A perfect example of that is the genius, innovative  company namely, thredUP.  threUp is a new online kids clothing exchange which allows America’s busiest and greenest families to conveniently exchange kids clothing online.

The service aims to bring a new level of affordability, convenience and eco-consciousness to a highly fragmented, billion-dollar market for second-hand children’s clothing. thredUP kids is designed to help parents easily swap clothes their kids have outgrown for great new items that fit. thredUP’s best-in-class interface allows parents to exchange with their closest friends or with a national network of parents — all from the convenience of home.

thredUP kids combines the best features of some of the most popular sites on the web: similar to eBay, members build virtual boxes of clothing to exchange. The marketplace facilitates exact matches, ensures quality and remedies the lack of coordination that plagues offline clothing swaps.

“Children grow out of clothes every 3-6 months, having worn outfits only a couple of times,” said James Reinhart, Chief Knitwit of thredUP.  “Currently parents are spending upwards of $20,000 on kids clothing by the time their child is 17. And they’re retiring some 1,400 items!  We’ve found that many ’swap, buy, sell’ sites are not that enticing to busy parents. They are just too much work. thredUP is all about convenience.”

“The initial feedback has been tremendous,” said Oliver Lubin, Chief Design Knitwit. “In the first two weeks of a private beta launch we have over 1,500 excited parents signed-up to start swapping. Members seem to love the intuitive interface and overall thredUP experience.”

With the recessionary / budgetary pressures that we are all  currenlty facing I think an Irish thredUP would provide us with a fun, eco-friendly and money friendly alternative that could become a real succes story in our new green economy.

Castlefarm Shopwill host a cookery demonstration by local chef Louise O’Hare of What’s Cooking? on Thursday evening 20th May at 7.30pm.  The personal chef has chosen ‘Eating Al Fresco’ as the topic of her latest cookery demonstration.  She will focus on showing people how to make the most of seasonal produce to enjoy outdoors and on picnics.

According to Jenny Young of Castlefarm, “As the season warms up we have more and more of our own produce coming into season in the Castlefarm garden and Castlefarm customers love the inspiration and social element that Louise’s cookery demonstrations provide.  We are looking forward to a menu that includes marinades, hot and cold food to be enjoyed in the garden and of course summer deserts.

Further information contact Jenny Young 087-6785269 or Louise O’Hare 086-2232481 www.whatscooking.ie

According to Louise, “I love to prepare delicious summer food to suit even the Irish summer weather, using fresh, local and seasonal ingredients from Castlefarm’s own gardens and farm. There will be something for every taste.’

The price is €15 per person to include a glass of wine or juice, recipes and tastings of the meal itself.  The farm shop will be open from 7-7.30 pm and again for ½ an hour following the demonstration.  Booking is essential.  Please call Jenny on 087-6785269 or jenny@castlefarmshop.ie.  Castlefarm is located in Narraghmore, near Athy in Co Kildare.

Let’s keep the bunnies smiling and buy some seriously delicious chocolate eggs with the least packaging – choose ones that are only wrapped in foil, or give an Easter gift instead. How about traditional hand-painted Easter eggs and papier mache eggs using the plastic packaging from an egg as a mould?  This could then be decorated and filled with sweets or gifts.

Some alternative Easter gifts…….

*Irish wildflower greeting Card with conservation grade Irish Wildflower Seed by Willow Design

*Plant a Bunny’ ………..A cute gift card with a printed  ‘bunny’ made from 100% recycled paper embedded with flowers, ferns and wildflower seeds. When ‘planted’ the paper recycles into the soil — and the seeds germinate to produce wildflower seedlings by Ranni Desphande Unique Creations

*Fill a basket with a selection of spring bulbs and plants and nestle in some miniature chocolate eggs

*Plant a tree, or send one as a gift to plant

www.livingifts.ie

Photo courtesy of Flickr

I got hold of an acupressure Mat a few weeks ago to see if it helped my back…It did.  This might be becuase it’s based on the ‘Bed of Nails’ principle or might be the fact that I now take time out to relax and do nothing for nearly an hour a day.  Whatever the reasons I find myself in a better frame of mind…….and it’s an all natural alternative therapy. I like it much so that I have decided to sell them myself.

