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Party Planning

A white woman with blonde hair and wearing a red blouse is hugging a younger blonde haired white teenager (her daughter) who wears a peach coloured knitted jumper. Both are smiling and happy. Red balloons are to the left of the image and a large skull poster on the wall to the right.

How to throw a period party – and why!

by Rosie Hurwitz July 12, 2022

Starting a business all about celebration has been a personal and professional joy. I don’t just love seeing all the ways people use Patchwork to celebrate and support each other, I love using our platform to mark milestones in our own family’s life. So OF COURSE when my daughter started her period, we used Patchwork to organise a period party!

Why did I have a period party for my daughter?

We had a Naming Day when Vera was born and we’ve celebrated every one of her birthdays. So it also felt important to celebrate our daughter’s initiation into womanhood. I wanted to mark the occasion and let her know that me (and all her aunties) have got her back and will always be here for her throughout her adult life as we have been throughout her childhood. I wanted to ensure that she felt beautiful and powerful, celebrated and magic at a time when we can often feel tired, embarrassed, grumpy and a bit spotty.

It was important to create a space away from her friends, away from her brother, dad and the other lovely men in our lives so we could be just us women. To get together with all the important women role-models in her life in one room at the same time to show their solidarity. I wanted the party to be a bit witchy, to learn some stuff, share some stuff and celebrate all the blood and bravery, tears and laughter that comes with having periods.

What did Vera think?

I knew she’d be embarrassed. I knew I couldn’t ask her if she wanted me to do it. Because I knew she’d say no. But I also knew it was important. That even if she didn’t appreciate it at the time, the experience would remove the silent taboo around her period before it kicked in. And the party would remind her that we all love her and give her confidence in the future. Because of all this I organised the party as a surprise. My sister Holly who lives opposite to us hosted at her house and when Vera arrived to see her 13 aunties (all my sisters and best friends) she was definitely surprised. And once she’d got over the shock and initial embarrassment, had hugged everyone and had a cocktail she had a great time.

Why is it important to break the taboo around periods?

Periods have been a taboo subject for far too long in western culture. Women and those of us who have periods have been silenced and shamed and made to feel embarrassed about the one thing that gives us real life-giving power. So talking about periods is a personal liberation and also a political act. Period taboos are, just like period taxes, very much part of patriarchal control. And period parties are just one way for us to be loud and proud of our periods. Talking publicly (and even better getting theatrical) about periods has already led to successful campaigns to change government policy with schools now needing to provide free period products. But there is so much more that can be done to fight period poverty, to educate young people about their physical and sexual health and to normalise not just periods but also our understanding of vaginas and vulvas in our own lives and in wider culture. Something which is crucial if we are to counter the dangerous porn-driven image of ‘perfection’ that is causing the huge rise in labiaplasty in young women and girls.

What did Vera’s period party involve?

We had decorated my sister Holly’s flat with red and pink balloons, matching candles, red fruits and pink decorations and when Vera walked in she found all thirteen of us women wearing red outfits. I asked My Lady Garden to create a huge red and pink vulva-like floral arrangement for the table. The South East Cakery created a ‘Bloody Amazing’ red velvet cake. My sister Rosie made pink cocktails with cherries on top. Then my friend Jo, Founder of This Is A Vulva, hosted a period quiz for us all and provided felt and paper craft so we could all sit down and make our own vulvas! And then there were presents. We gave Vera a vintage ruby necklace with 13 little diamonds, Maisie Hill’s book Period Power and then I commissioned Julia from Ink & Thimble to make a patch for her favourite denim jacket with the words ‘we’ve got your back’ sewn in. We also all recorded voice notes for Vera to keep giving her advice about her period, tips that work for us when we’re feeling shitty and also just words of love and encouragement. So it was a deliberately bloody and taboo breaking event but also practical and empowering, beautiful and super chic!

Want to host a period party? Here’s how to do it:

The really fun thing about organising Vera’s party was how involved everyone got in the planning to help make it really special, stress free and affordable. I created a Patchwork and asked everyone to contribute. I’ve now turned it into a template for others to use. Of course you can add your own ideas and personalise your period party to celebrate in whatever way you like. But I definitely recommend lots of red and pink, getting creative with vulva related treats and ensuring along with cocktails and cake there are practical gifts and games you can play together that share knowledge, advice and support. A period party is a great chance to celebrate adulthood but also to take time to better understand and appreciate our bodies. And us grown ups learnt a lot too!

