Frugi to the rescue… More power to their elbow. A fabulous use of the demonic plastic. by Annie Clarke

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At Frost Magazine we are lucky to occasionally receive notice of something that relates to a current crisis. Here we have such a product, which is trying in its own way to address an alarming phenomenon.

Our beautiful and precious world is in danger  from plastic waste. The experts at Frugi, concerned with this situation, and knowing there is no time to fiddle faddle about have experimented by recycling more than half a million plastic bottles to make an enviable Outerwear collection ideal for every wet, muddy and soggy adventure.

 

This year Frugi are introducing a handy Packaway Jacket with matching Ready Steady Go bags and wellies, all made from recycled plastic in a lightweight fabric. Every design is inspired by the spring Summer ’19 Isles of Scilly theme. We have a sample here in our office, and feel like shouting the success and ethos of Frugi from the rooftops.

Here are children’s outfits, that give hope for their futures. Why aren’t more doing as Frugi is, and making use of these recyclable products which are poisoning our earth and seas?

 

The science behind the process is amazing. Frugi’s Product Expert, Mary Lawrence, explains all.

“We use Polyethylene terephthalat or PET to make our Outerwear range. It’s the most widely used recycled plastic and allows us to create a functional, fit for purpose product that lasts and can be handed down or sold on! On average, our Puddle Buster Jackets are made from 20 of these bottles.

 

“Now here’s the science…once cleaned, the recycled bottles are shredded and processed into flakes, which are then transformed into chips. The chips are then melted and whizzed around in a spinneret to make strings of yarn. Finally, the yarn is woven into Frugi fabric, ready to be made into our Outerwear.”

 

 

Frugi’s Puddle Buster Suits and Jackets are fully waterproof with taped seams to prevent water entering the pocket, side pockets, reflective prints for safety, a safeguard at the top of the zip to prevent catching little chins and are machine washable because mud doesn’t have to stick.

Here is the Puddle Buster Suit for the youngest grand-child, Miss D, as we call her, all of 20 months old and larger than life. I had to take a photo first, and then – a bit too big – but what did she care – into it she went, and LOVED it. Now for some puddles, but over to mum for that. Grandma has done her bit.

The Packaway Jacket  packs away in to its own pocket, making it perfect for on-the-go. There are also matching Wellington Boots and Ready Steady Go drawstring bags to complete the look.

Back for a second season, the Toasty Trail Jacket is a lightweight quilted jacket made from recycled polyester that also packs away in to its own bag making it the perfect companion for days out exploring. For wet and windy days there’s  elasticated hood, hems and cuffs.

What is also a good idea is the  Guppy Friend, a washing bag that catches micro fibres which often sneak into the marine eco-system.

Frugi started life in a small Cornish Cottage in 2004 in by Kurt & Lucy Jewson after they struggled to find clothes to fit over their son’s cloth nappies. Still designed in Cornwall, Frugi is made from super soft comfy premium organic cotton, recycled plastic and Oeko-Tek approved fabric , and vibrant designs. Today Frugi is available to buy online and in over 500 retailers globally in 28 countries. The full range includes tiny baby to ten years with a stylish maternity and breastfeeding range for mothers as well as bedding, toys and accessories.

Frost Magazine is so delighted to see such innovation and applaud Frugi. Go forward, with the force behind you… The clarion call is: more should be doing this. Bravo bravo.

To view the entire Frugi Outerwear collection, please log onto www.welovefrugi.com.

RRP: from £12.

 

Annie Clarke’s debut novel Girls on the Home Front is published on 29th May. Available for pre-order. 

 

 

 

Notes to Editors

 

Designed in Cornwall, Frugi offer award winning clothing with clever details, fun appliques and super comfy vibrant designs. The range is made from super soft, premium organic cotton. Frugi are proud to be certified by the Soil Association and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) receiving the highest level of certification in the world of leading textile processing standards.

 

Every year 1% of turnover is donated to charity through their own ‘Little Clothes, Big Change’ charity initiative.

 

Frugi is the trading name of Cut4Cloth Ltd registered in England, company number 5011885. The registered office is Wheal Vrose Business Park, Helston, Cornwall TR13 0FG.

 

Hape Caterpillar Train Set by Dr Kathleen Thompson

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This toy is great for the in-betweenees – no longer small babies but not yet fully-fledged toddlers.

Too big for rattles? If your youngest is desperate to play with their elder brother’s precious trains, but not quite ready for diesels and steamies, then this caterpillar train is perfect.

