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A Thread Of Magic
About us
A Thread Of Magic was founded by Lori Gaedtke and her love for making custom costumes. Lori makes her living full time doing alterations, making costumes and costumes for many dance groups. Lori was then joined by her sister, Cyndi who did alterations and made uniforms for many restaurants. As a grandmother with two autistic grandchildren Cyndi understood the need for weighted clothing and products for children with special needs. Due to the cost, Cyndi set out to learn how to make them on her own and a learning experience it was! First of all the product is costly and time consuming to make, but she still determined to make the products as accessible to everyone as possible. The product is hand made per order by the persons weight so it is not mass produced! Then children with special needs already tend to stand out so the last thing she wanted them to do in school was to stand out more in a weighted vest that says, "look at me, I'm different." She designed a vest with fun fabrics that other kids will want to wear! The unique design also hides the weighting. I guess when it's your grandchildren involved you go that extra mile to make their lives easier and as normal as possible. Cyndi even makes her blankets a little differently then most because she knows what her grandchildren like and what works for them. Now that is a piece of information you will have to ask her about yourself!
Along with her husband Cyndi is raising her thirteen year old grandson with autism and cares for her seven year old granddaughter with autism four days a week. She has also taken what she loves doing and makes and sells weighted vests, lap pads and blankets full time. She laughs and tells people that she is not a very good business person, she takes the money she makes from the sale of her blankets to make blankets that she donates to those that can not afford them. She has sold to occupational therapists, schools and private individuals and offers a quantity discount.
By 2015 Cyndi's... show more portion of the business had grown so big that the sisters separated the two businesses and Cyndi introduced a new line of patented products for infants as well as a waterproof line of items ideal for day cares and. and for use by OT's. As well as a fun line of capes, scarfs and hats. Cyndi believes in seeing a need and filling it, while making it fun at the same time.
All weighted items are made with poly pellets and machine washable on low or delicate setting and low setting on dryer.
Children should never use a product that exceeds their weight limit. Weighted blankets are intended only for the use of those individuals that are able to remove the blanket off themselves. NEVER USE A WEIGHTED BLANKET ON A BABY! NEVER roll a child up in the blanket, covering their face or pinning their arms. There is a suffocation risk involved with the use of a weighted blanket if used in a manner that is not intended and A Thread Of Magic is not responsible for any liabilities due to the misuse of any weighted blanket.
If you have any questions we would be more then happy to answer them at: athreadofmagic@gmail.com
Benefits of Weighted Products for Managing Sensory Processing Disorder
By. Susan Hoffman. COTA/L
Sensory Processing includes noticing, filtering and acting upon information given by the senses; sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, movement and pull of gravity.
Sensory Processing Disorder can be described as an inability of the brain to process the information received from all of the senses at the same time and make meaningful and socially appropriate responses to this information. Sensory Processing is critical in regulating ones activity level, emotional state and state of alertness.
Children and adults who are affected by this disorder, whether it is associated with Autism Spectrum, ADHD, ADD, CP, Mental Retardation or other disabilities can often, benefit from deep proprioceptive and pressure touch input given by weight or pressure on the body, either by pressure on the shoulders or head when standing or sitting, or pressure on the whole body when supine or prone as in sleeping.
Individuals who demonstrate behaviors like repeated jumping, bumping into walls, pushing into things, and hitting their heads against things can be showing signs of wanting deep pressure from these objects. In extreme cases children will jump off dressers or other high places to get the pressure through their feet.some people who experience restless sleep or insomnia will attempt to get proprioception and relaxation brought by it, by piling many blankets on top of themselves or in extreme cases crawl between the mattress and the box spring or crawl under beanbag chairs to try and sleep.
When teaching about Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) I like to use this demonstration. I place a bright light bulb behind a running fan, tune a redio to loud static, turn on a vacuum cleaner and then begin to speak to the audience about Autism. The audience begins to shuffle in their seats and have distressed looks on their faces because they are unable to concentrate on what I am saying. The visual distraction from the flashing light and the overwhelming noise from the radio and loud vacuum cleaner have prevented their ability to focus.
I have found this to be a good way way to represent a small part of what it may be like for a person with Autism or SPD to sit in a classroom with other children and pay attention to the teacher.
Fluorescent lights blink so rapidly that the individual with intact Sensory Processing may not detect it, but with increased sensitivity to light for the child with Autism, it can be like having a continual strobe light flashing which would be difficult for any of us. The hyper-sensitivity to sound can be compared to standing at the end of a runway while jet engines are Erving up for take-off and trying to listen to someone talking to you.
If you stop right now and list all the sounds you are currently hearing you may be able to increase your awareness of the marvel of Sensory Processing, running fans, car engines, fire sirens, horns blowing, dogs barking, spin cycle on the washer, water running in the shower, radio or T.V. On, children laughing, and a voice talking to you. You are able to let less needed sounds take a lower priority in your attention while focusing on what is being said by the person attempting to converse with you.
Now add the smells, fresh cut grass, food cooking, garden flowers, a sea breeze. Now add the visual aspects, bright sun light, movement of a pet in the room, children running around. Your rain is taking in all these things at the same time and is able to filter a lot of it out so you can concentrate on the task at hand. That is Sensory Processing working without impairment.
Now that I have laid some ground work to increase your awareness, let me move on to how we can help at least some individuals to decrease their stimulation and increase their ability to relax and pay attention. Although I cannot explain how it happens, deep pressure from weighted products can be beneficial in calming and modulating the brains ability to filter the overwhelming stimuli from the senses. Pressure through the use of weighted materials has been effective in helping people achieve that "just right" state of being calm and alert.
