Incredibusy

Let us exist responsibly ~ consciously ~ sustainably

Denim Bunting DIY – No Sew

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Denim Bunting DIY

Well, who knew that No Sew Denim Bunting was so easy to make!

Denim-Jeans-Bunting-DIY-in-a-pile

I visiting the studio of friend and sometime partner in crime Jennie Maizels for a brainstorming session last week, and came away with lots of inspiration, (and stuff from her store cupboard) – and decided to have a go at this super cute idea for upcycling old denim jeans, a Denim Bunting DIY which was pefectly timed for a street party.

Jennie-Maizels-Denim-Bunting-Studio

Denim-Jeans-Bunting-DIY-against-wall

And with lots of growing boys in the family, and the propensity to chopping the legs off the bottoms of their old jeans to make them last longer, we often have off cuts of denim we just don’t know what to go with – RB once made a little denim jacket for his ‘Doggy’ soft toy, but that’s another story.

Needless to say – if you want to have a bash at making this Denim Bunting DIY, all you need is:

MATERIALS

Denim

Scissors

String

Glue

Patches (optional)

Denim-Jeans-Bunting-DIY-in-a-pile

Denim-Bunting-DIY-cut-jeans

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Cut the denim jeans off for a good length to leave them the perfect short length for the warmer weather, or, indeed buy some old jeans at a charity/ thrift store
  2. Cut open the denim and lay it flat
  3. Make a template, diamond shaped, which folds down to make the perfect bunting size for you
  4. Place the template on the denim, and fold over for cutting out
  5. Cut out several of these ‘diamonds
  6. Position the string across the centre of the ‘wrong’ side of the denim, leaving a good arms length at the start of the string to tie up when you hang the denim bunting later
  7. Glue and fold to adhere
  8. Move along the string, and REPEAT
  9. If you have patches, add these
  10. Job done!
  11. (oh, leave a good length of string each end to allow for tying to hang)


DIY-Denim-Bunting-steps

Do let us know if you have a go at making this – A No Sew Denim Bunting DIY that’s SO easy yet really effective – and if you get time, and have embroidery thread, you could even make these super pretty for a child’s nursery – what a sweet gift idea that would be!

Thanks for listening

 

Ali

x

 

Denim-Bunting-DIY-glue

Read about Jennie Maizels here:

If you’ve seen the PADDINGTON 2 film, you may like to voice your support for Jennie – as Studio Canal seem to have wronged her.

Comment on her instagram post to support HERE

And share her tweet HERE.

#NaughtyPaddington

Film Review: ‘McQueen’

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Film Review: ‘McQueen’

The McQueen Tapes

The brilliant, tortured designer Alexander McQueen in documentary delight.

“I bought all my fabrics with my Dole Money”.

McQueen (known to friends and family by his given name, Lee) rose to fame in London of the 1990s, as I had finished art school and was heading into my own career in design, I followed his rise with awe and wonderment.

A fabulous film for fashion lovers, Michael Nyman lovers, and art school graduates – I want to watch it all again – The pressure was immense – he made every headline – with 14 collections a year, Alexander McQueen did the impossible – the fragility of life though. What a watch – with an amazing rousing soundtrack so familiar to me.

 

Mirroring the savage beauty, nonconformist originality and vivacity of his design, the film “McQueen” is an intimate revelation of Alexander (Lee) McQueen’s own personal and professional world, both tortured and inspired.
It is a film which celebrates a radical and mesmerising genius of serious influence and shows his rags-to-riches story, as Steve Edge says “every body needs a rich aunt’ –  Another working-class boy from East London, he harnessed his demons and went on to become a global one-man fashion brand and one of the most iconic artists of the century.

Portraying his life from his debut collection through to the tragedy of his premature death, “McQueen” is a film that evokes Lee McQueen’s unique vision, originality and maverick sense of humour.
The transformative impact of his personality and his work is captured in never-before-seen home movies, audio tapes and “behind-the-scenes” footage shot throughout his career.
His rollercoaster touching relationships, with family, friends and colleagues, are dissected sympathetically, and it’s an emotional watch.
Film footage from the “No.13″ Alexander McQueen show in 1999 where robots spray-painted model Shalom Harlow is a masterpiece from this showman who consistently pushed the boundaries of fashion McQueen once said, “I know I’m provocative. You don’t have to like it, but you have to acknowledge it.”
Shalom Harlow emerged at the end of the show, on a revolving wooden platform wearing a white strapless dress with a tulle underlay. As she twirled slowly, like a delicate ballerina, two robotic industrial sprayers, sprayed her with black, green, and yellow paint, staining her white dress.

