So-when are the nappy patterns for sale?

  Yes. Those nappy patterns. The ones I was digitising to sell, for personal and business use. The ones I started to work on two years ago. The ones that still aren’t available.

  They are still coming. The last two years have been anything but restful and conducive to sitting and typing and learning obscure new skills. I have gotten the patterns onto my computer, and drawn up in a very impressive and professional-looking way. Which, for me, who always fights with the computer, was a major achievement!

  I have taken the step-by-step photographs for the cover, pocket and trifold (AIO and Easyflat are still to be done). I only managed to do this by getting up at 5.30am four days a week for about a month in Tasmania, and cramming in an hour of photography and editing before the kids woke up.

 

  I now have the task of getting it all put together in a way that looks pretty and makes sense. I have started this, and i’m suspecting that (like everything else) it will take many more hours that I first expected. I have a tendency to underestimate the difficulty of nearly everything. I thought i’d outgrow it, and learn some realism, but i’m nearly thirty now………..

  And then they will be ready for testing, and editing, and more testing, and then-release! I’m not making any promises on a time-frame, as things like children breaking their legs always seem to get in the way of my carefully-laid plans, but they will be done. Eventually.

Settled, but still setting up-and an apology for the last two years

  Well. We are in a gorgeous farmhouse, in beautiful northern NSW, and for the first time in about three years I can start to believe that we’ll stay here, in the area we’re in, for a long time.

   Our loose ends have been tidied up, everything that needed to be done has been done, and we can start looking at the present, not the future.

   Two years ago we took off for nine months of travelling, and since then we’ve lived in three different houses in three different states. My husband has studied full-time, i’ve studied full-time, we’ve renovated and sold a house, and then of course there’s three interstate moves. All done while home educating five children under ten.

Which leads to the apology for my scattered-ness regarding Pepper Place over the past two years. All i’ve had time to do is attend to the orders that have dribbled in via word of mouth, and go to a handful of markets. Of course, i’ve made sure that everything i’ve made has been impeccable, and endeavoured to provide excellent customer service, but the rest of it is sadly neglected. I have people emailing to ask whether my patterns are ready for them to buy yet (since I mentioned I was writing them up over two years ago), i’m selling new products at markets that haven’t had more than a quick mention online, like my tie-dye, and to an outsider my online presence must look like absolute chaos. Which reflects my life up until now, really!

  Now i’ve finally got the chance to start fixing it all up. I’m not ready to reopen yet, as i’m still setting up my new house and life, but i’m starting to feel the urge to get everything in order. Slowly but steadily, i’ll be oiling up the organised, smoothly-running machine that was Pepper Place back in Queensland, 2011, before it got rusty and bits started to fall off.

  AND……………I may even finish the patterns sometime this decade! I’ll update specifically about those next. Right now, I have a box of nappies to unpack and put into something more secure than a cardboard box-I tend to have nightmares about unpacking $2000 worth of stock to find it’s been used as a rodent nest and is now worthless.

Sale time-and travelling again

  The travel bug has bitten again, everything is going into storage again, and us and our trusty tent are about to become well acquainted again! So yes, that means closing for a time-at least three months. That will start this Friday at noon. So until then, i'm reducing everthing I have in stock by 20%. The only catch is that it must be finished, I simply don't have the time to make anything up over the next month. And as I don't have an online store with fancy stock control, you'll have to order and cross your fingers that the fabric available has been magically turned into the nappy of your choice!

So check out the albums, choose some fabrics and let me know! Product info is here if you need to know more.

PS-See me on My Green Nappy? First for 2013!

Launching back into it

  Although I never really stop working, certain things slow me down. And after many of those things over the past two months (yes, the cast is off!) it feels rather good to get a decent stack of pieces sorted and begun upon. It’s like making order from chaos, and i’ve always liked that.

Grandfatherly Subversion

  I get complaints from customers that their parents or in-laws just aren’t into cloth nappies, and want them to use disposables. I’m nearly thirty, and disposables were available when I was a baby, so I suppose it’s not surprising-many of today’s grandparents didn’t use cloth. Or if they did, they may have been looking longingly at the ‘easier’ option, and splurging on disposables for holidays and special occasions.

  The intended recipient of this pack can’t say that though-because her father bought it for her! A long-time devotee of alternative living, when he asked her whether she was using cloth and she said no, he was horrified. Then he met me, found out about modern cloth, and bought these. I’m still waiting to see him and hear back about how they were received……

1. “Geez Dad, these are great! I want more-thanks for finding them for me!”