To get the new website  going I am offering a FREE mat to the lucky winner of the Free Prize Draw on the homepage of the  shakti.ie   website.  Please feel free to enter and good luck………..The closing date is the end of March 10

Cheers

Ian

OOOOH. IT’S JUST WHAT I’VE ALWAYS WANTED

Most of my family probably don’t agree, but I actually enjoy getting presents. Over the years I have somehow managed to give everyone the impression that I am not bothered about receiving gifts. This is more than likely due to the fact that if anyone asks me what I would like for Christmas, I usually shrug my shoulders and say “I’m not bothered.” Which really means, “Use all of your imagination to bring me something that will entertain me for longer that ten seconds, improve my quality of life and of course make the world a better place.”

WHAT DO YOU FANCY?
It started when I was a young lad, my mother used to ask me if there was anything particular I wanted, but as you all remember, there wasn’t really anything to buy in the 60’s and 70’s. After the bike, all three changes of clothes for your Action Man, a train set and a Scalextric there wasn’t much left apart from the ubiquitous hand knitted jumpers and jigsaws. I did get a top of the range Scalextric set one year which was fantastic, it was called “You Steer” which gave you the illusion of being in control and helping the cars around the track by turning a large steering wheel stuck to the controller. This turned out to be a very limited option though as the cars were still embedded into the track to ensure the metal strips made an electrical contact. This was my first real disappointment at Christmas. The box had lied to me.

TOLERANCE
Toys teach you all sorts of things. I once overheard one of Julie’s self help cd’s that said the primary function of toys is to teach children tolerance levels in life. I am sure if we could read children’s minds they would be full of questions such as, “How hard can I hit this?” “What will happen if I push this in here?” And “Will this cause a reaction if I throw it at dad?.” So don’t be too upset if your youngsters break most of their toys before the New Year, they will be all the wiser for it.

I have a great photo of me last year hugging a pair of socks with all of my might. I had a massive smile on my face and looked so pleased to be getting a pair of socks with no holes in (the days of darning socks have well and truly gone in our house). This photo was shown around the family and everyone was convinced that I have a look of over enthusiasm with a hint of sarcasm at receiving the gift.

I’ll tell you now. It was genuine. As was the smile on my face when I received the jar of pickled onions, (even the fact that my mother in law put the jar inside of an iPod box didn’t dampen my joy), curry paste, a giant saltcellar and a pack of sun-dried tomatoes. These are great gifts and fulfil all of my criteria for a good gift (apart from making the world a better place maybe).

GARDENING BOOKS
Gardening books are something that I don’t really get as presents anymore, perhaps they think I am a bit of a know it all when it comes to gardening or perhaps they know I use the internet to answer my gardening questions rather than books these days. In the past though I relied on printed material for my horticultural education. In the past a good present one year was an annual subscription to Gardeners World and the Irish Garden magazine. These were great for keeping up to date with what’s going on all year in the garden and all the latest gadgets and trends.

Other books I was reared on were the Hessayon “Expert” books. My first copies were off my father who bought them in the early 1960’s and still had his scribbled notes on the pages from when he was planting his crops and dealing with vine weevil. The Rose Expert, The Lawn Expert and Pests and Diseases were three that I remember and these are still in print although they are a lot thicker than the originals. Maybe there’s more to learn or more pest and disease than in the olden days. I doubt it; maybe they just have bigger pictures.

IMAGES
I like pictures in books, I tend to go for the coffee table types, the RHS A-Z book helped me immensely when I was selling plants as I could just turn to the page and show the customer how big a plant would get and where would be the best place to plant it. It was so well used that the covers fell off and it was all dog eared. You would be surprised to see just how big most shrubs can grow. It made customers realise that you don’t need as many plants as you would think in the garden. In hindsight, that’s probably not the best idea when you are selling something, oh well.

