Wrap up warm

I knit for people I love. That's my way of showing that I care about them. And some time ago I developed particular fondness for the 'entrelac' pattern.

It looks impressive and you can use as many colours as you want. And it makes the knitted fabric very warm. What you see here are couple of winter snoods that I made for my friends and family. I learnt the technique from a book (I had to adjust it a bit, as what I knit is a seamless tube and not a rectangle) but you'll find many great video tutorials on the Internet. If you need any tips from me, ask away!

Make most of your meal

 

I don't dine out often. Partly because I can't afford it, and partly because I get too excited, feel adventurous and tend to order something that turns out to be quite disgusting. Having said that, on those occasions when I get it right, I enjoy eating out thoroughly. And to help me decide which fine establishments I will grace with my presence I use SRA (The Sustainable Restaurants Association) website. Member restaurants can be rated between one and three stars. 'To get rated restaurants are examined in 14 key focus areas and provide detailed evidence to support their answers across three main sustainability categories - Sourcing, Environmental and Society.' (www.thesra.org) In other words - they are good and deserve to be rewarded for their efforts with your custom.

 

SRA's latest initiative - Too Good To Waste tackles a restaurant food waste problem. I am never shy about asking for a doggy bag for my leftovers but now I will get them in a stylish, 100% biodegradable box. Result!

'On the twelfth day of Christmas....'

Do you know anyone who doesn't overindulge during the festive season? I don't. That's why we all need a bit of a detox this time of year. Frankly, I think that fancy yogurts and herbal infusions are overrated. I go for a simple breakfast that is high in complex carbs, dairy-free and delicious.

 

My recipe was inspired by several versions found on the net. You need just five ingredients:

• fine cornmeal
• coconut milk
• ground cinnamon
• vanilla pod (or extract)
• runny honey / golden syrup

Mix one part cornmeal with enough water to make it a thin paste, pour into four parts boiling water, stir vigorously with a fork for 3 minutes and leave to simmer for 15 minutes. Take off the stove, add one part of coconut milk, season with cinnamon and vanilla and sweeten to taste.

I am back! And with a New Year's pud.

So here I am. I won't even try to explain why I haven't posted anything for over six months, let's just say that I'm glad to be back. And it's thanks to my best friend, who promised to follow the updates and make sure that there are enough of them.
Especially for you A., to commemorate our New Year's celebrations: my first chocolate pudding (recipe from one of Lorraine Pascale's books). It sure tasted great :)

I don't do New Year's resolutions. But If I did, I would promise to push myself harder, in everything I do.
To infinity and beyond!! 

T-bag

You should know by now that I'm all for recycling and reusing stuff. I try to buy less, cut down on my household waste and give unwanted objects new life. Plus the things you can craft can be really funky! Like that amazing shopping bag made out of and old T-shirt. All you need is a pair of scissors and a simple tutorial from Lee Meredith @ leethal.net.

Happy snapping!

 

Worton

Last weekend I visited Worton Organic Garden in rural Oxfordshire. It's a small farm, run by couple of people who feel very strongly about the ethics of the food production process. They grow fruits, vegetables and keep some chickens. All their produce is free from artificial fertilizers and pesticides, and most of it is hand picked. The owner is a very knowledgeable and inspiring man, believing that you can live hand in hand with nature rather than just exploit it. It was a heartening experience that makes you think of how sustainable farming could be as opposed to how greedy and industrial most of it really is nowadays.
Here's where you can find your nearest farmers' market so you can buy better quality food and support those who are really passionate about producing it.

Wake Up, Freak Out - then Get a Grip

I love that video. It was produced couple of years ago but I came across it just yesterday. In a simple and non-patronizing manner it explains the physics and dangers of climate change. And the animation is good.

World Environment Day 2011

It looks like everything and everyone have their day on which we suppose to celebrate their greatness/bravery/achievements. And whereas some of them seem less exciting, like World Cabbage Day (17th of February, apparently) and some of them are just plain silly - National Watermelon Seeds Spitting Day (3rd of August), there is quite a few important ones. One of them - UN World Environment Day- we celebrate today.

This year the focus is on forests, their importance in fighting climate change and on continuous global deforestation. The least you can do is to think of how you cut down your paper usage even further. Simple changes can have great impact, like using dishcloth rather than disposable paper towels.

Knitting the knots, knotting the knits

I got another beautiful gift. My mum-in-law gave me a knitted blouse, made of 100% unbleached linen, with wooden buttons. It's simply gorgeous.

