The Weather Report
Last month decisively brought summer with it and for most of us the lovely weather has continued to provide an excuse to get outdoors. Can anything beat the opportunity to spend quality time in the garden, local park or common with warm sun rejuvenating skin and nothing but a good book to wallow in for company? Perhaps not, but time spent with friends and family, sharing news and stories alongside delicious, fresh summery food, equally filling hearts and stomachs, could also provide an opportunity for sunny bliss!

Summer gives us a perfect opportunity to appreciate the amazing power of our earth to support growth and renewal. All the hard work put into planting, sowing and weeding in the spring should begin to bear fruit of one kind or another. And if you’ve not yet been tempted, it’s not too late to plant a few seeds in some delicious organic compost and watch the magical transformation of tiny shoots and saplings into prolific leafy and tasty plants!

News: (AKA - The Adventures Of Stunning Frog)
Back in March visitors to the Sustainable Fashion Show at Ribston Hall High School may have caught a glimpse of the ever popular Stunning Frog CDClock we donated as one of the eco prizes in a sustainable garment competition for students.

One of the organisers, Kristal Jones, who is studying A Level Textiles at the school in Gloucester said: “The fashion show was fantastic, it went better than expected and the response was great from the whole event.”

The competition entries looked great with highly inventive re-use of sweet wraps, magazines, bottle tops, crisp packets, plastic bags, CDs (of course) and a whole lot more. We highly commend the organisers of this event who have surely encouraged us all to think about new ways to recycle and create less wasteful apparel. ITV Fixers were there to film the fashion show and you can view the action below:

Green is the new black from ITV Fixers on Vimeo

In April another Stunning Frog CDClock was donated to a fabulous annual eco event in Southampton called Environmental Rock. The free, fun-packed one-day festival, held at the Hobbit pub and garden, was organised to raise awareness of environmentally-friendly lifestyles and consumer choices. The theme this year was “staying green in the credit crunch” so organisers provided tips, advice and info to persuade guests that staying green and saving money go hand in hand.

The 500 plus visitors were blessed with sunny weather in which to enjoy live music, a variety of stalls providing eco-living information, advice and freebies, craft activities, organic refreshments as well as the ‘green’ prize draw. We are proud to have played a part in such a worthwhile day! Pictures from the event can be viewed here: www.environmental-rock.org.uk.

Designs & Orders:
Our best seller in May was… drum roll please… yes, you guessed it - Stunning Frog! This little beauty seems to draw attention time and time again. What is it about that cute amphibian that our customers cannot resist? The bright colours, appealing gaze and clean contrasting background appear to be a winner!
There are a whole host of varying designs available, something to suit almost every taste. And of course, if you have your own design or special photograph you’d like to make a feature of, send us a copy and we can print it onto your own unique CDClock.

Networks & Comments:
As mentioned in the last newsletter and as regular Facebook users will have noticed, Facebook Pages have been updated to deliver a more substantial profile than before. As we now have our own wall, can post all the latest updates, photo albums, load images, feed our newsletters, other blog posts and so much more we feel it is the best way to keep our fans updated with RecyclingCDs news and information on Facebook. Consequently our Facebook Group page has closed so if you’ve not done so already, please become a fan of our RecyclingCDs Profile Page instead. Take a peak and sign up here. Remember to invite your friends too.

Have a burning comment to make on our designs? We thought so! Did you know your Facebook account can be used to make comments about designs on our RecyclingCDs website! If you’re not a slave to Facebook, don’t worry, you can still add comments either on the main product page or directly on to a specific clock design page. Scroll down to the bottom of each page to read comments from other users and add your own. Easy!

As usual we can also be found on Networked Blog space, MySpace, our own blog and website as well as our Facebook Profile Page. If you’d love to help us spread the recycling word and own your own blog, website or page, you are welcome to add one of our banners to your links page, side-bar or anywhere else! The code is on our Links page.