There were two other books that I got a lot out of. Garden Design by John Brookes helped me no end when I was studying. Another favourite that I inherited was The Lazy Gardener, which was printed in the 1940’s. This small paper backed book followed the exploits of an extremely practical pipe smoker, dressed in a very smart suit who spent most of his time relaxing in a hammock with a gin and tonic in hand telling us what to avoid doing in the garden….I have always been a great advocate of do less, accomplish more whilst working outside and thinking back ‘The Lazy Gardener’ was definitely a strong influence in my formative years.

Happy New Year. May your garden grow productively and beautifully in 2010.

First up, tickets (or a gift voucher) for a theatre, concert or an arts venue. After all, who doesn’t enjoy an evening out?

Alternatively, a year’s membership of a favourite organisation.

One lovely option for people in Dublin, is to become a friend of the National Gallery of Ireland.  It costs €65 (individual) /€80 (family), and includes a year long programme of talks and other events.

How about a plant from your garden?

Or the offer of an evening’s babysitting or to cook them dinner . . .

We all love getting and giving presents. But sometimes, it can be hard to find the perfect present.

I find that the simple, and green and sustainable solution, is to give people something ‘insubstantial’.

As an added bonus, these presents don’t need any packaging, and won’t add to the world’s growing clutter mountain. (And let’s face it, most of us  probably have enough stuff already, anyway.)

Give a gift voucher for a local arts venue, and you are supporting jobs and the local community, while encouraging people to support the arts too.

The list of insubstantial possibilities is as long as your imagination.

And if you like these ideas, you’ll find plenty more useful suggestions in Drive like a Woman, Shop like a Man — Greener is Cheaper.  This practical guide to sustainable living is packed with over 100 tips that will save you time, money and resources.  Just €8.99, in all good bookshops.  And some of the tips will save you literally hundreds of euros!

(c) Mary Mulvihill, 2009

Because of concerns over deforestation around the world, many people naturally worry that buying a real tree might contribute to that problem, Springer says. But most Christmas trees for sale these days are grown not in the forest but on tree farms, for the express purpose of being cut.

Live trees actively photosynthesize as they grow from saplings, which removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The tree farms that grew the trees also replant after the trees are cut.

Artificial trees, on the other hand, don’t come out even in the carbon balance. Petroleum is used to make the plastics in the trees and lots of carbon dioxide-creating energy is required to make and transport them.

So get chopping guys and enjoy your beautiful real christmas tree without any guilt!

via:  www.enn.com

I am delighted to see that the magic of a good Christmas market is casting its spell over more and more Irish towns each year. Traditional Christmas Markets, held in cities, towns and villages throughout the country, are becoming increasingly popular. Not only do they evoke an enchanting festive atmosphere but in the ever present economic doldrums, they present the perfect and powerful answer to supporting your local economy!

For my book, I can simply not think of a better way of getting hold of that unusual or rare Christmas pressie that doesn′t smack of commercialism.  These markets are full of craft work, artisan foods and gift ideas that are not mass-produced but guaranteed real quality. Add to that a good splash of mulled wine and your favourite Christmas carols and I think you′re in for a real treat!!  Below I have listed the Chrismas markets I myself know about, and also those that our readers have kindly flagged to me!!  No doubt I have missed lots, so if you know of one that isn′t listed here, please drop me a quick email and I will be happy to add it!

Clare

Bunratty Castle Christmas Craft Fair – (Clare)
Bunratty Castle Hotel Christmas Craft Fair.  To coincide with the ever so popular “Santa Experience” at the castle and the Hotels’ organised childrens party.