To make it super easy to plan your own period party we’ve created a readymade template that you can customise with your own period party ideas. Please let us know how your party goes!

Amazing suppliers:

Flowers – My Lady Garden

Cake – South East Cakery

Jacket patch – Ink & Thimble

Make Your Own Vulva kits – This is a Vulva

Tampon keyrings – Lydia Reeves

Useful resources and links:

Bloody Good Period

28ish days later Podcast

Relevant news/campaigns:

Free Periods campaign

The Vagina Museum

This is a Vulva (on Instagram)

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Party Planning

Plan the best Bar Mitzvah Party

by Rosie Hurwitz April 26, 2021

written by Rosie Hurwitz

So you’ve got all the big elements of your Bar Mitzvah planned out. The date is set and the venue is sorted. All the guests have been asked to save the date and you’ve chosen your caterer. Next you can plan all the exciting details to have the best Bar Mitzvah party and perfect Bar Mitzvah gifts. With Patchwork you can ensure it’s a one of a kind event. A party that reflects your son’s personality and gets everyone excited for the big day.

How can Patchwork help us plan our Bar Mitzvah celebration?

The Patchwork platform is a totally flexible party planning tool. Patchwork allows you to collect gift money from your friends and family. You can collate offers of help for aspects of the Bar Mitzvah party.

The best way to appreciate Patchwork is to see it in action. Check out an example of a Bar Mitzvah gift page. It’s a fully functioning Bar Mitzvah mood board. It acts as a “save the date” for your guests and sets the tone for the whole party! The simple stylish design allows you to choose your own colour scheme. You can upload your own images, so you can really show your child’s personality and reflect your party theme.

What kind of things can I add to my Bar Mitzvah Patchwork?

The short answer is – anything you like! Patchwork is a visual and engaging platform that shows your family and friends the ways that they can help make your party amazing. From sending over a photo of you for your photo montage, to contributing cash towards a Bar Mitzvah gift that’s really wanted.

We all know the struggle of searching high and low for that perfect gift for the Bar Mitzvah boy. Conversely we’ve all handed cash over as a gift and then worried that it’ll reach the recipient securely. Or wondered what on earth it will be spent on! With Patchwork you can take all the stress and uncertainty away from your friends and family. You can be clear about the things you’d love, and making it super easy for them to contribute.

Inviting friends and family to gift in a way that’s meaningful, safe and fun.

You can add patches to your Patchwork Bar Mitzvah page showing your guests the things you’d love to receive. Guests send gift money securely through the site. It’s then up to you to choose how you’d like to spend or save the money received.

For example, your son might have a hobby that he’d like to spend some money on. Gaming? Art? Photography? Music? Add a patch to represent a contribution to some equipment or some lessons and allow friends to help him fund it. Maybe he’d like to save some of his Bar Mitzvah gift money for when he’s older? College or University fund maybe? Or plans for travel in the future? You can add a patch to allow guests to contribute towards this. You can even add a patch for a charitable donation, allowing guests to chip in to a good cause.

Once all the gift money has been collected, your son can donate to the charities of his choice. Or he can put some money away for savings and treat himself to a few things too!

Saving time, resources and the planet.

Using Patchwork to ask for the things you’d really appreciate is good for people and planet! With everyone being so pressed for time not having to shop around for gifts makes everyone’s life easier. It also solves the problem of being gifted things that – whilst well-meaning – might not be needed or wanted. Sadly those gifts end up at the back of a cupboard. It’s kinder to the planet and our finite resources to let people know what you’d like to be gifted. Together we can all reduce the amount of stuff going to landfill.

Other kinds of Bar Mitzvah gifts – time and skills!

Not all gifts have to be wrapped up or cost money. There are lots of other ways for your friends and family to get involved in your celebration and gift you their time and skills. Using Patchwork, you can ask people to send over any photos they have of you, so you can display them on the night or add them to a special album.

You can ask friends and family if they’d volunteer to help decorate the venue the day before; or if anyone is a master baker and would offer to make some delicious cakes to share! Or perhaps they’d like to pledge to take your son out for a day, or invite him for a sleepover and pizza? Asking for non-financial gifts is a lovely way to make everyone feel involved and connected to your special day. It also means that even those on a small budget can make a really meaningful contribution.

