"Corn Babies" Ease Aches And Pains

"Corn Babies" Ease Aches And Pains FARM HOME Novelty Items 26-1-24 They can be used either as hot or cold packs to ease your aches and pains," says Marsha Gillis about her cuddly Corn Babies". She makes them by sewing ordinary shelled corn inside swatches of soft velour fabric or heavy cotton. "Corn Babies" measure 11 in. high by 7 in. wide and weigh 2 1/2 lbs. Gillis makes them in a variety of shapes including pigs, cows, and dogs, as well as babies. She also makes plain corn bags that are equipped with removable covers for washing. She decorates the bags in different cover designs including a Christmas print, Teddy bear cover, floral cover, a patriotic print with stars and stripes, and a country print that shows grazing cows and barns on a farming background. Warming a "Corn Baby" in a microwave for two minutes will keep it warm for 2 hours. Placing it in the freezer for a few hours allows it to be used as a cold compress, too. "People love them because they're so cuddly and warm, and because they help ease their aches and pains and sore muscles," says Gillis. "I got the idea after I received a corn bag as a gift, and my daughter liked to warm it up so that she could carry it around like a baby. It was so cute. She would just cradle it and hold it." That gave Gillis the idea to create designs as babies, pigs, cows, and dogs for which she has received federal copyright protection. According to Gillis, Corn Babies make great bedtime companions. "Parents have told me they can't go to bed at night until they warm up their Corn Babies, and that the second they get up in the morning, they warm them up again. An elderly man said I saved his marriage because now his wife warms her cold feet with the bag instead of on him. "A lot of people ask if the corn will pop in like popcorn once it's placed in the microwave. The answer is no, because ordinary field corn has a different starch content than popcorn and its seed coat isn't as thick." Gillis started making Corn Babies 3 1/2 years ago and has bought more than six tons of corn since she started her business. "I think it's a great way to support farmers," she notes. Included with each corn baby is its own named birth certificate. If you desire to personalize the name, simply type in your name choice in the shipping instructions. Plain Corn Babies sell for $8.95 plus S&H. All other models sell for $14.95 plus S&H. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Marsha Gillis, Iowa Corn Baby Co., Box 54, New London, Iowa 52645 (Website: www.cornbaby.com).

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