Sustainable Living

Read more about the article Sustainability Festival, Northwich, 23rd July 2022
Allergy Friendly / Aluminium-Free / Bamboo Straws / Biodegradable / BuyLocal / Clothing / Eco-Friendly / Environmentally Friendly / Ethical / Events / Fabric / Face Pads / Fair Trade / haberdashery / Menstrual Products / Organic / Pet Friendly / Plastic-Free Wraps / Products / Recycling / Sewing / Shop Independent / Sustainable / Sustainable Living / Tote Bag / Up-cycling / Weigh of the World / Yarn / Zero Waste

Sustainability Festival, Northwich, 23rd July 2022

West Cheshire Museums are partnering with Eco Communities to host a sustainable Festival and craft fair, on the 23rd July 2023.

The event is part of West Cheshire Museums’ Festival for the Future, a month-long celebration of sustainability and climate action held accross museum sites Chester, Northwich and Malpas.

The Festival of the Future is a free one day event at the Northwich museums – ideal for families who love nature, performance , craft and free workshops!

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July 12, 2022
Read more about the article #ShopIndependentDay
Show Love Shop Small
Abda: Coffee - Cake - Culture / Apparel / BuyLocal / Crafty Stitches / Crafty Stitches / Culinary Concept / Dante's Boutique / Ginger & Brown's / Innoscent Spa / John Griffiths / John Griffiths / New Moon Art Collective / Northwich Art Shop / Sew Easy / Shop Independent / Sustainable Living / The Style Hut / Weigh of the World / White Ribbon Boutique

#ShopIndependentDay

The Ethical Choice- Show Love: Buy Local, Shop Small

When you buy out-of-season produce, e.g. raspberries or strawberries in December, your eco-credentials become lower. The same applies to purchasing any food product that has been flown from outside your country or is wrapped in layers of (unnecessary) plastic. By shopping locally, and independently, (bakers, farm shops, green grocers…) it is less likely that the produce has travelled an unthinkable distance in order to get onto your plate. Not only does this support local farmers, but the produce will be wrapped in less (or even no) packaging and is fresher. The same applies to non-food goods and services.

This is just one positive, others include:

  • It is often possible to try before you buy!
  • It may be cheaper
  • Advice can be sought if required
  • It helps build your community, get social!
  • It support local businesses and entrepreneurs
  • Independent shops often sell unique and unusual products
  • It boosts the local economy
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June 25, 2022
Read more about the article Zero Waste Dressmaking
Me modelling the Denim Blue Zero Waste Dress
Sewing / Sustainable Living / Zero Waste

Zero Waste Dressmaking

I finally have had time to write about the Zero Waste Dress pattern by Offset Warehouse!

Did you know that on average, 15% of fabric is wasted every time a garment is made? By designing clothes that are “zero waste”, this can be eliminated – the sewing pattern uses all the fabric and nothing is thrown away. Offset Warehouse have put together this simple zero waste dress pattern so you can try it for yourself – Which is exactly what I did! (You can find the FREE pattern here).

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June 15, 2022
Read more about the article Product Review: Dingbats*
©Dingbats* Notebooks, Journals and Ātopen Pens
Bullet Journal / Journal / Notebook / Pens / Products / Stationary / Sustainable / Sustainable Living / Zero Waste

Product Review: Dingbats*

I had never heard of Dingbats* until Christmas Day 2020 when my best friend (sharing my love of notebooks/bullet journals, and knowing that I was working towards a Zero Waste Life – and blogging in the process), gave me a Dingbats* notebook as a gift.  

In the pocket, at the back of the notebook, was a small leaflet, which briefly detailed their product ranges and highlighted key features (discussed below). I tried them, following the link on the leaflet to find out more, then my love affair with Dingbats* began… in fact, 3 months later I ordered a further 5 journals, as well as some lovely dual-tipped pens!!  Why? What makes Dingbats* different/better than the Moleskine notebooks, which I have used for decades?

Dingbats* Earth Collection of notebooks & Pens
©Dingbats* Earth Collection of Notebooks & Pens

Read on, and get a 10% discount on your purchase!

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December 30, 2021
Read more about the article Product Review: Tea from Bird & Blend Tea Co.
©Bird & Blend Tea Co.
Bird & Blend Tea Co. / Eco-Friendly / Environmentally Friendly / Ethical / Products / Sustainable / Sustainable Living / Tea / Vegan / Vegetarian / Zero Waste

Product Review: Tea from Bird & Blend Tea Co.

The Bird & Blend Tea Co. is “an eco-conscious, independent, people-focused, award winning Tea Mixology Company on a mission to spread happiness and reimagine tea” – As a Tea-Lover myself, this statement alone piqued my interest!

