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Saturday, August 23, 2014

We're taking custom wipes for a test ride!! :)



We’ve had tons of requests for custom wipes lately and we want to make them happen for you!!  We’ve been talking about the best way to set this up and we’re ready to give you the scoop on what we feel capable of adding to production!

At this point we will ONLY be offering custom wipes as add-ons within other groups (in other words, no wipe-only groups).  You may add them to your custom diaper group (mini or large), or your blanket or twinkie togs group!  And for now you may only order wipes in a group if you have also ordered another item (diaper, blanket or clothing) in the group.  (In other words, no wipe-only members.  For example in a custom diaper and blanket group, a member can order a diaper + wipes, a blanket + wipes, OR a diaper + blanket + wipes, but NOT just wipes.)

The minimum number of wipes a group member can order is 3, and the 3-pack of wipes will be shipped together (they cannot be separated into 2 or more packages).  If a group member orders 6 wipes they will receive 2 3-packs, etc.  The minimum total number of wipes a group can order is 6 (2 3-packs).

For any group containing wipes, there must be an additional column added to your spreadsheet so that group members can state the number of 3-packs they would like to order.  The column header must read "wipe 3-packs".  If a member writes "3" in their row, they are signing up to order 9 total wipes (3 3-packs).

The cost per custom 3-pack of wipes will be $9 plus shipping.  Wipes may be made with assorted velour, either OBV or cv at our discretion, or may be made with the same velour used for the diapers or blankets.  At this time we cannot accommodate any requests for specific velour backings for wipes.  Similarly, wipes may be made with the same thread color or different thread colors than the other group items, at our discretion.

Wipes will only be made with knit or minky fabrics at this time (swim and velour are fine).  Fabric requirements for wipes are ½ yard per 6 wipes, at a minimum 56” fabric width.  No exceptions will be made.  This yardage MUST be present in addition to your other required yardage (it can be continuous or a la carte).  We will measure fabric before cutting to ensure adequate yardage has been sent, and if it has not we will not be able to make your wipes.  

As always, any fabric sent in for group customs becomes property of twinkie tush.  Any remaining fabric will be used at our discretion.

Sometimes fabric that is sent in for group orders contains flaws, printing or otherwise.  We always do our best to spot any flaws and cut around them whenever possible.  However, sometimes flaws are missed.  twinkie tush does not take responsibility for fabric flaws on fabric that has been sent in for group custom orders.


Please note that, while we are excited about offering custom wipes and are thrilled to be able to do so, it may add a level of administrative, production and shipping labor that we find it is not sustainable for us.  We will be doing this on a trial basis over the next month or two and may reevaluate as needed.  Thank you so much for understanding! <3

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

The official custom twinkie togs blog post!!

Here is the official custom twinkie togs blog post! :)  This post will contain everything you need to know about ordering custom twinkie togs, and will be updated if and when anything changes so that it is always current!

Custom togs may be ordered in groups of 3-15 items.  At present we will be offering send your own fabric (SYOF) group customs only.  All items within a single group must be the same (eg 10 Flutter Dresses) but group members may choose as many different sizes as they would like.  Currently, togs groups cannot be combined or added onto diaper or blanket groups.  If that changes we will of course update this post!

Pricing:

Pricing per item for custom twinkie togs, made to your size specifications with the fabric you choose and send in, is as follows (not including shipping):

Playground Tee: $24
Boardwalk Tee: $24
Shortstop Tee: $26
Homecoming Tee: $26
Flutter Dress: $39
Cozy Day Dress: $41
Tea Party Dress: $43.50
Dinner Party Dress: $46.50
Garden Fairy Dress: $48

For the time being, we will stock custom slots on www.twinkietush.com at our stockings.  If listings sell out we will re-stock each week, and if we discover that we need to move to a different system we may do so.

The Group Leader, or any group member, can purchase the appropriate group listing, thereby paying for their own slot.  And here is where we are doing things a bit differently than we do with diapers and blankets.  Due to the limitations of certain fabrics with certain styles of togs, all fabric must be approved by twinkie tush before group production commences.  We will not invoice the rest of the group members until the group fabric has been approved.  Before purchasing a group slot, you can certainly email groupcustoms@twinkietush.com so that we can weigh in on your fabric.  We may be able to approve it based on a fabric listing, but please note that in some cases it is not possible for us to tell until we have a fabric in hand whether or not it is usable for the selected togs style.  We are going to do everything in our power to make sure that you are well informed about fabrics so that you do not waste time and money sending in a fabric that will not work.  Please take a moment to read through the following section before planning a group.