How do we keep track of who is doing what?

Every time someone contributes to your Patchwork – whether it’s sending a cash gift, or volunteering to help in some way – you will receive an email notification listing exactly what they are funding, doing, or making. You will also be able to see all the activity at a glance in your Patchwork account. Even better – once the event is over, and all gifts and contributions have been received, you can contact your guests individually via your Patchwork account to thank them. You can even upload photos to send too – then they can really see how happy they made you!

Bar Mitzvah cash gifts direct to you.

When you collect gift money for your Bar Mitzvah with Patchwork it’s yours to spend, save, invest or donate straight away. We don’t hold your money; instead it’s sent direct to your PayPal account or your bank account via Stripe. This way it’s secure and available to you at all times. We’ve also found that when people can see where their gift money is going they feel happier. They are more satisfied with the experience of gift giving and they are likely to be more generous too.

Ready to start your Patchwork?

You don’t need to sign up to start using Patchwork. It’s also completely free to set up your page – so go and have a play! We’ve got loads of easy to customise templates that you can edit. Simply add your personal details, swap out any images you want to, and edit the text to reflect your event. Then publish your page (make it live) by linking to your PayPal or bank account.

Next, you’ll be prompted to create your own url. You can easily share this with your guests so that they will arrive on your page immediately. Guests don’t need to sign up to access your page or to gift via Patchwork. It’s fun and easy to use and over 90,000 people and counting love using Patchwork!

So that’s it from us – enjoy using Patchwork! Please do drop us a line if you have any questions and let us know how your event goes. We’d love to hear from you so do get in touch at [email protected]

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Party Planning

How to Throw the Best Lockdown Birthday Party

by Rosie Hurwitz April 27, 2020

written by Rosie Hurwitz

Despite the Coronavirus pandemic, the world keeps turning, birthdays happen and we all still need to party, give gifts and show our love for friends and family. This is how to throw a fabulous party, lockdown-style.

Set your date and write your guest list

First you’ll need to check if all of your guests are available. Oh, actually, you don’t need to do this. It’s a lockdown. They are definitely all available. So, with your date set and your guest list ready, it’s time to plan the party. Whether your friend is a karaoke queen or a bake-off fan, you can plan a party that celebrates them and makes them feel special.

Choose your party theme and get friends and family to chip in

We’ve already had a few lockdown parties in the Patchwork team, and so we’ve set up a few templates to help you do the same. Vera’s birthday bake-off was a huge success. Everyone baked their own birthday cake, poured themselves a drink and joined a zoom call to sing happy birthday and watch her open her camera gift from us all. You can use Patchwork to ask guests to help with the party in different ways, from sending out party packs so that everyone can decorate their own space, to suggesting songs for the birthday playlist, and of course chipping in for a special gift.

Lockdown Karaoke party Patchwork in an iPad

Surprise them without leaving the house

For her birthday we surprised the lovely Ellie with an Abba themed virtual Karaoke party. Her friends sang Dancing Queen, showered her with messages of lockdown love on her birthday patchwork and she had her very own Karaoke machine delivered to her door by Lucky Voice. Everyone chipped in a little bit for the gift, and put in their song requests for Ellie to sing. It really made her smile. And no-one had to leave their house!

Get really organised and book a party host

Group calls on Zoom and House Party can be chaotic, so if you want your party to be stress-free and fun, we highly recommend booking a host (celebrant) to oversee things and ensure everyone gets a turn on the mic! Our friend and celebrant Zena Birch is the absolute best and will make sure that things feel relaxed and natural, but are actually carefully thought through and planned.

Planning your own party during lockdown?

Get in touch, we’d love to help! Whether it’s a virtual party you’re planning, or you need some inspiration for the perfect lockdown gift, we’ve got loads of ideas and are always happy to chat. All of our party templates are completely free to use. A 3.6% commission is taken on cash gifts collected through your patchwork. You can read more about our team here and about our fees here.

