The Green Familia » more than gifts

TGF Ethical Christmas Gift List – Day 34

erica — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:00:09 +0000

Today’s TGF Ethical Christmas Gift List focus is on fair trade gifts.

The perfect choice for a little girl this Christmas would be these sparkly, pink letters from The Lemon Tub. They’re a lovely way to personalise a child’s room or toy box as they are supplied with adhesive pads. Measuring 7cm high and painted with shimmery pink paint, each letter has a different fairytale design: A is for Angel, B stands for Ballerina, etc. Each letter costs £0.95 and you can choose which letters you want.

For adults with a sense of fun, try this wooden box from More Than Gifts with a secret lock. There’s a ornate hand carved design on the shesham wood lid. You can’t see a handle or catch, but once you find the hidden panel on the bottom, you can open the lid. It’s made in India from sustainably managed wood and is priced at £15.99.

This mother of pearl clutch bag from Boutiko is simply beautiful. The clutch has a hand embellished, checker board design and an internal zipped pocket. It is fully lined and has a magnetic closure. There’s also a darker version available and both cost £16.

For younger family members, try this lovely hand embroidered play mat from Babipur. The design features embroidered stars and is lightly padded and hand quilted. It’s practical too as it is reversible and can be machine washed. Once baby is moving around, it can be used as a cot quilt or bedspread. It’s priced at £34.25.

For toddlers, try these adorable pup shoes from Shak Shuka. They are made by hand and each shoe maker leaves their mark, which can be found under the strap. Using high quality leather offcuts, that would otherwise be discarded, helps reduce waste. They are available in sizes 5 to 9 and cost €42.00.

If you missed day 33 of the TGF Ethical Christmas Gift List, you can catch up here.

TGF Ethical Christmas Gift List – Day 24

erica — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:54:50 +0000

Today’s TGF Ethical Christmas Gift List focus is on wooden toys for children.

I love this set of wooden blocks from Sones because it’s a bit different to the norm: as well as the usual mix of colours and shapes, there are pictures and shapes painted onto the blocks. With a bright sun and stars as well as other patterns, you’ll be able to create a range of scenes. The box contains 38 pieces and is suitable from 18 months of age. It’s priced at £18.

For older children, or even adults, there’s this fun Angel Solitaire. It’s the classic game in a new guise, with lovely hand painted wooden angels instead of the usual balls. A great one for playing after a big Christmas dinner and it makes a pretty Christmas decoration too. The price is £11.99.

This Four Friends Playroom Set is the perfect addition to any young child’s home. As it looks so good, it could be used in the kitchen, living room or bedroom, wherever you need some seating and a table for eating, drawing or playing. The set as pictured costs £121, but you can add or subtract or substitute items to meet your needs and your budget.

If you missed day 23 of the TGF ethical Christmas gift list, check it out here.

TGF Ethical Christmas List – Day 16

sue — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:00:12 +0000

Today’s TGF Ethical Christmas Gift List focus is on Ethical Christmas Decorations.

I love this gorgeous Christmas Nativity Set from Sones. The fair-trade set is just the right size for curious toddlers to pick up and play with and as it’s made from chunky MDF it’s not too fragile for little fingers! It’s perfect for introducing young children to the story of Christmas and the beautifully painted pieces are sure to capture their imaginations. It also makes a lovely decoration. At just £16, this Nativity Set is great value for money – I know my daughters would love to have one of these this Christmas!

This lovely Personalised Christmas Nativity Plaque from Samigail’s Gifts costs £5 and has a nativity picture burned on the front by pyrography and coloured in with pencil. Using the hanging twine the plaque can be hung on the Christmas tree or just as a decoration around the home. You can also add a personalised message to the back of the plaque, making these wonderful gifts too. They would be lovely for children to give to a teacher, or as a gift for a child so that they can keep them for years to come.

The Christmas Tree for Life Pack, from tree2mydoor, contains a baby Norway Spruce sapling (approx. 20-60 cm) and a beautiful personalised Snowflake Christmas Decoration available in either gold or pewter. When it first arrives, the little Norway Spruce can be planted in a pot and kept indoors as a Christmas decoration. It can then planted out in the garden in the New Year so that you can watch it grow. Each Christmas, pot the little tree and bring it back indoors for a wonderful living Christmas decoration. The Christmas Tree for Life Pack costs £36.98.

