Eco Friendly Festive Christmas Gift Wrapping

We’ve got Christmas all wrapped up from eco friendly vintage wrappings to recycling pretty jars. Here’s our sustainable, zero waste gift wrapping alternatives to create some original and thoughtful gifts this season.

japanese furoshiki gift wrapping

Have a go at Japanese Furoshiki wrapping - traditional Japanese wrapping cloths were used to wrap and transport goods but as with many Japanese philosophies it had to have a beautiful aesthetic. Use a vintage scarf or some vintage or preloved fabric to wrap your present and give a gift within a gift. A beautiful eco friendly alternative to wrapping paper that will create a Christmas present to be treasured.

Time to sparkle

Tis the season to sparkle and vintage brooches are the perfect way to add a little extra to both Christmas outfits and gift wrap. Attach a vintage brooch to your finished gift when wrapped, either pinned or with recycled ribbon, and your love one receives a beautiful original piece.

Brooches can be easily converted to necklaces using brooch converters or jump rings, making them even more wearable.

edible gifts

Create the perfect homemade gift made in vintage vessels - vintage jars, mason jars and pretty recycled jam jars adorned with ribbon and upcycled with a sprig of foliage can house a multitude of homemade delicacies from chutney to christmas biscuits or gingerbread. Short of time, simply cheat it and dip mini pretzels into gently warmed chocolate and they make the perfect edible eco friendly gift.

paper wrapped presents

A return to the simple but beautiful, homemade decorations of Christmas past. Brown paper wrappings and string are still a wonderfully simple option that look nostalgic, especially with a sprig of foraged foliage or a decadent ribbon added. Embellish with candy canes, your own artwork or let the kids go wild with some potato printing.

Old vintage magazines, newspapers and sheet music also make brilliant low waste gift wrappings and you can tailor make to suit personalities and hobbies. Pair with paper tape and pop in the recycling when done or flatten and keep to reuse next year.

GIVE A LITTLE, GET A Lot

Giving never felt so good when your wrapping is zero waste and guilt free. Take it to the next level and go completely packaging free with one of our Gift Cards for a perfectly practical gift that won’t be left in the back of the cupboard. Our Gift Vouchers can be used towards any frames, accessories or glasses repairs.

All that’s left is to enjoy something mulled, pop on a Wonderful Life and give yourself over to the festivities.

Wishing you all peace and joy.

Jo

Who were the Land Girls?

We take a look at the Land Girls, unsung heroes of World War Two, as this year marks the 75 anniversary of the D-Day Landings. Commemorative events will be taking place throughout the summer to remember those brave boys, while we raise a glass to our Land Girls.

karolina-grabowska

While our boys were gone, the home fires were kept burning by the Land Girls. The British Women’s Land Army was first set up in January 1917 (World War One) and re-formed in June 1939 in preparation for World War Two.

Go Girl Go

In the 1940s over 200,000 girls signed up to The Women’s Land Army to make ‘agriculture their wartime profession’ and so ensuring the nation didn’t starve.

‘The land army fights in the fields. It is in the fields of Britain that the most critical battle of the present war may well be fought and won’ Lady Denman, Director of the Women’s Land Army.

Farm work was hard. Those gals did everything from driving tractors, hoeing, ploughing, hedging, turning hay, lifting potatoes, milking, lambing and looking after poultry. Women were employed as rat catchers and worked in the Timber Corps, felling trees and running sawmills.

The Land Army uniform was made up of green jerseys, brown breeches or dungarees, brown felt hats and khaki overcoats. A practical outfit that’s popping up everywhere today - you can’t move without falling over a pair of dungarees and we love em.

Conditions were poor and pay was low but many women enjoyed it despite tough times - go girls! They even had their own monthly magazine to lift spirits.  The Land Girl magazine was a way to share news and bring Land Girls together wherever they were in the country.

The Women's Land Army remained until 1950 and concluded with a final parade at Buckingham Palace with the Queen in attendance. Her Majesty observed that the Land Girls ‘had obeyed the call of duty in the nation’s hour of great peril and the nation owed them an everlasting debt'.

We take our hats off to you ladies.

Dig for Victory

The ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign was set up during World War Two by the British Ministry of Agriculture. Everyone across the country was encouraged to grow their own food in times of harsh rationing during and after the wartime.

Open spaces everywhere were transformed into allotments, from domestic gardens to public parks – even the lawns outside the Tower of London were turned into vegetable patches.  