What constitutes a good togs fabric vs. a not so good choice?

Some choices that would NOT work:

Swimsuit knits: We will not be able to use any traditional poly lycra or swimsuit fabric for togs.  Please note that the cotton-like poly lycra options offered as “modern jersey” by Spoonflower or “perfect poly jersey” by Ixat ARE an acceptable choice, however.  “Performance knit” at Spoonflower is NOT an acceptable choice.

Wovens: Woven fabrics (sometimes called quilting cotton or 100% cotton woven) are NOT an acceptable choice for any of the togs styles we offer at this time.

Sweatshirting: Sweatshirt knits are not something we can work with with any of our existing styles.

Some GOOD choices:

Euro knits: Euro knits are a very good choice.  Etsy and DaWanda offer many Euro knit options.  Things labeled “Jersey/Elastin” are an example of a great choice in almost all cases.

Cotton Lycra: Most cotton lycra is a very good choice.  Many sellers offer cotton lycra options, including Ixat, Funkalicious, Girl Charlee, Banberry Place, Nature’s Fabrics and Cuddle Muffins fabric (to name just a few!)

Cotton-like poly Jersey by reputable sellers: “Modern Jersey” at Spoonflower and “Perfect Poly Jersey” from Ixat are very good choices.

Iffy choices:

Ribs: Rib knits and baby rib knits work on a limited basis, but do not work well with certain styles.  If you are considering a rib knit, please be aware that it may be problematic.



French Terry: French Terry does not offer the stretch and drape we need for our current dress styles, but can be used for tees.

Questionable knits: Very thin jersey can also be problematic, and does not make for durable, high quality togs.  It can be very hard to tell from a fabric listing how thin a fabric is, unfortunately.  We highly recommend sticking with the recommended fabric types rather than venturing too far into the unknown.

Many fabrics labeled “interlock” or “jersey” would be good choices, but sometimes a very thin weight or lack of stretch can make for a low quality choice.  This is an example of something that cannot be approved over email but may be approved once we have the fabric in hand.

Facebook printing groups: While many groups put out high quality prints, we have received some truly awful quality fabrics from some of these groups as well in the course of executing diaper group customs.  We cannot recommend any specific sellers in this case and encourage you to exercise caution and ask for feedback from prior customers of a printing group before risking purchasing a fabric that cannot be used.  We have had to send back prints on behalf of diaper groups in the past and these poorly printed, low quality base fabrics would not be an acceptable choice for togs either.  I do want to reiterate, however, that we have also received lovely fabric from some of these groups, which would work well for togs.


All fabric must be knit, and minimum of 55" wide.  All yardage must be continuous.

We will add to this section as applicable so that we can keep you constantly informed as to the best sources and types of good togs fabric, but want to reiterate that we reserve the right to decline a group’s fabric if we feel it will not make high quality items.  And we also want to reiterate that if your fabric is not approved over email you run the risk of it being declined once sent in. 


How exactly do I get my fabric approved and what happens if it is declined?

Group Leaders MUST email groupcustoms@twinkietush.com with a link to their chosen fabric along with their group spreadsheet within 24 hours of purchasing the group slot, and you must hear back from us BEFORE sending in your fabric.  We will respond to your email within 48 business hours.  This is to save you the expense of possibly sending inappropriate fabric.  If you have had your fabric for a while and no longer have a link to the description, please describe the fabric as best you can and include a photo.

We will respond with either a definite go, a definite no, or a possible go.  If you get a definite no, please do not send in your fabric. You can choose another fabric with your group or forfeit your slot (in which case of course the Group Leader will be refunded).  If you get a definite go, please send in your fabric!  Fabric MUST be sent within one week of our reply email, and you must provide a tracking number to your group as well as to us at TTHQ.

If you get a possible go, you can choose to send in your fabric or elect not to take the risk.  If you choose not to take the risk, you can choose another fabric with your group or you can forfeit your slot (and again receive a refund for the leader’s slot).

If tracking is not received or another fabric is not selected within one week of our response email, your group will be cancelled.

When your fabric arrives we will give final approval and invoice all remaining group members.  The payment window is 48 hours from the payment link email - all payments must be received within that timeframe.  

