Sweet Notions from ilovepinatas on Vimeo.

as one vote for Sweet Notions

 Leveraging Business for Social Change: Building the Field of Social Business  

http://www.changemakers.com/en-us/node/80892

en-us

The Pilot for the Sweet Notions Design Camps launched this past Thursday.  We were thrilled by the response of the staff at the Marylebone Project outside of London and the women that participated.  Of course we immediately learned a few things that we can change to make them run better!

Why Pilot and how do you define a pilot? What is a pilot is and what do we intend to learn from this pilot?

Piloting and Proto-typing is central to our projects and is key when pioneering new concepts and initiatives.
A pilot project serves as a tentative model for future experiment or development.   Planned as a test or trial, the goal is to get to proof of concept through a method that demonstrates feasibility and good practice.  

We expect to learn if it works or not.  We think the design camps are a great idea - it is the solution of what to do with the 50% of stuff that we collect that we can't sell, and it is about transformation, as well as mobilization of creatives and designers through the design community.  But if it doesn't work for the women we are working with .. then it is just a good idea that didn't deliver.  

So ... 1) We expect to learn if it is more than a good idea.  2) We expect to show the benefit creative pursuits have on confidence, mood, and the willingness to try new thing. 3) We expect to prove the link between creativity and confidence-building. 4) We expect to realize the potential for ecomonic recovery as well as therapy. 5) We almost know (but are waiting for proof) how community is built and barriers are broken down when individuals create together.

Please shoot us an email if you have extra supplies, such as jewelry making equipment or tools, or if you'd like to donate items to be repurposed.
 

Something we've struggled with so far at Sweet Notions is having things that appeal to both men and women, my trip home gave me hope that perhaps

we've stumbled upon something...on the way back to Houston from Kerrville I got comments at EVERY stop about our repurposed 1940's Willey Jeep trailer! In fact, at one point I went into a sandwich shop for a quick bite and came out to find a guy there just checking her out from every angle and he told me about what kind of jem I had!

{image_1}{image_2}{image_3}

In London today, I am enjoying the bank holiday weekend and it is gloriously sunny!  But I thought it was time to post an update on the design camps. Beginning in June we will begin a pilot of the Design Camps. We will have a team of creatives, OT's and social researchers working with women in the largest shelter for vulnerable women in London. We are still developing designs to teach women to create. If you want to be involved in anyway in the design camps please do get in touch!

{image_1}

{image_1}

These tips are provided by HEB and can easily be done by any and everyone!

1. --Turn off your lights, television, and radio when you leave the house to save electricity.
2.  
3. --Wash your clothes in cold water instead of warm or hot.
4.  
5. --Fix leaky faucets--they can waste thousands of gallons of water per year.
6.  
7. --Remember to turn off your computer, printer, and other equipment when it's not being used.
8.  
9. --Bring any unused plastic bags back to your local HEB (Texas) to be recycled. I just found out today that HEB actually DOES recycle their bags, unlike many grocery chains that say they recycle and actually throw them away (to go to landfill), in many cases.
10.  
11. --Don't let the water run while you brush your teeth. Simply wet the brush and use a pre-filled cup to rinse
12.  
13. --Carpool. Try to carpool to work. Many workplaces have a carpolling program.
14.  
15. --Change your home air-conditioning filter every month to keep things running efficently. Pay a bit more for air filters that use recycled materials.
16.  
17. --Remember to check your tire pressure regularly. If you keep your tires properly inflated you can increase your miles per gallon and extend the life of your tires.
18.  
19. --When grocery shopping, bring your own reusable bags to reduce the number of plastic bags used. Leave some in your car or in whatever mode of transport you'll use to get there so you don't forget them!
20.  
21. --Set your thermostat at 78 to 80 degrees during the warm months and 68 to 70 degrees during the cold months, you can reduce your energy consumption by 10%.
22.  
23. --Everything IS bigger in Texas! Each Texan generates 7 pounds of trash each day!! We can do our part to reduce our waste by recycling paper, plastics, glass, and aluminum cans.
24.  
25. --One CFL bulb uses 75% less energy and can last up to 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb.