Leaflets were part of a massive propaganda campaign to ensure people had enough to eat, and morale was kept high.

grow your own

The awareness of food miles, food provenance and climate change has increased demand for vegetable plots and now we know better, we all want to eat seasonally and locally grown food.

Nothing tastes as good as home grown fruit and vegetables and gardening is a brilliant source of relaxation, comfort and enjoyment - hugely beneficial to mental health and wellbeing.

We need to take the spirit of the Land Girls with us into the next decade, starting by working our own little patches of land and producing more of our own food like these heroes did.

So dungarees on and hoes out - here’s a couple of great places to head to, to get started; Life On Pig Row and RHS.

 For lots more interesting stories head over to www.womenslandarmy.co.uk and www.dig-for-victory.org.uk

Jo

Eco Friendly Festivals

It’s time to festival. Here’s our favourite eco friendly festivals to enjoy this summer with a spot of vintage thrown in coz we can’t not.

eco friendly festivals in the UK

Our festival culture in the UK is big - we love a good party. What’s exciting to see is the new eco friendly focus on environment, minimising waste and sustainability. From banning plastic bottles to recycling schemes and lots of lovely water points to refill your reusable bottle.

Tyson Dudley

Here’s some of the best eco friendly festivals in the UK happening this summer…

Timber 5-7 July, National Forest

Latitude 18-21 July, Suffolk

The Green Gathering 1-4 August, Chepstow

Wilderness 1-4 August, Oxfordshire

Valley Fest 2-4 August, Bristol  

Sunrise 16-18 August, Hereford

Green Man 15-18 August, Brecon Beacons

River Cottage 24-25 August, Axminster

Shambala 25-29 August, Northamptonshire 

A vintage affair

It doesn’t get any more sustainable than vintage. Invest in joyous pieces from the past, reminisce and revel in the look, feel and sound of bygone eras with a vintage festival.

Oh and we’ll be popping up at the Nottingham Carnival and Vintage & Handmade in Shropshire so come on down and party with us!

Twinwood Bedford,  23-26 August

Vintage & Handmade RAF Shropshire 17-18 August

Vintage Carnival Nottingham, 31 August

Goodwood Revival Sussex, 13-15 September

what kit to pack

When packing up your festival kit, remember less is more and who needs to shower anyway?

Here’s how to be a little more eco friendly this season…

• Avoid plastic; don’t bring disposable plastic with you and refuse single-use plastic when there.

• Bring reusables; your cup and water bottle, cutlery, a container for food, a cloth napkin and a simple bar of soap and cloth for washing.

• A rain mac to avoid those nasty single-use ponchos for the inevitable downpour.

• If you simply must glitter, make it biodegradable.

• Avoid cheap festival sunnies that will end up in landfill. Bring your own sunglasses and the hard case to protect them. Better still invest in a frame chain - perfect for a little festival action.

• Travel light - just essentials and the spirit of the fiesta and car share where you can.

by Gilbert Beltran

woodstock baby

We can’t talk about festivals and not mention Woodstock. In August 1969, over half a million people came to New York for the iconic 3 day concert. America was knee deep in the Vietnam war and Woodstock Festival was an opportunity for people to escape into music and spread a message of peace and unity.

“Woodstock 1969 was a reaction by the youth of its time and the conditions we faced,” Woodstock co-founder Michael Lang. “We proved that it is possible to live together in harmony and with compassion. Woodstock gave people around the world hope, which is why I think it remains relevant today.”

And they’re attempting to do it again this year, fifty years on. ‘For Woodstock 50, we’re supporting causes that represent the issues of our times… but our call to action is timeless. Stand with us. Make a difference. Help heal the planet and the people living on it’

We can’t disagree with that - read more here

Enjoy a planet friendly festival this summer..

Peace Out.

Jo

Easy on the Eye

Photo by Max-Jakob Beer

It's National Eye Health Week (24-30 September) and if you haven't had your eyes tested recently, Autumn's the perfect time to do it. Two million people in the UK are living with sight loss, and half this sight loss is avoidable. A report this year from the British Journal of Ophthalmology revealed eyelid cancer is on the up. Let’s get those peepers tip top in time for party season.

SIGHT TESTS

Not just to check your vision and see if you need glasses, sight tests are an important MOT for your eyes, detecting serious eye conditions, some of which scarily show no symptoms.