If your fabric is not usable, we will email the group to alert you and we will invoice the Group Leader for return shipping so that we can return the unusable fabric to you.  We highly recommend Group Leaders refund group members’ payments for unusable fabric.  That means that the financial risk of a potentially unusable fabric would fall to the Group Leader.  This is not required – the final decision is yours, but all members should be aware of the Group Leader’s policy with regards to what happens in the event that the group’s fabric is unusable.  (Members - ask your Group Leader about this before submitting fabric payment.)  Again, please take advantage of the guidance offered above and our opinions via email so that you do not end up sending in something that will not work.  It is our hope that 100% of the fabric that makes its way to TTHQ for custom twinkie togs is approved!

What must be included on the Group Spreadsheet?

The group spreadsheet should be a google doc or attached excel spreadsheet, containing all of the following for each group member:

1 - Full member name
2 - Member name as it appears in paypal account
3 - Member contact email
4 - Member paypal email
6 – Size preference (Please make sure to select a size we offer for your chosen style – that info is below.)

It is essential that the group name includes the togs style (eg Fiona Tea Party Dress Group).

All Tea Party, Flutter and Garden Fairy Dresses will be made with a single print, which you send in.  All tee styles and the Cozy Day Dress style will have solid color sleeves and neckbands, which we will provide.  You can express a group preference for this accent color if you would like to.  It must appear on your spreadsheet in a single line (not different colors for different group members).  Eg “brown sleeves if possible”.  You will ALSO need to convey this preference in your initial group email which contains the fabric link and the spreadsheet.  If you do not express a preference in BOTH the email and the spreadsheet, we cannot guarantee we will receive your preference.  And please note that while we will do our best to accommodate such preferences, we may not have the color you ask for and we may feel in person that it is not the right choice.  Final selection of accent color will be made by Gretchen at TTHQ.

What sizes are offered in each style?

Boardwalk Tee (short sleeved girly cut) : sizes 6m-8 and now size 9/10 and 11/12 as well!
Homecoming Tee (long sleeved girly cut) : sizes 6m-8 and now size 9/10 and 11/12 as well!
Playground Tee (short sleeved boyish cut) : sizes 6m-8 and now size 9/10 and 11/12 as well!
Shortstop Tee (long sleeved boyish cut) : sizes 6m-8 and now size 9/10 and 11/12 as well!
Flutter Dress: sizes 12m-6
Cozy Day Dress: sizes 12m-6
Tea Party Dress: sizes 12m-8 and now size 9/10 and 11/12 as well!
Dinner Party Dress: sizes 12m-8 and now size 9/10 and 11/12 as well!
Garden Fairy Dress: sizes 6m-8

Please see the sizing charts at the end of this blog post.

Fabric requirements for all styles can be found at the end of this blog post.

At this point we are not offering special print placement options, but we will always do our best to get you the optimal cuts for your togs.

Other things you should know:

*Sometimes fabric that is sent in for group orders contains flaws, printing or otherwise.  We always do our best to spot any flaws and cut around them whenever possible.  However, sometimes flaws are missed.  twinkie tush does not take responsibility for fabric flaws on fabric that has been sent in for group custom orders.

*Custom twinkie togs will ship within 4-6 weeks of the end of the group invoice period.

*Once invoiced, group members have 48 hours to pay for their slots, or they will be forfeited.  We reserve the right to cancel a group and return fabric at the group’s cost if the majority of the group fails to pay for their slots.

*Shipping of the fabric to TTHQ is the responsibility of the group, as is return shipping in the event that a fabric is deemed unusable.

*All approved fabric becomes property of twinkie tush and may be used in whatever way twinkie tush sees fit once a group order is fulfilled.

*Pricing and policy is subject to change at any time.


Below are the size charts and fabric requirement charts!  Have fun planning – we can’t wait to make your custom twinkie togs for you!!

Also applies for Dinner Party Dress











Size 9/10 and 11/12 requirements are the same as size 4-8




Sizes 9/10 and 11/12 require 1.75y per Tea Party Dress.
Bodice only: 1/2 yard
Skirt: 1.5y

Sizes 9/10 and 11/12 require 2y per Dinner Party Dress.
Bodice only: 3/4 yard
Skirt: 1.5y



Below are sample photos of all the aforementioned styles.

Flutter Dress

Playground Tee

Tea Party Dress

Dinner Party Dress


Garden Fairy Dress
Shortstop Tee

Homecoming Tee

Cozy Day Dress

Boardwalk Tee


Thursday, July 3, 2014

July 2014 Photo Contest!!

