Plastic-Free Tips & Tricks

Plastic-Free Tips & Tricks

We’re dreaming of a green Christmas…

Christmas is one of those holidays where there is plenty of excess and wastage. From gift wrap and decorations to party plates and cutlery. Our aim this Christmas is to help you celebrate in the most sustainable way possible.

Sustainable Decorations

Making your own Christmas decorations is not only a great family activity but it could also save you money as well as the planet. We’ve got two easy DIY Christmas decorations for you to try out!

Whether you’re changing the colour scheme of your tree or just looking to add some sparkle, why not update your existing Christmas baubles this year?
A simple way to spruce up your decorations is to add some glitter. You can either paint the entire bauble and dip it in glitter. Use gold, silver, red or green glitter or any colour that matches your theme. Alternatively, you could go for a more subtle approach by painting the glue in a festive shape. From snowflakes and stars to trees and phrases – this DIY works with any pattern or shape and brings the sparkle back to your decorations again.

If you want to create something interesting and unique to your Christmas tree this year, why not try making these cute felt ornaments?

For this DIY you will need:A sewing needle
Coloured felt
Matching thread
A ribbon to hang the decoration with
A pair of scissors
A few pins

To begin making this craft you’ll need to make yourself a template of the design you want to create, or you can find one online. Start by cutting out the template pieces and laying them on top of the felt, making sure to cut out your pieces in the correct colours. Next Cut your ribbon to around 12cm long. Once, you have all of your pieces cut out you can assemble what your ornament will looks like by layering your pieces to form the design. Sandwich the ribbon in between two pieces of felt to create the loop for hanging. Attach the ribbon, in a loop, to the inside of one of your pieces with a few stitches. Now Sew along the edges of each pieces of felt to attach them all together, making sure to use corresponding coloured thread. To make the ornament double sided – make a copy of the pieces you made earlier and sew both designs back to back. Then, you’re all done and ready to decorate your tree!

If you want to follow a pictorial to help you make these ornaments, we found this great one by Laura Howard – click here to read it.

Plastic-free Wrapping Paper

Sadly, most wrapping papers cannot be recycled because of the printed pattern on them so this year we have found some eco-friendly, sustainable wrapping paper to ensure your Christmas is as sustainable as possible. 

1. Hobby craft sells eco wrapping paper for just £3.00 a roll. Printed on eco brown paper these rolls of wrapping paper are much more easily recycled than most paper. Order online or check in your local store to see what they have in stock.
   Click here to shop.
2. Re-wrapped is a fantastic eco-friendly business, it was “founded in 2011 and specialises in designing and producing a range of top-quality wrapping paper and other products, made solely from 100% recycled paper.”
   Click here to shop.
3. Happywrap specialises in reusable fabric gift wrap. The perfect way to wrap your eco-friendly gifts this Christmas to minimise your waste. Shop a variety of sizes in different pattern and colours and keep them to wrap presents again and again.
   Click here to shop.

Sustainable Crackers

Christmas crackers can contain a lot of plastic and aren’t always recyclable. As one of the most essential parts of any festive celebration, we thought we’d show you how to make this Christmas tradition as sustainable as possible.

If you haven’t got time to make your own or just don’t want the fuss of finding gifts and jokes to go inside, we’ve found some crackers you can buy in supermarkets and high street shops that have little waste.

1. Our first shop bought crackers are from Hotel Chocolat. Each mini cracker has a gourmet chocolate hiding inside and even has space on the outside for writing your guests names on. We can’t be 100% sure that the card cracker is recyclable (make sure you check the label before buying!) but they certainly have less waste than a regular cracker with all of the plastic gifts inside.
   Click here to buy.
2. The second option we have found for you is reusable crackers. Keep This Cracker, run by Bea Thackeray, is a sustainable way to celebrate Christmas whilst also reducing your waste too. These crackers come flat packed for you to fill with personalised gifts for all the family – to reuse them next year simply replace the ‘snap’ and they're ready for festive fun all over again. Better still, the packaging they are shipped in is 100% recyclable too.
   Click here to buy.