A sight test can also detect other health conditions like high blood pressure, cholesterol or diabetes. To keep your eyes healthy in between seeing your optician, here's some remedies to everyday eye ailments...

blink of an eye

Sore, dry and irritated eyes could be a touch of Screen Dry Eye. If you use a screen for long periods minimise the symptoms of Screen Dry Eye by practising the 20-20-20 rule – every 20 minutes, look 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds, to give your eyes a break. Warm compresses are soothing and don’t forget to blink!

dry your eyes

Constantly watering eyes or super dry eyes that worsen throughout the day could spell Dry Eye. Environment can be a cause from changes in temperature or humidity to brightness. Heating, air conditioning, computer work and hours spent on social media can all cause Dry Eye as they disrupt the eye’s lipid layer.

Sunlight can also have a drying effect on the eyes and my own personal nemesis Autumnal winds! Cover up with sunglasses, which along with UV protection, will prevent gales and dust hitting your eyes. Help yourself by upping your Omega 3 fatty acids while artificial tears and eye ointments can soothe and lubricate the eye.

Photo by Pedro Mamoré on Unsplash

Red eye

Lack of sleep, swimming, pollution and time spent in dark smoky bars bring about bloodshot eyes.

Artificial tears, eye ointments or refreshing eye drops can help to soothe the eye - stay away from brightening drops as they use vasoconstrictors to narrow the blood vessels in the eye and this won't help.

Gritty and Sticky

Eyes can mean conjunctivitis – an inflammation of the conjunctiva (the thin, transparent layer that lines the inner eyelid). Your immune system can usually handle this however, over-the-counter remedies can speed up recovery. Warm compresses are your friends.

Blepha what Now

Irritated red eyelids, itching, burning, sticky eyelids or a sensitivity to light, may be a sign of Blepharitis. People who suffer from dry skin conditions seem prone. Good eye care is essential to prevent recurrence. To ease, gently cleanse the eye. In severe cases, an antibiotic ointment or eye drops may save the day.

make hay

Itchy, swollen and watery eyes - you could have an allergy or hay fever. Start by reducing exposure to the triggers. If you’re allergic to pollen - keep house and car windows closed, wear wrap-around sunglasses and avoid cutting grass.

Tea bags (cooled in the fridge) used as a cold compress help reduce swelling and bring relief. Help yourself by popping in the shower to remove any pollen. Antihistamines are effective at treating allergy symptoms, especially if taken early.

If in doubt make an appointment with your optician.

An Apple a day

Photo by Kira Kira on Unsplash

Healthy eyes need a good lifestyle - poor diet, smoking and alcohol abuse can lead to optic atrophy which can cause problems with vision and damage to optic nerve cells.

A balanced diet is key. Plenty of leafy green veg, Omega 3 and zinc are your eye health go-to’s.

Then there’s the sun protection and that’s where we come in. Don’t be fooled by an overcast sky, Autumn and Winter UV radiation can make eyes more prone to degenerative eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, periocular skin cancer and macular degeneration.

Check out our range of Vintage Sunglasses or create your own from our Frame Only range and stay eye healthy.

Jo

The history of sunglasses

It's International Sunglasses day and we think that's a day worth celebrating. Join us as we take a trip down memory lane and check out the history of sunglasses…

Ocean vintage sunnies

Sunglasses or 'suncheaters' have a colourful history, from the Roman Emperor Nero who viewed gladiator matches through an emerald, to the Inuits ingenious snow goggles design, featuring small slits to limit the suns access and prevent snow blindness. 

Inuit wooden snow goggles

The Chinese were known to use pieces of smoky quartz as vision aids. Known as Ai Tai, meaning ‘dark clouds covering the sun’, the scrolls say they were worn in court to conceal their facial expressions during trials - handy!

The first tinted sunnies 'Goldoni Glasses' appeared in Venice, Italy in the late 18th century. Named after the famous playwright Carlo Goldoni, they were worn by gondoliers on the sunny canals of Venice. At the same time 'eye preservers' were popular in Britain with peeps that suffered from light sensitivity.

In the 1920s sunglasses were sold off the Atlantic City boardwalk by Sam Foster and became a fashion staple amongst the rich and famous. Actors and actresses loved them as they shielded their eyes from the blinding movie set lights. Off screen sunglasses were perfect for remaining incognito. 

During World War II, the military designed spectacles for pilots that would enhance vision and reduce glare at altitude. The US Army Air Corps enlisted the help of eyeglasses maker Bausch & Lomb, who developed the iconic Ray-Ban Aviator in 1939. They went on to use ground breaking plastic molding technology in the 50’s and the Wayfarer was born.