It's time for another photo contest!  We are so excited for this one!  Seeing your little ones in twinkie tush diapers and now in twinkie togs is one of the absolute greatest joys for us!  Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful children with us by sending in your photos!!

Here are the details for the July 2014 Photo Contest!  :)

The contest will be open for submissions from today, 7/3/14, through Sunday 7/27.  That gives you just 3  and 1/2 weeks to get your entries in, so don’t delay!  :)  The winners will be announced on Wednesday, July 30th, at 9pm EST. Please read below for important details on how to win. There will be a first place and a second place winner as follows:

- First place takes home their choice of:
(a) a FREE custom twinkie tush diaper of their choice (based on availability of desired fabric, and SYOF is of course an option as well). Shipping of the diaper is also free. (Please note that the custom diaper will ship 4-6 weeks after a final print decision is made or SYO fabric is received.)
                OR
(b) an ULTIMATE Dibs Pass, which entitles them to select a single diaper during previews and take it home FREE, with free shipping as well.  This ULTIMATE Dibs Pass would be valid on any preview day in August 2014.  (Please note that occasionally there is a print offered that is not able to be claimed by a dibs pass.)  More infoabout Dibs Passes here.

- Second place winner will receive a standard Dibs Pass which will allow them to select a single diaper to purchase at regular price on any one preview day in August 2014 without having to attend the stocking.  (Please note that occasionally there is a print offered that is not able to be claimed by a dibs pass.)  In addition, the second place winner will receive a twinkie tush accessory prize pack, featuring a replacement soaker in their choice of style and cv color (or natural OBV) and a set of 6 twinkie tush wipes!

- We will also draw an additional standard Dibs Pass winner at random from all photo contest participants at the close of the contest!  This random.org Dibs Pass will be valid on any one preview day in August 2014.)


So now that we’ve covered prizes, here is the process:

To enter, simply submit a photo of your little one(s) in a twinkie tush diaper and/or twinkie togs dresses or tees! twinkie tush blankets, hair clips and headbands by Hello Charlotte James for twinkie tush and/or twinkie tush collabs with Happy Hippo Knits or others we have collaborated with are of course welcome to be part of the photos, however a twinkie tush diaper or twinkie togs must be featured.

Feel free to be as creative as possible - extra consideration will always be given for creativity! (Try to play off the "theme" of your diaper/togs - you can use accessories and props to really amp it up - a guitar, an alien toy, a bouquet of flowers....) A simple approach is fine as well - creativity is just one of the things that will be considered.

Photos can be sent to photocontest@twinkietush.com. By submitting a photo you are giving twinkie tush permission to use your photo to promote or represent twinkie tush diapers, twinkie togs and/or other twinkie tush products on this blog, the twinkie tush shops on Hyena Cart and Big Cartel, twinkietush.com, twinkie tush advertisements via email, on HC and elsewhere, and the twinkie tush facebook pages.  Please do not submit a photo if you do not agree to these terms. :)

Submissions will be closed on Sunday 7/27/14 at 11:59pm EST. On Monday 7/28 we will upload all submissions to a photo album on the main twinkie tush facebook page called "July 2014 photo contest!" At that point, the contest really gets exciting!

First place will be awarded to the photo *in the " July 2014 photo contest" album* that we feel best reflects the spirit of twinkie tush and the spirit of the individual diaper(s) pictured. Creativity, photo composition, brand reflection and of course FUN are some of the things that will be considered. :) Mike and I will choose the first place winner, and we will announce the winner at 9pm EST on Wednesday, July 30th.

Second place will go to the photo in the " July 2014 photo contest" album that receives the most "likes".  Please note that "likes" on photos outside of the specified album will not count as votes for that photo. You, and your friends and family, may "like" multiple photos if you choose (you don't have to pick just one). Comments are welcome of course, but will not count towards a photo's "tally". Since it is possible to "like" and then "unlike" something on facebook, we will go with the count as it is at exactly 9pm EST on Wednesday, 7/30.

An important note: you cannot win both first and second place ;) While the number of "likes" a photo has will neither ensure a first place win nor preclude it from taking said prize, fan feedback is something that Mike and I may take into consideration to at least some extent in making our decision on a first place winner. In the event that we choose the "highest likes" photo for first place, that photo is no longer eligible to take a second place win. In other words if photo A has the highest number with 200 likes and photo B has 199 likes, and we choose photo A as our first place winner, second place will go to photo B. If we choose photo B, or any other photo in the album, as our first place winner, second place will go to photo A.  