Closest Date:     06-12-2009
Time:    11:00 – 17:00
Contact Person:     Paula Murchan
Phone Number:     0863798308
Email Address:     pmurchan@gmail.com
Facilities:     Toilets, Baby changing area, Wheelchair Access, Invalid Toilets, Parking, Places to Eat

Doonbeg Christmas Market – (Clare)
Doonbeg is establishing its own Christmas market this year. We would like to invite you to participate as a retailer in our first annual two-day event. The courtyard at Doonbeg will be transformed into an Old-World town square where retailers, with an expected footfall of more than 5,000, will capture the audience of local customers and visiting guests of Doonbeg and surrounding towns. The market will take place at the Lodge Doonbeg Golf Club on Saturday 12th December at 10am – 8pm, and Sunday 13th December at 10am – 6pm. The retailer cost for the two days is 350euro, retailer fee includes one 10 ft. x 10 ft. pre-erected stall complete with flooring, a light, and one double socket. Limited spaces, so early booking is advised. Registration is required by November 6, 2009.  Doonbeg will run significant print and radio ads to promote the Christmas market prior to the event.

Closest Date:     12-12-2009
Time:    10:00 – 20:00
Contact Person:     Seamus Dooley
Phone Number:     065 90 55618
Email Address:     Seamus_Dooley@DoonbegGolfClub.com

Cork

Cork City:   A Christmas Celebration on the Grand Parade

Come to Cork and celebrate the magic of Christmas with four weekends of free Christmas events. Join us in our wonderful food and crafts Christmas Market featuring the best of local artesian food and craft producers. Get into the spirit of Christmas as local choirs and bands perform on the Grand Parade. Send your letter to Santa at the Christmas Illuminations in Bishop Lucy Park created by Peter Kelly from Weddings by Franc.

A Christmas Celebration on the Grand Parade will be happening on Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the weekends of November 27th, December 4th, December 11th and December 18th.

Market Opening Times

Friday                              9 am – 8 pm
Saturday & Sunday  12 am – 8 pm

Mahon Point Christmas Farmers Markets

Corks most exciting Farmers Market hold special festive markets in the days running up to Christmas with all your favourite usual producers joined by some talented local craftspeople and artists.

Dates:  22nd,23rd and 24th of Dec from (I think these times are correct) 10a.m-3p.m Regards, Noelle
Times: 10am – 3pm

Kinsale Christmas
A Christmas festival which will run throughout December – a packed programme of festive activities including christmas markets, concerts, carol singing, competition and fun events. See website for full list of events.

Date:     01-12-2009
Website:     www.kinsalechristmas.com

Skibbereen Christmas Food & Crafts Market
The markets will be selling a variety of local festive produce including food, crafts, jewellery, gifts, cards, flowers and wreaths. Market takes place every Saturday & Sunday in December 2009 up till 20th December and is located in Abbeystrewry Church Hall. Teas, coffees, light refreshments and home baking available. If you are interested in booking a space at the market please contact Sharon O’Sriscoll on 028 34444 or 028 36999(evenings)

Date:     05-12-2009
Time:    13:00 – 18:00
Contact Person:     Sharon O’Sriscoll
Phone Number:     028 34444

Dublin

Marlay House Christmas Craft Fair – (South Co. Dublin)

Date:     27-11-2009
Time:    09:00 – 16:00
Email Address:     marlaycraftfair@hotmail.com

The (RDS) – National Craft & Design Fair – (North Co. Dublin)
Stock up on Christmas presents at the Royal Dublin Society’s annual craft fair, with work from around 450 artists, designers and craftspeople from all over the country. Expect everything from silk work and ceramics to candles and chocolate. Event takes place from 2nd – 6th December.

