At Soaring Heart one of our favorite mattress solutions is the Organic Shikibuton. They are incredibly versatile. They can be rolled up and put away; they can become chairs or couches; and they make a wonderful organic guest bed that is easily stored. This versatility, and the versatility of similar products such as the ever-popular Organic Futon, makes them perfect for city living where efficient use of space is often incredibly important.
This got me thinking--what other ways could one get more use out of limited space? Granted, a bed takes up a lot of room and is therefore an understandable first target, but there are numerous areas that can benefit from a little space saving. After some searching, I found a great list of items that are designed to do just that: save space. Pair them with one of our futons or shikibutons and add some space to that studio.
Dear Soaring Heart,
I'm confused. I have been looking at mattresses recently and have found two additional categories outside what the mattresses are made of: mattresses you flip and mattresses you don't. What's the difference? Is one better than the other?
Dizzy in Denver
Dear Dizzy in Denver,
Yikes! This is a simple question that's deceptively difficult to answer. The short answer is, there is no difference! Why? Because there is no such thing as a "no-flip mattress" if by that you mean a mattress that doesn't need to be flipped in order to maintain its structural integrity and comfort. There are, however, mattresses that are unable to flip, due to having a sewn-on pillow top on one side. They are marketed as simpler and more convenient, but of course, there's a catch...
There's a reason mattress manufacturers have always told you to flip the mattress: it makes the mattress last longer. A lot longer! These “no-flip “mattresses aren't using some new miracle mattress material that never compresses--they are using the same materials that have always been in mattresses or a variation of the same. Pocketed springs and springs are both springs, folks.
So what happens when you can't flip your mattress,? Your mattress doesn't last very long--and that pillow-top that got you in this mess in the first place is even shorter-lived. When you lie on the same spot every night, night after night, without ever flipping, tossing, or fluffing it, that pillow-top will be dead real quick. Imagine never being able to fluff your actual pillow... how long would it stay comfortable? Get my drift? So, a few short years after the purchase, you're saddled with a mattress that is uncomfortable in some key spots, even though the majority of it is just fine. And that nice big warranty they gave you, well, that doesn't cover the pillow-top. Bummer.
This is why we here at Soaring Heart Natural Bed Company have designed our mattresses to have a disconnected pillow-top, or Mattress Topper. This allows you to flip the heavier bottom section (what we call a Mattress Support) once every three to six months and flip your mattress topper once every two weeks or so. It takes less than a minute and will double--DOUBLE!--the lifespan of your mattress. And what happens when the mattress topper has finally lost its loft five to ten years down the road? You get a new topper and keep your still good, completely comfortable mattress support with the 20 year warranty. In short, you save money. A lot of money.
Let me set the stage for you:
It's early morning and you just woke up. Lying in bed, your back feels stiff and your hips are sore, shoulders tight. It doesn't make sense; when you bought the mattress, it felt fine-- what happened? You spent so much money on that mattress and it isn't that old; do you really need to go out and get a brand new one? Maybe not.
An all-natural, synthetic-free handcrafted Soaring Heart mattress topper can bring old, uncomfortable mattresses back to life--and give you your mornings back. The topper’s all- natural and organic wool, cotton, and latex conform to your body, rejuvenates your mattress and provides you with a relaxing and restorative sleep. It's a match made in heaven.
Maybe you've been reading about all the chemicals and fire retardants in bedding and you are--reasonably--becoming a little worried about what might be in your mattress. Our Eco-WoolTM or Latex Toppers are a great first step to an all-natural, chemical-free bedroom. The mattress topper (pillow top) is the part of the mattress closest to your body, so make it the healthiest.
But what if every morning as you sit, bleary-eyed and sore at the table, complaining to your partner about how uncomfortable that king-size mattress has become, but they don't see it. "Feels fine to me," they always say, much to your fury.
Just because you both like Thai food and foreign films, doesn't mean you like the same type of mattress. They may require a firmer, supportive bed and you need a softer, luxurious one. Two extra-long twin mattress toppers equal a king... you thinking what I'm thinking?
Soaring Heart mattress toppers are a win-win.
The Wall Street Journal published a very interesting article yesterday (article link below) about the importance of sleep and how the lack of sleep leads to reduced productivity at work, costing American businesses billions of dollars (It is The Wall Street Journal...). The Harvard study the article is based on actually estimates the loss to be $63.2 billion, which says a lot about the value of a good night's rest.
So, what can be done besides going to work late... which I don't recommend. There are a few simple steps one can take in order to improve the quality of your sleep--I've listed them below.