Please note that only one (1) first place and one (1) second place prize will be awarded.  Should you collaborate with another family to enter a submission you would need to settle the allocation of the prize between yourselves in the event that you win.

Please note that you may enter only one (1) photo per household for this contest. Also note that photos must clearly show your twinkie tush diaper(s) and/or twinkie togs and must not be offensive in any way (obviously). Please send full size/high res images rather than "email" or "thumbnail" sizes.

If there is a problem with your submission you will receive an email response with suggestions on how to resubmit if applicable. If your submission is accepted you will receive a confirmation email within 48 hours. If you do not receive a confirmation email within 48 hours please email again to confirm receipt, in case for some reason your initial email did not come through successfully.



We are looking forward to your submissions! Thanks so much!! :)

More info and links:


Past photo contest albums on facebook:

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Updates to the Group Custom process!

We have updated the official twinkie tush Group Custom post to reflect a temporary return to the drawings system. :)  Please make sure to read it through before participating in this month's drawings!

Submissions will open tomorrow (Monday) morning and will close on Friday at 8pm eastern. :)
Thanks so much!

Saturday, March 1, 2014

About twinkie togs!



It occurred to me that whenever we’ve introduced a new product line, I usually write up a blog post about it!  I haven’t done that yet with our recently debuted clothing line, twinkie togs!  I’m excited to tell you more about this new line!

If you haven’t seen our Intro to twinkie togs photo album on Facebook, make sure to check it out!  And make sure to bookmark it for future reference, because as we add new designs we will add their photos to that album!








twinkie togs are designed by me, and are manufactured in our studio in Ithaca, NY, the same place we make all of our diapers!  



As you may know, we currently have 5 full-time employees who work with us to make our diapers: a cutter, 2 snappers, and 2 seamstresses.  We have recently added blankets and wipes to the production line-up, and now twinkie togs, so as you can imagine we are a busy crew!  In order to continue this level of production, we plan to expand into additional space within the next couple of months, and with that expansion we will be creating some new jobs as well!  We will be bringing on an additional seamstress, snapper and cutter, so that we can increase diaper production as well as venturing further into clothing production!  With that expansion you can expect to see things like larger blankets, undies, pants, and more top and dress options!  (All of this over the next several months.)

If you have been with us for a while now you have probably read my previous blog posts about diaper pricing.  I try to always be as open as possible about why we price things the way we do, and what you are getting, as well as who you are supporting, when you purchase from us.  I want to be equally open about twinkie togs! :)

Most companies do not choose to manufacture in the US.  There are some, of course, but they are few and far between.  The reasons for that are many and vary from company to company, but the bottom line is that it is more expensive to employ US workers and to maintain a production facility domestically.  Our employees are full-time (as opposed to by contract), with fair wages, and we are so grateful to be able to say that! :)  And while we stand apart from companies that outsource production internationally, we also stand apart from where we began, without employees and without the myriad overhead costs we have now.  The difference between my WAHM origins and where we are now as a company is staggering, and is one I never would have understood until we got here! 

I have learned so much about the complexity of running a business as we have continued to grow, and I am continually humbled and inspired by the lessons I learn!  We continue to strive to offer reasonable prices for all of our products, all the while balancing our overhead costs and fair business practices.  We also strive to offer products that are unique and made to extremely high quality standards, and we stand behind all of our work with the high level of customer service you have come to know and expect from us.  As a result you will see that our price points are higher than those of a one-woman at-home operation.  I want you to understand why that is, and to know that reasonable pricing continues to be very important to me.  As we further diversify the line, we hope to cover a wider spectrum of price points with some simpler options as well, but every price will of course be reflective of our costs.

I hope that helps to illuminate the pricing of the new line, as well as the production! :)  We are continually developing new styles and I can’t wait to show you more!  As always, words can’t convey my gratitude for your love and support!


Thank you so very much!
Gretchen


Thursday, February 27, 2014

Custom twinkie tush blankets - everything you need to know! :)



We are ready to offer the custom blankets we've talked about!  This blog post will contain all of the info you need to order your custom blankets!