In the 60s and 70s everything got supersized and we have Jackie O to thank for making oversized sunglasses a thing - and the rest as they say is history (of sunglasses).

Photo by Hust Wilson on Unsplash

Sunglasses are so important for blocking the sun's ultraviolet light. Exposure to light and UV radiation is linked to serious eye conditions... cataracts, macular degeneration, photokeratitis (corneal sunburn), and cancerous growths of the eye... ouch!

Protect your peepers by investing in quality sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB radiation. It's not the colour of the lenses, it's the percentage of UV protection that counts. Go for 100% every time. Although tiny 90s glasses are enjoying a revival, it's oversized or wraparound sunglasses that block the most sun, especially when those rays are bouncing off sand and sea. 

Stay safe and celebrate those sunnies!

Check out our latest summer styles here.

Jo
 

World Oceans Day

Photo by Benjamin Voros on Unsplash

Make a splash and come celebrate WORLD OCEANS DAY with us. 

Our country is full of idyllic coastal resorts, made special by one thing.. our ocean. Being surrounded by water brings a sense of calm and wellbeing. I become more obsessed each year in my quest for the perfect alfresco sea view. It got me thinking about the need to to preserve this beauty and what we can do to #saveourseas

Photo by Alex Perez on Unsplash

save our seas from plastic pollution

Plastic pollution is becoming a serious problem for all our seas...

80% of all pollution in the ocean comes from people on land.

8 million tonnes of plastic per year ends up in the ocean, wreaking havoc on wildlife, fisheries and tourism.

Plastic pollution costs the lives of seabirds and marine mammals every year.

Fish eat plastic, and we eat the fish.

Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash.jpg

Healthy Oceans, Healthy Us

A healthy world ocean is critical to our survival. Every year, World Oceans Day provides a unique opportunity to honor, protect, and conserve our world’s shared ocean.

Our ocean is so important it...

Generates most of the oxygen we breathe
Helps feed us
Regulates our climate
Cleans the water we drink
Offers a pharmacopoeia of medicines
Provides limitless inspiration

Photo by Joel Vodell on Unsplash

change gonna come

It has to. So what can we do?

Ditch the plastic.

Use less and recycle the plastic you must use. 

Go for alternatives like glass and metal.

Go vintage - a little make-do-a-mend - they had to, but now we need to;

 reduce, reuse and recycle

Use these hashtags on social to spread the word and help clean up our ocean: #WorldOceansDay #TogetherWeCan

www.worldoceansday.org

Photo by Teddy Kelley on Unsplash

Peep Meets Knickers

Big news for all peep lovers! Caroline Jones of Knickers Models Own, vintage devotee, fashion blogger and author of beautiful coffee table book 'A year of frugal fashion' (with photography by the talented Rankin), is a big peep fan!

the delightful Caroline Jones sporting Carrie

The lovely Caroline has used our very own Carrie and Coral sunnies on styled posts over on her blog and we think they look pretty hot! Here’s the best bit, now you can win your own pair!!!

Caroline rocking our Coral sunnies - this could be you!

Head on over to our Instagram page to enter or sign up to our lovely newsletter to win Coral - your summer sunglasses, or do both and double your chances!

Don't get your knickers in a twist... on Instagram simply like and follow, comment with the hashtag #peepatknickers and tag in a friend. The more friends you tag, the better chance you have of winning!

The competition closes at 8pm Friday 23 June 2017. See below for the Ts and the Cs. 

After losing her mother to cancer in 2014, Caroline was determined to raise money for Cancer Research UK, where her mother volunteered, and in 2015 embarked on a solo fundraising project, styling herself in a different outfit each day for a year. 

Only pre-loved clothes found in Cancer Research UK shops were permitted (knickers model’s own!). Each day Caroline posted a photo on social media asking for donations to fund her campaign. She topped this off by taking home the JustGiving Creative Fundraiser of the Year Award.

"I've always felt entirely comfortable wearing other people’s unwanted clothes, mixed alongside those of my own. Inherited items, charity finds and brand new treat-to-self purchases, all blending together to make my tightly edited wardrobe ‘sweat the asset’. 

With the support of followers, brands, the media and donors my campaign went on to raise £63,000 and become part of the slow fashion conversation."

The girl done good!

Don’t forget to tell all your friends and family about this amazing competition and win your summer sunglasses. 

Good luck peeps!

Jo

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