So, when my loose-tea cupboard was looking bare in October, I popped off an order to them, and I was not disappointed!

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November 30, 2021
Read more about the article Become your own Brand: Sustainable sewing
Photo by Merve Sehirli Nasir on Unsplash buttons speaking
Bag / Bee-Friendly / Bowl Cover / Cloth Napkins / Dog / Eco-Friendly / Environmentally Friendly / Face Pads / Kitchen Towel / Menstrual Products / Pet Friendly / Plastic-Free Wraps / Products / Sanitary Towels / Sewing / Snack Bags / socks / Sponges / Sustainable Living / Tote Bag / Zero Waste

Become your own Brand: Sustainable sewing

In sewing an item from scratch – either using purchased materials or upcycling old items – you will experience the time, skill and patience it takes to create an item of clothing or accessory. Your journey to self sufficiency moves forward, and mending, fixing, upcycling and creating new, bespoke/tailored and exciting items becomes an enjoyable hobby: you become your own brand!

If you are interested in sustainable sewing projects, or maybe have been motivated to look into this more during COVID-19 lockdowns, here are a few ideas, patterns and links – I just hope that in inspires just one other person to replace one item which they usually buy, with a home-made / upcycled item:  By sewing your own clothing and/or accessories, you are choosing a leisurely, more sustainable lifestyle and, at the same time, making a stand against fast fashion.

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July 6, 2021
Read more about the article For those who sew: Gütermann Recycled Sewing Thread
Products / Sewing / Sustainable Living / Up-cycling / Zero Waste

For those who sew: Gütermann Recycled Sewing Thread

Gutermann Recycled Sew-All Thread Set 20pk - Basics
Gutermann Recycled Sew-All Thread Set 20pk – Basics

As an avid sewer – and I know that I am not alone here – I take pride in repairing and upcycling items in order to lower my carbon footprint. I also know Gütermann to be one of the best brands of sewing thread in the world! I have recently discovered Gütermann Sew-all Thread rPET. Not only can they be implemented for a variety of fabrics and stitches, but they are made from 100 % recycled polyester!

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May 17, 2021
Read more about the article Buy Local: Focus on Yarn
Photo by Mahyar Motebassem on Unsplash
Biodegradable / BuyLocal / Environmentally Friendly / Products / Sustainable / Sustainable Living

Buy Local: Focus on Yarn

If, like me, often purchase beautiful yarns for knitting, crochet or even weaving, one small change you can make to reduce your carbon footprint is to #BuyLocal. We are not short of amazing yarn mills, spinners and/or even hand dyers in the UK – look out for them in your local shops or support them via their websites!

As you are looking through the below, PLEASE let me know if I have missed any and I will add them!

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May 1, 2021
Read more about the article Home Made Reusable Sanitary Products
Home made sanitary towels / menstrual pads, by Cathrene
Menstrual Products / Recycling / Reducing Waste / Sanitary Towels / Sustainable / Sustainable Living / Up-cycling / Zero Waste

Home Made Reusable Sanitary Products

Following my Product Review on Reusable Sanitary Products in March last year, I have been producing my own Sanitary Towels. Not only have these been much more comfy to wear than those purchased, but the homemade ones have proven to weather the wear far better!

Originally, I made 2 test ones for myself (one for day and one for night), which I have used alongside those purchased, then numerous friends and businesses showed interest, so I made up more (far prettier than my “mock ups” from scrap fabrics). Now, a year later, my 2 sanitary towels still look and feel amazing, the purchased Earthwise towels look a little tatty, but are still functional, and the Eco-Femme Cotton Sanitary Night Pads have worn very badly, and although still functional, the fabric has become rough against my skin.

Compared to the brand of disposable pads I used prior, I would never go back…. No irritation and excellent absorbency!

So I set to to make some nice new towels for me for a change (haha – it was the same story with the COVID-19 masks – I have made nearly 100 for others… and still have not finished my own!).

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June 19, 2020
Read more about the article Is the ‘Tiny Home’ movement finally catching on in Britain?
Environmentally Friendly / Northwich / Reducing Waste / Sustainable Living / Tiny Home Foundation / Tiny Homes / Zero Waste

Is the ‘Tiny Home’ movement finally catching on in Britain?

Guest Blog Post by David Blackhurst

For those who don’t know what it’s all about… There is a global trend which is growing in popularity around the world. The UK is now catching up! The basic premise is around minimalism, what do you actually ‘need’ to live and be comfortable?

When you start to strip away the shiny baubles, what we actually need/use on a regular basis surprises most people. I lived on a narrowboat for three years, but soon had to adapt to the ‘limited space’. At first I had things in storage, but over time I came to realise that (after six months) I hadn’t actually needed anything which was in the storage unit I was paying for.

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May 14, 2020