That’s all for now. Enjoy as many summer picnics, walks, cycles and other low-carbon activities as you can and we’ll see you very soon,
Rache & All at RecyclingCDs

Hello there! We trust you had a relaxing bank holiday whatever the weather.

A quick reminder for those desperate to stay in touch with RecyclingCDs - and who isn’t!
You can follow us on Twitter to see what we’re up to, join our Facebook Page for all the latest news, be our friend on MySpace and of course sign up to our own forum to get the latest info, links and useful tips on reducing, reusing and recycling.

No excuses for not staying on touch now

Vocational training for unemployed; workshops; experience and education for marginalised youth; confidence and inspiration growth; commissions; community outreach; wood reclamation and re-use; products designed and constructed by trainees; sold to local councils, charities and others - all in a days work for social enterprise scheme, Furniture On The Street (FOS).

Based in Tower Hamlets, the project has so far provided training for 37 people, helping them back or on to work producing quality pieces of local street furniture.  Whilst local communities benefit from the divertion of young people from unemployment to skilled trade this inspiring initiative also ensures that timber from London’s demolition sites is diverted from landfill and turned instead into useful products for the London community. A win-win situation.

“Furniture on the Street supplies high quality contemporary street furniture aimed at local authorities, housing associations, landscape designers and building contractors.
The enterprise was established by the Old Ford Housing Association, part of Circle Anglia with grant funding from the European Social Fund (ESF). The project is based in Bow, in a socially deprived area of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, and was part of a regeneration initiative which grew out of a training programme for local youths in furniture making.”

Visit the FOS website to find out more.

Source: Jo Adetunji, Guardian, 6May09 via Ethical Pulse

For tips and ideas on how to recycle clothes, presented in a beautiful format for children, My Forever Dress should do the trick. Thanks to Darling Petunia via Wardrobe Refashion for letting us know about this adorable book published last month by Blue Apple Books.

From: Chronicle Books “My Forever Dress: A story about sewing and sharing, recycling and remembering, this book follows a special party dress a grandmother makes for her granddaughter. When her granddaughter grows taller, new fabric is added. The next year, the dress is ingeniously turned into a sleeveless jumper. Finally, when the little girl turns ten and is ready for a new outfit, she decides to give the dress to her little cousin so it can be her forever dress.”

The Papered Parlour is a fabulous new art space set up by Claire & Louise, two young south London artists in Clapham. Providing a variety of classes, exhibitions and studio places, the parlour is designed to be a drop in space for artists, art-lovers, crafsters and anyone in the community who would like to get involved.

The Papered Parlour classes, taught by University of the Arts London graduates, take influence from the Make Do And Mend approach of the post war period. Promoting sustainability, classes aim to use recycled fabrics as much as possible.

For children and youthful adults alike vintage themed parties can be enjoyed at the Parlour. The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and Wonka Chocolate Challenge will keep young ones entertained as well as creatively challenged whilst grown up cocktail parties and dances are available for retro hipsters.

Promoting sustainable creativity, revolutionary craft and community participation, The Papered Parlour sounds so delightfully magical that we can’t wait to visit. To celebrate the launch of this delightful addition to South London’s creative community, The Papered Parlour is hosting a free Open Day this Saturday. Pop down to Prescott Place to meet the artists and help them celebrate:

“10.30am - 12.30pm - Exhibition Preview: What Comes Around
Katherine May and Clara Vuletich ‘upcycle’ mid century furniture with pre loved fabrics. Featuring contemporary quilted upholstery alongside hand printed wallpaper.

11.30am – 3.30pm - Craft Kiosk
Shop at our bustling indoor market showcasing inspirational work by some of London’s top designer-makers.

12.30pm – 3.30pm - The Great Proletarian Clothes Swap
From Hermes to High Street, come along to swap and customise unwanted items of clothing. With designers on hand to help you cut, print and sew your way to couture heaven - you’re guaranteed to leave with a fabulous addition to your wardrobe.

