Party Planning At County Arms 12Jan09

We have an awesome venue booked for next year's party on Saturday 7th March. The County Arms on Trinity Road, Wandsworth, is not only friendly and welcoming to drinkers and eaters alike but it is beautifully and comfortably decorated providing an enchanting home away from home with a little mystical magic thrown in. If you've not yet experienced The County Arms, we would highly recommended a visit: 345 Trinity Road, London SW18 3SH - let them know we sent you!

We will be meeting there from 7:30pm on Monday 12th January 2009 to discuss ideas and plan the event. Please do come along if you would like to be involved. If you can bake cakes, cookies and other edible goodies from fairtrade ingredients or if you are an artisan who can make beautiful items from eco (sustainable, fairtrade and ethical) materials do come along and join us.

Other than edible treats, the kinds of art & craft we are hoping to sell includes but is not restricted to the following:

* Paintings - perhaps using eco paints and/or on organic canvas and/or with an ethical or sustainable message or theme
* Photography - printed on sustainably sourced paper or other material and/or with an eco theme or message
* Clothing - made from fairtrade and/or organic cotton, recycled and/or sustainable fabrics such as hemp
* Jewellery - constructed from ethically sourced and/or recycled materials
* Toys & Homeware - made using from ethical and/or sustainable fabrics and materials

For more information or to register your interest email racheblue@bluAngeldesigns.com

Until then, seasonal greetings and happy holidays!

Mad March ArTea Party

The ArTea Party has been re-scheduled for early March 2009 which, we think, is perfect timing for a Mad Hatters Tea Party! Coinciding happily with Fairtrade Fortnight 2009 (23rd Feb - 8th Mar) ArTea Party promises to be a fun, fair and fabulous event.

Party Preparations:
Alice, the Hatter and friends would love you to come along and help celebrate all the goodness of fairtrade drinks, cookies and other edible goodies alongside a fine selection of art and craft lovingly fabricated by local artisans. The Wonderland team are busy working on some wonderful creations to tempt and entrance guests in-between all that tea and cake.

The White Rabbit is rushing around organising the day, checking times and schedules and will undoubtedly ensure all goes according to plan (which plan that will be, we're not entirely sure - but hey, it's all part of the fun!)

Email Us:
Would you like to help out the White Rabbit with event organisation (either in the run up or on the day) or perhaps you are keen to assist Alice and the Mad Hatter to create eco delights for sale? Then send us an email detailing the following:

* Your name (+ company name if appropriate)
* Location - we are seeking South West London individuals and organisations for this party
* Which items you would like to create /design / craft / bake OR
* Which skills and services you would like to offer ArTea
* How your products are eco - fairtrade, organic, recycled or sustainable in some other way
* How many cakes / cookies / pieces of art / items of clothing / accessories / pieces of jewellery etc you envision being able to bring to the sale

Donations & Fundraising:
100% of all fairtrade food and beverage sales and
20% of all art & craft sales will be donated to the cause

ArTea Party will be raising funds for the Wandsworth Fairtrade Campaign Group (WFTC) to support their essential work raising awareness of Fairtrade within Wandsworth. This year they are focusing particularly on working with local schools and faith groups. The group are also campaigning to achieve Fairtrade Borough status for Wandsworth in line with London Assembly backing and the city's recent attainment of fairtrade status.

London's Mayor, Boris Johnson said: "It's super news that London is now officially the world's largest Fairtrade City, with 20 Fairtrade boroughs in the capital. It sends a clear message that Londoners want their products to be Fairtrade and to make a significant difference to the lives of farmers and workers in the developing world."

More details will be forthcoming...

ArTea Postponed 'Till Early 2009

Sadly, circumstances suggest that ArTea Party II would be best postponed until next year.

On a positive note, this gives us more time to organise a fabulous event for 2009!

Please continue to get in touch if you are keen to be involved either as an artist, designer, crafter, baker, marketeer, odd-job person, sponsor etc. and we will keep you updated with party planning progress as it happens.

Rache
racheblue@bluAngeldesigns.com

ArTea Party II - Wandsworth

ArTea Party has moved to the sunny streets of South London and it is envisioned that the second party will be held in one of Wandsworth's fine establishments before the end of the year.

The format will be similar to the debut party - local art & craft sale (South London artists preferred) with Fairtrade refreshments and goodies for sale. Around 20% of art and 100% of food & drink sales will be used to support either a local Fairtrade project or charitable cause.

Details will be confirmed shortly but if you live, work or study in Wandsworth borough or surrounding areas of South London and would like to be involved either with baking Fairtrade goods for sale, creating art & craft from eco (fair trade, organic, sustainable, recycled materials), donating time on the day or to marketing beforehand, please drop me a line: racheblue@bluAngeldesigns.com

There will be a small Artists' fee for exhibiting and selling work at the party to cover costs but this may be reduced if enough interest is garnered, so please get in touch, forward the info to your creative friends in Wandsworth and let the party begin!