lots of updates and news today! :)

first off, thank you for another great stocking yesterday!  i am so sorry to those who were affected by the oversells - i wish that didn't ever happen.  something to keep in mind is that while HC gives you 10 minutes to check out, that includes any possible paypal lag time.  If you don't check out completely within the 10 minutes things get really wonky ;)  b/c the diaper is released back and someone else may cart it and pay as well.  so it's best to finish up in paypal within less than 10 minutes just to be safe.

i also want to assure you that i am actively looking for the right solution to amp up production.  i know it can be frustrating trying to get a diaper and i want to make more available as quickly as possible. :)


there are a few contest going on right now for custom slots:  

the photo contest is up and running on FB - today is the last day for voting!  winners will be announced tomorrow - full contest rules are here on the blog.

there is another american idol custom slot contest happening right now - you can participate today on FB!  entries are open until 7pm eastern tonight.  details here and entry thread on my FB page. :)

tomorrow i'll be doing a drawing for a (regularly priced) custom slot that is open to twinkie tush newbies only.  (obviously i can't know for sure if someone has purchased a twinkie tush diaper from another mama, i can only track the customers who have purchased from me directly.)  i will post tomorrow morning by 8am eastern on my FB page with the entry thread for this drawing, and will leave it open for 6 hours before doing the drawing via random.org.

in addition to the contests there is an auction starting april 4th for a twinkie tush custom slot here on from our hearts to yours on FB.  this auction will benefit an incredible little man - you can read his story here.


and lastly...

there are some REALLY exciting things coming to twinkie tush - wool will begin stocking in april, and i'll have a sneak peek at some other things in the next few weeks! :D

thanks as always for your incredible support!
xoxo
gretchen

other twinkie tush news!

the photo contest is now closed for submissions and all entries are up on FB! :)  there are some truly amazing shots - you mamas (and daddies) are amazingly creative!  and your children are beyond adorable :)  voting will be open for 3 days - it will close end of day on the 31st.  the winners will be announced on 4/1!

in other news - congrats to our latest custom slot contest winner, kim brinkman!  she won the first american idol contest on FB!  

thanks for checking in and for your support of twinkie tush!!

xoxo

gretchen

previews are up! there will be a single stocking tomorrow at 1pm eastern!

everything is listed at the store :)  i am really in love with the diapers this stocking - it's hard to pick my faves!  but i'll try....

everything will go live at 1pm eastern tomorrow!  34 ready to ship diapers and 3 custom slots :)

another custom slot contest! :D

this is for the american idol lovers! tonight after the performance show head to my FB page and comment on my status which will read "place your AI custom slot contest votes here!" with your vote for who is *going home* tomorrow. you can only pick one person and you have until tomorrow evening 7pm eastern to place your vote.

after tomorrow's results show i will make a list of everyone who had selected the correct person.  from that list a winner will be randomly selected via random.org.  the winner is offered the opportunity to purchase a custom slot ($28 for serged or $30 for T&T, $2 less if you choose to SYOF, $4.50 shipping.)  the winner will be notified on my FB page by friday morning 9am eastern and will have 24 hours to contact me at twinkietush@gmail.com to place their order!  (sorry for the possible delay in announcing the winner - i will be out of town and can't promise i'll be able to announce it thursday night.)

if no one is correct with their vote i will make a list of everyone that participated in the contest and select a winner from that list via random.org. :)  if the AI contestant who is voted off is saved by the judges, he or she still counts as the correct person for the purposes of this contest and the winner of this contest will get free shipping on their custom order :D

let me know if you have any questions! :)

previews are up! stocking tomorrow at 1pm EST and 8pm EST! :)

previews are up at the store - 31 ready-to-ship diapers and 3 custom slots will be stocking tomorrow :)  i am ready to drop (is it weird that i'm basically jet-lagged from daylight savings time?  i got up at 5:30 this morning which felt like 4:30) but i wanted to share a few of my faves:

thanks for checking in!
xo
gretchen

stocking times for tuesday 3/15

this next stocking will take place at 1pm and 8pm EST.  there should be about 30 diapers stocked and i will also stock a few custom slots! :)

a quick word on customs: my plan is to stock a few slots at each stocking and/or in between - i will announce on FB any time a custom slot is available.  i will also open more group customs down the road - details will be here on the blog!

our first photo contest!!

it's time for our first ever twinkie tush photo contest!! :)  the contest will run from today through 3/28/11.  the winners will be announced on friday april 1st!  please read below for important details on how to win!  there will be a first place and second place winner as follows:

- first place takes home a free custom twinkie tush diaper of their choice (based on availability of desired fabric).  shipping is free as well.