1.30pm – 4.00pm - Fidgeting Finger Fun
Keep your fidgeting fingers busy for hours! Parents and kids join forces to stitch and stuff revolutionary mutant mascots from second hand toys.

4pm - 6pm - Tea Dance
Enjoy a slice of mid-century glamour. Expect top notch tea and indulgent cakes accompanied by music hall legend Vic Charters.”

The Papered Parlour
7 Prescott Place, London, SW4 6BS
020 7627 8703
The Papered Parlour

Source: ArtsAdmin
Original post: bluAngelAlmanac 1May09

The Weather Report & A Call To Arms

In between some promising sunshine, April showers are out in force this month as is our determination to do all we can to make our world - the only one we’ve got - a cleaner, happier, more self-sufficient place to live in. There is a lot of doom and gloom around at the moment and we’re not just talking about the weather! Whilst there may be much to be gloomy about, there is infinitely more to be positive and hopeful about too.

Forget the sensational newspaper headlines and depressing TV news for a while and take a look around. There are thousands of people on this great planet already actively improving life for themselves and the rest of us, promoting positive change for today and tomorrow. There are millions who want to do more but are not sure how. There are only a relative handful of people who truly don’t care whether our species survives much longer and are happy to sit back in their positions of power and let nature take its course.

We know you care as much as we do and are not prepared to sit back and let selfishness, greed and runaway climate change get in the way of a progressive and satisfying future. Our individual efforts to do what we can, use less energy, recycle where possible, drive and fly less and so on are great. But there is lots more work to be done together.

Whilst our governments dither and mainstream media revels in negativity, let’s get on with making a difference ourselves. Recycle those old ideals. The time for change is now! See the Forum section below for more info.

News:
As mentioned last month we will be appearing in the next edition of Black Velvet fanzine / independent music magazine which is published quarterly. The nest issue is due next month so keep an eye out for us there. Black Velvet is available to purchase for £2.50 in selected stores or on-line:

Artists:
Last month we introduced you to blueorangeimages.co.uk, RecyclingCDs latest artist recruit and their fascinating portfolio of photographic designs. With a range of images from nature to signage, cars to shoes, flowers and prints there may well be something for everyone in this collection.

The range is still available at the special price of £5.99 until the end of April, so have a look at blueorangeimages’ CDClocks today:

Designs & Orders:
Our best seller in March was the Custom Design which is a fantastic option for an extra special gift, a cool way to remember an important occasion or perfect if you have a specific image in mind for your CDClock. If you have a favourite holiday snap, graduation picture, party photo with all your very best friends or something else entirely, send it to us and we’ll have it printed on a CDClock in no time (not literally, that would be impossible!). Post & Packaging is still free!

Forums:
Whether we feel able to tackle government apathy through activism, nag our MPs, MEPs and councillors to do more, learn new skills, re-learn old ones, pass on the skills we have to become more self-sufficient, avoid the supermarkets, grow our own food, grow enough to share with our neighbours, spend our free time promoting sustainable lifestyles, politics, culture and so on there are a myriad of things we can all do and a host of people and groups out there that can help by providing information, resources and support.

Over the next few months we will be adding heaps of links to our forums that we hope can point you in the right direction to access the people, groups and organisations who are able to assist our need for positive change. Please feel free to add any links and details of groups we forget or may not yet have heard of.

Sign up here to add your comments and opinion on the forum.

Networks & Comments:
If you are a regular Facebook user you may have noticed that Pages have recently been updated to deliver a more substantial profile than before. With our very own wall, all the latest updates, ability to post photo albums, load images, feed our newsletters, other blog posts and so much more we feel it really is the best way to keep you updated with RecyclingCDs news and information on Facebook.

As a result we will shortly be closing the Group page in favour of the RecyclingCDs Profile Page. Have a look, become a fan and remember to invite your friends too.

