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Love you for your 🩺 messages this week thank yo

Love you for your 🩺 messages this week thank you, I’m proper 96% better! Even made it to the @SuttonCommunityFarm Winter Party last night...
Hurrah!
And honestly, DM chats about levels of wheeziness have really lifted my spirits - I tried to get Kipper to sit on my lap for comfort (aren’t pets supposed to know when you’re ill????) but the nearest I got was him sitting by my feet - (and eating little bits of darning thread and elastic bands... eugh).
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He does like Kate’s tufted cushions as much as I do though - for those who asked yesterday - Kate Cullum is a Reading-based textile designer (where I hail from) who creates limited runs of rugs and cushions which are made by a multi generational family of weavers just outside of Jaipur, India.
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My kid Spike has one of Kate’s gorgeous rugs in his bedroom, and I love the colour the cushions bring to our sitting room.

There’s a load more about her on the blog (see link in bio) and we are trying to set up a date for an IG live #MeetTheMaker if you have questions - I have one for you - what time of day is best for you for an IG LIVE??
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Big Friday love for now,
Ali x
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#plasticfreeliving #sgiew_repair #darningworkshop
#sustainability #sustainabilitymatters #ecofriendly #mendingmatters #visiblemending #darning #repair #creativemending #makdoandmend #lovedclotheslast #mending #createmakeshare #reducewaste #sustainableclothing #slowfashion #sustainabletextiles
#designledmending #knitwearrepair #RDGUK

ad | Evening, how are we all? I’ve been enjoying

ad | Evening, how are we all? I’ve been enjoying the perfect projects for these darker months - my visible mending commissions have been popular, and just this morning I dropped some repairs at the charity shop, they loved them! So proud 😊

However, with the natural light disappearing at around 3pm, I’ve had to set up a little adjustable daylight reading lamp in my favourite darning corner… the lamp handily has a remote control so I don’t have to MOVE once I’ve got settled in for a late afternoon of repairs. The remote, I discovered, takes three AAA batteries, which I just happened to have ordered for my head-torch 🔦 last week. (Yes I’ve also been using a head-torch, I look ridiculously like a darning coal miner⛏️ )

Still mega impressed with these ready-charged, rechargeable batteries from 🔋 eneloop batteries are delivered pre-charged (on solar power) and are ready for immediate use (phew) 🌿 the packaging is plastic-free, 🍃 and eneloop batteries can be recharged up to 2100 times.

Big darning love, from me and @eneloop_europe, Ali x

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@eneloop_europe
#eneloop_europe #ad
#plasticfreeliving #CleanEnergySociety #RechargeReuse #sgiew_repair #darningworkshop
#sustainability #sustainabilitymatters #ecofriendly #mendingmatters #visiblemending #darning #repair #creativemending #makdoandmend #lovedclotheslast #mending #createmakeshare #reducewaste #sustainableclothing #slowfashion #sustainabletextiles
#designledmending #knitwearrepair

Afternoon - Have you been enjoying the glow of wi

Afternoon - Have you been enjoying the glow of winter sunshine? Hope so - and oooh I have some fun happy 'glow' related news for you, (& a brilliant idea 💡 if you're looking for a Christmas gift for yourself...) read on:
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DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE: I've been invited by Sian @coldatnight, to hold a workshop at @fforest coast:
Glow June 22-25th FIRE / NATURE / MAKING.
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Here are the workshop blurbs so far (+ one other, we are waiting confirmation, more info to follow)
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1️⃣ Passionate about sustainability and the art of repair; striving to direct focus away from fast fashion and to promote slow living and everything that stands for, Ali Clifford @incredibusy will be bring along some yarn and needles, teaching us to darn and repair. In our darning workshop with Ali, we will spend time focusing on a basic darning technique together; her signature 'penny repair' - which works well on small moth holes.
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2️⃣ I'll be in excellent company, our good fforest friend and very talented ceramacist, @AmandaBanhamCeramics, will teach us how to make with clay. Amanda has a generous character and is full of adventures, and telling stories about them are all in a day's work.
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3️⃣ And the wonderful Gemma David from @thequietheart a wellbeing practioner, will be leading us through a very creative session with our body, a ‘living with the seasons’ session for midsummer. Gentle yoga, followed by a sound bath of singing bowls.
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Meanwhile, I'm happy to report that I'm almost on the mend, post-flu and bronchitis, I will be enjoying the sunshine and the outside world again soon...
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All photos: Emily Brittain, Heather Birnie &Polly Baldwin.
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#wintermood #folknature #visitWales #littlepiecesofbritain #countryside_house #countryliving #thebeautyinwinter #savouringtheseason #thequietwinter #slowsimpleseasonal #aseasonalshift #changingseasons

