Recently Banana Moon have contributed to saving 3 beautiful Highland cattle from the food chain. Please follow the link to see more- http://www.banana-moon-clothing.co.uk/blog/william-hamish-and-dougal-reunited/

Hamish, Dougal and George are all now doing well in their refuge at the wonderful Hillside Farm Sanctuary in Norfolk which deserves everyone’s support.

The sanctuary was founded in 1995 to campaign and to help animals in need. Also most importantly to bring awareness to the millions of animals suffering in the intensive factory farming industry. It is now home to over 2,000 animals and its costs are growing by the day. Recent rescues have been a number of horses from a slaughter house in Cheshire , for example.

We are really sorry to hear that the Sanctuary is struggling for funding and Banana Moon have been called in to help, which we have done immediately. The wet winter has been the problem, and the fields  have become so waterlogged that hundreds of additional large bales of straw have had to be brought in. Also the cold weather has slowed down the new growth of grass in the fields.

Hillside needs all our help now !

Please go on the website and make a donation or buy an item from the shop. www.hillside.org.uk

Even a small donation of £4 can help and make all the difference and help to buy more straw. I wonder if some of our schools or colleges can look into ways they can raise funds for the Sanctuary, for example.

Maybe we can produce garments for fund raising, mainly some cheap printed t-shirts or even host a competition with a prize for the organisation who raises most money. Could you hold a fun run in your school perhaps?

Banana Moon’s top greeters Fergus and Alfie

What we do know is that Hillside Sanctuary need all our help now.  Banana Moon love our animals, it is a dog friendly work place (as we work alongside our in house greeters, Alfie and Fergus,daily) and here’s 2,000 plus animal’s in need of urgent help.

The sanctuary manager is Wendy Valentine and her telephone number is 01603-736200, if you want any more information.

Great pics on website, alex

Like many women, I want to have the body of the likes of Jennifer Anniston and Mila Kunis, whilst at the same time, sitting at home on my sofa, eating chocolate. As we all know, that never works. For quite a while, I have needed the motivation to get up and get active, yet the thought of squeezing into a pair of Lycra jogging bottoms absolutely frightens the life out of me. A couple of week ago however, I finally got the motivation I needed to get going. Having had maybe a glass too many of wine, I was asked by 2 very good friends of mine, to join them in running (yes running), in this years Cancer Research Race For Life 5km. Instantly I agreed, forming Team Panda, only realizing the morning after exactly what I had committed to. Now 5km might not seem like a long distance to most people, but for a self-confessed couch potato like myself, it may as well be a 26 mile marathon. Not one to let my team down, that very morning I dusted off my old trainers and set off on what would be my first training session, with a little help from my encouraging husband and newly downloaded podcast- NHS Couch to 5k. Until 2 weeks ago, I had never heard of this. Basically, the free download includes various 30 minute training programmes, designed to increase your running ability from week to week, and get you running 5k in 9 weeks. I’ll admit, I was sceptical, however, after surviving the first “run”, I was hooked, if not extremely exhausted. Why not take a look at the link below to find out more about this NHS training programme.

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/couch-to-5k-plan.aspx

Over the following days, Team Panda (don’t ask about the name… I have no idea) started accumulating sponsorship money, and after just a week, we had raised a fantastic £300. With each and every donation we receive, I get more and more motivated to train and in 2 month’s time, will definitely be running over the finish line with my friends Hannah and Emma.

I am on week 2 of my running schedule, and have to say, my breathing and pace is a little steadier. Maybe there is hope for me after all. I will keep you updated with my progress, and believe me when I say, if I can do it, anybody can.

As I write this blog it is a beautiful, bright & sunny Tuesday evening! Whilst I’m enjoying the sunshine – it may be brief – I’m also pining for the Tuesday 2 weeks ago when I immersed myself in the frenzied pattern cutting & garment assembly otherwise known as The Great British Sewing Bee final. This renewed interest in sewing really caught the imagination of the girls here in the Banana Moon office, although, as Sewing Bee showed, sewing is most definitely not exclusively a female activity.

It certainly seems that I am not alone in welcoming the resurgence of home sewing. Sales of sewing machines have increased by more than 30% over the past year, sewing groups or “cafes” are popping up countrywide & Nicola Horlick, the renowned city “superwoman”, is taking steps to persuade the government to return sewing to the school national curriculum, supporting the launch of a petition at  http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/british-government-put-sewing-back-on-the-national-curriculum.

Now, I don’t claim to be a highly skilled seamstress, but the skill I have, I can only improve upon. I yearn to be better than I am – I get by & really am quite capable but lack confidence if anything. I’d love to be taught how to sew. All I know, or think I know, I’ve taught myself, sewing wasn’t taught in my school. I recall my older siblings making an apron in their first term at secondary school, but just five years later, when it was my turn, sewing lesson were nothing more than a memory. Sewing courses in our local area are few & far between too.

I Believe sewing is a skill for life & can often be your only hope of producing a nativity costume with just 4 hours of panic to spare! Last Christmas, the big guy, with the red suit & the white beard, delivered a shiny, new sewing machine for my daughter. Her first project was a simple little tote bag for herself, which she has since replicated for a couple of friends.

Even more importantly, we spent quality time together, which is a rarity these days – she’s at that age! Sewing can, however, be as solitary or as sociable as you like. For some it’s just a solo activity, whereas, for many more, the support of like-minded people is preferred. The opportunities for sewing are endless, covering all ranges of ability. If your stitching is still a little wonky, you can produce a variety of soft furnishings which have a certain homespun charm. On the other hand, the more experienced stitchers can create exquisite haute couture garments with the finest, most delicate seams & hand beaded detailing.

For me, there is little more exciting than a shop filled with beautiful fabrics, ribbons & trimmings. I am constantly thinking of things I want to make, with fabric I just need to own. Trouble is I can’t decide where to start. First though, I’ll be signing the petition, with the hope of seeing a return to sewing in the classroom.