Alexander McQueen Conde Nast via Getty Images

This perhaps inspired costume designers petrastorrs, who went on to create Paloma Faith’s stage costumes for her 2009 Koko performance – where her white dress is hit with powder paint during her performance.
This documentary material is stitched together with deeply personal interviews from close family, friends and collaborators and cinematic original material that takes us on a journey into McQueen’s mind. His fears, dreams, obsessions, desires and nightmares are on screen for the audience to re-live along with the most memorable and iconic moments in his shows – like nothing the fashion world has ever seen before, or since.
The film allows us to search deeply into what made the man a unique artist of his times, as well as helping us to understand why, at the height of his acclaim and power, he shockingly made the decision to end to it all.
▶ In Cinemas June 8 2018 ▶ A Film by Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui
▶ Music by Michael Nyman

DIY cat cave with old sweater

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Having a pet doesn’t need to cost the earth

How about this super cute DIY cat cave??

We’ve established that cats like to get inside boxes – seriously, a parcel arrives and guaranteed Kipper the kitten will try to climb inside, and we thought – how he would LOVE  a DIY Cat Cave.

DIY-Cat-Cave-steps

We have several boxes dotted around the house, and Kipper just climbs in and makes himself comfortable!

He has made a bit of a nuisance of himself at bed time – creeping into the boys’ bedrooms and pouncing on them in the night, so we decided to look into the DIY cat cave and maybe even making our own DIY felted cat cave using a time-consuming felting process – but BOY did that look labour-intensive – and I’m just a bit busy with other projects sadly – but we didn’t want to give up on the idea – instead we decided to improvise – what do you think?

 

 

Why do cats like boxes?

Checking out boxes, and confined spaces in general is instinctive behaviour for cats. Move a cupboard, and sure enough, Kipper will be straight in the gap, waiting to pounce on passing naked toes!
In the wild, these areas allow the animals to both hide from predators and surreptitiously stalk prey. 
Boxes also provide cats with a cosy, safe place to sleep, which is incredibly important given that the cats sleep for up to 20 hours a day.

Want to know how to make one of these?

How to make a DIY cat cave

Kipper-in-a-DIY-cat-cave

You will need

  1. an old sweater
  2. a cat sized box
  3. about five minutes!
  4. to study and share this blog post once you’ve made the DIY Cat Cave – and tag us on instagram to show us yours! (honestly, it’s almost impossible to catch the cat actually IN the box, on camera, but looks seriously cute right?!)

Instructions

  1. take a box
  2. and an old sweater/jumper
  3. moth holes a bonus
  4. open the flaps of the box
  5. slide the jumper over the box
  6. so the open end lines up with the jumper neck
  7. position the sweater opening in the centre
  8. turn the box over
  9. tie the sweater sleeves in a first knot
  10. and tie the sweater sleeves in a second knot
  11. tuck the loose ends in under the sleeves
  12. ready for action

We popped an old T-shirt into the box to make a cosy cushion (a T-shirt that smells of his favourite human being) and in Kipper the Kitten climbed! et voila your DIY cat cave!

 

DIY-Cat-Cave-stepsThanks to Maggy Red Ted Art for saying ‘oh blog about that Ali’ – and having the best selection of DIY cat toys!

Read more about Kipper the kitten here:

And don’t forget to pop over to find us on instagram.com/incredibusy and instagram.com/sogoodineveryway

DIY Cat Cave

 

Creative Women’s Network at the Distillery London

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Creative Women’s Network at the Distillery London

My dear friends Maggy from Red Ted Art and Vicki from Honest Mum held their second Creative Women’s Network event in London.

Bringing together a group of women into a creative space eager to find a supportive environment within which to be inspired and to network. This Creative Women’s Network hosted by Honest Mum and Red Ted Art, was a very informal event, hosted in one of London’s loveliest and relaxed venues with inspirational speakers and skills sharing.

This event was hosted at The Distillery in Notting Hill – With a gin distillery in the cellar, two bars, a restaurant, boardroom and a micro boutique hotel this pretty Portobello Road venue, in the heart of Notting Hill is a gin-lovers paradise!

 

The panel included: Host, Maggy (RedTedArt) and Vicki (Honest Mum) plus:

Angelique Panagos

Angelique Panagos is a mum, nutritionist, author, speaker, total foodie, and health crusader with an immense passion for the healing power of food. She runs her own successful West End London nutrition practice specialising in fertility, female health, stress, weight and digestion. Her debut book, The Balance Plan is a diet and lifestyle approach to balancing hormones. Something Angelique is extremely passionate about as she has a host of hormonal conditions and had two miscarriages before having her rainbow baby daughter Isabella last year.  Her philosophy is that food is healing and nourishing, affecting each cell in our body – impacting our lives, bodies, emotions, and even our thoughts. Her approach works to make people feel their best in a  supportive yet inspiring way. Angelique features in ITV’s Sugar Free Farm series one and has contributed to  publications such as Women’s Health, Tatler, Cosmopolitan, InStyle, Haper’s Bazaar and The  Telegraph. Discover more about Angelique at www.angeliquepanagos.com

Kate Thompson 

An award-winning journalist, ghostwriter and novelist who has spent the past two decades in the UK mass market and book publishing industry. 