Your older child will probably be relieved that Mr Caterpillar has deflected attention from his train collection. However beware, parents, you may have full-scale war as your older child tries to get his hands on the cheery toy too – particularly when he realises that the caterpillar has a magnetic connection which will work perfectly with his existing trains and carriages.

It comes with a small section of track with attractive painted motifs and grass-effect end stops, to distinguish it from ‘anyone else’s’ track. However, the track is compatible with standard train tracks too.

I just love this toy (yes, baby may have to watch out for grandma as well as elder brother). Or at only £14.59 from Amazon I may have to buy my own.

 

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk

Frost Loves Grin & Bear Queenie Bear

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Nothing beats a cuddly bear. London company Grin & Bear creates the ultimate cuddly accessory with a stunning variety of patterns and materials. The bears ooze flair and originality and are now stocked in Liberty and selling all over the world. 
We love Queenie. A gorgeous 100% cotton bear covered in red love hearts. Queenie costs £69.00 and is handmade in England. 

The name Queenie is an affectionate use of the term queen – and is thought to have derived from the Old English word ‘cwen’, meaning ‘woman’

www.grinandbearlondon.com

SISTER SCRIBES GUEST: JESSICA REDLAND ON TWO HEADS BEING BETTER THAN ONE

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Writing can be a solitary business. Some writers dip into the general online community for support, others – like the Sister Scribes – get together in a more formal group. This week guest is Jessica Redland, who talks about getting together with her chum, Sharon Booth, to form the Yorkshire Roses.

They say that two heads are better than one and that’s exactly what Sharon Booth and I were thinking when we joined forces in late 2018 to become The Yorkshire Rose Writers.

We’ve been friends for several years, having met through the Romantic Novelists’ Association when we were in the New Writers’ Scheme. Sharon lives in Hull in East Yorkshire and I live in Scarborough in North Yorkshire so we’re well placed for a regular meet-up for tea, cake and a good old writerly catch-up.

Last autumn, over cake, we chatted about our discomfort at promoting our own work but how we didn’t feel this when promoting each other’s books or blog posts. The idea of joining forces was mooted to overcome this and, the more we talked about it, the more it seemed like a great idea. We both write romantic comedies and contemporary romances set in Yorkshire that would appeal to a similar readership so a collaborative approach could be a good way of gaining us both new readers.

Coming up with a name was probably the hardest task. This wasn’t because we couldn’t agree but simply because we couldn’t find something that was quite right. When we finally decided on a name, we discovered that a Canadian website already had it! Back to the drawing board. We then came up with The Yorkshire Rose Writers, the white rose being the county’s heraldic flower, and we both loved it as we felt that this conveyed what we are: Yorkshire-based writers who write about Yorkshire.

We set up a blog and began posting twice weekly with a long post on a Tuesday and shorter magazine-style snippets every Friday. This turned out to be too ambitious with posts being frantically prepared late the night before so we cut this back to one post on a Friday, alternating the style of content. We both contribute each week although we’ve learned by experience that one of us needs to take the lead on the longer posts, writing the start and conclusion, to avoid duplication. It’s all a learning experience but, because we’re good friends, none of these teething issues have been problems. Typically, we just laugh about them. We plan the schedule about 4-6 weeks in advance which means that, if deadlines are looming, we can prepare our part ahead of time or, if not feeling inspired by one of the subjects, the person taking the lead has plenty of notice to write the full post.

We’re on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Sharon’s brilliant at keeping on top of these, regularly posting new content. I confess to barely adding anything but we’d discussed this at the start and knew that Sharon would need to do the lion’s share of the promotion work during the first year. Sharon’s a full-time author but I squeeze writing around a day job and studying a Masters in Creative Writing so time is a massive struggle. When my Masters finishes in October this year, we’ll share this more evenly. Although Sharon’s so good at it, maybe she’d like to keep this ;-)

We’ll introduce a newsletter and competitions/giveaways later, but we need to do a lot more planning around this. There’s an excuse for more cake if ever I heard one!

So far, our joint venture has worked well and we love working together. We’re both excited to see where it could go in the future. My advice to anyone thinking about such a venture, though, is be really clear on your aims and your time commitment right at the start so you’re on the same page.

