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!

Welcome to the Pepper Place sweatshop

  You would think that with the husband having ten days off, we’d have been doing a bit of relaxing. But apart from climbing Mount Schank it’s been nose to the grindstone. The benefits of having a home business!

  Some of you may know that my husband cuts for Pepper Place, as well as assisting with snapping, clipping, thread trimming and other duties that don’t involve touching a machine. And when I gave him the task recently of cutting all of the nappy fabric I had stashed in my storeroom, in the form of a huge itemised list, he took it as a personal challenge and finished in a very short span of time.

57 pocket inners

  He then started organising stacks of tasks for me. Every evening he’d pull out something, and announce ‘Tomorrow, you need to do 20 pocket openings’ or ‘sew around 15 covers’. And when i’d finished that he’d have something else ready for me. Meanwhile he’s taken care of most of the housework and cooking, not to mention the parenting, so I have no excuse whatsoever to get up from my machines. He’s even delivered cups of tea at regular intervals!

 The only view my kids had of me for a whole week 

As a result i’ve gotten an astonishing amount done. I actually finally have a really decent amount of stock on hand. I have two boxes of pockets and covers completed, and a shelf full of more in the cupboard in various states of half-doneness. My problem since i’ve gotten here and become full-time parent is that I haven’t had the time to do both the marketing and then fill the resulting orders without having a meltdown, so i’ve kept quiet on the marketing front and concentrated on getting stock made. Only having 1-2 orders at a time trickling in is much easier to handle than juggling 6-8, which was the standard amount before we left Queensland last June!

A very impressive cupboard, with over 80 nappies in various stages

Beautiful results! 

  As it looks like we’re facing another interstate move next month though, I might have to remain quiet on the marketing until we get there-as expert as we are at packing, it still takes a fair chunk of time!

The sizing system

  One of the key components in a one-size nappy is the rise-the length of the nappy from front to back. A toddler nappy on a newborn would go up to their armpits and gape around the legs, and a newborn nappy on a todder would show some serious butt! Being able to adjust the rise also means always having snug leg openings-vital for containment, and necessary with any child whose leg girth is out of proportion to their waist girth. This is where a one-size nappy can come in really useful if you’re starting up cloth with a toddler-if they have skinny legs, like my girls did, you can simply snap them down to a medium for a great fit.

 From left-large setting, medium and small, on Pepper Pockets.

  There are a couple of ways to do this-I use snaps on the front of the nappy. The nappy below is simply the outer cut and snapped, to show you the snaps clearly, without the elastic bunching it up.

For the large sizing, leave unfastened.

For the medium sizing, attach the snaps in the green rectangle to the snaps in the black rectangle.

For the small sizing, attach the snaps in the pink rectangle to the snaps in the black rectangle.

You don’t have to do this at every change-simply leave them fastened up until you’re ready to go up a size. You can tell when this is because the nappy will start to feel like it’s getting too tight around their thighs, and too low in front.

My bigger, better sewing room (aka showing off again)

My little room was getting a bit crowded, and the kids toyroom was getting too messy. The solution was obvious-swap to give me more room and the kids less. In Queensland terms this is a sleepout-a long narrow room that’s sort of like a boxed-in veranda. I’ve been in here for about six weeks, and it’s made a big difference to the amount I can make. I’m an organisational freak, and everything here has a place and it’s in it (if the kids haven’t raided my stuff), so I can relax and just get on with it.

I just need a corkboard for that lovely bare wall-and the husband has nabbed some leftover cork tiles from his work to make me one. Isn’t he a dear?

Cutting/snapping table-our old dining table. This has been the husband’s domain as he’s taken over cutting. I would have a waiting list if it wasn’t for the useful man, I couldn’t keep up with all the orders lately by myself. 

A bare curtain rail has become the designated order area-orders in progress are hung here, labelled with all of their details and filled with the current progress. This is the best system, as I can see at a glance what’s the most urgent. Really big orders still need to go in the cupboard though-I tried to hang 30 EasyFlats up there and the rail nearly snapped.

A desk! It’s been on the to-buy list for a while because I really need a designated office area (rather than shoving receipts in a drawer and having drifts of paper covering the kitchen bench). A friend gave me this one as she didn’t want it anymore, and it’s awesome. Thanks Shelley! Maybe I can begin my bookwork for this financial year soon………. 

I’ve also commandeered a couch from the lounge room-this way the husband will sit and read and chat with me of an evening, which makes me happier to stay in longer and get more work done.

And when he wanders off there’s always Ralph-but he doesn’t talk much.

Changes Afoot

After much thought, I finally came to a decision last week-the website must go. So it’s gone.

Why? Basically, because barely anyone uses the shopping cart. This is mostly my fault, as if I had regular uploads of newly completed stock i’m sure it would be worth it. But i’m too busy making email orders to keep the website fresh and constantly changing, so it’s been hanging around neglected for quite some time now. A neglected website seems to be worse for business than none (the thinking being ‘Nothing ever changes here-there must be nothing worth buying’). So now I have no website. How to buy now? See the box on the screen to your right, which details the process and gives you all the links you need to order whatever you like. It’s the way 95% of people were ordering anyway!