For six years, Kate worked as Deputy then Acting Editor of IPC’s weekly Pick Me Up magazine, helping to launch it into the market in 2005 with a debut readership of half a million. It was the most successful magazine launch in a decade and secured the BSME launch of the year in the process. Kate was named as IPC’s ‘True Life Writer of the Year’ the following year. Over the past six years, she have concentrated on publishing, writing ten fiction and non-fiction titles. Her debut novel, Secrets of the Singer Girls, became a Sunday Times bestseller when it launched in 2015, with first week sales of over 10,000. My fourth title for Pan Macmillan, The Allotment Girls,  published March 2018. Kate is currently working on a non-fiction book uncovering the lives of extraordinary women of wartime East End, whose stories have remained hidden from history for Penguin.

Natasha Courtenay-Smith

Natasha Courtenay-Smith is one of Europe’s leading experts on integrated digital marketing, social media and PR. She is also a best-selling published author, inspirational keynote speaker, accredited Facebook trainer, CEO of Bolt Digital and mum of two. Natasha has an extensive media and journalism background, having worked for national newspapers in a variety of roles, before striking out on her own in 2007. Over the next seven years, she created and built the UK’s leading digital press agency, before selling her company to the UK’s largest press agency group. Tash quickly concluded that she was not suited to early retirement and started two new businesses, alongside carrying out some major property renovations. Her main business focus today is as CEO of Bolt Digital, which helps celebrities, thought-leaders and successful businesses with a range of services in the digital marketing, social media and PR sectors. Unlike many marketing companies that make pretty pictures, Bolt is relentlessly focussed on delivering commercial value and a measurable financial return on investment to its partners and clients.

http://natashacourtenaysmith.com

 

You can also read Maggy’s write-up on her Life at the Zoo blog.

And for a chance to win a 5 course meal for two, paired with 5 drinks themed to a narrative of your choice from Hollywood to Royalty visit Vicki’s blog here:

UK only.
Ends June 2nd 2018.

#CreativeWomensNetwork
All photos: @honestmum unless watermarked

Pinch pots made from air drying clay

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</p> <h1>Air Drying Clay pinch pots</p> <h1>

Pinch pots made from air drying clay

“Hey, kids? How about we make some Pinch pots made from air drying clay?” I suggested this pre-holidays to the boys… and it transpires, it’s not about the craft, it’s about how you PHRASE the craft…

Try – “Hey kids, how about we make some funky pots for your new cacti?” and that seemed to work…

My older boys aren’t quite as keen as crafting with me as they were when they were little… however, they do have a NEW hobby… and that is – collecting Cacti – (yep, that’s the plural of Cactus, and probably all I can tell you about these little prickly plants – apart from the word ‘succulent’ which, it turns out, is a very popular hashtag on instagram…)

So we ordered some air drying clay off t’internet (it’s heavy and I’d have struggled to carry it back from the art shop without a wheelbarrow).

And we had a go at making some pinch pots!

Pretty easy… and you don’t need any fancy tools either.

So – you’ll need some clay – and to follow these instructions, to look as cool as me with your pinch pot!

Instructions-for-Pinch-Pots-page-1

  1. obtain some air drying clay
  2. cut off a slab of clay – make sure to wrap up the open clay, as obviously, ummm, the air, will umm dry it…
  3. start to squish the clay in your hands to just taller than the pot height you desire
  4. squish the slab to make it into a squat, cylindrical shape
  5. roll the cylinder to smooth it
  6. push your thumb into the ‘top’ of the clay
  7.  push your thumb whilst pinching all around the edge
  8. smooth and pinch a bit more
  9. check it’s the right height for your cactus
  10. smooth off any cracks with a bit of water and your finger
  11. keep smoothing
  12. trim off the top if you’d like a flat level lip on the pot
  13. Leave to dry for a couple of hours before you add any decorative marks, to avoid cracking.
  14. Leave to dry thoroughly for a couple of days before you paint your pots, if you prefer, you can leave them naturally unpainted!

Air Drying clay is not food safe or waterproof, however, applying a waterproof sealer or couple of coats of varnish will help it to be more waterproof. Fortunately cacti don’t need as much watering as other indoor pot plants, so a light misting or small drops of water shouldn’t penetrate the air dried clay pot.