 

Jessica Redland on behalf of Yorkshire Rose Writers

www.yorkshirerosewriters.com

@YorkRoseWriters

https://www.facebook.com/yorkshirerosewriters/

 

 

FROST’S FAVOURITE… STREET FRIES

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Let’s be honest, whilst we love donning the glad rags and heading for a sit down meal, there’s also something completely delicious and satisfying about rustic, hearty street grub. Enter, Poptata.

What started as a selection of street food trucks, Poptata is now making roots in four London foodie hotspots. It offers a feast of fancy fries and zingy cocktails to wash down the carbs.

The menu is split into three sections (Classic, Cheesy and Loaded) and both fries and toppings can be made vegetarian or vegan.  You can custo  mise your order too with a huge variety of dips including curry ketchup, caramelised onion & mustard and smoky BBQ. Swoon.

Looking for the fanciest on the menu? Check out these gorgeous options below:

Lucifer Fries – garlic, rosemary and thyme dusted fries, cheddar & Red Leicester, hot shot sauce (£4) Tex Pulled Pork Fries – pulled pork, sour cream, smoky BBQ, spring onions, cheddar (£7.95)
Guaca Fries – smashed avocado, grilled halloumi, red roasted pepper sauce (£7.95)
Halloumi Fries – deep fried cheese with banana ketchup/caramelised onion mayo/pink garlic mayo/sweet chilli (£6)


Parmesan Fries – fresh parmesan and pink garlic (£4)

You can find Poptata at Boxpark (both Shoreditch and Croydon), Portobello Road and Tooting Market.

Skinny Legs Toss by Hape

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Hape_skinny_legs_toss

I must admit that when I received this game I didn’t think my little testers would be occupied for long. How wrong could I be!

They absolutely loved it – all four of them, aged from 2 – 6. The play value was enormous and totally unexpected – on my part anyway. As with all Hape toys it is beautifully made and simple to assemble. The two roller feet quickly snap into the circle of the web. A quick share out the twelve brightly coloured spiders among the four players and you’re ready to play.

Players take it in turns to throw the spiders and try and keep them on the web. This is not as easy as it sounds. Some drop to the floor, others cascade down string by string, others dangle precariously – will they fall or won’t they? The whole thing caused great excitement and lots of squeals as yet another spider bit the dust.

hape-skinny-legs-spider-toss

The little one enjoyed stacking the spiders on top of each other. All the children soon discovered that if they took their time the spiders could be balanced on all four feet and set in patterns around the table. It was played outside and inside, on the table and on the floor. An unexpected but delightful thumbs up for this one.

 

Skinny Legs Toss is £21.99 from Amazon

Hape Toys For Babies by Dr Kathleen Thompson

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There are so many lovely toys for toddlers, but what about babies? When news of a visitation from the stork is in the air it’s nice to come up with something slightly novel as a gift and I recommend Hape for good quality, attractive and innovative toys. How do they think of it?

I have been particularly impressed with a couple of items in their Baby range.

 

 

The delightful Baby’s Farm Animal Book really caught my eye. Made of wood, brightly painted on both sides, the shaped, staggered pages are strung together to create Baby’s first book. If Baby is feeling studious he/she can look at the cute animal pictures, failing that it serves as an attractive and effective teether. The book is light and not too big, recommended for age 10+ months, although I believe it could be enjoyed a little sooner. Normally £6.99, but on special offer at just £4.99 at the moment on Amazon it is a real bargain.

 

 

I also absolutely love the Geometric Rattle Trio According to GreenActiveFamily, it is such an unusual and quirky set of toys. Nine rattles in all, a ball, a cube and a drum in each of three colours.  They are small and light enough to be held by a baby from a few months old, and can be used as a rattle, or, later on, as stacking bricks. Each shape makes a different noise, and the cubes have a coloured lens running through the middle, so there are plenty of features to keep your baby’s interest as he develops. The mixed colours make them suitable for either sex. Interestingly, they are made from rice – no, the baby can’t eat them, but they can give them a very good chew. These are really nice quality toys – simple but clever. At £17.99 from Amazon they make a great gift.