New piece of garment made me think again of sustainable fibre, something I have already briefly mentioned here. I researched the topic, learned few things, disagreed with few opinions and decided what my top 3 'green fibres' are:

• Linen/Hemp: those two are quite similar when it comes to cultivation and harvesting, with linen being a bit softer, both amazingly versatile
• Cotton: if organically grown and dyed with biodegradable dyes
• Wool: but only when sourced from local farmers to ensure that animals are treated fairly, and spun locally without the use of harsh chemicals

Biggest disappointment - Bamboo! Even though regarded the most sustainable plant on the planet (it grows unbelievably fast and the same plant can be harvested again and again), that peculiar grass needs lots of chemicals in order to be transformed into yarn, and therefore loses its sustainable edge.

For those who want to learn more about sustainable yarn I recommend Greencraft and Alternative Yarn groups on the Ravelry website.

All shades of green

I read 'The Green Matketing Manifesto' for the first time when still at the Uni. Initially it marvelled me, then I became more sceptical and started to think of it as a cynical guide on how to make people believe that they buy something more than they actually purchase, even if they don't. Finally, I got to read author's blog and I now I think that he truly believes in green marketing. 

Many companies try it, some with better, and some with not so impressive effect. Everybody wants to be seen as green, carbon neutral and vegan friendly nowadays. And that is why it surprises me when I find companies doing amazing work and keeping it quiet. A prime example being one of the UK make up manufacturers.

They've been in the business for about 30 years. Their products have never ever been tested on animals and most of them don't contain any ingredients derived from animals (such as beeswax). But you won't learn it from their TV campaigns or not even from their products labels. They market themseleves simply as an affordable make up range, with a great range of colours, and target mostly teenagers. Why don't they use their animal friendly policy to the full advantage and to boost their sales? I have no idea but their example proves that even though green marketing helps to introduce new ideas to the mass market, truly responsible consumer should always look behind the label.

For girls' eyes only.

Seriously guys, it's a girlie topic so stop reading now!

Mooncup. I started using it some time ago, mainly because of the environmental concerns. Having read some reviews I was rather apprehensive but decided to give it a try. And never regretted it.

It's very comfortable, much more hygienic than popular methods and more discreet too.

Is it for everyone? Most certainly not. The idea has been around for decades, it's been re-introduced as the Mooncup good couple of years ago, and it still remains rather unusual method, if not controversial.

Just give it a go and come to your own decision girls.

My new knit (and a pair of old shoes)

Because nautical style comes back every summer.

This is my Bible

Inhabitat is by far the most comprehensive guide to green design. Covers pretty much all areas of living, from architecture and transportation to fashion tips. Must check it out.

What's in season?

Want to eat fresh and keep your diet diverse? Buy fruits and veggies that are in season. 

Food that is in season is cheaper, tastes better and is greener (less energy is used to produce it). And to top it off, by eating seasonably you support local farmers and avoid food miles. 

Eat Seasonably website has already done the hard job for you. All you've got to do is just to stick to their calendar. And guess what's best this month?

Did you know?

Captain Planet Foundation

One of my favourite childhood cartoons. Still rocks!

(P)eternity?

I am all for recycling but that seems to be a bit extreme...

There are other ways to make sure that your crafty works are sustainable without necessarily collecting your pet's hair (btw, I wonder if you could knit with hamster hair?...)
First of all, you can decide not to buy any new yarn altogether. Just give your closet a good cleanup or head to your nearest charity shop and see if there's anything you could unravel. Just recently, I decided to turn my old winter scarf into a nice knitted pillowcase.
And if you still want to go with the new, think of two things: how sustainable the manufacturing process was and what the 'afterlife' of the yarn would be like (is it biodegradable? can you knit with it again and again?).

My first homemade pumpkin pie

I know it's well past pumpkin season but I've been craving it since I watched 'I Robot' lately. It's funny how I remember food better than the movie plot :)

Blanket wrap

I supposed to finish that piece about a year ago. Finally I found time to do it and I must say I'm quite pleased with the effect. Hope the future owner will be too. It flies to Berlin tomorrow. Stay warm J.

Birthday present

It was my birthday couple of days ago and I got the best present any girl could wish for - new bag. It's genuine leather and beautifully crafted. You can throw in a change of clothes, some shopping and there's still plenty of room left. Needless to say, I love it.

Do I feel bad about wearing genuine leather? No I don't. Most of my bags, gloves, boots and favourite jacket are made of it. I'm not a vegetarian, so I see leather as a by-product of my eating habits. Actually, I find leather way more sustainable material than any man-made. I would rather have two classic satchels than tons of PVC bags. I could argue for hours about the amount of energy that is used to produce artificial leather, how long does it take to decompose (estimated 1700 years vs up to 50 years for leather). Or I could go for more practical reasons. Leather ages beautifully, the more scuffed the better it looks. It doesn't go out of fashion, at certain point you just start calling it 'vintage'. And it's perfect for the ever-changing English weather.