So let me know if you’ve ever made any of these yourselves?

Tag me on twitter or instagram, I’d love to see what you’ve been up to with clay!

I’m @incredibusy over on twitter, insta, pinterest and facebook too….x

WATCH ON YOUTUBE:

Image for Pinterest

Ethical Online Department Store – Wearth

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Our instagram discovery this week is WEARTH – we got chatting with Ed, the co-owner of Wearth to find out more about this new online store – you’ll be so impressed, and I know you’ll love the collection of curated eco loveliness!

Imogen and Ed-from-Wearth

The Conscious Online Department Store 🌍 Where Values Meet Quality & Style ✨🇬🇧 Shop Independent Sustainable & Ethical Brands 💚

Ali: What was the inspiration behind the idea for Wearth?

Ed: The idea for Wearth came around a year ago. Imogen, our other co-founder, had already lived a more conscious lifestyle for a few years. Then we started to learn together more and more about the impact the retail industry was having on the environment. Once you become aware of the issues you notice how widespread the problem is. For example walking in any supermarket you are surrounded by plastic which will be used once and then most likely end up in landfill or worse into nature. As young people we felt that we needed to do something to try and do our part by making it easier to shop in a more conscious way.

Wearth-peg-board-incredibusy

This pegboard is designed and made in the UK by Kreis Design, it comes with a useful cork pin board perfect for photos and memos.

So we started to do some research to independent UK brands which make their products in a fair and environmentally friendly way. What we found is that there are some amazing brands out there but there was a lack of retailing opportunities which aligned with their own values.

This was really the inspiration around Wearth, to create an online department store which brought these brands together, making it easier for consumers to find brands that care whilst creating a platform for these small companies to reach a larger audience and grow.

How often do you introduce new brands to the store?

We launched Wearth with 20 brands at the end of October and now we have over 30 brands. We want to introduce new brands slowly but are always on the lookout for companies who align with our values and there seems to be lots of new brands launching which is exciting to see!

And where do you find them!

Lots of research! In the early stages we first identified our criteria for all of our departments then searched through Google and social media to find the brands which aligned with what we were looking for. Now it is great to see brands reaching out to us and we look forward to seeing finding out what else is out there!

Ed – you have a background in real estate? Is this where you love of home furnishings has come from?

Yes, I studied a masters in real estate but this was very numbers driven, lots of spreadsheets! For our homewares and furniture what we’re really passionate about is supporting British makers. There are some amazing crafts people making high quality contemporary products in an eco-friendly and ethical way. We want to make it easier for people to connect with these brands and furnish their homes with individual pieces which have been made with skill and heart.

Who do you take inspiration from in the business world, and also the world of sustainability? Are they one and the same person?

There are some business people doing great things and making strives towards making a better world. Elon Musk is probably the most influential of these, he has dedicated the past decade to transforming the electric car industry and his battery technology could revolutionise how we get electricity. There are also a few people on social media who are very inspiring, providing lots of information about living in a more sustainable way. These include Sustainably Vegan, Madeleine Olivia, Blue Ollis and Lauren Singer to name a few!

Are you and Imogen both vegans yourselves Ed? And if so – was it a gradual process for you, or an immediate decision.

Imogen has been vegan for over two years and I have been vegetarian for a year. For Immy it was really quite immediate. Now I’ve been vegetarian for a year, I tried going vegan on our most recent holiday to the Philippines and think I will make the change soon (Imogen will be happy to read!).

With Earth Day just around the corner – can you share with us your top five eco gift ideas from your website?

We have some nice gifts which are suitable for celebrating Earth Day:

Eco lunch box1.  Picnics or school lunches, our classic ever-practical lunch box made from high quality 304 grade stainless steel for lunch on the go. The perfect accessory for a zero waste lifestyle.  one-green-bottle-stainless-steel-lunchbox 

family-tree-ceramic-pot-12.  Family Tree Pot – This pot is a unique gift for any family member, it is handmade in England.

Link – imperfect-store-family-tree-pot

necklace recycled silver3. Hammered Silver Necklace – This elegant necklace is handmade in the UK with recycled sterling silver.

Link – smoke-and-ash-hammered-silver-necklace

eco candle soya4. These gorgeous soy wax candles (180ml) are hand poured in the UK with premium natural fragrance oils which freshen up any room in your home with a naturally beautiful aroma. Perfect for Earth Hour on the 24th March!

Link –  handmade-candle-co-soy-wax-candle

chopping board5 – Shunk Chopping Board – No more plastic chopping boards – This rustic chopping board is handmade in Bristol using leftover wood from the furniture studio it is made in.