Bulk Buying

If you have a large family or lots of friends to celebrate with this Christmas, why reduce your waste and shop more sustainably whilst also saving yourself some pennies. Buy in bulk can be an excellent way of stocking up for Christmas, whether you buy food, gifts or decorations, wholesales can be great value for money as well as eco-friendly by saving on the individual wrapping.

We’ve compiled a list of our favourite wholesales for this Christmas.

1. In recent years, there has been a rise in supporting small businesses so why not bulk buy from a small brand? We love Etsy for this as it supports a number of small brands, most of which are sustainable or eco-friendly too. This is a great way of buying lots of gifts and getting your Christmas shopping done in record time!
   Click here to explore Etsy bulk buying.
2. If you’re looking for Christmas cards this year look no further than Tree Free greetings. They stock a wide range of greeting cards as well as gifts including drinkware, stationery, magnets, playing cards and much more. Great for bulk buying eco greetings cards as well as small gifts that are perfect for your reusable crackers!
   Click here to shop.
   Shop their sister brand for more Christmas gifts for all the family! http://www.somdiff.com/
3. If you're looking for gifts to fill your Christmas crackers or stocking fillers Shared Earth has you covered. Offering a wide range of recycled gifts, including ranges made with recycled crayons, bike chains, circuit boards, tyres, glass, metal & many other creatively recycled products.
   Click here to shop.
4. Wrapping presents can be difficult and although gift boxes are pretty and useful, they're not always sustainable. We’ve found a brand who solves this problem – Fold-A-Box. Their flatpack boxes are beautiful and made with a natural Kraft finish – perfect for all your present wrapping problems this Christmas!
   Click here to shop.

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Things to do - December

Things to do this December

Looking for something to do this December? Madia & Matilda's got you covered.

From Christmas fairs and museums, to light switch-ons. There's so much to do this December across the UK.

Winter wonderland, Hyde Park

If you're anywhere near London this festive season why not visit Winter Wonderland. This free-to-enter family event features a host of festive fun, including Winter Wonderland ice skating, circus shows, a Ferris wheel and an amazing Christmas market. Perfect for family days, date night or an evening with friends, this is one way to spend your December days.


For more information click here.

  

Worcester's Victorian Christmas Fayre

Established in 1992, the Fayre may have grown a lot in the last 26 years, but it has stayed true to its traditional roots with plenty of Victorian themed characters and treats, and a fantastic festive atmosphere. If you're in Worcestershire this winter, why not treat the family to a fun day out at this traditional Victorian market


For more information click here.

Brighton & Hove Burning of the clocks winter solstice celebration

Burning the Clocks is a unique community event, held on the 21st of December, that brings the whole city together to mark the shortest day of the year - the winter solstice. Local people create beautiful paper and willow lanterns which are paraded through the city as part of the celebrations. With around 2,000 people taking part, the lantern procession creates a magical festive atmosphere across Brighton & Hove.

For more information click here.

Bournemouth Christmas Garden of Lights

If you are near Bournemouth this winter why not stop by the Garden of Lights. Twinkling lights and beautiful alpine stores are the perfect backdrop for festive winter shopping, and ice skating adds a little adventure to the mix. Interactive light pods weave throughout the historic gardens, with sound and even a time machine to captivate and amuse everyone. A perfect family day out or evening with friends to enjoy the Christmas lights this festive season.

For more information click here.

Christmas Eve with Charles Dickens, Holborn 

Each year, the Charles Dickens Museum presents a unique and enchanting glimpse into the festive season as celebrated by the great Victorian author, Charles Dickens. The historic interiors are transformed into a true embodiment of Christmas Past and is a wonderful way to spend Christmas Eve - reliving one of the most iconic Christmas movies of all time.


For more information click here.

Dartington Wonderland 

For those of you in the south of England, Dartington is a wonderful place to visit this winter. This Wonderland is the perfect place to stop, eat, drink, shop, play, make, dance, sing, listen and enjoy. Discover over 40 of the best makers in the south, in one of the most renowned arts and crafts towns. A fantastic festive evening for all the family featuring the Romany band, Nordic and Baltic choir, Santa Frau, Kids Create Workshops and the tiniest Gin Palace in the World.