All you internet addicts (like us) can now use your Facebook account to comment on the designs in our RecyclingCDs website, hurrah! If you’re not interested in Facebook (and who can blame you, it’s so addictive!) you can still add comments either on the main product page here or directly onto a specific clock design page. Scroll down to the bottom of each page to read comments from other users and add your own. Has giving feedback ever been so easy? (don’t answer that)!

As well as our Facebook Profile Page and our Networked Blog space fans can follow RecyclingCDs on MySpace, our own blog and the website. If you have your own blog, website or page please add one of our banners to your links and help spread the recycling word. The code is on our Links page.

Enjoy the refreshing rain and we’ll see you soon,
Rache & All at RecyclingCDs

The Weather Report

Hello there RecyclingCDs fans and welcome to another of our newsletters. As I write this on a Friday morning I can definitely feel that spring is in the air. If I block out the sound of my neighbours’ builders drilling holes in their roof, I can almost hear the sweet sound of chirruping sparrows flitting around in the almost warm March sunlight. There are buds on the trees, even some huge bumble bees winding their drunken way around my doorstep, shoots sprouting out of the ground and yes, there is a sense of hope and re-growth in the air. Ahhh, we do love spring!

News:
Back in December RecyclingCDs were invited to take part in the Highland Council Awareness Team project. This Waste Management initiative in Portree were seeking items designed to save resources and useful products made from recycled materials to display in Waste Awareness school lessons and community group events and presentations. We were of course delighted to donate 2 Stunning Frog CDClocks to this ongoing project which also involved products from Revolve and The Recycle Warehouse.

We have secured some advertising space in the Black Velvet fanzine / independent music magazine which is published quarterly. Keep an eye out for us in the upcoming edition due around April. Black Velvet is available to purchase in selected stores or on-line (£2.50): http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com/shops.htm

Artists:
RecyclingCDs has recruited the photographic services of blueorangeimages.co.uk as our latest CDClock designer. The fantastic array of images show scenes of nature and signage shot in London, Watford, St. Albans and around the Grand Union Canal including underground and neon signs and various cars. There are also some more abstract studies of commonplace objects such as Pink Shoes and Bark which seem to have been given a slightly nostalgic twist. Other designs include floral images, an enticing spider’s web and two fabulously minimal hand prints.

As usual our new artist’s images are available for the special price of £5.99 until the end of the month. View blueorangeimages.co.uk’s CDClock designs here:

Designs & Orders:
Mothering Sunday is fast approaching and if you are looking for a unique gift for the mother(s) in your life, we have a great selection of designs to choose from. Don’t forget that we can also deliver a CDClock of your favourite image, so start searching and order online:

Latest Forum Posts:
In Recycling Links / UK Links we have added the details of two recycling companies. You may already have heard of Brighton and Hove Wood Recycling Project (BHWRP) who we mentioned back in July07 under Buying & selling Second Hand Wood from an Ecologist article. Here we provide a bit more info about the pioneering work they do: Forum post

Another useful link we’ve added is Re-Cycle Bicycle Aid For Africa who will repair your old bike and send it to countries and projects in Africa where a second-hand bike can greatly improve the lifestyle of users by making essential journeys quicker and more efficient: Forum post
Sign up here to add your comments and opinion on the forum

Networks & Comments:
If you have a facebook account (and who doesn’t?!) you can now use your Facebook log in details to add comments on our RecyclingCDs website. Comments can be added without a Facebook profile too, either on the main product page here or directly onto a specific clock design page. Scroll down to the bottom of each page to read comments and add you own. It’s easy as pie so go ahead and let us know what you think of our designs!

Follow RecyclingCDs on Facebook (including our Networked Blog space) and MySpace as well as our own blog and website. If you have your own site and feel so inclined, please add one of our banners to your links page or blog. Check our Links page for the code.