You may order blankets on their own (without diapers) in groups of 3-15 for the time being, on an as available basis.  In the future we will try to open up individual blanket options as well! :)  You may also choose to add blankets (any amount from 1 to 15) to your diaper (Large or Mini!) Group Custom or your twinkie togs group!

We will stock "custom blanket" listings on the store site, under "accessories-blankets".  If you have formed a blanket-only group, simply purchase that listing and email groupcustoms@twinkietush.com with your group spreadsheet (please see below for spreadsheet requirements).  We will then send payment links to other group members, if applicable.  We will plan to re-stock custom blanket listings each week if they sell out in between stockings.

Your blanket-only group order must be communicated to us in the form of a spreadsheet, the same way diaper groups are.  The required information for a blanket-only group is as follows:

1 - Full Member Name
2 - Member Name as it Appears in Paypal
3 - Member Contact Email
4 - Member Paypal Email
5 - Blanket Size preference (28x28", 34x34", 55x55" or 55x80")
6 - Blanket Backing preference (natural OBV, cv, or solid cotton lycra knit)
*Please note that you may express a group color preference for cv and solid cotton lycra knit which we will honor on an as available basis and only if we feel it works with your print.  We reserve the right to choose another color if we feel it is necessary.  All blankets within a group will be made with the same color cv for members that choose cv.  All blankets within a group will be made with the same color solid cotton lycra knit for members that choose that option.

If you are adding custom blankets to your Large or Mini Group Custom diaper order or your twinkie togs custom group, simply add the above columns #5 and 6 to your existing spreadsheet (they will come after all of the normal preference columns in your spreadsheet).

The cost for custom blankets is as follows:
28x28" : $27
34x34" : $34.50
55x55": $59
55x80": $79

The fabric requirements for custom blankets are as follows (MUST be continuous) :
For each 28x28" blanket: 1 yard
For each 34x34" blanket: 1.5 yards
For each 55x55" blanket: 2 yards
For each 55x80" blanket: 2.5 yards
*Fabric must be 56" wide at a minimum.  Please note that fabric width loss on pre-washing here will result in smaller than 55x55" final size if there is excessive fabric shrinkage.  Cotton lycra is one type of fabric that is likely to shrink and a 58"+ starting width is preferred. If your fabric is less than 56" wide your blanket will be less than 55" wide. :)

If you choose to send in your blanket backing fabric as well, the length requirements are identical to the main fabric requirements. :)  If you send in both main and backing fabric pricing is as follows:
28x28" : $21
34x34" : $25.50
55x55": $43
55x80": $58

Yardage for groups should be continuous whenever possible.  All blanket fabric will be pre-washed here at our studio before it is cut.

Now some very important notes about fabric that may be used for blankets:

At this point we are willing to work with most fabrics.  We reserve the right to change that without warning, should we experience problems with any type of fabric.  We highly recommend sending in high quality cotton, cotton lycra, or cotton poly blend knits, or thick poly lycra, poly jersey, minky or velour.  We will also make woven blankets if you choose to send in a woven print.  Please remember that a woven fabric is not "cuddly" the same way a knit fabric is, but that doesn't mean it will make a bad blanket - just different. :)  Woven fabrics are almost always 44-45" in width and would therefore NOT work for the large (55x55") or XL (55x80") blanket size.  You can feel free to ask about other fabrics by emailing us!

Sometimes fabric that is sent in for group orders contains flaws, printing or otherwise.  We always do our best to spot any flaws and cut around them whenever possible.  However, sometimes flaws are missed.  twinkie tush does not take responsibility for fabric flaws on fabric that has been sent in for group custom orders.

Please let us know if you have any questions by commenting here or by emailing info@twinkietush.com or groupcustoms@twinkietush.com.

Thank you so much! We are looking forward to making tons of beautiful blankets for you! <3

Monday, February 3, 2014

Meet our February 2014 Fan of the Month, Julia Willhite! :)

We are so excited to introduce you to our February 2014 Fan of the Month Julia, and her daughter Gretchen! (And no, we didn't just choose Julia as Fan of the Month for her fantastic taste in baby names. ;) )  These beautiful ladies are a long-standing and truly wonderful part of our community!  We have known Julia for years now and always appreciate her warmth, intelligence and sense of humor.  Read on to learn more about her and click here for general info on our Fan of the Month feature, including how to enter to be FotM yourself!  Entries are now open for March! :)



What is your full name?

Julia Willhite

Where are you from? Where do you live now?

