A quick update

I just realised that it's been awhile since I posted an update. There are Nice Knickers pads in lots of stores at the moment, so if you've been looking for them, check out my list of stockists and you're sure to find just what you need!

The urge to blog...

I'm having an urge to blog, though I'm not sure why. Instead of starting yet another blog with my random thoughts (I've done this at least 3 times before and never lasted more than a month), I thought I'd just update this one.

So, I'm here to tell you a story. Someone posted a poll somewhere, asking why you use cloth - the options being: Cost; Environment; Health; Small business support; They're cuter; Another reason. I ticked all the boxes and then thought a bit about why I do use cloth and thought that maybe people who buy my cloth pads, might want to know why/how I got to be making them.

We go back to around August 2006. I'm working as a graphic designer and sewing lots of bags for bands etc. I stumbled across www.georgielove.com.au and enquire about selling some of my things there. I then realise I don't make enough to sell there, but the lovely Sally who runs Georgie Love, pointed me in the direction of www.etsy.com. Wow!!!! So many talented people on there!

I spent a few days trawling the site and seeing lots of new things. One of the new things I saw was cloth pads. I'd never seen them before and immediately thought yuck! Then a couple of days later, the idea started to grow on me. I'd bought some disposable pantyliners not long before that and thought they were a complete waste - I might as well have glued a tissue to my knickers. So I thought I'd make a cloth liner and see how it went. A liner couldn't be too yuck. So I grabbed the closest fabric - a poly/cotton blend print, and an old towel, cut them out, zig zagged around the edge, sewed a buttonhole and a button on and there I had a liner. I tried it and ohhhh wow it was comfortable! So I made a couple more.

I then did a bit more research and started learning about how bad disposable pads can be - the chemicals, the tonnes of landfill etc. I also started learning about different fabrics etc for pads.

I made a few more and really started liking the idea. I then put a few of what I'd made on ebay, thinking they wouldn't sell, but they did! So I put more on there and they sold too. I also put some on etsy. At this point, other than the people selling on etsy, I didn't know of anyone making pads, or anyone using them.

Somehow in amongst all this, I got in contact with Obsidian Star - another pad maker and a fountain of knowledge! Obsi is unlike many others and always more than willing to share info about making pads and explained many things (wicking, PUL etc) to me and I owe her big thanks!

Eventually, one of my customers pointed me in the direction of OzeBaby and Nappycino. This is where things started moving quickly. I set up a store on OzeBaby and fell head first into the cloth community at Nappycino, which is one of the places all the cloth users had been hiding!

Very shortly after this, I wasn't happy enough with my pads, so I modified them and they quickly evolved into the turned and top stitched pads you see today. I got a few wholesale customers and haven't looked back since.

I've been lucky that I haven't had to work hard to sell my pads - it has just happened by itself. But if I did have to work to sell them, I'd tell people why I use them - and this is where we get back to the reasons listed at the start of this post. First and foremost, they are comfortable. Then there are all the other benefits - cost, not contributing to landfill, no nasty chemicals etc. But I don't want to turn this into a speech, so I won't say more than that about those issues.

I still find it kind of funny that it's only a little over a year since I started this. I have since quit my design job and am sewing full time. I'm having a hard time keeping up with demand, not to mention all the other things I want to sew. It's amazing how much has changed in such a short time. I didn't know this world existed and now it's hard to think of life without it.

Things are moving quickly!

I'm back to pad making with a vengeance! On Monday, I will have made a total of 50 pads in a week, which is quite a lot. Where can you find them? Bubs in Cloth have some, and this will be the last lot they stock for awhile as they are taking a break for a few months. The rest are going to Wild Child early next week.

There is some more good news for those of you looking for pads! I am in the process of putting some things into place which will mean I can speed up production a little. This should help take care of shortage there appears to be!

Ever so tardy

I can't believe it's over a month since I updated this. I have been really busy!!! The nappy bags are complete and selling quickly! So quickly that I've been neglecting the pad making... But never fear, I've got a few more days of bag making ahead of me and then I will dedicate a few days to pad making so there will be a bit of both to go around.

A better late than never update

Boy have I been busy! And boy has everyone been buying up big! Lots of stock went to lots of different stores last week and it's basically all sold out.

The good news is that I have a new sewing machine which hopefully means I can speed things up! I am pretty sure that there will be a stocking of bamboo velour topped Wild Mama by Nice Knickers at Wild Child Nappies late next week.