This has also given me a kick in the pants to do what i’ve always wanted to do-go local. This wasn’t particularly possible at my last house, being way out bush. But now I can spend more time getting out there, going to markets, doing advocacy events and demonstrations. And talking to people. Which i’ve always much preferred to typing to people. Ditching the website and all of it’s related work is also allowing me to do a lot more of the most important thing-sewing. After all a pretty website is of no use if there’s nothing to put on it!

I haven’t ruled out the possibility of taking an occasional shop on a congo/mall, but for now i’m breathing a sigh of relief that I no longer have a shop nagging at me to primp it up, and all I have to do is come up with the occasional Facebook status update and blog post. And tutorial! Because I like them.

Hopefully everyone is content with the changes-I know it’s abnormal, and a website with fully integrated shopping cart is a ‘must-have’-but i’ve always been partial to going a different way from the crowd, and there’s no point in changing now!

My sewing room

It has been over two years since i’ve had my own sewing room. At our last house it was particularly bad, due to the fact the seven of us were living in a 72sq/m house (it was on 62 acres, which made up for it somewhat).  There, my table was stuffed in between the dining table and wall and was also used as the computer/paperwork table. I had a fabric cupboard in the laundry, boxes under the bed and in an awkward corner of the kitchen……….it was definitely not conducive to a happy and productive workspace.

So you can imagine how much I am appreciating this. I found myself taking a cup of chai in there the other day so I could just sit and marvel and grin stupidly at my luck.

It’s still slightly chaotic (I can’t really justify doing any more unpacking  and organising in there while we’re eating with spoons because I can’t find the forks) but it’s such a fantastic place to be. It’s bright and airy, but with no glare due to the large awnings, and well-lit at night.  And as it’s the room the front door opens onto I have a professional space for people to come and pick up or discuss orders, with no intrusion onto home life.

And I now have TWO cupboards-I pinched the pantry from our last house and there’s built-ins here. Here’s (most of) the fabric stash.

Scraps boxes on top.

Top shelf-cottons and some knits.

2nd shelf-flannelette, cotton velour, suedecloth and cords.

3rd shelf-dress-ups fabrics for the kids, plus my eldest daughters sewing box and fabric. She’s six and keeps referring to this room as ‘our sewing room’ (that’s here in the top two photos).

Bottom shelf-fleeces, minkys and faux furs.

Misccellaneous stuff drawers and market display basket on top.

Top shelf-packaging, boxes of labels and trims and shoebox of overlocking threads.

2nd shelf-working boxes of snaps, PULs and minky cuts. The really, really EXPENSIVE shelf.

3rd shelf-I’ve lost a thingy for this shelf, so until I find it it’s wonky, so a bag of stock and Malden Mills fleece.

Bottom shelf-microfleece and more fleece, plus some chenilles and cottons.

Plus another 3 big bags and about four plastic crates of other things like bulk bamboo, PUL,  suedecloth, and clothes to repurpose, as well as a couple of boxes of yarn and crochet gear. I am REALLY looking forward to my next trip to IKEA because i’ll be able to have everything completely organised and perfectly set up.

Now, I haven’t just been unpacking. I decided to attack my UFO (unfinished objects) box. I am seriously shocked at just how much having a decent, well-organised space has improved my output after only a few days. And look, I can sew more than just nappies!

Pinwale cord/cotton drill skirt for my eldest daughter. The back is also two contrasting panels.

Pinwale cord pants for my twins to share (there was only one pair part-done in there, so share they must because it’s too late in our Queensland winter to bother with making another pair from scratch!)

And I found the outer for this cut out, so my toddler now has another pocket nappy. Which he’s in desperate need of-only having the power to run a twin-tub at our last place has destroyed all of his nappies. Now i’ve been able to pull out the automatic washing machine it’s finally worth making him some new nappies, as they won’t get wrecked.

I have succumbed..........

........to the Facebook pressure that is. It seems it's the latest must-do, having a fan page. But then considering how much time everyone seems to spend on it (including me!) it's to be expected.

So here it is-Pepper Place on Facebook. Enjoy!

Can I get Pepper covers made with hook and loop fastenings?

In a word, no. Why? Well, hook and loop (H&L, trade names such as Velcro) only really has one positive, which is its speed and ease of use. However, it has the following negatives, which in my opinion far outweigh the positive.

-It doesn’t sit as well. Two rows of snaps on a cover allow for great adjustability-nice and snug around the waist, with a bit more room around the nappy if needed. H&L doesn’t give you this adjustability, with the end result usually being that the cover gapes at the waist. Coupled with the waistband on clothes sitting snugly above it this is a surefire way to leaks.

-It doesn’t wash as well. Even with washtabs H&L tends to grab lint which needs to be picked out, a very boring job.

-It ages quicker. Snaps simply last longer in my experience. Which is a huge bonus in a OSFM which may receive heavy use over multiple children.

-Kids can take it off! H&L nappies are famed for unwanted nudie bums-many a person has bought a pile of H&L nappies only to replace them coming up to their childs first birthday. Snaps are much, much harder for a child to undo.