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Party Planning

How to plan a waste free, plastic free party

by Ismay Ozga October 4, 2019

written by Ismay Ozga

Patchwork is all about being creative, collective and resourceful. We’re also all about excellent parties. With this in mind, we thought it was about time we put together a guide to organising a party that: keeps costs down, is waste free, super cool and fun for everyone involved. It sounds like a lot to ask, but with the right team, it’s totally possible! Read on for our great tips, ideas and suppliers…and then create your DIY party planning patchwork to rope your mates in to help make it happen!

Waste free party catering

There are some amazing party caterers out there crafting menus exclusively from delicious, perfectly edible food that would have otherwise gone to waste. One of them is Open Kitchen MCR, a Manchester not-for-profit dedicated to minimising food waste with an excellent pay-it-forward model. Another London-based enterprise is Elysia Catering, who handpick the ‘imperfect’ items from their suppliers to make into their delicious sustainable breakfast and canapé offerings. Your guests won’t be able to tell the difference between food waste catering and non, we bet! For last-minute bits, why not use waste-reducing app Olio to pick up from your neighbours – and use it to the next day to give any leftovers a good home?

Make a toast with eco-conscious alcohol

For example, use Toast Ale. The team there make their beer by replacing the normal barley used in brewing with surplus bread from bakeries and sandwich makers. They’ve saved over 1 million slices (which, stacked up, is 1.5 times the height of Everest. No biggy). We also love Seachange Wine, who have a range of ethically sourced, environmentally conscious wines that are committed to combatting the plastic problem. Choosing vendors and supplies that have an eco-conscious makes a massive difference to your party’s eco-credentials, but if you can’t find anyone who minimises waste innovatively, why not find a local supplier, to minimise travel impact instead?

Eat eco-friendly snacks

Eco-friendly attitudes don’t stop with the drink. If you’re looking for some lovely nibbles that are palate-pleasing as well as conscience-clearing, we’ve got just the snacks for you! Though Tony’s Chocolonely‘s delicious chocolate bars’ main aim is combatting slavery, they’re combatting plastic packaging too. Their pretzel flavour is also the heavenliest of heaven-sent tastes. If you’re thinking of going a little wilder, we heartily recommend Eat Grub. Insects are a great source of protein and nutrition, and take up much less resources than their farm counterparts.

Have your eco-friendly cake and eat it, too

Cakes are a pretty integral part of the party, so make sure you choose wisely. Find a baker who’s transparent about their provenance, like Kat Bakes, who details all of her suppliers on her website to ensure the highest quality. Check your supplier uses paper packaging rather than the plastic nasties you can get in supermarkets. Alternatively, you can always make your own, and even better if you can use produce from local growers and farms!

Plantable seed invites

The greenest way to send invites is to organise everything on email or text, but if you’re looking for an eco-friendly way to send physical invites, then make sure you’re sending them on recycled paper. Even better, send them on seed paper, so that your guests can plant the invite in soil once they’re done with it, and wildflowers can grow! That way, you’re sowing the seed for a great party, whilst also sowing the seed for a greener future. We love Wildflower Paper for this.

Reused or reusable decor

There are plenty of ways you can decorate your waste free party without using any eco-nasties like glitter or single use plastic foil. We love eco textiles artist Mia Sylvia, who hand-dyes fabrics with natural pigments to produce stunning pieces. Use them as a backdrop, a tablecover or drape them for a very en vogue focal point. We also love Alice Gabb’s banner hangings to transform a space and hammer a point home: made with vintage fabrics picked up on her travels and inspired by protest signs, they’re a conversation starter, a forever piece and a wonderful celebration of community.

Solar powered light

A little bit of darkness never stopped the party! Use solar-powered lamps to keep it going through the night. We love these Sonnenglas ones because not only do they save on electric bills, but you can also double up and fill them for decoration. Winner winner!

People-powered electricity

Electric Pedals give you the chance to power your party with your very own kinetic energy, by pedalling their bikes! You’d be surprised how much they can power – they’ve powered whole cinemas before – and it’s a load of fun too. In the words of Freddie, get on your bikes and ride!

The good news, of course, is that dancing and laughing and loving is free, easy and eco-friendly so you can do as much of that as you like! And we plan to. Looking for more help on planning an eco-friendly party? Here’s one of our templates. And if you’re thinking about zero waste gifting have a look here for some brilliant #morelovelessstuff ideas.