Grew up in Lawrence, KS, now live in Kansas City.

How many children do you have and what are their ages?

Gretchen, 18 months old. (And don’t think we JUST chose Julia as our Fan of the Month for her fantastic taste in baby names.)

How/when did you find twinkie tush?

It was actually before we were even pregnant! I hung out on a cloth diapering message board while we were TTC and buzz for TT was brewing. I bought my first TT before we were even pregnant, it was Chance of Rain, still one of my favorites.



What is your favorite twinkie tush print of all time?

Flatline, you might say I'm obsessed. My husband knows it is a "special" diaper that doesn't go in our regular rotation. 

 

Do you have an ultimate ISO print?

Thanks to so many generous TT mamas I've acquired all the girly prints I've wanted. Now if I have a boy someday I will have a whole new list of ISOs, Track and Field being at the top of that list. 



What is your favorite personal non-parenting related, non-work related hobby?

Not sure if this counts as a hobby but I love trying new restaurants with my husband or with friends. Brunch, happy hour, dinner, I am game!

What makes you feel most inspired or grounded? How do you take care of yourself and your spirit?

Connecting with and helping others, which I get to do through my job as a social worker. Self care for me usually means getting out and being by myself. Maybe a walk through Target, a pedicure, eating lunch by myself at a restaurant. Just having some time where I'm responsible for no one but myself so I can refocus and then come back refreshed.

What is your favorite activity to do with little Gretchen?

Getting out and exploring places like the zoo, children's museum, a local park. As she gets older and more verbal it is so much fun to watch her interact with her surroundings.

What is/was your favorite place to visit?

We honeymooned in Maine and it was amazing. I hope we can go back for our 10th anniversary in 2016!

What is your favorite book? What about your favorite movie?

I don't really have one particular favorite book. My guilty pleasure reads are anything by Beverly Lewis about the Amish and any book written about the FLDS. I also love YA lit and memoirs. Favorite movie is hands down Mean Girls.

What is something surprising about you, that people might not guess upon meeting you?

I just watched "It's a Wonderful Life" and "National Lampoons Christmas Vacation" for the first time in 2013. So maybe I grew up sheltered!

What twinkie tush attribute and/or philosophy do you most appreciate?

Family! I love that TT is a family run business and that a sense of family has been fostered among TT fans. TT also brings our family together in small ways. As I write this right now my husband and my toddler are folding diaper laundry. She pulls the TT soakers out of the basket and hands them to him and he matches them up with the diaper shells. Then she puts the finished diapers back in the basket. Over the last couple of years I've gotten to know many other TT mamas really well, it does feel like we are one big family.

What would you tell someone who has yet to try a twinkie tush diaper?

You are missing out. Also, you can't stop at just one, so brace yourself!

Tell us your funniest cloth-diapering or parenting story!

It's hard to think of one specific story but my daughter is currently digging through her basket of twinkie tushes and talking and singing to them. She just carried on a long conversation with the whales on Big Sally, in secret toddler language of course.

Tell us about one of the most meaningful parenting experiences you have had.

My daughter was born at 35 weeks and was a very small and very sleepy baby. I got a ton of support from my TT mom friends including some mamas sending me preemie sized cloth diapers since my daughter was too small for newborn sized diapers for the first few weeks. I also got tons of support and great advice when we dealt with breastfeeding issues. The first few weeks of motherhood were so hard, but the amazing support from my husband and all of my precious online friends actually makes me look back on that time fondly. I had never felt so supported and now I feel empowered to support other new moms struggling as we did.


 
Gretchen in Flatline <3

Many thanks to Julia!  We are honored to have you as our Fan of the Month! :)

Sunday, February 2, 2014

February 2014 Photo Contest!

Here are the details for the February 2014 Photo Contest, and can I just say we are SO excited for this one?? :)

The contest will be open for submissions from today, 2/2, through Sunday 2/23.  That gives you just 3 weeks to get your entries in, so don’t delay!  :)  The winners will be announced on Wednesday, February 26th, at 10pm EST. Please read below for important details on how to win. There will be a first place and a second place winner as follows:

- First place takes home their choice of:
(a) a FREE custom twinkie tush diaper of their choice (based on availability of desired fabric, and SYOF is of course an option as well). Shipping of the diaper is also free. (Please note that the custom diaper will ship 4-6 weeks after a final print decision is made or SYO fabric is received.)
                OR
(b) an ULTIMATE Dibs Pass, which entitles them to select a single diaper during previews and take it home FREE, with free shipping as well.  This ULTIMATE Dibs Pass would be valid on any preview day in March 2014.  (Please note that occasionally there is a print offered that is not able to be claimed by a dibs pass.)  More infoabout Dibs Passes here.

