Small Business Saturday at Thermies

Small business Saturday is coming up in just a couple of days. As a small business owner it is our hope that shoppers will turn to small businesses to make purchases instead of relying solely on big box stores. Small businesses like Thermies often have very unique and handmade items that make great gifts for friends, family, co-workers and children.

And don't forget the stocking stuffers! Thermies will look adorable peeking out of the top of a stocking on Christmas morning!

Remember that personalization is available for these Personalized Thermies!

Thermies for Halloween

Are you planning to take your kids trick-or-treating on Halloween? If you live anywhere that is cold on Beggars' Night you are probably dreading following your small kids around the neighborhood. In fact, last year (in my town) it was freezing rain the entire time my kids were going from house to house accumulating unnecessary amounts of candy!

If you heat up a few Thermies for your pockets you can keep your hands toasty warm for the adventure. Your kids will also appreciate the warmth a few times between houses...if you are willing to share!!

Click here to visit our Etsy shop and purchase today!

Ninja & Lucha Libre Thermie Sketches

Does anyone else have a little piece of paper taped to the side of their computer with the millions of user names and passwords necessary to function in everyday life? And if that little piece of paper ever got lost would you curl up and cry for three weeks? I think I would rather have my identity stolen than lose that little piece of paper! Okay, maybe not, but still I would be a complete disaster if that thing got lost!! I use extra sticky tape for insurance!! Ha!

On that note, completely unrelated, why not combine ninja and lucha libre to make fun mask Thermies? Here are a few sketches:

I mention the user names and passwords because little did I know the amount of detail that goes into an Etsy shop. I've mentioned this before but for all you out there who want to post a few items 'quick' and make a few bucks, be warned that there is definitely more than meets the eye. I'm certainly not trying to discourage anyone but please do your homework. It's a lot of work! And a lot of accounts to set up with, yes, more user names and passwords.

Since we have two little kickin' ninja at our house Eric thought it was fitting to make some ninja/lucha libre inspired thermies. Ninja are everywhere and if you have any small-ish boys in your life you have certainly heard of TMNT (Teenage Muntant Ninja Turtles for those of you who live in a cave) and Lego Ninjago!

I will be posting finished Thermies soon! Also, the Etsy shop should be opening in the next week and a half!

Cats! Meow!

This category is ironic to me simply because Eric (thermies designer) is highly allergic to cats. Eek! However, he said they were very entertaining to make even though he can never officially be around them. Here are a few sketches. Meow!

My favorite thing about cats is that everyone has a cat story. Even if it isn't their own cat they have a story to tell about a naughty cat that did something funny, strange or mean! I know you are thinking of it right now! Share your story in our comments, we would love to hear it!

A bit mischievous I do think!

I was just talking to a friend the other day who is ordering our set of four cats for her boss as a personalized gift who has 'cat' everything! It's not officially a personalized gift in the way that it has her name on it but it is a personalized gift in that she loves cats. A great gift idea in that sense!

Thermies (our Etsy shop) is getting closer and closer to opening! We have heard for a long time....oh, you should just open an Etsy shop. There are many more steps involved then I expected but we're getting there!

Thermies Prototyping

Thermies are on the loose!

I'm up to my ears in thermie prototypes and I can't wait for their official release; which will be announced very soon. We will be selling thermies in our Etsy shop which I will post as a link here as soon as I hit the 'OPEN SHOP' button...so exciting!

So what are thermies you ask? Thermies are beautifully designed (by my husband) palm-sized heat packs (filled with uncooked rice) that are heated in the microwave and placed on or under cold feet in bed so one can fall asleep in complete comfort and relaxation! Doesn't that sound great?! One Thermie will stay warm for about 30 minutes under the covers. Ahh! Two thermies.....forget about it....you'll be zonked in 10 seconds flat.

Here is a peek at some of the pieces that go into making thermies!

1. Fabric of course!

I love fabric...and the fabric store. It's so homey and comforting at the fabric store, isn't it? A place that I find myself spending way too much time in and never wanting to leave. I think I literally touch every piece of fabric in the place. I'm like a kid walking by a dirty car who has to run a finger along the entire thing.

2. Printed fabric. 

We are using only 100% cotton fabrics for our thermies and are striving to use only items/products made in the USA. Support the USA! The top layer fabric is printed in our home studio, and cut, sewn and filled by me, Jennifer!

3. More fabric for layers and contrast (all cut with my favorite tool ever). 

When I used a rotary cutter for the first time I didn't know what to do with myself. I started cutting fabric just to cut it. I stacked it up to see how many layers I could cut and quickly found out that I wasted a LOT of fabric but I was having so much fun I seriously couldn't help myself. Who ever invented that thing definitely deserves an award (if they didn't get one already)!

4. Rice. Thermies are filled with only 100% uncooked white rice. 

Did you know that white rice is one of the few things in the world that never goes bad? We never use wheat, beans, brown rice, flax seeds, herbs, dried flowers, oils, scents or perfumes to fill our thermies which could eventually go rancid. Yuck! No feet would ever like that!

5. Thread. Another place I get lost at in the fabric store. 

It is a goal of mine to own every color of thread available. I would also like them arranged on a perfect little spool rack but let's face it, I don't have every color, just enough to match what I make, and they are all tossed neatly (is that possible) into a small wooden basket with a frog on the side. Boo! 

What I'm trying to get at is that all thermies have decorative stitching to add to the cuteness (is that a word?) and we also only use 100% cotton thread. I say, keep it cotton!

6. Labels and the thermies logo. I love branding!

How could we create thermies HEAT FOR FEET without a fabulous logo?! We couldn't so here it is!

Well, I guess that sums up what goes into making thermies! Thank you for looking/reading and check back soon for more.