Afternoon - the sun is shining in through the sitt

Afternoon - the sun is shining in through the sitting room window, and I’m repairing another moth hole in a second-hand cashmere jumper, 🪡🧵🧶with the cat for company and a teenager making noodles for “breakfast”… how are we all?

Oh - Just dropped the darning penny down the gap in the floorboards, to join the piece of @5ftinf jigsaw puzzle… doh.

And, ummm thank you for all the lovely comments on the TEDx - ❌ it still feels like that was another person up there on the stage! Not me 🥴😳☺️
Big Sunday love, Ali x

#sgiew_repair #sgiew @sogoodineveryway x @incredibusy #repairdontdespair #makedoandmend #darning #sundaymotivation #sundaythoughts #mendingmatters

That’s done then, phew... "Small local sustainab

That’s done then, phew... "Small local sustainability actions CAN make an impact; gently sowing seeds of global hope, for future generations to build upon" from my @tedx_official last night. Oscar acceptance speech incoming... Ali x
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When @hannahwhitemusic, founder of 📍 @soundloungecic, messaged me to tell me she’d put me forward for a TED talk, I was delighted & a little apprehensive to say the least.
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The less said about ‘imposter syndrome’ the better – I’m glad to report that the event in Sutton went swimmingly. I’ll keep this brief, and await notification as to when we’ll be able to share the video of the TEDx Sutton High Street talks. (link in bio)
Without being too over emotional (yeah, I cried), super thankful to my friends for their support. Kate Power is not only a brilliantly loyal, loving & fun friend, she’s also an amazing coach (& author) I highly recommend her if you are planning to present & have any feelings of anxiety about it. @camparikate | Thank you too, to Kathy Forsyth for the flowers, the heckles, and photos of me with my “hair on fire”.
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As is the wont of TEDx talks, one is not permitted to name-drop people, however, here, on my insta – I can do that. So further mentions; Conor Spacey, Zero Waste Chef @spacey_chef | Maria’s speedy bike deliveries @quiver.hq for @ilovelowie (Poppy & Bron came too!) | Volunteer at the @suttoncommunityfarm and bring your kettle to be repaired at @yourspacesutton.
My funny kind friend @amandabanhamceramics 🏠 Jill Barker @themiddlewick for shaping my future.
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Other speakers🌍: @bioregional_uk’s CEO Sue Riddlestone OBE, @rachelsheilakan, & @sutchfun @gojauntly whom my whole family fell in love with.
Plus Cllr Barry Lewis & Dr Michael Fell.
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#TEDx #TEDxSuttonHighStreet #SustainableHighStreets #SustainableBusiness #SustainableFuture #LocalClimateAction #SupportSmall #SuttonHighStreet #ClimateCrisis 🌎

This is what my brain feels like today... full of

This is what my brain feels like today... full of lots of 'bits and pieces'. Treasures to some, but, of any interest to others?

We will surely find out tomorrow at my TEDx Talk.

📸 Photo description: Shed displaying seaside-finds, on the shingly beach at the headland on the coast of Kent, England

Other speakers @tedx_official Sutton High Street event 🛍️🌍 include: @bioregional_uk’s CEO Sue Riddlestone OBE, @rachelsheilakan, and @sutchfun @gojauntly. Hosted by @fayonpresenter.

#TEDx #TEDxSuttonHighStreet #SustainableHighStreets #LondonBoroughOfSutton #SuttonHighStreet #SustainableSutton #SustainableBusiness #HighStreets #SustainableFuture #LocalClimateAction #SuttonBusinesses #SuttonLife #ShopLocal #SupportSmall

The @tedx_official #SuttonHighStreet event is at my favourite local venue📍@soundloungecic tomorrow night!
Part of an official TED Countdown series which is all about championing & accelerating solutions to the #ClimateCrisis 🌎

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