Date:     02-12-2009
Time:    09:00 – 18:00
Phone Number:     01-670 2186
Email Address:     nfo@nationalcraftsfair.ie
Website:     www.nationalcraftsfair.ie

The Crafty Market – (Dublin
The market holds up to 45 stalls which change on a regular basis to ensure a different shopping experience each time you visit! There is a wide selection of handicrafts and artwork at the market, ranging from paintings to homewares, jewellery to babyclothes, hats to handbags. Original handmade gifts. Address: 12 Newmarket Square, Dublin 8 Held on: 1st Sunday each month

Closest Date:     06-12-2009
Time:    11:00 – 17:00
Contact Person:     Ailbhe O’Connell and Louise Gambrill
Email Address:     thecraftymarket@gmail.com
Facilities:     Wheelchair Access, Parking, Places to Eat

12 Days of Christmas Market – (Dublin 1)
The 12 days of Christmas will be held on the George’s dock, IFSC, Dublin Docklands. The market will run from 12th – 23rd December 2009 from 12pm -8pm. The 12 days of Christmas market is your chance to relive all the best bits, bursting with food stalls, stocking fillers, bands, hot cocoa and rides for all of the family. New to this year’s market Santa’s will be on hand at the weekends to hear all the wishes of the little ones.

Closest Date:     12-12-2009
Time:    12:00 – 20:00
Contact Person:     Jackie Spillane
Phone Number:     087 9573647
Email Address:     market@dircoco.ie
Website:     www.dublindocklands.ie

Clontarf Craft Fair – (North Co. Dublin)
This is a craft Market with numerous items available from Cakes to Jewellery.

Day of week : Second Sunday of every month 10am-5pm at St Anthony’s Hall, Clontarf.

Time:    10:00 – 17:00
Phone Number:     01-8321978 (after 6pm please)

Temple Bar Christmas Market – (Dublin 2)
Temple Bar Christmas Market – Thursday December 14th – Sunday December 17th, 11am to 7pm Temple Bar will come alive this Christmas as it plays host to a spectacular outdoor Christmas market for 4 days only this December! Over 50 stallholders will take to the streets of the Old City area of Temple Bar offering you that alternative gift this Christmas. Homemade Mangers, silver jewellery, Brazilian bags, jewellery, knitwear and handmade beauty products are just some of the great gift ideas on offer at the Temple Bar Christmas Market this December.

Dates:     Thursday December 14th – Sunday December 17th
Time:    11:00 – 19:00
Phone Number:     + 353 1 677 2255
Email Address:     info@templebar.ie
Website:     www.templebar.ie

Galway

Kilcolgan Craft Fair – (Galway)

Date:     29-11-2009
Time:    11:00 – 17:00
Email Address:     events@yahoo.com

Church lane Market – (Galway)
The market is open Saturdays and Bank Holidays from 8.00am to 6.00pm and Sundays 2.00 to 6.00. Galway’s famous bustling market has been trading in Church lane by St Nicholas’ Church in the centre of the city for literally centuries. You will find hundreds of stalls selling fresh produce and locally produced crafts. There’s a great variety of food available, Madras curry, Yummy Crepes, Japanese Sushi, and mouth watering handmade chocolates among many others!

Date:     28-11-2009
Time:    09:00 – 17:00
Phone Number:     +353 91 53 7700

Kerry

Killarney Open Air Christmas Market – (Kerry)
Can you remember the Christmas of your youth, the frosty winter evenings, the excitement of visiting Santa, the magical atmosphere, the twinkling Christmas lights? Welcome to Killarney where the stress and hassle are taken away and where you and your family are invited to discover the magic of the festive season. Throughout the festival experience an array of events including Open Air Christmas Markets, Santas Grotto, Concerts and Shows. Our Open air markets showcasing the very best of Irish Food and Crafts will once again be a main feature of the Christmas in Killarney Festival. These will take place on December 5th & 6th and 12th & 13th. The Markets will take place in Killarney’s Fair Hill market.

Date:     05-12-2009
Time:    00:00 – 00:00
Phone Number:     +353 (0)64 663 6622
Email Address:     info@christmasinkillarney.com
Website:     www.christmasinkillarney.com

Waterville Winter Market – (Kerry)
This market features homemade foods organic produce fresh foods and crafts. Location: Concourse along Appleton Street in Waterville, Maine.

