The Story so far….part 2…
Fanny here! Flo and I are absolutely buzzing after a fantastic response to a demonstration of our work and aims, at the High Storrs School first Eco Expo in Sheffield two weeks ago. We talked period poverty, smashed period shame, and made washable, reusable cloth sanitary pads, to give out to product testers, right there, live, on the spot. But what has period poverty got to do with an eco-friendly lifestyle? As Fanny and Flo, we both aim to end period poverty in a way that does not harm the environment and is self sustainable, but started hand making, cloth pads for different reasons. While Flo was in Kent…
The Story So Far….
The story so far… I feel this should be in bold, golden lettering on a galaxy-type background… Life, just now, is absolutely buzzing…networking, conversations, meeting new people, new followers on Facebook and Instagram – I’ve said it before; I can start a conversation with anyone, anywhere, about cloth sanitary pads! But I’m realising that many of the new faces, followers, ‘likers’, don’t have the background of where we’ve come from, exactly what we do (and some of that we’re still figuring out for ourselves!) and, most importantly, why we do what we do. So for those new to the journey – for it is a journey and you are now…
Fanny and Flo’s Frosty February Workshops
It’s all go! Fanny launched the first of our workshops this week and despite the weather, it was a great success – obvs! Here’s what she had to say: Early February saw 7, intrepid people, braving the black ice and biting cold to join Fanny down on the farm, for our first cloth sanitary pad (CSP) sewing workshop. Heeley City Farm made us very welcome with the use of their work room. I arrived to set up as the farm cockerel was still crowing, luckily Lee had filled the room with heaters and hot tea and coffee was on offer for us all to keep our hands and fingers frost…
Best start to the day!
It’s an exciting time, with loads going on at the moment, and we’re gearing up for the launch of our sewing workshops for making Cloth Sanitary Pads to support girls’ education in Ugandan Schools. I’m also preparing for my next visit to Kampala. Lots to think about, lots to prepare for, lots to blog about! In the midst of “busy” it’s also good to remember where this all came from; the ideas, the inspiration, the conversations and the journey I’ve been on this last year or so. I’m frequently asked what it is I love about visiting East Africa and I have to say, I’m still trying to put it…
It’s a wrap!
It’s a wrap! Worry not! We’re not stopping! Far from it – we’ve only just begun! (Sounds like a good name for a song…) So, what’s with all the waxing and wrapping? – It all sounds a bit sordid when you put it that way, but actually replacing plastic food wraps such as cling film and sandwich bags, with a waxed piece of cotton fabric, is simply a small exchange that will make a big difference. And it’s been fun exploring the options and possibilities! A plain small wrap is ideal for wrapping up that last end of the cheese, or the half-cut cucumber, or even over a bowl of…
Small and Imperfectly Formed!
Is it too late for Christmas trees?? Well here’s ours this year; small and quite imperfectly formed, but lovely nonetheless. Since moving to Kent four and a half years ago, we have bought a real Christmas tree each year, something I longed for as a child and couldn’t really justify the expense when I was officially a grown-up. Now a little more sorted financially, and with more space to play with, it was my extra treat during advent – and I have cherished each tree (even the first one that took up half the living room because we weren’t quite used to judging the size!) until the…
Eco Friendly witterings….
We’re on a roll! Conversations are happening, things are moving, plans slowly starting to form…. its exciting stuff! As you’ll know if you’ve read other posts, much of what I’ve been doing with regard to Aunty Flo’s Ragtime Band started out from trying to find ways of supporting girls to stay in education in developing countries, particularly Uganda, through my work with the small but perfectly formed charity Doubleme.org. But as I’m chuntering along in Kent doing my thing to save the world, one African girl at a time, it turns out my lovely friend of old is wittering along in Sheffield, still about the sanitary pads, but with a…
So, yeah…it’s been a while…(lessons learned…)
looking back and planning ahead...
Things to Make and Do
Ok, so…calling all stitchers! Progress report! Busy, sweaty (37 degrees! And hot swollen feet and ankles – not my most attractive look to date…) flying visit to my home-away-from-home – Uganda School for the Deaf – and now can’t believe I’m already back in the UK (nearer 3 degrees!). Won’t be too long before I return though, with a team of volunteers in tow to share some of their own expertise, experience and training and no doubt learn a few humbling things along the way, as I do with each visit. This trip was slightly different as it was funded by the British Council, so there are connections with my…
Tread softly
So, it’s been a while. There was going to be so much time; I was going to be so organised – I even included it in my bullet journal to write a new blog, titled “watching and waiting” through Advent. Then Advent seemed to come in and go out in such a hurry, I barely watched a thing…and certainly didn’t have time to wait… And then Christmas;…never restful, although there may have been a couple of pyjama days thrown in between long car journeys and brief catch ups with beautiful people. And I even squeezed in some Elf on the Shelf creativity, and our Elf (yes, I know my boys…
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Roll Call!
Aunty Flo’s Rag Time Band
So, yeah…it’s been a while…(lessons learned…)
Saving the planet, one stitch at a time!
