursery will reside in.  The most common spot is a room adjacent or close to your bedroom, and for a good reason. It will be easier to hear your baby and you will not have to run from one end of the house to the other to attend to his needs.  Once this is taken care of you have to awake the designer in you and choose the color palette. 

Nurseries come in all designs and sizes and can feature many different colors and themes.  Many parents decorate their nursery using gender specific colors and themes but gender neutral themes are picking up in popularity too. Obviously, the gender of your baby, if you know it beforehand, will be a determining factor.  In the past the difference between boy nursery and girl nursery was easily defined - sports and 'manly' professions in blues and browns for boys; angels and florals in pinks and yellows for girls. Not so anymore. The introduction of modern colors and contemporary designs make the distinction between boy and girl nursery very subjective, excluding the obvious. 

If you have decided to wait for the big surprise in finding the gender of your baby, then unisex design is for you. That’s also an excellent idea if you plan on using the nursery for your baby’s future brothers and sisters.

Light colors are preferred and more professionally recommended over dark colors. Use hues that are similar to the sun so that there is a sunny simulation even when it’s cloudy and grey outside. Make sure to include various tones and shades of blue in the nursery.  Blue has been proven to be a soothing and calming color.  Remember that blue is no longer a color for boys only. In fact, many shades of blue and turquoise are now being used for baby quilts and bedding for girls. 

Next, consider the fabrics that you will use in the nursery.  Ensure that you pair cheerful, colorful fabrics when you select the bedding and furnishings.  Also, don’t be shy about mixing different fabrics.  If you’re considering using a theme, popular ones include animals, sea creatures, teddy bears, sports, jungle, circus, tropical and others all in bright and cheerful colors.  Many of these themes are developed in blues and yellows to help the natural flow of colors in your baby’s nursery.  Don’t be overly concerned with using strictly blue or pink colors when designing a boy or a girl nursery.  The gender of your baby is not determined by the nursery colors.  

Your goal is to create an atmosphere that is welcoming and enjoyable for both you and your baby. Consider colors which you like, forget about the neighbors or the trend of the day. You will be the one spending a lot of hours in that room and you don’t want to add any stress to your already hectic life. Release your imagination and creativity and most importantly have fun decorating your baby’s nursery. 

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I didn't become Fairy overnight and I have all the Fairy powers to help you with your baby crib bedding and nursery decor. For handmade baby quilts, baby girl and baby boy bedding visit my baby bedding boutique TheQuiltFairy.com

How to Design the Perfect Nursery

There are many beautiful decorations for nurseries these days, but remember to choose something to stimulate as well as look good. Many mums choose pastel colors, but bright colors are more interesting to a baby. Make sure everything is washable (including the walls) and easy care.  Be sure you don’t spend time looking after the nursery that should be spent looking after the baby. When it comes to sheets, fitted sheets are best, be sure to have waterproofing beneath them and always have two spares on hand.

As with all bedrooms, your baby needs a bed to sleep in. In Europe it is common to have a small cradle or crib for your baby at first and then move to a larger cot which in many cases can be converted to a bed once your baby is no longer a baby.  It is important that you can put the baby in the crib or cot with only one hand, so you minimize the chances of waking during the transfer. It’s worth experimenting with the catches on cots before you buy, and make sure that while you can easily move the side, your baby can’t. In a surprisingly short time your tiny cuddly baby will become a bouncing booming toddler whose aim, when placed in a cot, is likely to be escape. It is your job to make this difficult and hence keep your baby safe.

You will also need drawers in which to store your baby’s clothes and supplies. There are ranges of furniture sold specifically for babies, and if you can afford this, go ahead. It looks wonderful, but the truth is a drawer is a drawer and there is no difference in functionality between a drawer for a baby and one for an adult, but it is virtually certain that a drawer for a baby will be cute and cost more. The same can be said of a wardrobe. 

One piece of baby specific furniture which is useful is a changing table. Some mothers prefer to use a towel spread on the cot or bed, others find bending a little painful as they heal and prefer the special stand. Many changing tables are simply wipe clean surfaces on top of a set of drawers. 

A comfortable chair is completely essential.  Here you will cuddle and sing and possibly fall asleep while your baby, safe in its cot, does the same. Make sure it’s comfortable and if you can find a rocker, many find it useful in getting their baby off to sleep.

Babies hate sleeping when they think there might be something more exciting going on, so you will need to lower the light level in the room. Buy shutters or drapes with a blackout lining which exclude the light completely. If you can afford it there are programmable dimmer switches you can use at bedtime which will lower the light level slowly over time and help lull your baby to a peaceful sleep.  

Lastly don’t forget toys, especially those in bright colors and interesting textures which also make noises. Some stuffed animals, pillows, cushions, a bouncy chair and musical mobiles. Your aim is to create a rich environment for your baby’s senses, but remember nighttime is not a time for feeling enriched. Ample cupboard space in the baby’s room will ensure that you can put the toys where they can’t be seen, and to a baby’s brain, out of sight is out of mind. 

Everyone has a different idea of the perfect nursery; all you need to remember is that it’s not about looks. A nursery is, next to your kitchen, the hardest working room in the house. Keep it practical and comfortable as well as beautiful and you’ll create the perfect room for your new baby.

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I didn't become Fairy overnight and I have all the Fairy powers to help you with your baby crib bedding and nursery decor. For handmade baby quilts, baby girl and baby boy bedding visit my baby bedding boutique TheQuiltFairy.com