If you’re looking for decorations to go on the tree, then these stylish silk stars from Fairwind are perfect. The stars are handmade using Cambodian silk by polio and landmine survivors in Cambodia. They come in mixed box sets of gold and cream or red and cream, and cost £12 for a box of 6. Co-ordinating silk hearts are also available.

My final choice is another beautfiul Christmas Nativity Set and Figures, this time from More Than Gifts. The set includes a wooden stable and lots of wonderful little wooden Nativity characters just right for children to play with and act out the Christmas story. This is another set that I know my daughters would spend many happy hours playing with this Christmas! It also makes a lovely decoration. The set costs £15.99.

TGF Ethical Christmas Gift List – Day 4

Brenda — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:00:13 +0000

Day 4 of the TGF Ethical Christmas Gift List, sees us focus on gifts for teenagers. One of the hardest age groups to buy for I find!

Handmade Denim Bag from More than Gifts - Handmade in Brazil, these exquisite patchwork denim bags are individually hand sewn with 3D miniatures attached on the front including handbags, shoes, dolls etc. Each one is unique so may vary slightly from the one shown. Absolutely perfect if you are looking for that unique gift idea. The inside is lined and includes a zipped inside pocket. Finished with a denim handle and a top zip to fasten. Approx. size 30 x 30 cms excluding handles. Price is £16.99, with p & p free.

Star Earrings from Kitty and Polly - Simple but stunning handmade earrings in sterling silver, perfect for a bit of sparkle over Christmas. Price is £30.

Turqoise Fun Bracelet from Boutiko - An eclectic mix of browns, creams, and turquoise with highlights of red finished with a beautiful organza bow. Incredibly versatile colours that brightens up any outfit. One Size (stretchy!) Wood, crochet, porcelain and wax paper beads on elastic with Organza Ribbon. Price is £10.

Merry Oy!ganic Christmas from Green People - contains three treat size products from the new Organic Young skin care range which are all multipurpose and packed with punchy organic ingredients suitable for teenage skin, including prebiotics, Willow Bark, Tea Tree, Rosehip, Green Tea and Omega 3 & 6 essential fatty acids. A great stocking filler, price is £10.

Ayesha Make-up Purse from NV London Calcutta - This gorgeous leather and silk Make-up Purse fits even the most dedicated beauty addicts daily stash. So stylish, we’ve been ditching the cosmetics and taking ours out on the town…100% leather with premium quality, Bourneville brown, textured and butter soft buffalo hide body with matching drill cotton lining. Champagne coloured removable silk tassle with leather fastening and zipped internal pocket. Price is £35.

Day 3 saw us checking out gifts for babies.

Top 3 Gift Choices from More Than Gifts

Brenda — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:00:07 +0000

Here are my top 3 gift choices from fab ethical online store More Than Gifts.

Fairtrade Secret Lock Boxes - Secret lock wooden caskets that have beautiful hand-carved intricate designs
on the lid that can include brass inlays and beaded metal work. They are made form Shesham wood managed from sustainable forests. The boxes seem impossible to open with no handle or visible catch until you locate the hidden panel at the bottom that slides to the left to open the box lid. Practical but great fun! Handcarved in Saharanpur, India this box is supplied by Aspiration who actively promote and develop fair trade cottage industries in India. They improve economic and social welfare and provide fair wages to the producers. Prices start from £12.75.

Russian Nesting Dolls - All of our Russian nesting sets (including blanks and children’s kits) are authentically made in Russia using seasoned wood.The sets are painted by experienced, skilled artists and this is reflected in the superior quality and finish. They are hand-turned using lime or birch seasoned wood to form the blanks and then passed to the artists who hand decorates them in their own individual styles. Our St Petersburg supplier is committed to trading fairly and provides good working conditions, good salaries and enhanced employee benefit packages in his studio.
Our other sets are purchased directly from the artists in villages on the outskirts of Moscow. Prices start from £11.99.

Indian Beaded Bags - Very popular. Good quality beaded organza bags handmade in India and embellished with drawstrings, pretty beads and a decorative brocade trim. Ideal for weddings and parties to fill with small items such as chocolates or toiletries. Price is £6.50.