2. “Dad, it’s my baby, and I wish you’d just butt out-I don’t want to use those icky things".

  Incidentally, this is the third time a prospective grandfather has bought from me-the other two were from markets. Which is a lesson to me, as when the first approached my stall I was polite as always, but never thought he’d buy! Ten minutes and $150 later I ate my hat. And always remembered afterwards that customers can turn up in unlikely disguises.

November’s Store Stocking

  Can you tell from the following i’m not feeling eloquent? Sorry, it’s been a really loooong few weeks. But now my son is past his weekly orthopaedic appointments (with the three hour return trip for them), and is pain-free enough to sleep through the night, I should be able to recover some brain power.

  Time for the second of my monthly stockings! This month, i’ll be open for business from the 12th-19th of November. As before, there’s lots of OSFM pockets and covers, as well as Easyflats, trifolds, raw silk liners and all the other essentials you need for cloth nappying.

  I’ve also been taking advantage of the mild weather here to get outside and do some more dyeing-as a result, there’s a whole slew of brand-new items for your perusal. What’s left after my kids raided the pile, anyway-they’ve been going out dressed like rainbows, and getting many compliments about it!

 

  There’s also dye packs, and don’t forget the twirly skirts-they’re perfect with a tie-dyed t-shirt. I’m also listing two bulk pack slots this month.

  Everything is up now for previewing, and when the listings appear with them on Monday morning, you’re able to purchase. Enjoy!

October Orders

  Well, luckily I had three very lovely customers who were quite understanding of the delay caused by my son breaking his leg, then falling prey to every germ going around! I had only listed two packs, thinking that would keep me busy enough, but agreed to a third thinking I had plenty of time-then of course, Murphy’s Law kicked in and they took me over three weeks to complete.

  First up, there was a pack for a mum-to-be, who wanted the basics to begin with and will add to this when she has her babe and can see whether she can buy pink……….a dozen Easyflats, four OSFM covers and a pack of mini wipes.

  Next up, a pack for a terry flats user (who has apparently heard that Pepper covers are the best ones to use over flats-flattered!) Eight covers should do it for her little boy.

  And lastly, extreme girliness-five OSFM pockets with trifolds.

  More custom order slots will be available during my November sale, which will run from the 12th-19th of November. And hopefully this month things will run a little smoother!

Store open, 8th-15th October 2012

  Time for my first proper stocking in, oh, about two years! I’ve been working from orders via a waiting list for so long now, but it’s time to offer some buy-right-now stuff.

  And to make it extra cool, i’m beginning to sell tie-dye today!

 

And another online newbie, my twirly whirly skirts. These are nearly a full circle skirt with a yoke for modesty and a more streamlined fit. There’s only a select few of these, ready for summer and twirling through the grass.

 

I’ve also got piles of my OSFM pockets and covers, Easyflats, trifolds, wipes, raw silk liners-everything you need in all the colours of the rainbow.

 

  Plus I have a select few custom spots, for those who would like to build their own tailored bulk packs.

 

  Everything is up for preview now, and will be available to purchase as soon as I get the details in. So best I start typing!

The new opening schedule

  As i’ve mentioned recently, life is busy right now. But I would still like to work. So here’s the plan.

  I will be open for one week per month. I will list the products I have in a Facebook album, for sale. I did look at shopping carts, but argh! Too complicated! There will also be a couple of options for custom products, bulk packs etc depending on how much spare time I have at that moment. Purchasing instructions will be listed clearly, and it will be straightforward. For the rest of the month I will be closed, and taking no orders and sending no products.

  Basically i’m moving from a system where you can order whatever you like, to one where i’m selling mostly completed products, with a few options to make up your own packs. This means i’m not going to have a meltdown trying to coordinate eight orders PLUS study and life in general! And I only really have to be in work mode for one week a month-sure i’ll be sewing during the rest of the month, but if it gets delayed it doesn’t matter.

  The first week will be next week-beginning Monday the 8th October and ending Monday 15th October. I’ll have plenty available-covers, pockets, Easyflats and trifolds, as well as a few other bits and pieces………….some knitteds, maybe a few skirts and pants. Time to dig through my boxes of goodies and get photographing!

Sneaking in an order

  Because all study and no work makes me go crazy! It was strangely comforting to work on an order again-I suppose habits of six years die hard.

  I’ve got my future trading plans all done now-expect an announcement soon!