It’s rather quiet…….

Online happenings have taken a backseat lately to what’s going on with Pepper Place offline-basically i’ve been kept more than busy enough with email orders and local work.
So, instead of trying to create a few extra hours in the day to work on stockings, I invite you to contact me with your requests instead. Let me know what you’d like, i’ll give you a lead time and you can tell me if you want to proceed.

Pepper Place in print!

While seeing Pepper Place in lots of places online is fun, nothing compares to seeing my business in print. The internet is a bit unreal to me, but this ad is real and tangible.

And it’s in every household in the region now, hopefully up on the wall for the entire year, as part of the local calendar. Hopefully lots of Gin Gin residents will be curious about what modern cloth nappies are, and will then of course be blown away by how fabulous they are and become instant converts! (Well, I can always dream, right?!)

Feel free to call me on the number above-I don’t publish it online because the last time I did every time I checked the messages all 427 were from people trying to sell me stuff. It may take me a couple of days (no reception at home) but I will get back to you.

Carer's Business Discount

I am very pleased to announce that I am now offering a discount to all carers holding a Carer Business Discount Card. This entitles the holder to 10% off single products, and an additional 5% off already discounted bulk packs.To take advantage of this simply email me your card number after making your order, and i'll apply it manually. Cumbersome I know, but there's not really an easier way to do it.

Anyone who receives Carer's Allowance or Carer's Payment is entitled to a card, you simply need to apply. If you don't have one, grab one!

Cloth nappies come in especially useful when you have a special needs child, as they are usually in nappies longer. My girls were all out of day nappies by their second birthday, but my SN son wore them until after his third birthday. Conservatively, that's over 1500 extra nappy changes!

Hopefully my discount gives you some small relief  :)

My stall setup

Admittedly, my stall was pretty dismal to begin with. I'm a perfectionist, so I find I get to a certain point then need to throw myself into things or I never do it. I'm too busy obsessing over getting it perfect to actually do it!

Each product is arranged around a laminated info sheet so you can find out everything you need at a glance-saves my voice! There's also a custom ordering area with fabric samples, and I have a photo album full of good bum shots.

I've still got a way to go-I have another tablecloth to make then will set the tables up differently. I have some pictures I had printed out at A4 size to snap to the mesh sides, but they need to be reprinted as they came out strangely coloured. And i'd love to be able to get some shelving that suits my needs, i'm sure i'll come across it eventually.

It's actually quite difficult to set up a stall-as well as looking good it has to be easy to set up and pack up, it has to fit in the car easily and I have to be able to lift it all. Which rules out nearly everything! But the above is a good start.

The Testing Process

Unfortunately, releasing a new product is not quite so simple as coming up with a great idea, whipping a few up and listing them, then sitting back and watching the sales roll in! I thought i’d give you all a peek at what all Pepper branded products go through before they’re deemed suitable for sale.

The Idea-something pops into my head that’s worth thinking about. This is not always a good idea of course-the AIO prefolds idea got  nixed pretty quickly (no elastic + newborn poo = disaster!) I normally think about things quite a bit before I get out the scissors, to try to come up with possible problems and solutions, the best fabric combinations and possible variations.

Drafting-A paper pattern is drafted up based on the idea. I have enough of these laying around now after three years that I usually have a pretty good idea on what dimensions each part of the pattern should have. But in the beginning this took forever!

Prototype-I make the shell from the draft pattern in a cheap fabric to get the measurements, which are compared to the goal measurements, which are based on the sizing I want (eg a large, or a OSFM). This is tweaked according to the result until I get exactly what I need. This also allows me to work out the best way to assemble the pieces and the lengths of elastic needed.

The Real Deal-It’s finally time to get a real one happening! I make one complete nappy, with all boosters and fastenings, in the intended fabrics. Measurements are taken again to ensure it is still sized correctly.

Testing by Me-Now it goes in my nappy stash. During this time it is used regularly and positives and negatives noted. One of the best indicators is when I grab it-if i’m impatiently waiting for it to dry it’s a winner, but if it languishes in the shelf and is only used in a dire emergency then it’s back to the drawing board! My husband is valuable input during this stage-he’s a big fan of ease and is quite happy to tell me when he thinks something is rubbish (ouch!)

External Testing-If after a few months it is still getting consistent use and is holding its appearance and quality, it’s time for external testing. A number are sent out to parents to use and review for me, by answering questions and providing photos. When I choose testers I try to cover as wide a range of the following as possible.

-child’s weight/age/shape-to ensure the nappy fits all the intended size range, for all builds.
-wetting habits-heavy wetters tend to be more troublesome to nappy, so provide useful feedback.
-breastfed/formula fed-anyone who has done both knows that what goes in greatly affects what comes out!
-location-Using cloth in Hobart is vastly different to using it in Cairns.

I mostly use experienced cloth users who have a wide range of nappies to compare to, however I usually also include a newbie, as I tend to do a lot of my marketing and selling to disposable users.

After all that it’s time to review the results-if they’re all good then it’s time to sell!