I had the best time today attending and helping out at an event called It’s A Wrap. Organized by Melissa Bonghi of La Leche League of Bainbridge Island, it was an afternoon filled with breastfeeding, nutrition, and baby wearing education for pregnant moms. The new mamas also had the opportunity to sew their own baby sling.
I met Melissa last Fall at the Indie Banditas Bazaar. After hearing about what she had planned I was excited to sign up Pink Chalk Fabrics as a sponsor. I’ve spent years on the other end as a volunteer asking businesses for donations. I totally appreciate what goes into the planning and execution of an event like this not to mention the amount of pure willpower and person hours put in by committed volunteers. Thank you for making our community a beautiful place to live!
I LOVED the nutrition station. A hands on demonstration and tasting were provided by two enormously talented nutrition grad students. There were lots of healthy snacks on the tables along with handouts with recipes and healthy snack ideas. I came straight home and ordered Rotisserie Chicken to the Rescue.
Melissa wanted labels that the moms could sign and sew to the baby sling. I used the artwork from the graphic artist and Printed Treasures fabric sheets with an inkjet printer.
I always get asked what inkjet printer I use so I’ll mention it now. I waited until yesterday to print the labels on my trusty Epson C88 only to discover the print heads were dead as disco. I really should have known better (I let it sit for a good 6 months without use). An evening run to Staples resulted in the purchase of a Lexmark Prospect Pro205. I think the quality of the fabric printing is fantastic. The colors were EXACTLY like the document. It’s also wireless, scans, copies, and faxes too and will be put to good use at the office. Whew, dodged that bullet.
The Kitsap County Clothing and Textiles Advisors group provided the sewing machines and volunteers for guiding the making of the slings. The sling required 2 1/4 yards of fabric along with two circular rings. The fabric was pre-cut and the ends serged. After choosing their fabric, the mamas finished the slings by doing all the sewing themselves which was SO COOL to watch.
Links to making your own baby sling:
- the event used the Maya Wrap baby sling instructions
- the 3″ aluminum rings were purchased from Sling Rings
- Sling Rings has a great page full of links to other baby sling patterns
- Safe baby wearing is important and was taught at the event, Sling Rings also provides great links on that topic too
- all the pictures from It’s a Wrap on Flickr
- resources for some of the snacks served included The Whole Life Nutrition Kitchen and CD Kitchen
A great day all the way around. So much joy and happiness. There were also good friends, caring husbands, and loving grandmas learning and supporting. And of course the sun shined extra bright making for a great turnout. A perfect Saturday afternoon.
What a great event!! I got lots of help from the LLL when I was nursing-enough that I aspired to become a leader. I never did but I learned so much from them. Those labels are perfect!
What a fantastic event! I’ve been involved with LLL for over 5 years, and I’m currently a leader. We’ve been trying to come up with a fun fundraiser that we all want to do, and I think we might copy this. I know the moms would love it.
LOVE.LOVE. LOVE LOVE LOVE. So when my baby was born I had no extended breast-feeding baby-wearing crunchy plans. But ended up breast-feeding for 2 1/2 years and she never took a drop of formula… it’s just what she insisted on. And she was a total “high needs” baby so the baby sling was a LIFESAVER. Went to some La Leche meetings and was so grateful for the moral support. No one in either of our families had ever breast-fed AT ALL and by 3 months I was getting pressure to wean (by 2 + years they had LONG given up on me – LOL!) Such an awesome group… thanks for supporting them!
Saw all the pics on Flikr – what a fantastic idea! Congrats for being a sponsor and I love the labels – gorgeous!
Kudos to Pink Chalk for sponsoring such a great event. I used a sling for both my kids, for about two years each, and don’t know how I could have survived without it. Having the mamas make their own must have given them such a sense of pride and ownership — perfect first steps towards successful breast feeding!
Thanks for doing this!
I wore my son all the time when he was tiny (still do sometimes)…
Great work.
Ooooh, you gals are making me reminisce about my own baby years.
Caitlin was an extremely fussy baby, to the point we really were beside ourselves with how much she cried. Two good friends came by on day 3 and brought along a simple baby sling. I put her in at and she stopped crying. I literally wore her around for the first 3 months of her life. It was pure magic.
I encountered breastfeeding problems with Leil which was a total surprise since Caitlin was so easy. Two weeks in I was very concerned (and my nipples were ready to fall off!) I visited a lactation consultant who instantly solved our problem. She taught me a way to hold Leil that encouraged her to latch on correctly. I’m still amazed and awed by her expertise and eternally grateful.
Needless to say I’m a HUGE breastfeeding and baby wearing advocate. Thanks everyone for sharing such wonderful stories
How awesome that you’re supporting such an excellent event! I was an LLL Leader for many years and it heartens me to read about events like these!
What an awesome event! I love the labels. And food links.
What a wonderful event! Thanks for being a sponsor!
What a cool event!
What a wonderful event to be involved in. Yea for Pink Chalk’s support. I think it is great for new mom’s and mommy-to-be to have such wonderful information. It think it makes for a more relaxed mom when there are strategies and options for dealing with situations that are all new. My kids are older, every stage is amazing!
How wonderful of you to have given so generously of yourself for such a very worthwhile cause! Kudos!
That looks like such an amazing day, it almost makes me want to have another baby!! oops, too late. La Leche was a great resource for me 13 years ago…in fact I missed my first meeting b/c my son arrived 3 weeks early on the same morning! Congratulations on sponsoring such a wonderful community gathering…all those new mommies will want to make a baby quilt with your beautiful fabrics now!
I liked PCF before I read this…Now I am IN LOVE. As a momma & a doula…I am always with new mommas that need some encouragement. This kind of event would be SO GREAT! LLL was a great resource after I had a c-section with my first (docs & nurses insisting I couldn’t make milk, LLL telling me it would just take longer than normal…LLL was right!)…and I always always recommend them to new moms. I didn’t know about wraps & slings with my first baby (but she was one of those kids you could set on the floor & let her be for hours), but my second I was tearing out my hair until I got my hands on a Moby wrap…has become my fave, even when I babysit friends’ children. In the pre-Moby days, after the second was born, I told my husband that was IT, no way could I have another kid…I wouldn’t be able to handle it. Now…I told him no problem, lol…so long as the kid can Moby around with me.
Great job!! Seems like a great event.
What a wonderful event! I made one of my baby slings, and it made it really special. I love those labels–they are fabulous! And LLL is a wonderful organization that has helped me an my babies a lot!
Awww, this makes my heart so happy. What a beautiful event!
What an amazing gathering!
wow, this looks like it was so much fun! thanks for sharing all the links for the wrap! i’ve made the sling baby carriers before and my friend told me how much she loves her wrap so i cannot wait to try one of these out! i had a hard time finding these larger rings, so this post was perfect!!
Next month I celebrate my 25th anniversary as a La Leche League leader. My sling changed my life and that of my sons. From the bottom of my heart thank you for supporting this event, La Leche League, moms and most importantly–BABIES!
What a clever, fun idea! I need to see if LLL does anything similar here in Seattle that I could get involved in. Love the labels!
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