Plastic Seconds is returning at TRAID!

Thrilled to be returning at TRAID for two more Plastic Seconds Upcycled Jewellery Workshops on Satyrday 14th of May! These filled up so fast but we are planning to do more so stay tuned!

Plastic Seconds Upcycled Jewellery Workshop at TRAID during #SecondHandFirst Week Photo Album!

It was such a pleasure and an honour to deliver a Plastic Seconds Upcycled Jewellery Workshop at TRAID Shepherd's Bush! It always amazes me and delights me to see how quickly we all find again our childish wonder and curiosity and happiness when playing around with simple colourful things. There were a lot of giggles and laughter and all participants made some super fun and imaginative pieces! I find showing people how they could use little plastic bits that cannot be recycled to make beautiful jewellery hugely fulfilling. I also met some wonderful women as well as the AMAZING Francesco Colucci, TRAID's Window Dresser Director - if you have not checked out the TRAID charity shops window displays, do it and be inspired! I am most grateful to TRAID's Head of Education Sarah Klymkiw for organising everything. I am certain there will be more Plastic Seconds workshops coming up at various TRAID branches! Some of the beautiful photos below are shot by one of the participants, photographer Martyna Przybysz, @shotbymartyna on instagram ❤

TRAID Upcycled Bobble Hat Workshop at BUST Craftacular!

On 22nd November I headed to East London's York Hall to see all the fabulous stalls selling their wares at this year's BUST Christmas Craftacular, but also to attend an Upcycled Bobble Hat Workshop delivered by the wonderful TRAID team. I arrived with my friend Gisela at the 'Upcycling Academy' area, and with child-like excitement listened to lovely Sarah Klymkiw, head of the TRAID education team, giving us the first instructions. We were provided with a paper bobble hat pattern, which we had to pin on an old jumper from TRAID's super second hand clothing collection, and then cut around it. After a quick visit to the sewing machines, to stitch it all together, it was time to make our pom pom, then thread it at the top of our hat and voila! I had never imagined before what unique and beautiful winter hats one could make from upcycled old jumpers and wondered why I had ever bought one before! I would really encourage you to have a go! :-) The experience of making my own hat gave me such joy! TRAID runs regular upcycling / mending workshops and you can check them out here.

Bobble Hats from old jumpers under construction

My friend Gisela at the sewing machine

My lovely new winter hat half done...

The finished hat made by my own hands! 

Me and my friend proudly posing with our new handmade winter accessory :-)

TRAID #SecondHandFirst Week is here and it includes a Plastic Seconds Upcycled Jewellery Workshop!

This Monday 23rd November TRAID's #SecondHandFirst Week 2015 started! The week, ending on Sunday 29th November, celebrates the power of second-hand to change the world by keeping the resources we already have in use for longer. It was launched by TRAID in 2014 and their key aim is to increase the number of people committing to wearing and sourcing more of their clothes (and other resources) second-hand, rather than new. The week will be packed full of events and actions, both in the UK and across the globe, to connect people to the huge environmental and social benefits of second-hand. You can find all the information on how you can get involved and take the #Secondhandfirst Pledge at this page. You can also check out here the numerous super fun events, workshops and talks that TRAID has scheduled for the week.

A Plastic Seconds Upcycled Jewellery Workshop will take place on 26th Nov at TRAID Shepherd's Bush

I am honored to have been invited by TRAID's education team to deliver, as part of #SecondHandFirst Week, a Plastic Seconds Upcycled Jewellery Workshop on Thursday 26th November, 6.30-8.30pm, at TRAID Shepherd's Bush!

Here are some examples of the type of Plastic Seconds fun and colourful pieces we will be making at the workshop!

I will show attendees how to turn beautiful non-recyclable plastic elements from packaging into unique statement pendants and earrings during a session of play and discovery. In this two hour workshop attendees will explore creative ways of combining found objects and utilising their colour and shape so that they never look at their ‘rubbish’ the same way again! I am so looking forward to it! :-)

Plastic Seconds at The Clothes Club Fundraising Event + Win Tickets!

I am really excited to be taking part in a fundraising event, organised by The Clothes Club, on Thursday 21st of May at the Dalston Roof Park. It is a wonderful opportunity to come along and swap neglected pieces from your wardrobe with some new ones, while having drinks on a roof garden and listening to DJs! There are also great raffle prizes to be won, including a limited edition Plastic Seconds necklace! By attending you will be helping The Clothes Club raise money for Art Against Knives and ChildHope. Art Against Knives support, through their creative workshops and projects, young individuals with a past in crime who need experience and opportunity to access education employment and training https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYuRZyI0uZ8. ChildHope, via TRAID, provide birth certificates for children of garment workers. In Bangladesh, many garment workers are extremely poor women who are single mothers. They have usually migrated from rural areas looking for work and opportunities for themselves and their children. With high demand for cheap labour in the garment industry, many of these women work sewing clothes in factories. Birth certificates are crucial so their children can get access to education and medical care http://www.traid.org.uk/were-supporting-the-children-of-garment-workers/ I will be there selling Plastic Seconds funky jewellery and will be donating all my takings to the above charities. You can buy your tickets and read more details about how the evening will unfold here. I have a pair of tickets to give away, so head over to @plasticseconds on Instagram for your chance to win them! I will be selecting a winner at random on Saturday 16th of May :-)