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Four tier modern style wedding cake, with white icing and middle glass section, photo taken by Laura Martha Photography

Party Planning

How to celebrate 30 in style: Holly Clarke Cake Design

by Ismay Ozga October 4, 2019

written by Ismay Ozga

Part of our mission to revolutionise how people give is to encourage the celebration of every little bit of life that’s worth celebrating. As such, we’re a BIG fan of celebrating birthdays, whether they’re the bigguns or the littluns, and Patchwork can help you organise that party or big, life-changing/life-affirming gift.

With another year comes so much more experience and joy, so we wanted to flip the narrative on turning 30 and ask some of our favourite creatives to share their thoughts on turning 30 (and, because we’re super nosey and this is our favourite question, we ask them what their 30th birthday Patchwork would be for.) First up is Holly McCulloch of Holly Clarke Cake Design, purveyor of delicious bakes and hilarious puns to boot.

Who are you, where do you live and what do you do?

Hello! I am Holly (McCulloch, but my cake name is Holly Clarke, after my Mum’s Mum), and I currently live in a house full of subtle glitter and fairy lights. (And space for my cake paraphernalia.) Employment-wise I describe myself as a ‘bunny careerist’, in that I have bounced around quite a bit, but I have recently found my happy feet and am working as a cake baker (Holly Clarke Cake Design) and writer (under my actual name!).

What do you feel you’ve learnt in life so far?

Gosh LOADS ? On a serious note, when I was 21 I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and for a while that dominated my life (it never dominated my person or character, but it dominated my activities); where I had to be, what I had to do, what I had to avoid etc etc. And for quite a while after that, I strove to be independent, to never have to rely on anyone else. At the time this was probably a combination of me knowing I was taking up a lot of my mum’s time and emotions, and a desire to be ‘normal’, but…

…what a load of CODSWALLOP! That was the stupidest lesson to learn! What I should have learnt (straight away rather than taking too long to realise) is:

Community is so important! People want to help people! It’s a natural human instinct! I love it when people ask for favours! I feel useful!
Being happy makes you feel better than feeling angry, so you should always try to gravitate towards the positive rather than the negative, even (/especially) when the negative is more appealing than the positive (I realise sometimes you just can’t and sometimes you have to just be angry or sad or deflated, but I try to reserve these feelings for situations that really warrant them, like poor queueing etiquette)
Laughing really does make everything better
Nobody is normal. Whenever I meet anyone I always try to find the weird in them. It’s often closer to the surface than you might realise.

How would you sum up your 20s?

Trying! As in I was always trying to trying to fit in, trying to succeed, trying to learn moves to Beyonce dances.

What are the good things about entering your 30s? What are you looking forward to?

I am really excited about my thirties – I’ve not been in here for long, but so far it’s been my favourite decade (if I think about it personally, not environmentally or politically or economically, but that’s a different blog post). But in general I feel so much more at ease with myself, who I am and what I enjoy.

How did you celebrate your 30th?

I had a ball. I drank margaritas with all my favourite friends (or those that were able to come), wore a sombrero, danced the night away, ate cake and pranced around in an inflatable unicorn costume. I have photos somewhere. (Eek!)

What’s the one big gift you’d really love?

I need a new car (for cake deliveries), but my heart is singing for a dog. A four-legged companion to help me gravitate towards the happy, and listen to all the stupid things I have to say.

Thanks for sharing your 30 story Holly, we’re super curious about that inflatable unicorn costume..!

Are you turning 30 soon and want to celebrate with something meaningful? Check out our alternative 30th birthday gift ideas here…

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Party Planning Patchwork Kids

Our Advice For a Feel-Good Eco-Christmas

by Ismay Ozga December 6, 2018

written by Ismay Ozga

Here are our top tips on how to celebrate a feel-good eco-Christmas and enjoy the festive season whilst reducing your plastic and carbon footprint at the same time.

Relax, imperfect is perfect

Splodgy, glittery paper ones made by little ones, thoughtfully chosen gifts from friends, inherited antiques, some cheap and tacky and some quite special – the best bit about Christmas is getting the boxes of decorations out and re-using and re-discovering the random, familiar collection of pieces year after year. They might not be matchy-matchy but they all have a memory attached and give the tree a comforting, homely look. An eco-Christmas is about telling your own family story. So, enjoy growing your collection, but don’t feel you have to buy new ones each year or follow this year’s on-trend colour scheme. And don’t throw out the glittery pine cones yet.

