New ORGANIC BABY LINE pages added to our website

Looking for organic baby products? Precious Bloom has revised its website to make it easier for you to find our organic crib bedding, baby accessories and sleepwear with all organic products being shown on separate ORGANIC BABY LINE pages (organic crib bedding, organic baby accessories and organic sleepwear).  We hope that this change will make your "organic" shopping experience at Precious Bloom much easier.

Olympic Torch Relay 2009

We, as a family, were pleased to participate in the Olympic Torch Relay 2009 as observers. This was a special time for us as our family remembered my brother, William Edward (Bill) Hare, who represented Canada as a pistol shooter in the Olympics: Tokyo (1964), Mexico City (1968), and Munich (1972).
Pictured are Andrew, Cassandra, Audrey (hiding in the carrier) and Brayden - all smiles after watching the torch bearer pass by on Woodroffe Avenue in Ottawa, Saturday, December 12, 2009.
It is our hope that the Summer Olympics will come to Canada in the not-too-distant future, that Bill's daughters, Dorothy (Hare) Ludwig and Lynda Hare, will be successful in their quest to become Olympians, and that we will actually be able to see them compete.
~ Elizabeth & family

Introducing our New Models

We are pleased to welcome Cassandra Stutt, and her daughter, Audrey Jewel (born October 17th), as Precious Bloom’s new product models. So far, photo shoots have been held when Audrey was 3 weeks old and 6 weeks old.

Cassandra and Audrey have been most accommodating to meet our needs.

Again, welcome Cassandra and Audrey.

Obasan - The Premium Source for Organic Mattresses

Jean Corriveau of Sleeptek, a Nepean, Ontario, manufacturer of mattresses, recently announced that his company has gone totally organic under the name Obasan.

Our family has bought a number of organic cotton mattresses from Sleeptek over the past twenty years and we can attest to this company’s dedication in providing the best possible products to meet your individual needs.

Bravo, Jean, and best of luck to Obasan! You can check out Obasan at http://www.obasan.ca/.

Barrhaven "Light Up the Night" Santa Claus Parade

Precious Bloom was pleased to be able to participate in the Barrhaven "Light Up the Night" Santa Claus Parade on November 15, 2009. Special thanks to Constance Steinborn, our wonderful ambassador, who helped owner Elizabeth Hare hand out 1,000 candycanes and business cards to the enthusiastic crowd - some 30,000 reportedly.

It was quite the experience for us to keep up with the pace of the parade, requiring running shoes at times! But it was all worthwhile when we saw the happy faces of the young and not so young along the route.

Again, many thanks, Constance, for a job well done!

Welcome to the newest addition to my family

Introducing ...

Audrey Jewel Leduc, born Saturday, October 17th, 2009, at the Ottawa Civic Hospital, weighing in at 7 lbs. 2 oz. with the help of Doula-in-training Lynn Malone. Parents Cassandra Stutt and Justin Leduc doing fine.

Getting Ready for Baby ...

Of course, Precious Bloom had to create custom bedding for this beautiful bundle of joy. This crib bedding (mattress pads, quilt, dust ruffle, fitted sheet and pillow, as well as diaper stacker and crib organizer) and coordinating curtains and valance were created using organic cotton flannel and organic cotton flannel sheeting, with pink and purple butterfly appliqués and ribbon trim.

Of course, we also made coordinating organic bedding for her Graco bassinette, which included mattress pads, fitted sheets and a quilt.

Review by Upscale Baby

Precious Bloom is delighted that Upscale Baby has reviewed our So Soft Crib Sheets (http://www.preciousbloom.com/index.php?pg=crib_bedding.php#Sheets). The review by Upscale Baby can be seen at http://upscalebaby.com/blog/bedding/so-soft-fitted-crib-sheets-by-precious-bloom/.

The Advisability of Having Reciprocal Links

I've heard a variety of opinions with respect to whether or not to have reciprocal links on a website. Personally, I think it is a good idea. If your website is baby- or toddler-related, especially if you sell organic products, please contact me to discuss having reciprocal links to generate cross traffic to our sites.

What do you think about reciprocal links? I'd love to hear from you.

No scents makes sense

I recently found it necessary to write yet another letter to the editor on the subject of scents in public places. The editor of the Barrhaven Independent, one Jeffrey Morris, had the audacity in his "From the Other Side" column entitled "No scents makes no sense" to suggest that he hoped that his opinion on the ridiculousness of scent-free environments would offend someone.

I wrote: "No scents makes perfect sense - particularly in public buildings in order to provide "access" and "reasonable accommodation" for people such as myself who experience adverse reactions to perfume. This is an accommodation for a disability in the same way as we now provide ramps for those requiring wheelchairs."