Enjoy the sunshine and we’ll see you next month,
Rache & All at RecyclingCDs

Weather Report:
Welcome to another RecyclingCDs newsletter. 2009 got off to a great start (if you ignore the flailing financial economy which is highly advisable in our opinion!) and the months are already whizzing by. We’ve had several bouts of beautiful snow which, despite some minor (ahem) travel inconveniences, meant that most office workers had an unexpected day off and we all got to play in the winter wonderland, building snow sculptures, having snowball fights and enjoying the ‘war-time’ atmosphere of camaraderie that often seems to emanate at such times of freak weather.

Competition:
Last month saw the draw of our December competition in which we asked you to search the site for our missing snowmen. Thanks to everyone who made up the 120 plus entries we received. The lucky winners were announced on the blog last month with the 4 runners up receiving a CDClock of their choice and Catherine of Southampton winning the fabulous top prize of a CDClock, Katharina Lausche fine-art print and a copy of Nicky Scott’s popular and useful book Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – well done to all our winners who should be enjoying their prizes as we write.

Don’t worry if you didn’t win this time as we’ll give you another chance to win some great prizes in the not too distant future. Look out for new competitions on the website.

Designs & Orders:
Now that February has landed some of us are looking forward to Valentines day – not so we can revel in the commercial aspect of the day but because we can never resist the urge to lavish some extra love and affection to all and sundry. If you’re planning to celebrate the feast of St Valentine may we suggest looking beyond the traditional flowers and chocolates for a partner or parent and maybe spending quality time with friends and family instead, meeting for lunch at a local café, or hosting a Valentine party for all your friends, couples and singles? After all, love is surely about inclusion rather than exclusivity.

If you’re looking for a special gift we have a variety of traditional hearts and flowers CDClocks on-line which you can find by typing ‘valentine’ into the product search box or clicking on the Valentine Clock banner on our front page. Alternatively send us a photograph that has special meaning to you and your loved ones and we will print it onto a CDClock for you. With prices starting at £5.99 a CDClock can be a unique but very affordable gift.

Artists:
Our latest artist recruit is Heatherpix 15 designs include animal and floral subjects many of which have been given a unique twist by the artist. Vegetables and fruit morph into a kaleidoscopic whirl, musical symbols sing a visual tune right out of the design and flowers are arranged into pictorial bouquets.

View Heatherpix’s designs here and purchase one for the special price of £5.99 until the end of the month.

Latest Forum Posts:
In Recycling Stories / Media you can find one of Throbgoblins International (aka Marc Roberts)’s conspiracy of unutterable wickedness amusing cartoon strips
In the Packaging section of In The News there is a proposed Styrofoam ban in California
and in UK Needs To Recycle More find out how to recycle your energy saving lightbulbs

Add your comments and opinion on the forum by signing up here

Networks:
Get in touch and stay up to date with RecyclingCDs on Facebook where we now have a Networked Blog space for you to follow if you use the application. We also have updates on MySpace as well as our blog and website. Help us spread the recycling word by adding one of our banners to your own site or blog. Check our Links page for codes.

See you next month,
Rache & All at RecyclingCDs

The lucky winners from our December ‘08 Snowman Hunt competition are… drumroll please…

1st Prize Winner :: Catherine from Southampton
Catherine wins a CD Clock of choice, a Katharina Lausche Print and ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - An Easy Household Guide’ book by Nicky Scott! Well done Catherine!

Our lucky runner up prizes of a CD Clock of choice go to:

* Csaba from West Sussex
* Marie from Birmingham
* Kate from Caithness &
* Ann from UK

Well done to all our winners, your prizes will be on their way to you shortly.

Thank you to all who entered our competition throughout December, we had a great response of over 120 entries!

Dont forget to take advantage of our 10% discount offer on ANY orders placed through our website until midnight on Saturday 31st January 2009.

See you next month!

Happy new year from everyone at Recycling CDs.

Our January sale starts from 1st to 31st January 2009, 10% discount on all purchases. With free postage & battery on all our clocks.