Apologies to all my mailing list people. I keep meaning to send out newsletters, but all the stock is always sold before I get around to it. Hopefully I'll do better at keeping up from now on...

Still busy...

The Eco Bambino order went in the post today, so they will be in stock there in the next few days. As well as pads there are a couple of wetbags too.

When I get a chance, I'll put a few wetbags and pads up on my OZeBaby shop. Hopefully in the next few days.

Next stocking otherwise should be at Bubs in Cloth sometime next week if I can get through the order quickly.

Ok, I've got work to do!

Sew (!) much to do!

Everything is selling so quickly at the moment! All the shops are out of my stock, so I have a lot to do this week. Hopefully there will be an Eco Bambino stocking at the end of the week, and then Bubs In Cloth next week and Wild Child the following week. There's another stockist on the horizon too - more to be announced shortly.

I'm also going to go back to making wet bags. I have a new design and plan on using some of the beautiful cotton prints I have around here. I think they'll look great!

The nappy bags are coming along slowly. The first one is finished, except for the straps and wet bags. It'll be done in the next few days. All I will say about it is that it was a good learning experience. Luckily I learn from my mistakes...

Better get back to it!

Busy busy!

The last Eco Bambino order completely sold out in 22mins! The majority was snapped up in the first 5 mins. Wow! The next stocking is at Bubs In Cloth tomorrow night. Following that, there is going to be another stocking either at the end of this week, or next week, but the location is still a little hush hush! And then after that, I'll get some stock in MY OZeBaby store!

For those wondering (especially Tanya), the elephants will be back! So will the bamboo print and a few other new ones, so hold tight - it'll be in the next few weeks. The elephants will have a new print on the back, but it's very cool, so don't worry about that.

There's also something special in the works for mums with bubs... More plans will be revealed soon, but I can say now - it's not pads! Or nappies!

Love at first sight!

How beautiful is this combination? I'm so excited. The bamboo print is a Michael Miller print and it is amazing! And a perfect match for the green flannel that I've been wondering what to do with!

Lots happening. Two wholesale orders to do, plus a rather large customer order, plus my store is empty except for one liner, so I've got a LOT of sewing to do this weekend!

The bamboo velour idea is now on hold since there was a little disaster with that... But I have some suedecloth in it's place which will be very nice. And I've ordered some more of the elephant print - couldn't resist!

Arrivals

The bamboo velour is here - not quite what I expected, but very nice indeed! Unfortunately, the dye isn't here yet, so I'm going to have to be patient and wait for that to arrive... I got some beautiful japanese prints yesterday to go with this stuff, and I think the results are going to be very nice.

The elephant flannel is here also and is even nicer than in the photos, so I'm pretty excited about that! The flannel with the shoes is also very cute. It's so nice to have some different fabrics to work with for a bit - I was getting bored with the old ones!

The turned and top stitched pads are looking great - I'm really happy with them and will be stocking my ozebaby shop soon. I'll also be restocking Eco Bambino soon too.

More fabric!

This is so pretty! Will have it in a few weeks - can't wait!

Also, have been frantically sewing and should be stocking my OZeBaby store over the weekend. There will be liners, some long pads and some nights etc.

New fabric!

Currently winging it's way from the US... This is so cute! There's some other stuff on it's way too.

Ahhh the anticipation...

I finally got my hands (virtually) on some bamboo velour today!! Should have it soon and am pretty excited to check it out. There could be some dying and mixing-and-matching coming up... I'm thinking of teaming it with some japanese prints because I love them so much. Might even take the extra time to make some turned and topstitched pads instead of the regular ones... but we'll see! No promises yet!

Phew!

My Eco Bambino order is finished and on its way to them and should be in the store in the next few days!

Now it's time to catch up on my other orders and get some stock ready for my own shops... After I have a rest!

Starting out...

It's been a busy few weeks and now that I have a moment, I thought I'd consolidate things in the form of this blog.

Both of my stores are almost out of stock and it's going to be a busy weekend of sewing for me to fill them again. Am soon starting work on some post partum/night pads, some extra long pads and some extra long, wide backed pads, as well as liners and my regular pads.

I am also in the middle of lots of custom orders from some of my friends at Nappycino as well as getting stock ready to put in a brand new online store called Eco Bambino, which is very exciting!

I'll add some pics of the entire pad range, as well as fabrics etc soon...