Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Gossamer Dreams stocking for January


It's that time of the month! Tomorrow Gossamer Dreams opens for January with the theme "My Australia".
I love everything about Australia so had lots of options here. However I have chosen a theme within a theme and decided to base my listings on endangered/threatened/at risk animals and places.
I had a lot of things in the planning but due to a heavy workload I was not able to do as many as I would have liked. However I will have a few items going up tomorrow.
Because I have gone with the "at risk" theme I had planned to have some items for sale from which all proceeds would go to one of my favourite conservation charities, but time slipped away; so instead I will be giving a little stuffed bear, as seen here in the pic free with each of my listed items and I will donate the value to the charities.These are ideal for Valentine's Day as they are embroidered on the arms with "love you beary much" and the arms tuck together to hold a little rose or lollipop or small gift.(Random colour ).
I will be away for the next few days so all items will be posted on my return.(I will also put this info in each listing).I will not be online at all between Thursday and Monday and then from Monday to the following weekend I am delighted to be having my 6 year old grandson to stay for the last week of the holidays, so my online time will be limited for that week.Please forgive me for being slower at replying to emails at that time.

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Happy New Year

Firstly I would like to wish all my friends and customers a very happy 2009.

I have not updated the blog for a while and have been laid low with a bad migraine; annoyingly I have had a few bad headaches lately but this was a whopper and it has forced me to rethink my workload to keep stress to a minimum.This is a big O birthday year for me and I need to be aware of my limitations.I don't want another ruptured aneurysm. Some things obviously I can not change so I am trying to work on the ones I can.

One of these is by limiting the things that take longer or cause more stress, and spending more time with my grandsons and on the things I really find relaxing and fun. The other is to go with my own feelings, and do what I think is best for me at the time, even if it is different from the norm.

I have decided to take Possum Pouches back to how I originally intended it; that is providing cloth nappies and knitted covers at an affordable price.
I have already made a start by releasing the intro to cloth packs at the Ceejay site
These are a very affordable option to allow people to try cloth without it costing the earth.They come in Small size. I may offer a medium size later but will not go any larger for packs.I will also look at offering the budget nappies singly, but not just yet and the pack is really the better option. I say "may" because I might win lotto and be able to retire but as Mr Rudd didn't do the right thing by my age group I certainly can't retire yet.

To cater for other buyers I have decided to continue offering the low priced soakers that I recently offered on Ozebaby. So for the time being soakers will remain at only $20 (plus postage which is $4.20 for one or 2) and shorts at $25.I keep postage to the bare minimum but can not absorb it at these low prices.These are our regular Colours of Australia soakers in quality pure wool, all hand knitted .

Now to KKs. These are arguably still the best night AIO( there is also a pocket -have you seen it?).I constantly see people saying "I have tried everything and nothing works" - often they have only tried 2 or 3 many of which are not designed for night use.Thus to allow people to try a great night AIO I am keeping the last of the current stock ( mainly size large) at just $25 plus postage ( normally $5.40 for 1)
These will contain the long bamboo booster with which I decided I was not 100% happy - it works just fine- but I don't like the turned version as it is hard to sew neatly; so now I have an industrial overlocker I will probably go back to overlocked boosters.
However the $25 remaining KKs will all come with the turned bamboo booster.
If and when I make new KKs the price may be reviewed but my aim is to make cloth nappying, both day and night, an affordable option whilst I am still able.

Embroidery? Maybe. Machine embroidery, as well as being time consuming, uses thousands of tiny stitches which weakens the fabric, and embroidery thread is not designed for frequent washing. Therefore I do not believe it is practical for workhorse nappies, but is lovely for a special one; so I may do one for OOAK listings.

Both the Possum Pouches site and the Ceejay site will have info on KKs and Knits; occasionally items will appear on our Ozebaby store and jewellery and assorted items will be kept to our Minicuteture store.(Watch for more soon at MC)
The Gossamer Dreams store will open again for its one day per month special listings on 15th January.
Links to all sites are on the right side of this blog.

I am always available by email and will always try my hardest to help everyone in the shortest possible time frame for the lowest possible cost. Whilst I try to answer quickly sometimes circumstances prevent it ( like this week), but during the week replies should be forthcoming within 24 hours; weekends I may be slower. Making changes to the websites, editing and adding photos etc takes a lot of time so if you can't find something on the site/s please email and ask.

