Have a look at your calendar…. will Aunt Flow be around shortly?  If so, how about stocking up on some lovely pads as a present to yourself?  Perhaps a festive themed one!

Found on Cloth Pad Shop – http://au.clothpadshop.com/category/31

Or these on Obsidian Star – http://www.obsidianstar.com.au/category/52

Or, if you’re planning on going away over the holidays, or don’t want to have to worry about changing pads while you’re busy with festivities, why not take this opportunity to try out a menstrual cup!

The Lunette menstrual cup is a fantastic product that allows you to catch your flow internally (like a tampon), but with a much greater capacity than tampons and without the risk of TSS or the horribly drying feeling from tampons.  Being reusable, they also don’t contribute to the mountains of feminine hygiene products going into landfill.  They are great for events where you’ll be out all day and don’t want to have to worry about changing pads, as for many women, a cup will be able to be worn all day without needing to be emptied.  (and if you do need to empty it while out, it’s a simple case of removing it, tipping the contents into the toilet, giving it a rinse/wipe and reinserting it!)

Not to mention of course being able to be worn during swimming or hanging out at the beach!

If you are thinking of making the switch to menstrual cups, I’d recommend buying one now so you can give it a “dry run” (so to speak) before your period comes, so you’ve had time to practice and get comfortable with it.  To inspire you, use the code “lunette4xmas” at checkout to receive a 15% discount on the Lunette!  This offer will run until Sunday.

Foldup Pads

I was asked to stock more foldup pads, so that’s what I’ve focused on in this latest restocking. Some are made from hemp or bamboo fleece, for a heavy absorbency thick pad. Some are made with flannelette for a light absorbency thinner pad.

http://www.obsidianstar.com.au/category/105

If you are not familiar with fold-up pads, they are a style of pad where you have a booster section sewn to the pad, that folds up to form the absorbent part of the pad, and unfolds for faster drying.

The way I make foldup pads has a winged top part that snaps around your underpants like any normal pad, with a rectangle of fabric sewn underneath that is folded into 3 (a “trifold”) down the centre of the pad. When unfolded and laying flat, the booster section is free to flap about when hanging on the line, helping it dry faster.

To use the pad you simply fold one side of the booster over into the centre (as shown below), then fold the other side over. Snap the pad around your underpants and you’re good to go

Some foldup pads include a strip of PUL waterproofing, to give leak protection. Some do not include this to cater for those who don’t like synthetics in their pads.

http://www.obsidianstar.com.au/category/105

Base+Insert Pads

I have made this style of pad before, just not very often (although it’s the style I make most regularly for donation pads for charity), but always overlocked, and I was never happy with how they looked. So I decided to use the nice curvy shape of my “Neophyte” pad and make some nice looking “turned and topstitched” pads with it.

The base pad is made with a backing of PUL and a topping of microfleece. This fleece topping together with the ribbon straps helps keep the inserts in place, and won’t absorb, so your base can be kept on while you change the inserts, even if the inserts have soaked through to the base.

The inserts are made from hemp/organic cotton fleece and flannelette. You can choose to wear them either side up. You can use one insert at a time for a light flow (or a medium flow if you change regularly), but you can use 2 or even 3 inserts together if you want more absorbency. This versatility allows you to use the one pad from light to heavy flow, just by increasing the number of inserts you use with it. Each insert will dry more quickly than a full pad will, so it’s a great choice for those who need to dry their pads inside, or have pads dry quickly.

http://www.obsidianstar.com.au/category/5

And I was running low on breast pads, so I’ve added a few more pairs.

I’ve just opened an etsy store, (mostly for my jewellery, as I could do with the extra exposure )

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ObsidianStar

And as an opening special, I’m offering a 15% discount at my etsy store until the end of Oct.  Just enter “ETSYOCT“to get the discount.

New jewellery has been added, some with a Halloween theme

http://www.etsy.com/listing/84336471/halloween-bat-necklace

http://www.etsy.com/listing/84336664/halloween-witch-necklace

http://www.etsy.com/listing/84513268/scorpion-choker-necklace

(Those Halloween necklaces are OOAK, I only have one of each of those the pendants, so I won’t be making more)

and some Pagan themed necklaces

(Click to enbiggen )

http://www.etsy.com/listing/84514718/yoni-goddess-necklace

Also, don’t forget I have Halloween themed pads on Cloth Pad Shop

http://au.clothpadshop.com/category/31

Spend $15 or more on Halloween themed pads (At myclothpadshop store), and you’ll get a free Halloween themed pantyliner!