I would like to reiterate that weight does not work for all individuals and it will take trial and error to decide if it will work for your clients. When it is effective however, it does truly amaze and is life changing! show more
Along with her husband Cyndi is raising her thirteen year old grandson with autism and cares for her seven year old granddaughter with autism four days a week. She has also taken what she loves doing and makes and sells weighted vests, lap pads and blankets full time. She laughs and tells people that she is not a very good business person, she takes the money she makes from the sale of her blankets to make blankets that she donates to those that can not afford them. She has sold to occupational therapists, schools and private individuals and offers a quantity discount.
By 2015 Cyndi's... show more portion of the business had grown so big that the sisters separated the two businesses and Cyndi introduced a new line of patented products for infants as well as a waterproof line of items ideal for day cares and. and for use by OT's. As well as a fun line of capes, scarfs and hats. Cyndi believes in seeing a need and filling it, while making it fun at the same time.
All weighted items are made with poly pellets and machine washable on low or delicate setting and low setting on dryer.
Children should never use a product that exceeds their weight limit. Weighted blankets are intended only for the use of those individuals that are able to remove the blanket off themselves. NEVER USE A WEIGHTED BLANKET ON A BABY! NEVER roll a child up in the blanket, covering their face or pinning their arms. There is a suffocation risk involved with the use of a weighted blanket if used in a manner that is not intended and A Thread Of Magic is not responsible for any liabilities due to the misuse of any weighted blanket.
If you have any questions we would be more then happy to answer them at: athreadofmagic@gmail.com
Benefits of Weighted Products for Managing Sensory Processing Disorder
By. Susan Hoffman. COTA/L
Sensory Processing includes noticing, filtering and acting upon information given by the senses; sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, movement and pull of gravity.
Sensory Processing Disorder can be described as an inability of the brain to process the information received from all of the senses at the same time and make meaningful and socially appropriate responses to this information. Sensory Processing is critical in regulating ones activity level, emotional state and state of alertness.
Children and adults who are affected by this disorder, whether it is associated with Autism Spectrum, ADHD, ADD, CP, Mental Retardation or other disabilities can often, benefit from deep proprioceptive and pressure touch input given by weight or pressure on the body, either by pressure on the shoulders or head when standing or sitting, or pressure on the whole body when supine or prone as in sleeping.
Individuals who demonstrate behaviors like repeated jumping, bumping into walls, pushing into things, and hitting their heads against things can be showing signs of wanting deep pressure from these objects. In extreme cases children will jump off dressers or other high places to get the pressure through their feet.some people who experience restless sleep or insomnia will attempt to get proprioception and relaxation brought by it, by piling many blankets on top of themselves or in extreme cases crawl between the mattress and the box spring or crawl under beanbag chairs to try and sleep.
When teaching about Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) I like to use this demonstration. I place a bright light bulb behind a running fan, tune a redio to loud static, turn on a vacuum cleaner and then begin to speak to the audience about Autism. The audience begins to shuffle in their seats and have distressed looks on their faces because they are unable to concentrate on what I am saying. The visual distraction from the flashing light and the overwhelming noise from the radio and loud vacuum cleaner have prevented their ability to focus.
I have found this to be a good way way to represent a small part of what it may be like for a person with Autism or SPD to sit in a classroom with other children and pay attention to the teacher.
Fluorescent lights blink so rapidly that the individual with intact Sensory Processing may not detect it, but with increased sensitivity to light for the child with Autism, it can be like having a continual strobe light flashing which would be difficult for any of us. The hyper-sensitivity to sound can be compared to standing at the end of a runway while jet engines are Erving up for take-off and trying to listen to someone talking to you.
If you stop right now and list all the sounds you are currently hearing you may be able to increase your awareness of the marvel of Sensory Processing, running fans, car engines, fire sirens, horns blowing, dogs barking, spin cycle on the washer, water running in the shower, radio or T.V. On, children laughing, and a voice talking to you. You are able to let less needed sounds take a lower priority in your attention while focusing on what is being said by the person attempting to converse with you.
Now add the smells, fresh cut grass, food cooking, garden flowers, a sea breeze. Now add the visual aspects, bright sun light, movement of a pet in the room, children running around. Your rain is taking in all these things at the same time and is able to filter a lot of it out so you can concentrate on the task at hand. That is Sensory Processing working without impairment.
Now that I have laid some ground work to increase your awareness, let me move on to how we can help at least some individuals to decrease their stimulation and increase their ability to relax and pay attention. Although I cannot explain how it happens, deep pressure from weighted products can be beneficial in calming and modulating the brains ability to filter the overwhelming stimuli from the senses. Pressure through the use of weighted materials has been effective in helping people achieve that "just right" state of being calm and alert.
I would like to reiterate that weight does not work for all individuals and it will take trial and error to decide if it will work for your clients. When it is effective however, it does truly amaze and is life changing! show more
Recommendations and reviews from 1 person
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Referral from
January 24, 2015
Parenting M. asked:ADVICE NEEDED for Special Mom #psnm00801 My 7 year old stepson has an adhd diagnosis, but I'm pretty sure there are some sensory issues as well. He's a great kid but can't keep still and has violent outbursts at school, and he's had a terrible time sleeping. We've tried therapy and even meds, we've started incorporating fidget toys in school (with great success) and we are looking for a great priced weighted blanket, and maybe a lap pad or something for school. Can anyone recommend a decent (very decent) priced company where we can get a blanket?Tammy F. replied:https://www.facebook.com/athreadofmagic
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