For more information click here.










Sincerely Madia & Matilda

How to: Care for me. Wear Me. Love me. Mend Me.

Caring for your clothes

Inspired by the Cheltenham Literature Festival, we've picked out five of our favourite fashion care and sustainability books for you.

Wardrobe Wisdom, by Alicia Healey
Trained at Buckingham Palace, Alicia Healey has worked as a lady's maid and high-profile wardrobe consultant across the globe. In this book, she shares her top tips for decluttering your closet and looking after investment items so they'll last you a life time.
Buy the book here.

Laundry: The Home Comforts Book of Caring for Clothes and Linens

Laundering queen Cheryl Mendelson shares her love of housekeeping. With extensive knowledge of how to care for almost every fabric, from hand washing and removing stains to storing fabrics and garments, Mendelson shares the indispensable guide to caring for clothes at home.

Buy the book here.

Clothing Care Basics: Tips for Fabric Care, Clothing Storage, and Saving Money by Keeping Your Favorite Clothes Looking Good Longer

Explaining some of the basic terms used in clothes laundering, Julie Gallagher teaches you the basics so you'll never turn another white shirt pink or shrink your favourite jumper.

Buy the book here.

Clothing Cultures - Certified made in the UK
Madia & Matilda is now published in Clothing Cultures. This journal explores the issues in the production and consumption of clothes within the fashion industry.
Buy the journal here.

The Sustainable Fashion Handbook

An in-depth and comprehensive guide to sustainable fashion, from the impact fast fashion is having on our environment to eco-fashion and sustainable designers, this book will change your outlook on the fashion industry.

Buy the book here.











Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Bio-D - (D for Dauntless, Dazzling, Delightful...)

Bio-D 

(D for Dauntless, Dazzling, Delightful...)

Bio-D has been around for a while—since 1989 in fact—and there's never been a more appropriate time for them to step into the limelight. We need brave pioneers to lead the way to greener squeaky-cleanness! 

On their website, Bio-D describe themselves as being "committed to making cleaning products that don’t cost the earth, and to helping consumers contribute to a healthier, more sustainable planet". Hear hear! 

Right now, pressure is building on brands in all areas of commerce to improve their accountability and demonstrate their ability to commit to ethical and ecological practices. Bio-D have been at the head of this movement for years: all of their products are made in the UK, by people who are treated with dignity, with traceable ingredients of natural origin. They also hold a Cruelty-Free International accreditation. How's that for ethical practice?!

It's all very well to know where your products come from; it's quite another to decide whether they're good for you or not. It's become apparent in recent years that often customers are mislead by brands claiming their products are 'good' for them, when really the opposite is true. Ultra-fragranced, chemical-laden cleaning products can cause health concerns or allergic reactions rather than eliminate them. No such story here! Bio-D's range is 100% hypoallergenic. 

Despite the numerous obvious benefits of buying more ethical cleaning and care products from brands such as Bio-D, many people voice concerns when it comes to the cost. Well, how about this: would you put a price on your well-being? How about the well-being of the planet? Many commercial household products contain pollutants as well as irritants. 

There are lots of shops now around the UK where you can buy refills of your favourite eco-friendly brands for far less than you bought the original product for. This reduces the amount of empty containers put into landfill and encourages us to engage with the idea that we can choose what effect we have on the environment, whether negative or positive. 

And what do Bio-D actually make? Anything from washing-up liquid and laundry detergent to glass cleaner! We at Madia & Matilda have started to refill our in-shop washing-up liquid and hand soap with Bio-D, and take it from us: it cleans nicely, smells good and gets the job done! Our favourite is the lime and aloe vera sanitizing handwash. It smells of lime Jelly Babies! 

Keep an eye out for our upcoming competition with Bio D, as you could be in for a chance to win a 5 Ltr bottle of Laundry Conditioner! 

Sincerely Madia & Matilda