Knits I will always accept orders for; sewing will usually depend on other commitments.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Intro to cloth packs-Preorders

Later today I will be putting up pre-orders for the Intro to Cloth packs. These will be on the Ceejay site for the time being but may move to my main site later
It has been my observation that one of the reasons people don't go to cloth is because they believe it is expensive. Yes it can be; if all that is available is highly priced and decorated nappies. To start off babies need basic nappies that they can wee in, and when small, bubs are (or probably should be) changed frequently.
When I first started making nappies quite a few years ago there were only about 3 nappy makers in Australia, if that. Prices were good, products were good, service was good.
Times have changed, the market has been flooded with cloth nappies, some good, some not so good, but a lot is highly priced; also people are confused. It was never my intention to make nappies for profit; my primary aim was to get the message across that cloth not only was better but also was heaps cheaper.
I have decided to supply a good basic nappy pack, which could be given as a gift to new mums or used to supplement a small stash already acquired by a cloth user, and to make it affordable.
Packs will be by pre-order only. They take some time to make so there will be a slight waiting time, depending on how many are on the list, but probably 2 to 4 weeks. Packs contain 6 fitted nappies (with cotton outers which could be flannel, knits,fine corduroy,quilters cotton etc, bamboo or BKT soakers,velour, or sherpa or similar inners, hook and loop closures); 6 bamboo snap in boosters; 1 Little Jakes hand knitted soaker in pure wool, including hand dyed wools in our Colours of Australia theme,6 Cloth Wipes plus a drawstring PUL wetbag. The nappy is a modification of my original ceejay pattern, but is not one sized and does not have the fold over front; also the fabrics have been brought up to date to include bamboo.
Details will be on the Ceejay site, with price.
Yes the price is low
BUT the quality is not.
I have kept the price to the bare minimum to allow everyone to have a chance to try cloth.How long these packs remain at the special intro price is not known.
The fine print: These packs will NOT be customisable. Packs will be supplied in random colours-my choice. You will have the option to say boy,girl or unisex, but not to choose actual colours or fabrics, or alter the packs.They do not come gift wrapped, but will be packed the most economical way as this special introductory price will include regular postage within Australia.
I will offer slots for a particular date, and once full, the next slots will be for a later date. I will try to keep a space in case someone wants a gift in a hurry but these packs are very time consuming to put together on my own, so it is unlikely I can do them in under 2 weeks-unless of course I am bribed with something yummy.
Lindt orange or pistachio chocolate bars might work.
Nappies are classed as size small-they are not newborn size.(If you want a newborn gift pack I highly recommend Cherubs Kiss). However it won't take long for most bubs to fit into them and the length of time they will fit obviously depends on the individual child, but approx 8 or 9 kg.
By that time mums will be looking at night nappies so it is possible I will be offering larger size packs in different varieties, but that is uncertain at this time.
I am currently taking a break from sewing KK's but as I made such an enormous batch of them in September I do still have enough if you would like one; keep an eye open for some heavily reduced ones too, on the AIO page at my possumpouches.com.au site.
Knits are mostly made to order although I have a few soakers and longies in stock.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Quick Christmas Gifts & KK Limited Specials from $20


Coming to our Minicuteture store just in time for Christmas are some inexpensive pretty beaded gifts, made by my daughter and myself. These include phone/camera dangles, bookmarks and wine glass charms. We have been working very hard on some gorgeous clay jewellery but I am not sure when this will be listed as Christmas is coming so very fast and so many other things take priority.However they will become a regular feature of our Minicuteture store.
The beaded items will be available shortly.
KK SPECIALS: very limited number of KK AIOs from $25; and POCKET KKs from $20.
SOAKERS:Instock soakers for 20% off ($24 instead of $30 and free post) until Christmas but you need to mention a special code word, which you will find in the description of one of the items in our Minicuteture store. Just look for a word that seems out of place in the description, but please don't pass it on; the fun is in finding it for oneself.Instock soakers can be found here

Thursday, December 11, 2008

CRAZY PRICE SALE TODAY


The crazy price sale items will be listed at the Possum P store on OZEBABY after lunch today, (assuming I manage to finish the listings in time)
Prices start at $5 plus postage.Payment direct deposit only and payment must be made after purchase, as soon as you receive payment info; postage will be combined if buying more than one item. Pictured item is a regular KK in Minkee, which is the dearest item listed, at $20 plus postage

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Quick Silly Prices Sale

Sometime this week I am having a brief silly prices sale.It will include stock that has been sitting around for a while which I had forgotten about,with prices starting at $5, plus some current stock of woollies which will be significantly discounted.
I am not sure exactly when it will be but it will be in the middle of one day and the prices will be worth waiting for; I still need to find what I have and organise photos etc, so I can't tell you what will be included until it actually happens. I have been installing a new computer and have not had a chance to organise the photos yet.
Ceejay Intro to Cloth packs are also on the agenda very soon; these will not be of interest to dyed in the wool clothies, but will be ideal for gifts for new mums.
I hope to have the info up on the ceejaynappies site this week as long as everything works on the new computer.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Possum Pouches at Minicuteture

Possum Pouches is pleased to announce a new store at Minicuteture
There is one KK listed there at the moment at almost 40% off, as an opening special- it is only there for a short time.
However Possum Pouches is making changes for 2009 and this store will not always have just KKs and knits.New items are planned so watch the blog for upcoming info.