Link – konk-shunk-chopping-board

As your brands deliver directly to the customer, how do you guarantee that they all follow your zero-waste packaging policy?

When we first start talking with our brands we have a handbook which provides all the details about selling on Wearth and this includes packaging guidelines. The brand then lets us know exactly what packaging they use both for the product and delivery and our customers can see this on our pages. Here transparency is key and we also have a plastic-free value tag on all the relevant products so people can easily see what products are plastic-free. In terms of guaranteeing it, we have to trust our brands and this is why we work closely with all of them, so far we have had no complaints about packaging.

With more plastic-free grocery stores opening across the country, do you any have plans to open a bricks and mortar department store yourselves?

This is something we would definitely consider in future if we can do it in a sustainable way. It does depend on how the retail sector is doing generally, having a store is a big financial commitment. That said, if we are able to reach more people and it is feasible for us to launch a physical store, then this would be an exciting development for us.

What are your own tips for buying sustainably Ed?

There are lots of things you can to buy sustainably. Firstly buying more locally is a good way, for example many local groceries and bakeries don’t have plastic packaging and are more likely to have sourced their products locally. Another important thing is really looking at the detail about the product and trying to understand where it has come from. This can be difficult, especially as most stores are not very transparent but nothing wrong with asking questions be it in store or online. If companies start to get questions about the provenance and sustainability of their products then they should hopefully start to become more conscious of this.

Would you consider stocking men’s and women’s fashion and if so who are your go-to brands for undies, shoes, and knitwear Ed?

Yes we would like to sell clothes, Imogen is a fashion and marketing finalist at Manchester and we think it is a growing market with lots of opportunities. At the moment we want to focus on our other departments but it is good to see sustainable and ethical companies making waves in the industry, for example Po-Zu and Oceanzen.

Pilates or Yoga Ed?

Imogen likes doing Yoga, I am a bit of a water baby and love swimming!

Are there any books or films you’d recommend to inspire others to turn to a more sustainable way of life?

It is great to see lots of attention being put on environment and the retail industry. Blue Planet II is well worth a watch as it highlights the direct impact plastic is having on our oceans. Lauren Singer’s Ted Talk is a good introduction to zero waste living. Imogen and I also saw a good documentary about minimal living called Minimalism. I have also been recommended Slave to Fashion by Safia Minney and the movie, The True Cost so need to check those out!

Make sure to follow Wearth on instagram here

 

A post shared by Wearth London (@wearthlondon) on

Smoothies and Bamboo Straws and Saving the Oceans

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Smoothies and Bamboo Straws

February is here and I’m still feeling that I’m in need of some vitamin D – we’ve been experimenting with smoothies (and a guilt of all the plastic straws we have ever used hanging over me).

kiwi-and-ginger-and-kale--smoothie---incredibusySo first – smoothies – make it up as you go along, however here’s what’s in this one (makes two portions)…

  • Almond milk (a good source of Vitamin D and in a recyclable carton)
  • Thumb sized chunk of ginger peeled and grated (purchased loose from the local store, no plastic* – bonus)
  • Banana (Fairtrade, and try to buy loose, after all, they have thick skins, nature’s packaging at its best)
  • Kiwi Fruit (high in fibre, vitamins C, A and E and a good source of antioxidants)
  • Handful of Kale (right, this is where Riverford organics comes in handy – no plastic bags!)
  • Squeeze of Lime

The-Last-Straw-gif

So let’s talk #TheLastStraw – I’ve always been frugal, and used the same plastic straws over and over again at home; and now in bars and restaurants, it’s great to see so many of us re-training ourselves to say ‘no thank you’ to straws in our glasses, as although using one straw doesn’t seem like a big deal, – it is estimated that the UK and US alone throw away around 550 million plastic straws every day. Each one of those straws is used for an average of maybe 20 minutes (probably just once) the problem with plastic straws is one of sheer volume.

If you’d like to find out what you can do to cut down on your plastics, and how you too can work to inspire a generation to save our oceans check out both the @oceangeneration and @theglobalgoals instagram pages.

We can all work together to raise awareness, encourage attitude shifts and create behavioural change – starting with the simple plastic straw – try a bamboo straw.

More that you can do to tackle the plastic problem:

Do you have bread bags, polythene, toilet roll bags, bubble wrap etc you want to recycle? post it to Polyprint. accepts recycling from the general public. Please visit their website for details.   ♻️

Mid writing this post about Smoothies and Bamboo Straws and Saving the Oceans, I happened to have a chat with Eve Broadis from fairtradescotland.co.uk who has been telling me about their exciting tartan news (more on that soon). Meanwhile follow @fairtradesco on instagram, and take a look at the funky tartan covers they have been making for the Suck On That bamboo straws!