Get a new mattress
Elephant in the room: Soaring Heart is a mattress company and I just told you to get a new mattress. "Aha, here's the pitch," you are likely saying. And yeah, well, sorta, but in this case, it’s personal. Before I started sleeping on my current mattress (The Madrona, if you're curious) I woke up every morning sore and feeling unrested. Full disclosure, I have sleep problems, not all of which can be addressed by a new mattress, but switching made a huge difference. For the first time in years I woke up feeling rested and didn't have pain. Falling asleep is still something of a work in progress for me, but staying asleep and feeling good in the morning is no longer something I need to worry about and that is because of my mattress.
How old is your mattress? Most mattresses were not designed with longevity in mind. They are meant to last about 10 years. If your mattress is nearing that mark, you might want to think about a new one. Here is a simple test, if your mattress has a sag, you wake up sore in the morning, or you prefer sleeping on other mattresses (friends’, hotels’, etc.) than it is probably time. Of course, I recommend our own organic mattresses, which last 20 years!.
Reduce stimulus
Desk lights, computers, televisions, tablets, smart phones, MP3 players all add up to one thing: staying awake. The very first thing you should do to start getting a better night's rest is to turn them all off. Sleeping with the TV on or with your tablet right next to your bed makes it harder to fall asleep and more difficult to stay that way. Trust me, it will all be there in the morning, folks; that new picture of a kitten your friend just shared can wait.
Coffee and alcohol
That triple low-fat mocha at 5pm... let's make it a decaf. Caffeinated beverages are delicious - but they can also make it difficult to sleep. If you love coffee, than drink coffee, just make sure that in the afternoon you switch from caf to decaf. How about a nightcap? Alcohol before bed may help you fall asleep faster, but it actually disrupts your sleep, making you feel less rested the next morning.
How old is your pillow?
Another reason you may wake up sore, wake up early, or have hard time falling asleep, is because your pillow is old and uncomfortable. Pillows serve a very important function: they keep your head and back aligned, which keeps your spine straight. It is important to match your pillow with the way you sleep. For example, if you like to sleep on your side, you want a thick lofty pillow, but if you sleep on your back, you want a thinner pillow. We have a whole page on our site dedicated to finding the perfect pillow--it's that important! Personally, I think our natural and organic pillows are pretty special.
Exercise!
Exercise is a great way to help regulate your body. Exercise in the morning or afternoon can lead to deeper sleep. Just make sure you don't exercise before going to bed, that will have the opposite effect.
Pillow Building is fun! This week we were pleased to help the folks at Seattle's Plymouth Housing Group
prepare for the opening of their newest residential facility for the chronically homeless - by building pillows. Our group of energetic employees were joined with folks from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Plymouth Housing - and some top notch United Way of King County Volunteers. And - whew - we were productive. Our two teams built 90 of Soaring Heart's super comfy shredded latex pillows in less than 45 minutes.
On February 5th, when Plymouth opens it's new facility, each new resident will arrive to find a brand new pillow with a handwritten note wishing them the best of sleep in their new home. While chronic homelessness might not end over-night, we at Soaring Heart are happy to do our part to bring what comfort we can to those in need. You can also find more photos of this event on our Facebook page.
Our heartfelt thanks are also extended to Roger Coffey and his team at Latexco West who donated much of the latex we used, as well as the team at West Coast Fiber who made sure their shredders gave us some of the fluffiest pillow fill you could imagine. (And judging from our volunteer photos, we had a blast sharing all that fluffiness with each other all morning as well!)
If you'd like to volunteer at one of our future events, watch for details at the UWKC volunteer website or stay tuned to our blog. We are planning events with Children's Hospital this summer, and the Hutch Cancer Center next fall. Meanwhile - the best of sleep to you all!
We've been saying for years-- over 30 of 'em, in fact-- that a great night's sleep is essential. Well, it looks like we are in some pretty good company. Just this past week, I've read three articles from major news sources and watched one television segment about the importance of sleep in our lives and how critical sleeping well is to our health, our bodies, and our minds.
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
We learned so much about sleep this year. 2012 was bursting with great sleep stories that revealed the power of sleep to enhance our health and well-being, and the dangers associated with sleep deprivation and disrupted sleep. Here are my picks for the sleep stories of 2012 -- along with suggestions for ways you can bring the benefits of the latest in sleep science to your everyday life...
At an annual meeting hosted by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society, scientists presented two studies that used brain imaging to show how a lack of sleep can affect neuronal responses and make it harder for people to choose healthy food options...
Experts say there is no one right way to sleep. But for people with certain types of pain and medical conditions, there are positions that can help keep problems from getting worse and may even alleviate them. In some cases, sleeping in the same position night after night can itself create pain, such as neck or shoulder problems...
Soaring Heart is relocating our production to a newer facility right next door to our showroom!
