We just had a wonderful chat with Anna of Go with the Flo. Her store offers a great selection of cloth diapers and mama cloth

How and why did you start Go with the Flo?

I didn’t actually start Go With The Flo! Lilia Designs is my brainchild. Under this company name, I make Go With The Flo pads and Maui Diaper products.

In 2005, Robin DeGregario debuted the ingenious results of her many months of hard work: the contoured all-in-one pad with an original construction method that allowed for a sleek fit and leak protection wings. The design took off like wildfire, and Go With The Flo quickly became one of the most sought after brands of cloth pads.

Three years later, in 2008, I became the new owner and added a new vision and focus beyond just providing the best cloth menstrual pads to women around the world. Yes, my vision is huge, but I truly believe that we can make it happen soon! In short, my goal is to provide women trapped in prostitution with a safe, respectful work environment in which to make a dignified living. By setting up a sewing center for these women, training them and employing them in the production of Go With The Flo pads, we can offer hope, dignity and a new life. In the mean time, while we continue to raise the funds necessary for this endeavor, a percentage of our sales goes to various outreaches, women’s homes and the like that provide shelter and aid for women.

What’s your favorite product / best seller and why?

My favorite product would have to be the Shaped Series pads because it is the line I added to the existing pads.  They take the awesome features of the Classic Go With The Flo pads and add a new dimension of protection that’s not offered anywhere else.  My best sellers have traditionally been the 6″ Petite Mini, 8″ Petite Maxi and 11″ Standard Maxi, but the 7″ and 9″ Minis are very close in the running for third.  I think these are the constant number one hits because they are the necessities for practically every women.  You’ve got your light days, moderate days, heavy days, and nights all covered with these sizes.

Is there anything else you’d like us to know about you and Go with the Flo?

Go With The Flo pads are available for co-ops.

You can find us on Facebook at http://facebook.com/GoWithTheFloPads for info and special codes.

Each January, we have an Annual Clearance Sale here at HC where you can get killer steals on retired colors and seconds.

So don’t forget to check out Go with the Flo next time you’re looking to pick up some mama cloth

We recently got a chance to have a nice chat with Pietra of Homestead Emporium. Pietra’s store offers a vast array of re-usable cloth items including mama pads, cloth diapers, and nursing pads:

How and why did you start Homestead Emporium?

I’ve always loved sewing, and I’ve always had a great passion for fabrics, especially fabrics that just make you feel good, so this business is a very great fit for me. I always tell my kids that I may have never dreamed about becoming a cloth pad maker when I was growing up, but this business has provided me the luxury of doing a lot of what I love. Being creative, working with my hands, running a business, and best of all, being home to watch them grow up and to homeschool.

I first started out almost 8 years ago when our youngest, our twins, were 4 years of age and I needed to bring in some sort of income to continue staying home with them. I had always either worked part time out of the home with the elderly as a Nurses Aid, or when that was no longer a viable option, I had worked as a waitress so my husband and I could swap child & home care. By the time we had 5 children however, this wasn’t so feasible any longer and working from home became the ideal. I just had yet to figure out exactly HOW I would work from home.

Then, one day I made the switch to cloth pads myself, and a few online friends became curious about them and asked if I could make them some too. It all began with simply trying out cloth pantyliners for daily wear that I created from an old flannel nightgown I had. We had five young children, on one income, and I needed to be frugal. From that small start, first sewing for friends, then working out trades with others, and then moving onto purchasing larger quantities of fabrics and moving into organic fabrics! And then, the business just kept growing bit by bit to where it is today, almost eight years later. Last year we shipped out over 7,000 pads world wide, all sewn right here in our home and dyed right here too! I can’t help but be passionate about it! To know women all around the world our using our products every month, some are using them every day. It just makes me smile!

What’s your favorite product / best seller and why?

Definitely our very vast array of cloth pads! We have added many other products over the years, bamboo velour pillows, wash cloths, facial items, and more, but the cloth pads continue to be our mainstay by a long shot! We have so many sizes and styles to suit every woman’s needs, from tiny 6 inch thong pads, to 17 inch postpartum/heavy flow pads and EVERY THING in between.

Our super soaker nursing pads are also a great seller. They far surpass their disposable counterparts in comfort, and this is always a good thing for nursing moms!

Is there anything else you’d like us to know about you and Homestead Emporium?

Yes! To women everywhere who are nervous about giving cloth a try, but curious enough to wonder, just take the plunge! At least try just one liner, I usually recommend one of our 7inch TinyLiner’s to start. You’ll most likely find it’s a lot more comfortable then you ever imagined! Once you try cloth, it’s really hard to go back to paper & plastic!

Also, if you’re still not convinced, read reviews! You’ll most likely be surprised! A lot of women were just like you, nervous about that first step into the wonderful world of cloth!

And from there, let me just say, “Welcome! We’re glad you joined us, and we know you’ll be here to stay!”

Don’t forget to visit Pietra’s store, Homestead Emporium, especially if you’re just considering giving cloth pads or liners a try. There is a great variety to choose from

Come join us and learn more about Lucy at Mum Mum’s Crafts Lucy offers all sorts of natural bath and beauty products including soaps and mineral makeup:

How and why did you start Mum Mum’s Crafts?

I started Mum Mum’s Crafts in 2008 because I just couldn’t keep the cool things I was making to myself!! I had spent years not being able to use most cosmetics in the store due to allergies and sensitivities. After lots of trial and error I was able to make a line of things that really work, without giving me hives, I just had to share! My line has continued to grow since then and I truly LOVE my job!

What’s your favorite product / best seller and why?

My best sellers of all time are my foundations and my deodorants. I get letters from ladies all the time who tell me they can’t stop looking at themselves in the mirror, are getting compliments or just feeling great about how they look. This makes me SO happy! I love helping people feel good about themselves! My deodorants are also a huge hit, because they actually work! When I took maternity leave to be on bed rest I got lots of letters asking when I would return so people could get some more deodorant.

Is there anything else you’d like us to know about you and Mum Mum’s Crafts?

I am a married mama to three amazing miracle children. I am so blessed to be able to work from home AND home school my kids! They are ages 13, 6 and 1, and yes, my youngest is in cloth diapers which is how I found Hyena Cart. We are a Christian family with a big organic garden and way too many hobbies to even list. Life keeps me very busy, but I think I must like it that way!

Don’t forget to check out Lucy’s store, Mum Mum’s Crafts next time you need to buy a little something for yourself or your family