Dates:     every Third Thursday December to April.
Time:    14:00 – 16:00
Contact Person:     Downtown Waterville Farmers’ Market
Email Address:     shannon@watervillemainstreet.org

Kildare

Christmas Fair – (Kildare)
Celbridge Community Council is organising a Christmas fair in the Mill Centre in Celbridge, kildare on Sat 5th and Sun 6th Dec. We are looking for people who make/source unique but affordable products. Interesting foods also a must. This is our first fair so we want it to work – will have face painter/balloon maker and art corner for the kids – if interested contact rhoda

Dates:     Sat 5th and Sun 6th Dec
Time:    00:00 – 00:00
Contact Person:     Rhoda
Phone Number:     087-6368985
Email Address:     judger@live.ie

Kilkenny

Craft Fair in MacDonagh Junction – (Kilkenny)

Closest Date:     06-12-2009      monthly
Time:    09:00 – 16:00
Contact Person:     Josephine Plattenberg
Phone Number:     086-8958538
Email Address:     ideasunlimited@eircom.net

Limerick

Pallasgreen Christmas Fair
Christmas food, wreaths, decorations and crafts.

Date:    Sunday 6th December:

Longford

BALLYMAHON A PRE CHRISTMAS CRAFT & GIFT SALE. – (Longford)
DEAN EGAN LIBRARY Main Street Ballymahon Co Longford. Indoor pre Christmas craft & Gift sale market only for 2 days

Dates:      28th november and 12th december.
Time:    10:00 – 18:00
Contact Person:     Trudy
Phone Number:     0863550205
Email Address:     yrbaute@hotmail.com
Facilities:     Toilets, Indoor Market

Mayo

Westport Food & Craft Producers Market – (Mayo)
Westport Food & Craft Producers Market on The Mall Westport each Saturday from 8.30 to 5.30 pm.

Closest Date:     28-11-2009      Every Saturday
Time:    08:30 – 17:30
Contact Person:     Brenda Maloney Market Secretary
Phone Number:     098 64014 mob 0872210800
Email Address:     bredamaloney@eircom.net
Website:     www. clewbayquilting.com
Facilities:     Parking, Places to Eat, Outdoor Market

Meath

Christmas Market – (Meath)

Closest Date:     06-12-2009
Time:    11:00 – 17:00
Phone Number:     087 6654128 anytime.

Offaly

Edenderry Farmers Market – (Offaly)
Farmers Market and craft fair starting in Edenderry on Oct 22nd and continuing each Thursday including Christmas week ( 17 – 24 Dec ).

Closest Date:     03-12-2009      every Thursday
Time:    10:00 – 15:00
Contact Person:     Eileen
Phone Number:     085 1047974
Email Address:     eileenmoconnor@eircom.net
Facilities:     Toilets, Parking, Places to Eat, Outdoor Market

Roscommon

Craft Fair at King House – (Roscommon)
The Fair takes place on Friday 27th November between 7pm and 10pm and Saturday 28th November between 11am and 5pm. Admission to the Fair is free so everyone is welcome to browse around for that special Christmas gift. With such an assortment to choose from you will be able to get presents for every member of the family and treat yourself!

Dates:     27th  &  28th November
Time:    11:00 – 22:00
Phone Number:     +353 (0) 71 966 3242
Email Address:     sgadsby@roscommoncoco.ie
Website:     www.kinghouse.ie/specialevents.html

Boyle Origin Farmers Market – (Roscommon)
Described in the Bridgestone Irish Food Guide as one of the big food success stories of the North west the market has been running all year round since April 2005. Local organic meat, fish, organic fruit and vegetables, bread, home bakes, preserves, Irish fruit juices, organic eggs, health foods and farmhouse cheeses are among the delicacies available every week, alongside local crafts and take away food to eat alfresco. There are special events throughout the year with local musicians and cookery demonstrations a regular feature. Admission is free and there is ample free parking nearby. Come and watch basket weavers following their traditional craft during the market, while shoppers can fill up on hand made chocolate truffles, fudge and brownies, delicious organic ice creams and fruit sorbets, a large selection of fresh fish, local pork including sausages, rashers and gluten free pork sausages, A large selection of Irish farmhouse cheeses from Cheese Etc and smell the aroma of freshly made French Crepes…….