-Forum for the future

http://www.facebook.com/pages/We-are-based-in-TX-and-London/Sweet-Notions/339594815541?ref=ts

Please take a few minutes (ok, it's about 20,but worth it!) to watch this. It's very informative and

may help bring some understanding to what Sweet Notions is doing and why.

Many of these spotlighted have been and will continue to be valuable resources for Sweet Notions, especially while figuring out how to run a successful new enterprise and boiling down our core values to make sure we're standing on a sturdy foundation.

Here are just a few, there's more to come...

Springwise: http://www.springwise.com

{image_1}

It's completely devoted to innovative new business ideas, from the US to China to Sweden.
They explain what makes new concepts tick & is required reading for entrepreneurial minds!
We appreciate that most of the companies they highlight are socially and environmentally conscious.

CRED: http://www.credjewellery.com

{image_3}

CRED Jewellery is the original Fair Trade jeweller. As pioneers they have pursued the dream of Fair Trade jewellery and brought it to reality. They were the first European retailer to sell independently certified Fair Trade gold, and the first high street boutique to exclusively sell ethical jewellery. In 2003 they produced the world's first truly ethical wedding rings: wedding bands made from gold from a traceable source that was certified as environmentally and socially responsible, which remain their bestsellers.

Scoutie Girl: http://www.scoutiegirl.com

{image_2}

Scoutie girl scours the world of independent craft & design and puts the best – or at least their favorites – right there for the world to see. They believe in the power of independence, the power of creation, the power of handmade to change the world. They believe that mass-production and rampant consumerism have created a culture that is hungry for “more” & “cheap” – they believe that handmade can change that, reconnect us with our fellow (wo)man and put life back into a bit of perspective.

Scoutie Girl is part of a vital and energized handmade*craft*design blogosphere. They believe that blogging is an art form – that creating a friendly, personal space that inspires & moves you is a lofty goal and a delicate process.

http://www.ejfoundation.orghttp://www.everydaytrash.com http://www.swishing.com http://www.goinghometoroost.com/

Question: Can you mix silver and gold jewelry?

{image_1}

Answer: Yes! We all know the old rule we grew up with-- never mix silver and gold, but this simply no longer applies!

Well known jewelry designers are mixing gold and silver together to create amazing necklaces, bracelets, and earrings that allow for tremendous versatility.

If you need some convincing, see any recent fashion mag. Models are shown rocking mixed heavy metals and have for some time now.

Personally, we love the combo. Pictured is an exciting piece found on Net-A-Porter.com (Falconiere- Frantz Necklace)

But, how to make it 'work' for you?

To start, include a few two-tone pieces (for example a watch that has silver & gold in it, or a ring that has mixed yellow & white gold). Once you start that 'look' happening, you can add different pieces of silver or gold, and they will all look great and quite intentional together.

Happy mixing!

1. The Right Necklace
Glamour.com says, slip on a long, chunky necklace.
 Not only are statement necklaces totally trendy, but the elongated U shape will make your torso seem extra long and lean. Make yours stand out even more by wearing it over a light-color top.

2. A Properly Worn Belt
Belts are great fashion accessories that can be worn by anyone and fool the eye if done right. Women that are short or thick waisted can still wear belts without drawing too much attention to their mid section. The trick is that you need to wear the belt lower on your hips, rather than at your waistline. This will draw the attention away from your waist and elongate the look of your torso. Chain belts are trendy right now and look very stylish when slung low.

3. Keep The Eye Looking Up
{image_1}Wearing an accessory high on your body can be a great way to attract attention up. 
A scarf, brooch, great earrings or statement necklace can act as a focal point, drawing the eye up to your face. Always choose medium sized accessories - too big and chunky can add weight and anything too small or fine will disappear.

4. Lots Of Shoe, Lots Of You
Even though our shoes are the opposite direction of where we want to be noticed, they do make a difference in our overall look. The chunkier the shoe and more rounded the toe, the heavier you will appear. The best shoes for reducing apparent weight have a thin sole, medium to high heel and a reasonably pointed toe. Steer clear of mules and ankle straps, instead go for shoes that show more of your foot, creating a long line and visually elongating your legs.

We had a great weekend and are planning two similar gatherings in February, one in the UK and one in the US.  If you are interested in taking part please contact us.

Photos coming soon!