For a long time we have lamented the fact that people couldn't see our craftsmen working at their art: mattress building. Our customers are constantly asking us how our beds are made and what the process is like. We try to accommodate visitors, but the current workshop isn't really designed for observers.
The new workspace is designed for viewing. Large pane windows allow curious customers, casual passersby, or even the neighbors, to see what it takes to build a mattress by hand. And a nice awning takes care of any pesky Seattle weather.
Construction has already started and we're really excited that at last people will be able to see the quality, craftsmanship, and time that goes into every one of our mattresses, pillows, futons, and shikibutons. More updates as things progress!
Having trouble getting to sleep, falling asleep, or staying asleep? Or, if you don't, do you know someone who does? If so, here is a really great lecture from Bastyr University; Living Naturally: Better Sleep, Better Energy.
At Soaring Heart Natural Bed Company we get a lot of questions about our organic mattresses. For example, how are they made? And, what are they made of? Well, I could prattle on about it for pages, but as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. So, here's a little infographic to explain the birth of a Soaring Heart Mattress.
Now there are a lot of people, skill, craftsmanship, and tools involved in this process, but that would have made a very long infographic, which would have defeated the purpose of an infographic, really... So I decided to represent their hard work and labor with colorful little arrows.
Everyone here at Soaring Heart Natural Bed Company is excited to introduce our newest pillow, the Cotton & Kapok. This all-organic pillow takes the softness of the traditional kapok pillow and the supportive resistance of an organic cotton pillow and blends them together to make the wonderfully soft, but perfectly supportive, organic cotton & kapok pillow.
We wanted to unveil the Cotton & Kapok with a little bit of fanfare--it’s certainly deserving--and thought that Thanksgiving weekend would be the perfect opportunity.
However, you can't really release a product during the Thanksgiving weekend without offering a deal, so, what the heck, the Cotton & Kapok Pillow will be 50% off to the first 50 people who visit our showroom this weekend.
That means that between Friday, November 23rd and Sunday, November 25th, 50 lucky customers will be able to buy a 100% organic pillow, handmade by our craftsman right here in Washington, for only $40.00. We'll understand if this gift becomes a gift to yourself...
We at Soaring Heart take pride not only in handcrafting the most comfortable organic mattresses available, but our location, as well: Seattle! We love our city and happily call ourselves, Seattleites. Unfortunately, we, (or maybe it’s just me), were not exactly sure how to spell Seattleite. It sounds simple, but one would come off sounding pretty silly announcing, chest puffed, that one was a Satellite.
With that thought in mind, I decided to do a quick check and typed it into my browser. It turns out I had spelled it correctly, but the definition that came back, the very first link in fact, was quite interesting...
Seattleite
So, as I sit here drinking my coffee--a grande triple Americano with no room--I confess that I'm unsure where I stand on this list... Are you a Seattleite?
Last week, I, along with two of my colleagues and Soaring Heart's owner (Mike), took a three day road trip down to sunny California. Why? So we could see how the sausage is made so to speak, and so we could tell you about it.
We were visiting one of our suppliers, Wool Gatherer. They are the wonderful people who collect, card, and process all of our wool, which we use in our organic mattress, organic futons, organic shikibutons, and organic bedding (yeah, we use it a lot).
We throw around the term, Eco-Wool™ quite a bit here, for the aforementioned reasons. Well, Nathan - the guy who owns Wool Gatherer - he invented it. "How?" you may ask; I wondered, too...
According to Nathan, it was his background in architecture that helped him design Eco-Wool™ to be so strong and resilient. Just as an architect uses different materials to build the foundation, structure, and support in a house, Nathan built his wool batting using different types of wool from different breeds of sheep. As a result, he created the cleanest and longest-lasting wool we have ever found. Lesson from this? Learn everything you can.
Now I just glossed over a little word up there, batting. It’s what we’re really talking about when we talk about wool here at SH. Essentially, batting is multiple sheets of thin, carded wool layered on top of each other to make a thick, strong, and usable material. The technology for making batting hasn't changed since it was first invented, which is good, because Wool Gatherer's equipment is about as old.
In a nutshell, this is how carding works: the wool is fed into a large hopper which drops a certain amount of wool onto a conveyor belt at a time.
The wool is then grabbed by all these little wire talons and goes for a ride around the wheels, getting separated, pulled apart, and then meshed back together (I'm simplifying). Most places stop here, but at Wool Gatherer, this happens three times.
Each time it is made finer and finer until it finally flows down in sheets to make the Eco-Wool™ batting.
It has given me new appreciation for the great materials we use, and the amazing people who make them. It really is quite refreshing to work for a company that asks—no, insists that all its employees visit the people who make it possible to produce our organic mattresses.