- second place is offered a custom slot: T&T custom is $30, serged is $28 - with free shipping :)  if the second place winner declines the custom slot another second place winner will be selected.

both of these custom diapers will ship 4-6 weeks after orders are placed.

so here's the process:

submit a photo or photos of your little one(s) in a twinkie tush diaper.  feel free to be as creative as possible - extra consideration will 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 twinkietush@gmail.com.  please type PHOTO CONTEST in the subject field.

by submitting a photo you are giving twinkie tush permission to use your photo to promote twinkie tush diapers on this blog and on facebook.  in fact facebook will be a big part of this contest! :)

after emailing your photo to twinkietush@gmail.com you may also upload your photo to my facebook page if you choose.  that is totally up to you and is *not* required to be entered in the contest.  however, emailing your photo to twinkietush@gmail.com *is* required to be entered.

submissions will be closed on 3/28/11 at 11:59pm EST.  on tuesday 3/29 i will upload all submissions to a photo album on my facebook page called "march 2011 photo contest!"  at that point, the contest really gets exciting!

first place will be given to the photo *in the "march 2011 photo contest" album* that gets the most independent comments.  (if someone comments on a photo multiple times, only their first comment will be counted.  they can, however, comment on more than one photo.)  please note that comments on photos outside of the specified album will not count as votes for that photo.

second place will be awarded by me! :)

please note that you may enter a maximum of 2 photos per household.  also note that photos must clearly show your twinkie tush diaper and must not be offensive in any way (obviously ;).  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.

so let's get started mamas!!  get snapping those pics and please let me know if you have any questions!  i can't wait to see what you come up with! :)

xo
gretchen

special custom offering today for a group of 4-5!

as i prepare to officially open customs later this month, i am going to do something fun and different today!

is there a fabric you'd really love to have a twinkie tush diaper made out of?  today i am opening a custom slot for one group of 4-5 mamas who want to coordinate with each other and do a SYOF (send your own fabric) custom order.

the group would send me (at the group's cost) 2 yards of the chosen print fabric and all diapers would be cut from that yardage.  all other materials would of course be provided by me :)  all velour and snaps would be uniform, as decided by the group (and based on availability).  extra print fabric will be shipped back to a group member or members as decided by the group.

each group member can choose between a serged or turned and topstitched diaper.  the price for this SYOF order will be $26 + shipping per each serged diaper and $28 + shipping per each T&T.

since i am working towards opening customs this month and simultaneously working to stock the store on the 15th and 30th, i can only accept one group order.  i will accept the first group order that is emailed to me by your designated group rep with all group members cc'ed.  i will then create a private custom listing on hyena cart which will need to be purchased by the group rep within 24 hours, after which i will offer the spot to the next group in line.  once the spot is purchased it is reserved and you can send your fabric to me as quickly or slowly as you like ;)  all diapers will ship out to the group members 4-6 weeks after i receive the fabric.

i will keep this offer in place through the weekend.  please let me know if you have any questions!  thanks so much!

xo
gretchen

update: the group custom slot is sold - can't wait to make these dipes for you mamas!

fabric previews for the 3/15 stocking

are on FB! :)  some awesome stuff coming!

also - i wanted to show you an off-the-bum comparison of a brand new twinkie tush T&T next to one that has been washed several times.  i'll add this pic to my post about this below as well.  this is the shrinkage i planned for when developing my new pattern :)

xo
gretchen

one stocking down, one to go! :)

we have a split stocking today! :)  the 10am EST stocking was gone in a flash but there are 15 more diapers coming at 8pm EST!  i can't tell you how much i appreciate your support - it is amazing!  i just wish i could make enough diapers so that no one was left disappointed.

i am going to work on a way to amp up production over the next few months.  stick with me mamas (and daddies!)  we'll figure out a way to make sure that if you want a twinkie tush diaper you can get one! :)

and meanwhile, thank you again - i am truly humbled by your incredible support.

xoxo
gretchen

previews are up on FB :)

check out my FB page for previews of all of tomorrow's diapers!

here are some of my faves....

and of course my very favorite! :)

i'm off to post previews at the store!  thanks so much for checking in!

a quick note about the 4 remaining je t'aimes

i have 4 je t'aimes in progress that will be ready on 2/28.  these will be my very last 4 as the fabric is no longer available.  due to the high demand for these i will be stocking one at each stocking on the 28th (10am EST and 8pm EST) and after the second stocking i will collect a list of anyone who wants to purchase a je t'aime and wasn't able to do so at the stockings.  (check facebook for more info on that after the stockings).  i will use random.org to select two people from that list and those two people will be able to purchase the remaining 2 diapers.  i feel that is the most fair way to do this since some people have higher speed internet, some people won't be able to be at the stockings, etc.

make sure to check FB for pics of the other 28 diapers in progress for the 2/28 stocking as well!! :)

exciting news!! and a contest tonight! :)

i have decided that in march i'm going to be opening customs!  i'll have a ton more info on that as the time approaches, but i wanted to prequel the official opening of customs with a little contest tonight on facebook!

the way i'll be stocking customs will be different than the regular stockings have been.  i'm planning to stagger and offer a couple slots a day to give more people an opportunity to purchase them.  i have received a lot of emails about customs and i know there is a lot of interest, which means so much to me!  i wish i could take on every order but i will likely only be accepting 15-20 customs a month to start, in order to have time to keep up with regular stockings. :)

tonight's contest winners will have the opportunity to purchase a custom slot for either a T&T or a serged diaper.  pricing will be exactly the same as it is for the regular stockings.  so if you missed a diaper you wanted today, you could win the chance to order it tonight :)  i should be able accommodate a custom order for any of the diapers listed today *except* for knock out or grapefruits.  i may also be able to accommodate an order for other previously sold diapers - if you win the opportunity to purchase the custom slot just tell me what print you'd like and we'll make sure i have the fabric in stock! :)  (edited to add that je t'aime isn't available for customs since i only have enough fabric for a couple more of those and i will be doing special stockings for them due to the high demand.)