 

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk

Ergobaby Introduces New Omni 360, The Ultimate, All-In-One Baby Carrier

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baby sling, baby carrier, ergo, Ergo, floral, limited edition

I love baby carriers. I do not know how I would have got through parenting without one. The comfort and closeness it gives you with your baby is amazing. It is also perfect for convenience. Put a grumpy or crying baby in a sling and you can do what needs done. Ergobaby have the new Omni 360 and I could not be more of a fan. You can carry baby in any position. It is comfortable and easier on your back and hips than other baby carriers I have used. It is well designed and looks great too. To top it off, Ergobaby have a new limited-edition print range Flores, in collaboration with established designers French Bull NYC. It is so stylish and gorgeous. I am now a huge fan of Ergobaby and their baby carrier. So much so that it is the first product to receive the new Frost Magazine Gold Standard. The highest recommendation we can give. High praise indeed. NEWBORN TO TODDLER. ALL CARRY POSITIONS. Award-winning baby carrier brand Ergobaby, designer of premium ergonomic baby carriers, is launching its newest innovation, the OMNI 360 Baby Carrier!

Ergobaby has listened to parents from all over the world, and worked with babywearing educators and doctors to develop the new OMNI 360. TheErgobaby OMNI 360 is an all-in-one baby carrier, designed for the ultimate baby and parent comfort, as well as ease of use.

As Ergobaby’s most versatile carrier yet, it offers four carry positions and enables parents to quickly and easily switch baby to face out, or in while on the move. The OMNI 360 Baby Carrier adjusts from newborn to toddler (7-33lbs), without the need for an infant insert.

Like each product in the Ergobaby range, the new Ergobaby OMNI 360 supports baby in a hip-healthy “M” shape position, at all stages and in all positions including outward-facing. Additional features include lumbar support waistbelt, extra cushioned, crossable shoulder straps, and a large, detachable storage pouch.

Key features of the Ergobaby OMNI 360 Carrier:
• Flexibility: Accommodates all carry positions: front facing parent, front facing out, hip, and back
• Adapts to baby’s growth: Newborn to toddler (7-45 lbs / 3.2-20 kg), no infant insert needed

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  • Exceptional comfort: Longwear comfort with lumbar support waistbelt and extra cushioned shoulder straps, crossable for a snugger fit and easy adjustability. Cushioned, adjustable head and neck support for baby
  • Ease of use: Easily switch baby to face out or face parent
  • Ergonomic design: Supports baby in a hip-healthy “M” shape position at allstages and in all positions. Acknowledged as a “hip healthy” product by theInternational Hip Dysplasia Institute
  • Everyday convenience: Includes a new large detachable pouch forstorage, and a tuck-away baby hood for sun protection (UPF 50+) andprivacy, e.g. for easy and discreet breastfeeding
  • Premium quality: 100% Premium Cotton and machine washableThe new collection is available available in four colors: Pure Black, Pearl Grey, Midnight Blue and Khaki Green from July 2017 from www.ergobaby.co.uk: RRP £154.90

Why Choose Babywearing?

Allowing parents to keep babies safe, comfortable and happily in close contact, babywearing has numerous physical and emotional benefits for babies’ development.

Babies are carried for nine months when parents are pregnant but when baby is born, it’s a whole new world for them. Luckily babywearing reinstates that closeness again, while also providing numerous benefits to development, both physically and emotionally. The first few months after birth is called the ‘fourth trimester’ – and for good reason, as little ones need parents more than ever as they make the transition into the world.

Babywearing allows parents to build a stronger bond between child and parent. The closeness stimulates a beneficial hormone production (Oxytocin), which results in a more intimate parental bond.

Babywearing also adds a whole new level of convenience – parents simply need place their little one in the carrier and go! This means parents can boost bonding anywhere, at anytime.

The Top 8 Benefits of Babywearing:

• Strengthens the bond between parent and baby, as you maintain a closeness throughout your day, especially during the ‘4th trimester’.

  • Aids in baby’s development, both physically and emotionally – a carried baby is generally calmer thanks to all of her primal/survival needs being met.
  • Allows breastfeeding to be done on the go, and discreetly too, if you want to be covered up. As an added bonus, breastmilk production is also boosted with close contact with baby.
  • Allows parents or caregivers to be ‘hands-free’ while baby is in the carrier and promotes exploring, discovering and navigating safely and easily, without having to maneuver a stroller. Parents are able to #CarryOn exploring life’s adventures – big and small.
  • Promotes early language development. Babies learn by watching faces and babywearing puts little one at conversational height.
  • Allows parents to see more of the world through baby’s eyes. And babies get to discover their new world from the safety and comfort of their parents’ body.
  • Fosters a closeness through toddlerhood. Toddlers can be worn too, reminding them of their ‘home base’, and allowing that bond to continue as they grow.
  • Babywearing takes babies back to their safe place and reminds them that we are ‘home’. With babywearing, love carries on.

The Ergobaby Omni 360 Flores is available here.