Suck On That is a social enterprise founded in Cambodia in 2017, with the initiative to promote the use of bamboo straws as an alternative to plastic. Their straws are reusable, environmentally friendly, and fair trade.

It is the first and only Fair Trade straw in the world so that means that they ensure that the straws are made according to all the 10 WFTO (World Fair Trade Organization) Fair Trade principles. Suck On That is partnering with two WFTO Guaranteed Members to not only have a positive environmental impact but also a positive social impact.

These bamboo straws are hand crafted by Khmer villagers, creating employment opportunities for disadvantaged Cambodian communities. Suck On That are passionate about supporting Cambodian villagers through fair employment and ensuring a safe working environment. Follow them on instagram to keep up to date with their news.

Suck On That will be distributing the straws through wholesale and retail to businesses and individuals fed up with wasteful and environmentally harmful plastic straws. Contact them here: http://suckonthat.com/#contact

I asked Eve to tell me why Bamboo vs paper or Aluminium straws?

Eve: “I picked up the metal straw in Cambodia – at a cafe where we were telling the owner that she needs to ensure bamboo straws are sourced sustainably – there are lots of people thinking ‘wild bamboo’ is more natural – not realising that once it’s gone it’s gone! Replanting is about sustainable livelihoods 👍 buying these straws mean producers can plan for the future rather than live a a hand to mouth existence.

Paper straws mean more trees will be cut down and metal straws are not good either due to the process of the metal having to be heated to high temperatures and the overall process and working conditions of the mining metal workers**.

So my job – as a WFTO GS (World Fair Trade Organisation Guarantee System) member is to look at the whole supply chain and guarantee is the best there is! 👍

**Once mined, aluminum within the bauxite ore is chemically extracted into alumina, an aluminum oxide compound, through the Bayer process. In a second step, the alumina is smelted into pure aluminum metal through the Hall–Héroult process.”

Really pleased to share this article on bamboo straws – we will be stocking them with lovely WFTO Tartan pouches – watch this space – coming soon 👍

Posted by Fair Trade Scotland on Monday, 29 January 2018

 

Read more about plastic in tea bags here

 

Further zero-waste reading:

Plastic Free Conditioner from JustLittleChanges 

Easy Coconut Oil Deodrant DIY from allotmentrecipes

Planning to cut waste from eachlittlestep

Getting stuff done in the kitchen from juicyfig

Zero waste and some recipe ideas from spotofearth.com

 

Consider Ethical investments

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Being a conscious consumer, sticking it to ‘the man’, moving to a more ‘zero-waste’ lifestyle – and considering ethical investments. I don’t know about you but it seems as if there is a swell of positive stories in the mainstream press, and an encouraging surge of consumer concern regarding bcoming more mindful about what we are buying, who made those clothes, and shoes, and how these things are packaged in unnecessary plastic packaging which goes on to pollute the earth and oceans. There seems to be a  notable transformation in attitude –  A ‘sea change’ if you like…. (don’t groan, this is a good read…)

water bottle waste

Save the Oceans

We’ve recently seen stories on the BBC about free water refill points being rolled out across the UK to cut water bottle waste, and of course, we were delighted about the Blue Planet 2 Team, and Sir David Attenborough, winning at the National Television Awards –  (watch, about an hour in) The show Blue Planet 2 💚 🌎 A television programme watched by many – highlighting this massive environmental crisis.

By 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in our oceans. To reverse this trend, we all need to commit to reducing our usage of plastics. Drinking straws seems like an easy place to start – The Ocean Generation are a global collective bringing the ocean and its importance to the most socially connected generation in history. And are encouraging support for this via their hashtag #TheLastStraw campaign, focussing on the importance of eliminating plastic straws for our oceans.

Then there is the ‘Latte Levy‘ to cut the levels of disposable coffee cup waste from coffee chains and demands that tea bags be made without plastic.

“UPDATE: Co-Op stores have just announced that their Fairtrade teabags are now fully-biodegradable paper tea bags – removing all uses of polypropylene plastic, and as a result Co-operative foods are the first retailer to develop this – great news, and Fairtrade too.”

plastic free fairtrade teabags

That was a shock for many to discover . . . . (watch lovely Cherry Healey’s alarm on the BBC programme INSIDE THE FACTORY)

What you can do to support – have you considered “Ethical investments”?

Many brands are embracing this ZERO WASTE drive, and actually using discarded materials as part of their raison d’etre.

 girlfriend AdIn 2016 US brand Girlfriend Collective launched a pre-order campaign – and I duly signed up, who wouldn’t want a free pair of eco luxury leggings made from plastic bottles, for the cost of shipping! Clever eh??

My leggings arrived, in a cardboard envelope, no plastic, and I felt GOOD about myself  – and chuffed with my ‘free plastic bottle leggings’ – I wear them often.

London-based brand Po-Zu shoes also use sustainable materials, from cork, to pineapple-leather-alternative, Pinatex – the soles of their shoes are made from coconut fibre, creating their trademark ‘footmattress’.

And Po-Zu are striving to make their ethical shoes more affordable by moving part of their production to Sri Lanka where they are using fairtrade rubber and organic cotton canvas in the production of their crowdfunded line of sneakers (this crowdfunder ends in just four days, so be quick to invest from just £10 here.

“UPDATE: Po-Zu reached their CrowdCube target two days ahead of schedule!”

As part of Po-Zu’s ethical promise they pledge 10% of their net profit to charity. Po-Zu divide this donation equally between the three environmental charities and one of these is The Resurgence Trust who on 22nd Dec 2017 successfully raised £74,746 with 679 supporters in 38 days via Crowdfunder with the support of campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

quercus-made-from-wasteGreeb.co’s Quercus lamps, like Po-Zu’s shoes, are designed for disassembly Also using crowdfunding to highlight their brand ethos Greeb are a new sustainable product studio aiming to improve the world through design. Based in Suffolk Greeb.co believe that disassembly for recycling has to be easy and goods should be entirely repairable. Quercus has no permanently joined components.

The assembly is formed through parts interacting with one another. Glass bottles, and salvaged fallen oak. Disassembly is one of their core design principles in reducing waste and improving the health of our planet. Their lamp is available on Kickstarter now, link here.

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Others to watch out for… launching March 2018 REstart Refugees strives to empower refugee entrepreneurs across Denmark and Europe, connecting local crowd-sourced investors with qualified entrepreneurs and empowering them to achieve their ambitions.

Read about Thought Clothing’s ethical clothing brand here.

Makers at Machinesroom (east London) have some kickstarter projects on the go. Usually with a positive social impact. more here

Kickstarter proved successful for a Canadian-made sustainable cycling jersey Pillarheights.com read more here.

Check out UpEffect’s recent products which have ranged from ethical fashion brands to solar cookstoves — from clean drinking water systems to eco-friendly carry bags. To date, their enterprise-solution approach and campaign-consultant model has driven a 100% success rate at securing funding for their startups, raising over £230,000 to launch products and impact lives across ten countries.

Where Does It Come From? will also be shortly crowdfunding to set up their African supply chain. Where Does It Come From? is a UK based clothing brand offering high quality basics for adults and children. Their clothes are created in partnership with social enterprises and artisans – always according to fair trade standards and using sustainable production methods.

with thanks to khadi.london/khadi-initiative

Packing light for a weekend away – classic ethical minimalism

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Packing light for a weekend away

We’ve been lucky enough to travel to Europe a couple of times several times recently –  we escaped to Copenhagen for my birthday with the whole family, and the following month to Toulouse for a long weekend with just our youngest son whilst his brother traveled to Vietnam on a school trip (seriously, kids these days – we went to the Lake District with MY primary school!)

packing-light-and-ethically-for-a-city-break-UmranNeedless to say, with time of the essence, packing light for a weekend away – we need to employ classic ethical minimalism for these city breaks which means avoiding putting your luggage in the hold, and that delay at the carousel once you’ve landed…

So our plan was to maximise on as much ‘holiday time’ as we could cram in, and also because we knew we would be travelling by bicycle when we got to our destinations, so our bags would have to be light and manageable. A bag we would store in the overhead lockers (or if it’s small enough under the seat in front of you).

To do this we reviewed what would be required for our trips, and how we would carry what we ‘needed’ – each of us packed light, and used backpacks – mine is my trusty Millican bag, waterproof, organic cotton and the lining is made from recycled polyester – it’s so comfy even when it’s REALLY full.

What to wear? my minimalist ethical fashion hightlights:

Jeans from Monkee Genes
Leggings from Girlfriend Collective (made from post-consumer plastic water bottles)
Nightshirt from Eight Hour Studio
Hand crocheted blouse from London-based designer Ümran Aysan. For me the beauty of the hand crocheted bamboo and cotton yarn is that is’s lightweight and can be layered for the cooler weather, so for travelling light this gives me flexibility with a restricted travel wardrobe!
And for evening wear, rolled in my towel to avoid creasing, a simple silk kimono dress (also from Ümran Aysan).

Ümran’s collection embraces sustainability of the processes used in the fashion industry, and celebrates traditional methods of craftsmanship and mininum environmental impact (see video below). The silk kimono dress is perfect for the classic ethical minimalist – worn with jeans or leggings and boots during the day (and woah, the frock has POCKETS – and I love pockets – perfect for my mobile phone/camera – paranoidly keeping my hand on it at all times), and a pair of sparkly Po-Zu pumps and chunky Pembe club bracelets in the evening.

To see more about the collection, please click here.

Cabin bag allowance

British Airways/EasyJet:
The size of a cabin bag should be no larger than 56cm x 45cm x 25cm (22in x 18in x 10in).
Both bags can weigh up to 23kgs (51lb) each.

Positive-Luxury-Logo

ÜMRAN AYSAN has been awarded the coveted Butterfly Mark, in recognition of her commitment towards social, environmental and philanthropic good. From protecting and nurturing traditional craftsmanship to ensuring the provision of materials from sustainably managed ecosystems, the Butterfly Mark offers wordless reassurance that ÜMRAN AYSAN is a luxury brand to trust.

If you liked this post – you’ll be interested to read these too –

Natalie of Sustainably Chic in a lightweight, crocheted sweater. 

Alden from EcoCult – talks gorgeous kimonos.

Kamea of Konscious Whispers talks silk dresses.

Holly of Leotie Lovely in a silk maxi dress.

 

Pick up dinner with Po-Zu and Too Good ToGo

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Pick up dinner with Po-Zu and Too Good ToGo before watching Star Wars: The Last Jedi to make sure you aren’t looking for food in Alderaan places.

As you may (or may not) be aware we are in the final few days countdown to the release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the eighth instalment in the Skywalker saga, and TooGood ToGo has teamed up with Po-Zu Shoes to make sure that your pre-film dinner feels the Force with delicious food at a great price, while being as sustainable as a scavenger on Jakku.

Po-Zu crafts Star Wars inspired high-quality and sustainable footwear, so you can follow in the footsteps of Force Awakens heroes Rey, Finn and Poe on your way to find out the fate of the Resistance. You can walk like a Wookiee with Chewie-inspired footwear, and there are even BB-8 lace-ups for young Padawan learners. When taking your Po-Zu shoes down to the first viewing of the new movie, keep the sustainable theme going by making sure you eat with Too Good To Go.

With Too Good To Go, you can pick up great-tasting surplus food from local eateries at an amazing price, so you can feed a family of Ewoks without your bank balance going the way of a Tauntaun.

And you’ll be doing your part in making sure the world doesn’t go the way of Mustafar. What better time to try out the app than before going to catch the midnightviewing?

We’ve compiled a handy list of Too Good To Go partner stores near to the main cinemas in London showing the first screening of The Last Jedi, and we’ve even included some special stores for dedicated fans watching the Double Bill at 9pm!

Pay by phone, digital receipt £3.50, £15 worth worth of sushi…. reduce waste 100,000 meals saved in the UK alone over 18 months…

 

• Fulham Road: Cineworld or The Science Museum

o Yo! Sushi, Fulham Road: 21:00 – 22:00
o ChicP!: 18:00 – 21:20
o Fait Maison: 18:00-20:00

• Covent Garden: Odeon or Haymarket: Empire or Leicester Square: Odeon-Cineworld-Vue

o Pix Pinxtos: 23:40 – 23:59
o Mister Lasagna: 22:30-23:00
o Govindas: 20:40-21:00
o Yoobi: 20:45- 21:15
o Gabys Covent Garden: 21:00-21:30
o Koshari Street: 21:00-21:30
o Pepes Italian Street Food: 21:30 – 23:30

• 02 Greenwich: Cineworld

o Jimmy’s: 21:30 – 22:00

 • Tottenham Court Road: Odeon

o Yo! Sushi, Russell Square: 21:30-21:45
o Hummus Bros – Holborn 20:40-21:05
o SicilyAmo: 20:00 – 21:30
o Yo! Sushi, Tottenham Court Road: 21:00 – 22:00
o Salent Green Life: 22:30 – 23:00
o Jova
o Govinda’s: 20:40-21:00

 • Kings Cross: Everyman

o Chop’d: 20:00 – 21:00
o Yo! Sushi, St Pancras: 21:45-22:00

• Baker Street: Everyman

o Yo! Sushi, Baker Street: 21:45 – 22:00

 • Wandsworth: Cineworld

o Delhi On The Go: Wandsworth 22:00-22:30

 • Islington: Everyman – Vue

o Worker’s Café: 19:30-20:00
o One and One Chinese Buffet: 22:00-23:00
o Kim Klan: 17:00 – 19:00

 • BFI – IMAX

o Yo! southbank 21:00-21:30
o Yo! Waterloo 21:30 – 21:45
o Bala Baya 21:00 – 22:00

http://www.starwars.com/news/40-memorable-star-wars-quotes

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