Photo courtesy of Pretty Vintage

‘We’re all mad here’ at Greenmystyle.com for all things Alice in Wonderland!  While the beloved tale has been interpreted in Tim Burton’s latest movie, it has managed to creep up as an inspiration in everything from cute blue bows to afternoon tea parties in cafes everywhere. Have a look at some of our picks to recreate Wonderland at home or have a wicked wonderful time about town. Eleni Sardi goes down the eco rabbit hole.

Britain seems to have surrendered to the charms of Alice as Tim Burton’s 3D film has managed to consecutively win the top spot in the box office.

The novel by English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll has been a constant source of artistic inspiration because of the fantastical world it brings to life and it still manages to be well-loved and resonate with people of all ages.

Last year Heston Blumenthal treated his guests to a Victorian feast much inspired by Alice’s adventures as he offered them a ‘Drink Me’ infusion and an edible watch out of stock that was dissolved in a rather Victorian-looking cup.

Mad Hatter’s tea parties have been very popular lately and we have the scoop on where you can enjoy some of the most lavish cakes and teas in town. And why not host your own Mad Hatter’s party at home? We’ve found the perfect eco considerate homeware that will add a fantasy note to your own little Wonderland. Without further ado…

If you think of a homeless person the chances are you will conjure up an image of someone with no purpose and no potential. Someone who is the embodiment of all that we would least like to be.

Emmaus demonstrates that given the opportunity and the right support, people whose lives have become derailed can not only get themselves back on track but can also make a valuable contribution to the lives of others.

Next time you need to clear some clutter, are looking to re-home a sofa or to complete your collection of glassware or simply want to browse a little and visit a Community cafe you will be very welcome. You can shop or drop safe in the knowledge that your contribution will make a real and lasting difference.

Making furniture go further

Although all Emmaus shops sell good quality second hand furniture, the emphasis of each shop is slightly different. Some shops sell mended and tested white goods, or repaired bicycles, or vintage clothes or plants grown in Community gardens and allotments.  Others have craft sections for which volunteers use remnants of fabric and wool to create something new. Still others customise furniture or make bird boxes and planters or transform unwanted video cassettes into works of art.

With a double bed coming in at £45, a chest of drawers at £15 and a sofa at £50, a visit to an Emmaus shop will guarantee you a bargain. Those seeking quirky and retro pieces that they would be unable to find elsewhere will not be disappointed either. Stock varies according to what has been donated but recent finds include a 50’s picnic hamper complete with its original napkins, a neat sewing box disguised as an occasional table and an art deco lamp.

Recycling is a core value at Emmaus. Donated furniture, the buildings in which Communities are based and even the neighbourhoods in which Emmaus Communities are located get a fresh start thanks to the efforts of Emmaus Communities.

Recent independent research indicates one Emmaus Community can save nearly 900 tonnes of waste from going to landfill sites by the work that they do! Many items that can’t be refurbished or mended are stripped down to their component parts and sold as scrap. In addition, when Communities reduce the need for production of new items, they prevent production processes that harm the environment.

Abandoned factories, schools and convents become viable again when Emmaus Communities renovate them and move in, also providing a boost to local neighbourhoods and offering both a recycling service and affordable furniture.

The focus of work

Emmaus has 19 Communities across the UK in which previously homeless and unemployed people live and work. Each resident is required to sign off unemployment benefit and to work full time at the business of the Community, which is collecting and re-selling donated items of furniture in the Community shops. Not only do Emmaus Communities pay their own way, but any surplus income generated by the efforts of the residents is donated to other local charities and facilities.

Although a safe place to live is, of course, vital for everyone, simply providing shelter for someone who has been without adequate accommodation for a period of time is sometimes not enough. Being marginalised and ignored as many homeless people have been often has the effect of eroding self respect and confidence. Emmaus offers the focus and discipline of work which goes a long way towards restoring in the residents a sense of their own worth and potential.

Dave a resident at an Emmaus Community describes this process;
“Having work stops you brooding about the past and it gives you skills that you didn’t have before. Every time I collect something in the van or sell an item in the shop, I know that I am playing a part in my future and the future of the Community. I can look people in the eye now.”

Rather than assuming that everyone has the same problems Emmaus aims to treat people as individuals with very individual needs and aspirations.
To find out more about Emmaus visit, Emmaus.org.uk

Organically grown by a small farmer’s cooperative in Nicaragua, this coffee has a rich nutty flavour and a tantalising aroma. It’s a medium roast strength 3. Great black or white but if you like it sweet, opt for a pack of Fairtrade sugar as well.

Taylors of Harrogate pays the social premiums as part of Fairtrade which are used for community projects which help to improve the lives of the farmers and their families. The company believes that quality and trading fairly go hand in hand. For them, the continued supply of the best quality teas and coffees can only come by forging strong trading relationships with the growers, and ensuring that they are paid premium prices.

The company has a long tradition of trading fairly and has been following a Sustainable Sourcing Programme, and they tell us that irrespective of whether or not the packs carry the Fairtrade logo, you can rest assured that all of their teas and coffees are fairly traded. London based Union Hand-Roasted coffee are of a similar ilk.

Taylor’s Fairtrade and Organic coffee can be found in most large supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrison, Waitrose, Somerfield, The Co-op and Booths and also some smaller retailers. The price is £2.69 for the pack of 227 g.

Visit Taylors of Harrogate online.

Now all you need is a thermal I am Not a Paper Cup to keep your coffee hot for those hard-working days and an energy saving manual  espresso coffee maker, such as the one by Presso!

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Modern eco-princesses are rarely troubled by peas in their sleep nowadays, as was the heroine in Hans Christian Andersen’s story.

Any well-informed eco-prince should know that the best way to find his real princess is to let her sleep in anything else but organic bed linen and a natural bed.

If it’s not fairly traded and sustainably produced, the bed is going to keep her up all night. If the bedclothes are not organic, they’re going to be a burden in her sleep.

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Kirstie Allsopp isn’t the only one getting crafty at the moment, with elite fashion packs gathering for knitting circles in Claridges and a growing online community of sewers, needlepointers and felters, it looks like 2010 could be the year when crafts make a comeback. ReVampt’s V&A workshops will be just one of the places to learn the basics and gain tips from the more experienced. ReVampt’s owner and designer Sarah Baulch will be at the Patchwork Social quilt making workshop at the V&A on the 1st and 2nd of May as well as running the Re-working Textile workshop there on the 3rd May.

If you’re not too handy with a needle, ReVampt’s collection contains a range of patchwork items including throws, cushions, bags and chairs that have been lovingly made for you. These unique items, containing large quantities of reclaimed denim, evoke the back-to-basics style that was so prevalent at Paris’ most influential home design show, Maison et Objet. If denim’s not your bag however, ReVampt will create new items to order using fabrics that it has reclaimed or from textiles that you provide yourself.

If you can’t wait until February, then visit ReVampt at the Tearooms Market off London’s Brick Lane every Saturday and Sunday from 10am-6pm or shop online at Revampit.co.uk.

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