The changes are finally here!

For probably, oh, eight months now, I've been wanting to make some changes in the shop.

Shortly after opening last May (almost a year!), I knew I wanted to do more with the shop than just sew.  I wanted to do something.  For others.  And since I feel so passionately about adoption but we aren't in the position to do it ourselves right now (hello, surprise third pregnancy!), I'd like to do my part to help.

So that's what we're doing.  Like we mentioned earlier, we'll be donating a portion of all proceeds to two different organizations: An Orphan's Wish and Warm Blankets.  

Every time you place an order from today forward, you'll be helping us help these amazing organizations who help orphans.  See how cool that is?  Please check out their websites to learn all about their missions and how you can get involved if you want to do more.

As I mentioned back in January, we weren't loving the long turnaround times that come with custom orders.  I'm the only one who sews, I'm pregnant and I have two kids under three at home already - there is never enough time in the day to get it all done without sacrificing my family, who is always my first priority.

Custom orders are awesome, but they also carry more problems than just long turnaround times.  Like I've had happen a few times, sometimes you run out of fabric and it becomes sold out everywhere (Kumari Garden, anyone?!) and you have an order to fill and you can no longer get that fabric.  And sometimes, life just gets in the way.  Kids get sick.  Mama gets sick.  You have to leave town at the last minute.  Pregnancy issues.  And when I've promised someone an order in two weeks, I need that order out the door in two weeks!

So now you've got the brain dump and hopefully understand why we are only going to offer custom orders on a limited basis as time permits.  We opened up a second etsy shop that we'll publish once we re-open custom orders (after baby comes).  That shop will open and close as we have time for custom orders.

Right now and for the indefinite future, we're focusing mostly on accessories.  You can check out the shop to see all the new accessories we have available for immediate delivery.  We'll get clothes up in the shop, too, (we have a dress available right now!) but accessories will definitely be more prevalent in the shop than clothes.

Thanks for supporting us through our changes!  We're so excited to have finally gotten to this point and to see how The Blue Swirl grows and how we're able to help others through your support over the next year in business!