so - here are the details: tonight at 8pm EST i will post 3 twinkie tush "trivia" questions on my facebook page (one question at a time).  all answers can be found on this blog.  the first person to answer each question correctly will win!  (you can only win one slot though, even if you're first on all questions.)  winners can then email me at twinkietush@gmail.com and we'll get the orders placed!  these customs will ship in 3-5 weeks! :)

please let me know if you have any questions!  thanks so much!

xo
gretchen

thank you so much for another amazing stocking day!

i appreciate your support so much - there really are no words.  just thank you :)

previews are up! stocking tomorrow 12pm EST :)

after a super busy day, previews are up at the store!  this is our first big T&T stocking!!  there are 24 T&Ts and only 5 serged this time around.  remember that the T&T pattern is larger - higher rise and a little bigger all around.  we are loving it over here - M&D wear their twinkie tush T&Ts every day now and we are loving the roomier fit - especially on D who is a bit more of a chunk than her brother ;)

here are some of my favorites from tomorrow's stocking:

thanks so much for your support!! :)
xo
gretchen

sneak peek at what's coming on 2/15!

here's a look at some of the dipes in progress! :)

big news from twinkie tush!

i've decided to roll out turned and topstitched (T&T) diapers earlier than i planned! :)  they're coming in 5 days, at the 2/15 stocking!!  you'll notice a few differences between twinkie tush T&Ts and twinkie tush serged diapers.  aside from the obvious difference in edging (i'll get into a full explanation of what turned and topstitched means in a moment), you'll see a higher rise in my T&Ts as well as a roomier overall cut.  here's a pic of a serged dipe next to a T&T on my daughter to show you some of what i'm talking about:

serged

T&T

and here's a pic of the diapers themselves to show you the size difference:

the 2/15 stocking will include a few serged diapers but the majority will be T&T!  i'm really excited about them!!

now to explain the difference between serged and T&T:  when making a serged diaper, i go around the edges of the diaper with a serger.  sergers are awesome machines.  they use multiple needles and multiple spools of thread to create the edging you see on serged diapers (or serged wipes or bibs or anything else!)  for my serged diapers i use 4 spools of thread and two needles.  the machine trims the fabric as it sews, leaving me with this look:

with my T&T diapers, i follow a similar process except that i serge the diaper inside out, leaving an opening so that i can turn it right side out.  after turning it, i go around the edges with a straight stitch on a sewing machine (this is the topstitching), leaving an edge that looks like this:

so why is one better than the other?  that comes down to personal preference as well as function.  some babies do better with a T&T edging, as the serged edge can irritate skin on some more sensitive little ones.  some people prefer the look of one over the other (the cleaner finish of a T&T vs the more decorative look of serging).  some people prefer the trimness of serged while others prefer the more fluffy T&T.  serged diapers tend to stretch more for a different fit than you might get with a T&T.  but for that reason T&Ts are often cut larger.  T&Ts can be less trim because of the extra fabic in the seam.

i hope this has helped explain some of the differences!  please let me know if you have any questions about twinkie tush T&Ts or about T&Ts in general :)

stocking in an hour :)

previews are up in the store and stocking is at 8pm EST!  here are a couple pics of some of my favorites this round!

chance of rain

je t'aime

knock out

sky high

sweet dreams of blue

sweet dreams of pink

thanks for taking a look!

xo
gretchen

quick post about the schedule for this stocking and next

today i'll be finishing up the diapers for sunday's stocking and packing for our trip - we fly out first thing tomorrow morning!  i'll be bringing my laptop with me and i'll get everything posted in the store for preview by saturday evening.  then sunday is stocking day - 8pm EST this time :)  once we fly back the following weekend mike and i will get all orders packed and ready to ship first thing monday 2/7! :)

this stocking will be fairly large (31 diapers) but the following stocking on 2/15 is likely to be fairly small since i'll have a lot less time to work, with being away.

meanwhile poor mike is digging out of the 2 feet (totally an estimation, i don't know exactly how much is out there) of snow we got overnight.  this has been such a crazy winter and it's barely begun!  i was up til 2 last night pressing snaps so it's nice for the moment to sit with a cup of coffee while the twinkies sleep in a bit (thank you M&D!)

i'll update again when previews are up! :)
xo
gretchen

sneak peek at what's coming on 1/30!

here are some pics of the diapers in progress for the end of the month! :)  stocking will be a week from today - sunday 1/30 at 8pm EST.

panda ball w/black velour, picnic, earthy owls, wisconsin farm life

indy 500, the food fight, knock out w/yellow obv, indigo owls

je t'aime, chance of rain

sweet dreams of blue, sweet dreams of pink, arr matey, arr lassey, be mine, grapefruits, sky high

xo
gretchen