- Second place winner will receive a standard Dibs Pass which will allow them to select a single diaper to purchase at regular price on any one preview day in March 2014 without having to attend the stocking.  (Please note that occasionally there is a print offered that is not able to be claimed by a dibs pass.)  In addition, the second place winner will receive a twinkie tush accessory prize pack, featuring a replacement soaker in their choice of style and cv color (or natural OBV) and a set of 6 twinkie tush wipes!

- We will also draw an additional standard Dibs Pass winner at random from all photo contest participants at the close of the contest!  This random.org Dibs Pass will be valid on any one preview day in March 2014.)


So now that we’ve covered prizes, here is the process:

To enter, simply submit a photo of your little one(s) in a twinkie tush diaper. twinkie tush blankets, hair clips and headbands by Hello Charlotte James for twinkie tush and/or twinkie tush collabs with Happy Hippo Knits or others we have collaborated with are of course welcome to be part of the photos, however a twinkie tush diaper must be featured.

Feel free to be as creative as possible - extra consideration will always be given for creativity! (Try to play off the "theme" of your diaper - you can use accessories and props to really amp it up - a guitar, an alien toy, a bouquet of flowers....) A simple approach is fine as well - creativity is just one of the things that will be considered.

Photos can be sent to photocontest@twinkietush.com. By submitting a photo you are giving twinkie tush permission to use your photo to promote or represent twinkie tush diapers and/or other twinkie tush products on this blog, the twinkie tush shops on Hyena Cart and Big Cartel, twinkietush.com, twinkie tush advertisements on HC and elsewhere, and the twinkie tush facebook pages.  Please do not submit a photo if you do not agree to these terms. :)

Submissions will be closed on Sunday 2/23/14 at 11:59pm EST. On Monday 2/24 we will upload all submissions to a photo album on the main twinkie tush facebook page called "February 2014 photo contest!" At that point, the contest really gets exciting!

First place will be awarded to the photo *in the " February 2014 photo contest" album* that we feel best reflects the spirit of twinkie tush and the spirit of the individual diaper(s) pictured. Creativity, photo composition, brand reflection and of course FUN are some of the things that will be considered. :) Mike and I will choose the first place winner, and we will announce the winner at 10pm EST on Wednesday, February 26th.

Second place will go to the photo in the " February 2014 photo contest" album that receives the most "likes".  Please note that "likes" on photos outside of the specified album will not count as votes for that photo. You, and your friends and family, may "like" multiple photos if you choose (you don't have to pick just one). Comments are welcome of course, but will not count towards a photo's "tally". Since it is possible to "like" and then "unlike" something on facebook, we will go with the count as it is at exactly 10pm EST on Wednesday, 2/26.

An important note: you cannot win both first and second place ;) While the number of "likes" a photo has will neither ensure a first place win nor preclude it from taking said prize, fan feedback is something that Mike and I may take into consideration to at least some extent in making our decision on a first place winner. In the event that we choose the "highest likes" photo for first place, that photo is no longer eligible to take a second place win. In other words if photo A has the highest number with 200 likes and photo B has 199 likes, and we choose photo A as our first place winner, second place will go to photo B. If we choose photo B, or any other photo in the album, as our first place winner, second place will go to photo A.  Please feel free to ask questions about this if it is at all unclear! :)

Please note that only one (1) first place and one (1) second place prize will be awarded.  Should you collaborate with another family to enter a submission you would need to settle the allocation of the prize between yourselves in the event that you win.

Please note that you may enter only one (1) photo per household for this contest. Also note that photos must clearly show your twinkie tush diaper(s) and must not be offensive in any way (obviously). Please send full size/high res images rather than "email" or "thumbnail" sizes.

If there is a problem with your submission you will receive an email response with suggestions on how to resubmit if applicable. If your submission is accepted you will receive a confirmation email within 48 hours. If you do not receive a confirmation email within 48 hours please email again to confirm receipt, in case for some reason your initial email did not come through successfully.



We are looking forward to your submissions! Thanks so much!! :)

More info and links:


Past photo contest albums on facebook: