Mighty oaks from little acorns grow.

There’s a saying that mighty oaks from little acorns grow. Some of the highest altitude oaks in the world grow in Nepal, which is where Danusha began in 2008.

I remember the first time I stepped into the workshop at Lalgadh Leprosy Services centre. It was an incredibly moving experience as I watched women whose fingers had been lost to nerve damage manipulate stones and thread to make objects of beauty.

As well as training in jewellery making we provide adult literacy lessons, decent wages, good food, basic health and hygiene education and we’ve sponsored compost toilets too - very important in the fight against pollution of drinking water. Childhood diarrhoea is one of the main causes of death in children under the age of 5, simply because people don’t have access to clean water.

I’ve always been concerned about issues like poverty, equality and human rights, and think it’s important for us all to do what we can to make the world a better place for everyone. Along the way I’ve been inspired by ordinary people who work to get the job done. You won’t read about them in books but many of my friends work really hard for the benefit of other people.

My Danusha experience has been life changing for me. I think far more carefully about what I buy and opt for fair trade whenever possible. I spend a fair amount of time in south east Asia and have seen first hand some terrible working conditions.

Take a moment to look around. What can you see? If you’re reading this I guess there’s a computer, phone or tablet not too far away. Imagine all the people involved in making it. It’s impossible to know just how many pairs of hands it’s been through on its journey to your home, but it’s a fair bet there’s been some exploitation along the way. I’m not saying ‘don’t have stuff’, simply that we should all do what we can to redress the balance from time to time, and buying fair trade is a good first step.

At Danusha, highlights have been working direct with the women to develop new designs, and watching them blossom as they gain in confidence. In their society any association with leprosy is a one way ticket to ostracisation so it’s fantastic to see them regaining the respect of their families and being accepted back into their communities. This is what skills training does. It gives people back their dignity and I love it! I also love the light and life and colour of Nepal. Being there is like fire for the soul. 

You can find and find a wide range of Danusha pieces of jewellery at both www.facebook.com/ConfusedArt and www.con-fusedarts.co.uk

From Alli of Danusha,

www.danusha.org

Life long lessons learnt in 2013 (warts and all)!

A little late, I know but Happy New Year everyone!  I wanted to wish you a very happy, healthy 2014 and also to share with you what I learnt in 2013 (warts and all) and how those lessons will stay with me forever!

I guess the one thing that made the biggest impact was the passing of my mum late August last year.  When her cancer came back with a bang in April last year, I felt so dizzy and shaken up but little did I know that a few months later mum would no longer be here to laugh or smile with and talk to. I couldn't imagine that my life could continue. What made it worse was my father-in-law passed away two months before my mum did. However, this is where I slowly smile, I have been taught how precious every day is and how utterly precious my family is. I remember how positive my mum was through everything she got thrown at her, how she took each day as it came and how her sense of humour always lightened the conversation. I have been shown how strong I am when I didn't think my life could continue without my mum in it. Maybe some of you know how this feels.

Through our difficult times in 2013, I have connected with many lovely ladies (and some guys) online who are so supportive of Con-fused Arts and even more lovely, they are people who know what it is like to be a working mum running your own business and all that comes with it. In particular, Charlie from Sophia's Choice who offer a fabulous range of natural and organic products for the whole family, Sharon from Miss Beau Bangles who sells a great range of ethical, eco-chic fashion accessories and Andrea from O So Beautiful  who sells gorgeous good quality beauty products from Oriflame (all the way from Sweden) and Kendall from Kindness by Design who is constantly inspiring me with new ethical clothing/designers and much more. Thank you ladies for your conversations, support and encouragement!

So having left 2013 behind, I look back with very fond memories of my mum when she was well and her normal independent self but not so fond memories of the months before she passed. However, I am more determined than ever to look forward and make the most of everyday I am blessed with and I am more passionate than ever about empowering women around the world. 2014 promises to be a flourishing year, a year of new gorgeous ethical jewellery and perhaps branching out in other areas. A year of blogs, guest blogs, teaming up with other ethical businesses and most importantly FUN!

With all that 2013 taught me, I am ready to embrace 2014 with less worry, more determination, more focus, more patience and more love! What has 2013 taught you?

Pam x
www.con-fusedarts.co.uk
www.facebook.com/ConfusedArt

A wonderful rewarding Christmas!

Hello, my name is Sharon and I write the Miss Beau Bangles ethical fashion and lifestyle blog. I was recently asked by Pam to write a blog post for her Con-fused Arts website on why it’s important to buy fair trade or ethical Christmas gifts. I jumped at the chance. I have followed Pam’s work for a while now and the work of the Kazuri women whose stunning jewellery she sells for even longer, and I admire both greatly. So it is an honour to be asked to express my humble views on Pam’s website and I hope I do the opportunity justice.

If you are a follower of Con-fused Arts’ work then you are probably well versed in what fair trade is all about, so rather than a descriptive article on the benefits of fair trade, I’ve decided to make this a personal piece that explains my own motivations to take a more ethical approach to my Christmas shopping. For me, there are three reasons why I will be shopping as ethically as possible this year:

Fairer Distribution of Wealth:

For me, the single most important reason for shopping more ethically this Christmas is an economic one. I want to see a fairer distribution of wealth in the retail industry.

The Centre for Retail Research reported that Christmas spending among consumers in the UK was  an estimated £70 billion in 2012. This includes money spent in shops and online. £3 billion of that figure was spent on Boxing day alone.

Wow! That is a lot of money for one tiny little island to spend on one celebration. The vast majority of this money is spent in a relatively small number of large multi-national retailers, whose profits are paid out to shareholders. We shop there because it is easy. These retailers have lots of money to put on amazing TV adverts to show us what they sell and to entice us into their readily accessible and beautifully decorated stores to buy their products. And at this time of year, we could all do with making our lives easy, right!

Yet there are many small businesses in your local area, and in developing countries all over the world who make and sell amazing products, but as a small business they struggle every day to compete in a fierce marketplace. They don’t have large marketing budgets and many can’t afford a bricks and mortar store on a high street, and so they are not so accessible to us as consumers. To be found, they require a little effort from us in seeking them out.

But why should we seek them out? Well, as I already mentioned, there are some fabulous products out there, but I’ll come back to this point later. The other reason is that, without our support, these small business cannot survive, yet they are hugely important to the economies in which they exist. In developed countries they create a diversity in terms of the products available to us as consumers, they can often offer a much more personalised level of service to consumers, and they provide a more diverse range of employment opportunities for the communities in which they are located.

In developing countries, small businesses that operate with a fair trade ethos have an even more pronounced importance. These businesses are empowering their employees and helping them to move out of poverty, thereby improving the chances that they and their children will have access to improved health, education and quality of life. In developing countries these small, fair trade businesses can be a matter of life or death for some people. To me, that’s got to be something worth keeping, and if we want to keep them, they need our business.  

Supporting Businesses that Value Human Rights:

My second reason for shopping more ethically this Christmas is a human rights issue. For years we have been reading about poor working conditions in the factories that supply many of our largest retailers. However this year the issue has been brought into much sharper focus after over 1,000 people were killed when the Rana Plaza building collapsed in Bangladesh. Many more lost their lives this year in numerous factory fires caused by unsafe working practices. And as BBC’s Panorama programme, “Dying for a Bargain” recently revealed, some factories operate a compulsory overtime policy that has people working as much as 18 hours per day.

When shopping on the High Street, it is hugely difficult as consumers to know whether or not we are buying from a store which uses factories that operate humanely and safely. For that reason, I have chosen to make an effort where possible to seek out retailers who I can be sure value the human rights of their employees and those in their supply chain at least as much as they value profits. Surely, in this day and age, with the vast wealth that exists, asking for employees to be treated humanely and not like slaves is not too much to ask. The businesses that understand this are the ones I want to spend my money with.  

Gifts that Reflect the Essence of Christmas:    

Thirdly, shopping more ethically is a great way to find gifts that are the true essence of Christmas. I mentioned earlier that small and fair trade businesses offer some fantastic products. Many of these products are not widely available and so have a special uniqueness. Many are handmade and so are truly individual. Many can be personalised, and many have a fabulous story to tell, such as that of the jewellery made by the Kazuri ladies.

One of the product stories I love, is of a group of Senegalese ladies who call themselves Groupement Takku Liggey. These ladies lead a hand to mouth existence, selling things like fish, rice, cold water and donuts at a local market to survive. A few years ago, with the support of a woman from Edinburgh they began making products such as shopper bags, tablecloths, and aprons using African print fabrics they bought locally. These products are now being sold in small quantities in various countries around the world, and with their first profits the ladies have bought two cows for the co-operative to rear and sell, bringing benefits and further income to be shared among the community. You can see one of the women pictured above with one of the cows. Isn’t that a wonderful smile!  

Now imagine the faces of your family and friends as you give them their ethical gift and they hear the story behind it, appreciate its uniqueness and admire the craftsmanship that has gone into it. By taking a little time to look beyond the major retailers this year, I’ve uncovered some wonderful products with some wonderful stories, and I’m sure you will to.

How to get Started

I hope after reading this blog post you are feeling at least a little inspired. If you are, then you may be wondering how to begin shopping more ethically this Christmas. If you are looking for jewellery, of course Con-fused Arts is a great place to start. Over at Miss Beau Bangles I have written a blog post that makes some suggestions for great ethical Christmas gifts, including a fair trade recipe book, bamboo socks, and a recycled tyre wallet from Traidcraft; jewellery from Con-fused Arts and Miss Beau Bangles; and an eco-soy candle from Robin & Rose. Why not try doing an internet search for “ethical gifts”, or if you know what you are looking for, try sticking the word ethical or fair trade at the start of your search term. You might also want to seek out some blogs that have an ethical focus, as these are a great source of advice and inspiration. Facebook has some fabulous businesses selling fair trade and handmade products so why not follow a few.

Whatever route you choose, I hope your friends and family love their ethical gifts, and I hope you all have a truly wonderful festive period.

Sharon x

www.missbeaubangles.co.uk

Do you know you have powerful gifts?

These days, so many people moan and complain about life but did you know that one of the most wonderful and powerful things we can do is to be thankful?  Would you like to enjoy your life more and make progress even in the midst of difficult situations? It all begins with giving thanks. Every morning, I say thank you for waking up, for a comfortable bed, for food in the house, the list goes on - it really does make a difference!

Many people can BE truly thankful for someone in their life but do they actually take the next step and tell them or show them they are thankful?

Encouraging others is one of the another great thing we can do in life.  Life can be difficult and most people have plenty of reasons to feel discouraged  but we have been given a tremendous gift - the ability to encourage and uplift other people and make them feel good about themselves.

This festive season, I challenge you to a person of action. When someone has blessed your life or you feel they need encouraged, take a few moments to send a card or call them on the phone.  Why?  Because those few minutes out of your schedule - that simple action - can completely transform their day!

Another great way to encourage or thank someone is to buy them a  gift. At Con-fused Arts, we have a great range of Fairtrade jewellery all lovingly handmade by the wonderful ladies at Kazuri, Kenya. When you give a gift of Kazuri jewellery, you are also giving a piece of Kenya - a gift of knowing that you are helping us empower disadvantaged women in Kenya! CLICK HERE for our website or HERE for our FaceBook page.

Why not share this to encourage and challenge your friends?

Love
Pam


 

Be Bold, This Spring!

"To do more for the world than the world does for you - that is success"

Henry Ford

 

Everyone's idea of success is different. For some, it is being able to read and write, for some it's having a big family and for some it's a professional career. What is your idea of success? What makes your heart sing? 

I challenge you to be BOLD, I challenge you to do something that makes you feel alive.  If like a lot of people, you are busy, juggling jobs, kids, the house - being bold may not be doing something for someone else but it could be doing something for yourself like booking a massage, going for a walk, doing a new exercise class. 

In the very early days of Con-fused Arts, I made greeting cards and lavender sachets but this quickly changed.  I decided to be BOLD, I decided to stand up for women who have many more struggles in life than me, struggles to live a dignified optimistic life. Women who deserve a job with security, fair wages, trade union rights, no sexual harassment or mental stress.  Some overseas factories working for the UK fashion industry which on the surface look clean and modern, workers are often deprived of their internationally-recognised basic rights.

Our passion is helping and supporting these strong amazing ladies as well as supporting the women who buy and wear our jewellery.  Currently, our most popular range of luxury ethical jewellery comes from Kazuri, Kenya. The 400 local women at Kazuri, who are mostly single mothers, handcraft every piece of jewellery, from the beads being shaped to painted, glazed and strung. There is heart, feeling and personality in every necklace, bracelet and pair of earrings. Not only does Kazuri provide employment opportunities for single mothers and disadvantaged women in Kenyan society but the company also hosts a medical clinic that provides free medical care for its employees and their families.

So whatever you do, why not be BOLD, it could be for yourself or for someone else.  It's a new season, time for CHANGE!

Pam x

www.facebook.com/ConfusedArt

7 TIPS TO ETHICAL STYLE HEAVEN

I have been working on something with you in mind. I am sure you will agree that it's great to look good but good to know that you are helping the environment and the people in our world too!

We hope that our "7 TIPS TO ETHICAL STYLE HEAVEN" will help you think about your wardrobe and in what way you can help us fight against waste, pollution and unfair working conditions amongst other things. We hope we motivate you to make a positive change and contribution whilst still expressing your individuality and gorgeousness! We would love to hear how you get on, if you are inspired by our tips to buy some new ethical goodies or if you discover some gorgeous eco-friendly things.

You can always let us know via Twitter or FaceBook and also check out our gorgeous handcrafted jewellery from the wonderful ladies at Kazuri, Kenya.

Thanks for reading this and supporting us, we really appreciate it.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS YOUR 7 TIPS TO ETHICAL STYLE HEAVEN

Much love,

Pam

Art and Giving Back

Please take time to read this post from a wonderful lady Celina Wilde. She really is pushing her boundaries!

Last month I decided that nothing was going to stop me from living life on purpose. At the beginning of January I set up the Mortal Coil Project on my website, to challenge myself and others to do and try all those things they have always wanted to, big or small.

One part of this for me was a short film script that I have been toying with for 6 months: 6 long months of procrastinating, faffing and putting it off. So when I finally decided to get serious last month about everything in my life this was the first port of call.

I got ridiculously focused, wrote and rewrote and rewrote, sent it off for professional analysis and rewrote it again. I got it to a point where after 20 rewrites it will be a powerful socially conscious film that can contribute to creating real change in the world.

Due to the film being about providing understanding about the emotional impact of Rape on a victim and the people that love them, it is a topic that is bound to cause controversy, but also unite with a similar cause. I personally am tired of living in a world where 1 in 3 women are subject to rape, abuse or violence in their lifetime. The only way to create change is to work for it, join together and make it happen.

One of my other life goals is to become a film director. I have a passion for creative arts and the entertainment industry, and I truly believe art and film has the power to change the world through education and understanding.

So after writing the script, setting goals, and doing all my budgeting research it’s time to find finance. I set up the website and Facebook and the Indiegogo campaign launched on 1st of March. For those not familiar with Indiegogo it is a crowd-funding platform where people can contribute a little or a lot to a project and receive special gifts or ‘perks’ for it. Lots of people contributing a little bit all add up.

The best part of this though, is because it will be a group effort to create the film its only right to give back. So 50% of all the film profits generated once the film is released will be donated back to Rape counseling and support charities around the world.

If this is a cause you are passionate about, please pop over to the film Facebook page, join us and share. Together we can make the world a better place.
https://www.facebook.com/violationfilm

http://violationmovie.wordpress.com/

Mother's Day Contest

Con-fused Arts are passionate about supporting women and wants to celebrate mothers and mother figures around the world. We’re launching our first themed contest on Pinterest and you’re invited! Get that creativity going, because we’re looking forward to seeing some gorgeous inspirational boards to celebrate your mum in 2013.
To enter, create a board, title it “I love Mum” then add a description to your board. Make sure your board contains the above competition pin above, 3 jewellery pins from our "We Love Mum" board in no particular order. In each pin’s caption, include the hashtags #Con-fusedArts and #Mother's Day. When your board is perfect, share it with us by posting a comment on the original contest announcement pin, with a link to your board, located in our “We Love Mum".
Make sure to check the details below. Your board could win one of Con-fused Arts jewellery pieces that you pin to your new board and inspire our future trends throughout 2013!

• You must follow @confusedarts on Pinterest to enter.
• Contest ends 5th March 3pm GMT.
• Each pin must include the hashtags #Con-fusedArts and #Mother's Day.
• Only one entry board per person.
• Boards will be judged based on creativity, Con-fused Arts spirit and adherance to the guidelines.
• The winner will be notified by e-mail March 2013. In order to be notified, please sign up by clicking HERE.

We can’t wait to see your creative, beautiful work you share with us, feel free to also share on Facebook and Twitter as well! Most of all, have fun!

Do the green thing does Valentine's Day!

 After Christmas, Valentine's Day is one of the biggest waste producing days of the year. Over a billion cards get posted and untold amounts of unwanted, unloved and un-inspired tat gets presented in pink and red wrapping.

Free yourself from the consumer-driven Valentine's Day and instead celebrate it with a bit of upcycled thinking and some crafty ideas. We've picked five of our green gift ideas to help you spread the love.

1. Happy memories
Gather up all the photos, cinema tickets, love notes and that beer mat from your first date and glue your way to a collage of love.

2. The way to the heart is through the stomach.
Bake their favourite cake, cook up their most loved dinner and if you want to add the extra bells and whistles then almost anything can be heart shaped. Cookies, cakes, pancakes, waffles, sandwiches, fried eggs, omelettes, pizzas, the list goes as far as your imagination and kitchen prowess.

(Image: abeachcottage)

3. Flowers forever
Forget single wrapped red roses and bunches of flowers that will die before the weekend hits, give the gift that keeps on giving - a packet of seeds for your beloved to grow their own bunch, be it flowers or carrots.

4. Weekend away
If no Valentine's Day is complete without a huge romantic gesture then forget writing a message in the sky and whisking them away to a secluded island. Book the Eurostar to Paris and walk hand in hand through the city of love. Or try Amsterdam for a less obvious trip.

5. Get your craft on
If you're the kind of lover that likes to show your love in glue and glitter then the possibilities are endless. And you don't need a craft box full of expensive materials either. Collect sticks for a hanging wooden heart, turn newspaper into heart bunting or fold your way to these adorable origami hearts with a message of love hidden inside.

And remember, showering together saves water and if the night goes well then don't forget these.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Behind the scenes!

Well, what a great 2012 we had at Con-fused Arts, thanks to YOU but we are aiming for an even better 2013! In 2012, we decided to work with a new supplier called Kazuri and I wanted to start 2013 by telling you a bit more about this supplier/project, the special group of ladies that handcraft the luxury ceramic jewellery and the jewellery itself!



Founded by the late Lady Susan Wood,  Kazuri is still located where she first created employment for struggling single mothers in 1975, in her back garden. The workshop is in Karen, named after Karen Blixen of "Out of Africa" fame. Karen is a beautiful area just a few miles outside Nairobi. In 1988, Kazuri became a factory and expanded hugely employing 120 people. Currently, there are over 340 local women, mostly single mothers, employed at Kazuri, handcrafting our beautiful ceramic jewellery. The Kazuri workshop now has a clinic which provides free medical care for the employees.

Kazuri jewellery is aptly named as it means "small and beautiful" in Swahili. Every bead which makes up a necklace, bracelet or earrings is shaped by hand by one of the 340 local women employed by Kazuri. The beads are then kiln fired once, glazed and fired again before being strung.

If you have already bought a piece of Kazuri jewellery, you can be assured that it is completely unique, with many pieces taking on the quirks and trademarks of the people who shape the beads, paint them or string them, giving them soul as well as beauty. We love providing you with different ranges of Kazuri jewellery, different designs and different colours. We also enjoy picking new pieces to compliment the season. Simply visit our Facebook page or our website  to see what we have in stock and to get your own piece of Kenya!

How to put a smile on your face!

It is coming up to that time again, ordering the turkey, getting the Christmas tree bought or in our case down from the attic and deciding who is going to whose house on Christmas day! Unfortunately not everyone is so blessed and there are lonely folks amongst us and this is only magnified during the festive time.   So, why not carry out an ACT OF RANDOM KINDNESS to bring a smile to their face and hearts?? 

Here are 6 acts of random kindness that I wanted to share with you, they have been collected either from personal experience or heard from other folks;
1) If you are at the supermarket, why not leave the £1 in your trolley?
2) I read this one "A girl slept through her bus stop and ended up at the bus station at midnight with no more money. A couple paid her fare back to her final destination"
3) Why not cook a meal for someone -whilst my mum has been recovering from cancer, so many friends, family and neighbours have been cooking meals. Very useful seeing that the cooking has been left to my dad!
4) You could help to shovel the snow from your neighbours path especially if they are elderly!
5) Why not help out a co-worker when they have a big deadline?
6) You could help someone out for free, maybe babysitting or helping with garden or painting!

So what is stopping you from carrying out your very own act of random kindness? It might even make you smile!  Why not tell us if someone has helped with you something randomly or you have carried out an act of random kindness.

Whilst you are being kind, why not surprise someone with one of our brand new gift vouchers - just CLICK HERE . Another gorgeous gift bought without leaving the comfort and warmth of your own home.

Wishing you a very happy and peaceful festive season!

Love Pam x

Skills NOT just for the CV!

Well, ladies to say the last few months have been a steep but interesting learning curve is an understatement however I am glad to announce that as a result, Con-fused Arts and my personal life have a clearer, more focussed vision for the future! I have been reading inspirational e-books, quotes and reports and am currently doing a "training program" with Claire from "The Girls Mean Business" (a very knowledgable lady with both great business and life skills).  We have also re-launched our website - www.con-fusedarts.co.uk, you are sure to love it!

Con-fused Arts, however, is not just about jewellery and style but about your self-esteem, confidence and proactively bettering all our lives. Now, I want to share with you five skills that are helping me in the right direction in all aspects of my life;

• BREAKING DOWN TASKS into bite sized chunks. We all have busy lives, whether it be running our own businesses, working day jobs, having kids, looking after elderly or disabled relatives or all four, sometimes we just don't have the energy to face those daunting tasks. Break them down and see what can be done today! You will feel so much better for it!
• BUSINESS VISION, BUSINESS PLANS AND A MARKETING PLAN may sound really professional and scary but they don't have to be and can be tailored for your own needs. Once I had these done, a fog had lifted and now I know what I am doing month by month for the next year. You could also apply this to your everyday life
• YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND ALL DAY on FACEBOOK, Twitter, Pinterest, Stumbled Upon (you get the idea!) Decide what you need to do on there. Do it and then get on with the next thing!
• BE A LITTLE BIT SELFISH SOMETIMES! As with running a business, in everyday life, you need to take some time for yourself to recharge your batteries and be the best you can!
• BE OPEN TO HELP - It's ok to admit you don't know everything! We all have to start somewhere and weren't born with the skills and knowledge we now have.Whether it be running your own business, a project at work, a personal/family issue - be open to help. 

Thanks for reading ladies, believe it or not you have taken a moment to yourself just by reading this post!

Love and peace, Pam x

London Fashion Weekend Update

London Fashion Weekend update....

Eco specialists were gearing up at London Fashion Weekend to discuss the 'relevance of sustainable fashion in our current climate' with a Vodaphone lounge panel including fashion writer and presenter Angela Scanlon, Filipo De Castro (From Somewhere) and Jocelyn Wipple (Element 23). The eco event got me thinking about sustainable fashion and brands that have revolved their lines and campaigns around it, with People Tree firstly popping into my head.


Eco and fair trade fashion has become a trend within its own right and now there are hundreds of brilliant boutiques and brands that are offering great pieces including clothing and accessories. One of those, a local to me, is Con-fused Arts.

Con-fused arts, an on line fair-trade jewellery and accessories boutique, offers some great bold statement pieces in addition some really quirky cute items. I did a bit of browsing on the brand's website and came across these earrings, see the pic above, but check out the website to find loads of other bits and bobs....Con-fused Arts.


J

http://julielinks.blogspot.co.uk/

TAKE A MOMENT!

Although it may not be in our mission statement, Con-fused Arts is passionate about women's self-esteem and wellbeing. You ARE worth it, no matter what you have been told in the present or past. You are fearfully and wonderfully made and don't forget it!

Having a busy life myself and being everything from a mother, a wife, a daughter, an employee and a small business owner - some may think I dont have a second to myself. My secret is to take a few minutes here and there - I regularly spend an extra few minutes in the bathroom. When I make that much needed cup of coffee, I just AM, listening to the kettle boil, watching the spoon swirl round in the cup. When I sink into bed, I take a few minutes to be thankful for the day, for food and drink, for shelter, for freedom of speech - the list goes on.

Whatever it is, try take a few minutes each day to recharge before the chaos starts all over again!

KIND + DYNAMIC WITH ETHICS = KIN'ETHICS

Welcome all! I hope you have had a nice (don't know about sunny) summer with some time off. With the coming of a new season, comes our BRAND NEW newsletter, you will hear from our new guest bloggers, hear about upcoming events, discounts and much more.

Have you ever dreamt of doing something special, something inspired but not sure who to join up with? Have you ever wanted to buy an absolutely gorgeous unique gift with a meaning behind it but not sure where to look?  Kin'ethics may be just the place for you!

KIND+ DYNAMIC WITH ETHICS =KIN'ETHICS

Our exciting vision is to have an online hangout  where businesses can introduce themselves and their fab products, even their aspirations and dreams. Where people can network with like-minded people and where you can browse eco-retailers whose ethos agrees with their yours.

You can let us know if you are looking for a particular gift or even if you need ideas for gifts. To make it even easier for you, we will be producing a categorised directory of all our retailers for you to browse through. I am soooo looking forward for this to be in full swing!

Just head over to Kin'ethics at www.facebook.com/Kinethicspage NOW!  I am sure your eyes will be opened at the number of great retailers who are giving back to their communities :)

Wishing you a great month ahead. I will leave you with this quote from Mother Theresa

 

"Spread love everywhere you go. Let noone ever come to you without leaving happier"

 

Love, Pam

x

Love at first random glance!

Recently, browsing through the net, I stumbled upon a necklace - a beautiful map of Africa in striking red acrylic with a heart carved out of the map. To say it struck a chord is an understatement! (You see, from a very young age I have had a strong love of Africa, from the rich colours and fabric to the music and people but the love is deeper than that!)  Anyway, I closed the page as it wasn't what I set out to look for and simply forgot about it...

I forgot about it for a day but then it kept coming back into my thoughts, A LOT.  I WANTED IT and as my birthday has just passed I thought it was the perfect reason to buy it! Trying to find it again proved difficult as I couldn't remember what site it was from, the designer or business. I finally found it with the help of Claire from The Girls Mean Business who prompted my memory. THANK YOU!

My most wanted object was created by Stevie K, a wonderful talented designer living in Chicago. She runs her business, tru.che, having quit her day job to pursue her "daydream" of making jewellery. She offers an array of gorgeous designs including a fab range of "country map" necklaces - CLICK HERE .  Everything means different things to different people but MY map of Africa necklace means so much to me, MUCH more than JUST a necklace!

Following my passion for Africa, Con-fused Arts stock a range of Fairtrade jewellery from Africa, to check these out, you can go to either my FaceBook page or website. 

Savour the Flavour Prt2 (Money saving tips)

So, our night of gorgeous food and chat continues!  We got to hear from a lovely lady called Karen from Love Food Hate Waste telling us about food wastage in Scotland. Did you know we throw away 566,000 tonnes of food in Scotland each year and this costs each household an average of £430 a year! The good news is there are things we can do to reduce this waste.

1) Portion size.  Love Food Hate Waste have a great spaghetti portion gadget to help you to cook the exact amount you need and not be left with loads to chuck in the bin. The same goes for other pasta and rice.

2) Love Food Hate Waste also show you how food date labels can be your friends getting the most out of your food.

3) Planning each meal for 2 weeks so when we do our food shopping, we buy ingredients for those meals and then write the meals out on a list and stick to the fridge. It's great! - it saves hubby or myself getting uninspired and lazy lulling around saying "WHAT'S FOR TEA????"

4)Checking your cupboards to see what you have in the house so that when you are in the supermarket you don't end up buying essentials that you still have in the house.

My favourite tip of the night - our chef who was cooking for us on the night only needed half a tin of Asian Kitchen coconut milk and someone suggested that she poured the rest into ice cube trays and pop them into the freezer until they were needed. BRILLIANT!

If you want to save yourself money and let's be honest you woudl be crazy NOT to want to save your money, please check out this page Love Food Hate waste at www.lovefoodhatewaste.com or www.scotland.lovefoodhatewaste.com !

Savour the Flavour

Alison E, Alison H, Janice W and I.

Last Friday evening, us ladies set off down to Stonehaven to attend the last date of the "Savour the Flavour" cooking show. It was put on by The Co-operative and in conjunction with Just Trading Scotland. What a great informative evening we had!

The cooking itself was done by Fi Bird and a cheery assistant who volunteered from the audience. Our menu was designed by Fi and a restaurant in Glasgow called Calabash.

We got to taste ALL the gorgeous food prepared in front of us. I would say the food wasn't pure "African" but more precisely a wonderful fusion of European and African ingredients and flavours demonstrating wonderful ways to use Fairtrade ingredients!

Coconut Kilombero Rice and Elmwood Chicken
Serves 6
What to find:
300g Malawi Kitchen Kilombero rice (2.5 cups)
410g Elmwood Chicken Breasts (pack)
2 tablespoons sunflower oil
1 large red onion, peeled and chopped
1 teaspoon garlic paste
3-4 pieces Lazy Ginger, rinsed and finely chopped
1 small chilli, de-seeded and finely chopped
400g can chopped tomatoes
2 tablespoons coriander, chopped (plus extra to decorate)
3 peppers, mixed colours, finely chopped
½ 400ml can coconut milk (Asian Kitchen if available)
Freshly ground pepper
What to do:
1. Rinse the rice and follow the cooking directions on the packet.
2. Put the chicken breasts in a pan and just cover them with water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes until the chicken juices run clear when tested with a knife. Allow to cool and cut into small slices or cubes.
3. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a wok or large frying pan and cook the chopped onion with the garlic, ginger and chilli until the onion is soft.
4. Add the tomatoes, bring to the boil and simmer to reduce until thick. Add the chopped coriander and cook briefly. Remove the sauce from the heat and put it in a bowl.
5. Add the rest of the oil to the washed frying pan and stir fry the peppers for 2-3 minutes. Add the coconut milk. Stir well and then add the prepared tomato sauce, cooked rice and chicken.
6. Return to the hob briefly to heat thoroughly, stirring continuously. Add the extra coriander and serve immediately.

This event was in support of Scotland's bid for Fair trade Nation status!

To find out about the other wonderful recipes used that night and what else we got up to, check back for my next blog post very soon.

Soap with a conscience!

How delighted was I when I found out I had won a shopping spree with The Visionary Soap Company? That's not all I am excited about. I really want to tell you a bit about this great pioneering and thriving business. 

Visionary Soap is the UK’s leading fair trade body care company whose whole range carries the FAIRTRADE Mark. Their company has been entirely dedicated to fair trade since it was created in  2005. Their products are handcrafted in the UK and abroad using ingredients from producers in Palestine, India, Ghana, Nicaragua, The Dominican Republic, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and South Africa. 

Visionary Soap say "When others do the bare minimum, we strive instead for the maximum. As more ingredients are certified, we are committed to incorporating them into our products, thus boosting these percentages and supporting our Fairtrade producers even more! " GREAT TO HEAR!

I promptly received my order and was delighted with all of it. The gift sets were packaged in beautiful boxes which are all recycable and compostable - BONUS POINTS FOR THEM! To find out more about Visionary Soap - click HERE

To be in with a chance of winning some of these great goodies, make sure you have "LIKED" our Facebook page to find out about offers and competitions!
                                                                                                                                    

 

Did you know.....?

What do THESE beads have in common with THIS football??

The word is Jabulani!! Did you know ----Jabulani means "rejoice" or "celebrate" in Zulu and it is the name used for these gorgeous vibrant handmade beads. This distinctive beadwork is a trademark of South Africa's proud heritage.  It was ALSO the name given to the 2010 FIFA match ball.  

Con-fused Arts have one funky bracelet for sale that uses these gorgeous Fair Trade handmade beads. Check out www.facebook.com/ConfusedArt for so many individual Fair Trade pieces of jewellery.