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Out and About
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Sustainable Arts & Crafts Showcase at Dulwich Picture Gallery
Published 26 February 2023Join us at Blue Patch’s Sustainable Arts & Crafts Showcase for the Dulwich Festival, at Dulwich Picture Gallery. Free exhibition, Saturday 13th to Sunday 14th May. You can book your free tickets on eventbrite. As part of the 30-year celebration of the Dulwich Festival, Blue Patch is showcasing some of the nation’s finest sustainable artists, […]
The problem of voltage instability in renewable energy
Published 5 December 2022Renewable energy, for example from wind turbines and solar panels, is the solution to reducing dependence on fossil fuels. But there is a problem with excess renewable energy: voltage instability. Much of the existing grid is legacy infrastructure. It was originally designed for a one-way flow of electricity to homes from the grid, and not […]
New tech: Hydrogen cars
Published 21 October 2022We’ve been out of the office for the last few weeks at Decorex and the Sustainability Show. One of the advantages to attending events like this is to meet people who are at the cutting edge of technology that will make our world more sustainable. We talked to Riversimple at the Sustainability Show about their […]
We’re going to Decorex
Published 26 July 2022We’re going to two shows this October. The first will be Decorex on the 9th-12th October. Blue Patch will be on stand D 161 so please stop and say hello if you are attending. This year, the Decorex talks will have subjects like Emotion & Design, Sustainability, Growing Your Business and Harnessing New Energy in […]
On the right track
Published 12 May 2022An artist’s project Painter Carolyn Blake has created The Unchanging Traveller, a collaboration between herself, fifteen poets and one graphic designer. Carolyn welcomed all on board to use her paintings of scenes through a train window to spark ideas. The book moves us from station to station, the route typically from Birmingham to Euston, London […]
Join Blue Patch at Dulwich Festival in May
Published 22 April 2022Ian Dunn Woodwork & Design is taking part in the Artist’s Open House events during the festival and will be opening his workshop doors to the general public over two weekends in May. Ian will also host fellow Blue Patch members, including: Heliconia Furniture, Blackbird Bespoke, Elly Allen, Coldharbour Lights, Janet Tod and Jane Langley. […]
Environmentally friendly paint choice for progressive Climate Justice project at Manchester Art Gallery
Published 28 March 2022Manchester Art Gallery announces new Official Paint Sponsorship with Edward Bulmer Natural Paint. Edward Bulmer Natural Paint has been a member of Blue Patch since 2018. The company produces natural plant based paints that are plastic free and natural. The colour range is vibrant and exciting, with over 100 shades developed by designer, architectural historian […]
How the Happy Planet Store happened
Published 24 March 2022The Happy Planet store, a sustainable product shop in the Manchester Art Gallery, has been open since January 26th this year. In the last few weeks before the store closes, we review how it happened. Why use museums & galleries? Blue Patch founder, Jane Langley, is an artist herself. She has exhibited in The Textiles […]
Happy planet, happy children
Published 10 March 2022Working towards a sustainable future for our planet is all about ensuring a future for our children and their children. Here are some of the products on sale at the Happy Planet Store in Manchester Art Gallery until April 18th. Natural and sustainable children’s brands Parents look towards brands to make products that are more […]
The Happy Planet store showcases innovative sustainability
Published 21 February 2022The trouble with being a sustainable business is finding the right materials. Sometimes there is a good reason for the material choice. For example, it is waterproof or long lasting or malleable. Making a manufacturing business more sustainable can become a game of ‘find the right material’ and this requires a lot of testing to […]
The Happy Planet Store
Published 16 January 2022Blue Patch are delighted to announce the opening of the Happy Planet Store at Manchester Art Gallery January 26th – April 18th 2022. A collaborative partnership between Manchester Art Gallery and Blue Patch, a national social enterprise, is enabling sustainable, local brands to sell products through the Happy Planet Store, a curated pop-up of sustainable […]
The coolest CAT in town: How a visit to the Centre of Alternative Technology turned my climate-apathy around
Published 29 January 2020I admit it. I have been guilty……of climate nihilism. I’ve found myself turning down the volume on the news or sometimes looking the other way. It was all too unbearable, out of my hands and I was less than optimistic about the state of the world. That is, until I went to CAT. Sorry to […]
Whitworth Art Gallery hosts Blue Patch’s ‘travelling’ Department Store!