Date:  Every Saturday
Time:    10:00 – 14:00
Contact Person:     Patricia Golden
Phone Number:     071 9663033
Email Address:     unabhan@indigo.ie

Christmas Fair – (Roscommon)
Christmas Fair in Silver Eel, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon. Sunday 6th December from 12-6. Join us for this fabulous festive event.

Closest Date:     06-12-2009
Time:    12:00 – 18:00
Contact Person:     ursula
Email Address:     sales@hamperit.ie

Tipperary

Ballylooby Christmas Fair (Located in a little village between Ardfinnan and Clogheen)

Christmas food, wreaths, decorations and crafts.

Date:  Sunday 6th December:

Westmeath

Glasson Christmas Craft Fair – (Westmeath)
We are running an indoor Christmas Craft Fair in the very picturesque village of Glasson just outside Athlone. Stalls will include art, woodwork, soaps, sugarcraft etc.

Closest Date:     20-12-2009
Time:    00:00 – 00:00
Contact Person:     Deirdre Brady
Phone Number:     0876797830
Email Address:     Deirdra.brady@gmail.com
Facilities:     Toilets, Baby changing area, Parking, Places to Eat, Indoor Market

Wicklow

Christmas Fair – (Wicklow)
This is a fabulous old building recently renoveted by Carlow and Wicklow County Council. There will be 30 stalls in the Main Hall and some artists and photographers displaying in the Drawing Room. There will be Christmas Trees & Wreaths for sale in the Courtyard and the Campus Cafe will be open during the fair. Free admission and parking for the public.

Closest Date:     27-11-2009
Time:    00:00 – 00:00
Contact Person:     Sinead
Email Address:     christmasclermont09@gmail.com

St. Davids Arts, Crafts & Antiques Fair – (Wicklow)
St. David’s in Greystones, Co Wicklow is holding its third annual Arts, Crafts & Antiques Fair during the first weekend of December which is the weekend of Dec, 5th & 6th. This is a school fundraising event.

Dates:     5th & 6th November
Time:    10:00 – 11:00
Phone Number:     087 2917519
Email Address:     askay@shoestringbiz.ie

This lovely plarn bag featured recently on the Guardian

Plarn,  or plastic yarn.

One day you’ve never heard of it, next day it’s everywhere.

Lately, I’ve become interested in crafty ways of transforming rubbish, and especially plastic rubbish, into useful things and even attractive presents.

One of the simplest tricks I’ve discovered is making plarn from  lengths of plastic carrier bags.

It is amazingly quick and easy to do, and would be perfect for kids and school projects.   I’ve posted a little ‘how to’ note here with a link to an excellent 2-minute YouTube video tutorial.

Once you’ve made your plarn (a matter of minutes only), you can knit, crochet or braid it into any number of things.

Judging by the internet, rugs and bags seem to be most popular but I’ve even seen it braided into a pair of waterproof sandals!

The gorgeous knitted clutch bag pictured above is from a recent article in the environment section of the Guardian.

I particularly like the the fact that plarn gives a new lease of life to plastic bags that might otherwise end up in landfill, where they will spend centuries slowly decaying.  ‘Plarning’ — have I just coined a new word?  — may mean we can dramatically reduce the amount of plastic rubbish that we dump.  Something that would greatly help our ‘rubbish diet‘.

I know some people think this kind of ‘recycling’ is nothing more than “slow motion landfill”. But I have to disagree: if we can transform the plastic into something useful, such as a bag or rug, it means that item is not being made anew, so we are helping to reduce the consumption of scarce resources.

Of course, it goes without saying, that we should all be trying to reduce the number of plastic bags we end up with!

(c) MaryMulvihill.net 2009