Published 10 April 2019Blue Patch’s ‘travelling’ Sustainable Department Store popped up at the Whitworth, Manchester University’s award winning museum. Blue Patch were lucky to coincided with Whitworth Director Alistair Hudson’s radically refreshing vision for the ‘Useful Museum’ (listen to Alistair here). The Useful Museum got off to a flying start with the Reno residency, led by Linda Brogan. Everyone […]
Success Story – Laura’s Loom from London to New York
Published 21 November 2018Small businesses in Britain are looking for representation with the right kind of stores. With this in mind, Laura’s Loom, an artisan weaver based in Sedbergh in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, sent their Cumbrian Summer Blankets by post to Blue Patch HQ, to be featured at London Design Fair 2018. Laura’s beautifully woven blankets were […]
Lunch at The Clink Restaurant, Brixton
Published 9 November 2018A restaurant review by Jane Langley in the company of Lee Wilson, from team Blue Patch. On the first cold snap of the year, Lee and I headed to Brixton Prison as guests of The Clink Restaurant. The Clink Charity, of which The Clink Restaurant is a part, is transforming the prison experience by creating […]
Jane on the Making Good podcast
Published 27 November 2017A few weeks ago Jane from Blue Patch had the opportunity to chat to Jen Gale on her #MakingGood podcast! What a wonderful opportunity. They talked about The Power of Positive Shopping, sustainability, slow consumption and much more. If you’d like to have a listen, here is the link.
Blue Patch at London Design Fair 2017
Published 26 September 2017Blue Patch presented work by 10 members at London Design Fair: featured here. Firstly the walls were painted a lovely Grey Pearl from Reborn Paints. These delicious ‘re-mixes’ of colour divert paint from landfill – an inspiring example of the ‘circular economy’. Reborn was invented by scientist Keith Harrison and is primarily manufactured in Sussex. With […]
A life more radical : Transition Network + REconomy
Published 9 March 2017Community entrepreneurs share know-how for running low-carbon businesses On a blustery February evening Preeti and I headed to the Museum of Cinema History for a gathering of 90+ people convinced that low-carbon, local business is the future. The day was hosted by REconomy LIFT, a new initiative from Transition London & South East, an inspiring group […]
Dulwich Artists’ Open House: The Blue Patch Walk
Published 3 May 2016Dulwich Festival Artists’ Open House We of course, have a soft spot for Dulwich. We strongly believe that we have the best bread in England at Christopher’s Bakery, the most gorgeous parks to picnic in, and the most wonderful community of independent businesses to buy from. It’s our oasis in the desert. We love to […]
Transition International Conference 2015
Published 23 September 2015The wheels of the Transition Network Conference 2015 were set in motion when my niece lent me her ‘rave tent’, Boomtown engrained in every seam: chewing gum, mud and an old sock. But hey, it was too late to book a room and I wanted to stay on the conference site – knowing that good […]
LambethLEF & the Transition Town ‘REconomy’
Published 5 June 2015June 2nd saw the doors of Brixton East open to welcome all to the first LambethLEF (Lambeth Local Entrepreneurs Forum) a think tank for a community-supported local economy – the REconomy. The REconomy project is part of the Transition Network, a global grassroots movement of communities seeking to strengthen their resilience to problems including climate change, […]
Pleasure & Beauty:six artists at the Carnegie Library
Published 29 April 2015The historic Carnegie Library in Lambeth hosts Pleasure & Beauty an exhibition by six contemporary artists opening on May 6th 2015. The exhibition runs until the 31st of May and is curated by Blue Patch. Coinciding with the Dulwich Festival means we’ve an excuse for a party on the 15th of May 6:30 – 9pm […]
Springtime: a time for speedy growers and bouncing beans
Published 4 April 2015Hurrah! it’s my favourite time of the year. The clocks have moved forward an hour so there’s more time to enjoy the outside world. Way back in darkest February, Jane from Blue Patch was initiated into the wonderful world of the South West British Flower Growers (organised by Flowers From The Farm), at their […]
Chinese New Year 2015
Published 26 January 2015The Year of the Green Wooden Sheep begins on the 19th February -David Plagerson hand carves heritage toys from lime wood sourced in Dartmoor. Robust enough for play, beautiful as works of art and a treasure for generations to enjoy. You can collect his animals from sheep to elephants to build up your menagerie. Each new […]
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