Eco Christmas, green Christmas, Christmas decorations

Deck the halls … green

Collecting new and 100% natural decorations however is totally different. And really fun. Head out to find holly branches, long ivy tendrils and festive foliage from your local park to hang around window frames, drape over wall mirrors, wind around stair banisters or use as table decorations – even more lovely when wrapped with fairy lights. Then use scraps of ribbon or lace to tie rosemary and other herbs or twigs around old jars and put a candle inside for an easy decoration that doesn’t cost a penny. Pinterest has loads of homemade decoration inspo for your eco-Christmas.

Eco Christmas, Christmas disco, kids Christmas

Action packed Advent

The classic paper picture calendar is a lovely way to countdown the days till Christmas. As kids we used to use the same one for a few years in a row! But if you want a new one each year make sure it’s made from recycled paper. To avoid adding to plastic consumption invest in a re-useable calendar that you can bring out year after year. Choose from wooden houses or nativity sets, or fabric hanging calendars. Or make your own by using small bags tied or pegged up and fill them with sweets and treats. If you don’t want to encourage guzzling chocolate every morning, talk to your family about doing a month of advent activities like Christmas baking, a front room Christmas disco, or just a walk or drive around your local streets admiring the Christmas lights on the houses. The “reverse advent” is also lovely: each day instead of receiving a gift, make a box and place an item inside that will be needed and wanted by a local food bank or homeless shelter. An eco-Christmas allows kids to learn that to give to others as well as receive is a gift in itself.

Waste free wrapping

When wrapping presents try to avoid foil embossed paper that can’t be recycled and make sure you use plain or patterned paper. Even better use recycled craft wrap, or use old newspaper, magazines or last years calendars. Plain brown paper or newspaper can be dressed with foliage, lace or ribbon, (to keep and use again) or get creative with paints and stamps to add some colour.
If you keep old Christmas cards, cut them up and use them to make this years gift tags. It’s the sort of activity that will keep kids busy for an hour while you make dinner. Making up eco-Christmas hampers as gifts? Avoid covering in cellophane, and the same if you buy flowers from a florist, just ask them not to use plastic wrap – they usually have a paper option too.

Eat, drink and be merry

If you’re planning a big family Christmas it makes sense to ask people to pitch in to help with the festive food and drink and means people don’t feel compelled to buy grown up gifts. Someone can bring wine, another cheese and someone can peel the potatoes! Organise yours here for an easy, fun and stress free day.

Cut out the plastic

Zero waste, or even plastic-free food shopping is a real challenge, plastic IS everywhere, and some will find its way in to your trolley. We recently tried to go for just one week buying zero plastic. Even with amazing support from our four kids it was really difficult. Eye opening and educational. But tough! What it taught me was that it’s no good making zero plastic a start point for your eco-Christmas. Better you set your zero plastic ambition as a goal! Start small by swapping products in plastic for their cardboard or glass counterparts and aim to reduce as much as you can. Swap your plastic ketchup and mayo for glass bottles. Choose unwrapped fruit and veg if it’s an option. Take your own bags or containers and buy loose bakery items and meat from the counter. If you do buy plastic packaged items, buy in bulk if you can. And don’t forget the milkman! A proper old-fashioned bottle of milk delivered to your doorstep in re-useable glass bottles makes mornings happy. Find out more at milkandmore.

Eco shopping, shopping bag, no plastic, shop local

Celebrate your local shops

Where possible, buy locally produced goods in the run up to your eco-Christmas (seasonal veg, English wine and beer) and support your local independent shops and markets who will really value your custom. They are more likely to be open and adaptable to making changes to packaging if their customers ask too. Find your local market here.

Christmas gnomes, Christmas decorations, elves

Try something new

There’s been a huge rise in veganism in the last few years along with concerns about the impact on our environment. In 2018 every eco-Christmas table needs a non-meat alternative! Christmas isn’t a time to go without, so if you love your turkey or goose then go for it, but try some of the non-meat options if you get a chance – they’ve come a long way! See the latest on offer from your supermarket here or if you feel like trying some recipes yourself check out some delicious ideas from Viva and these from the Jamie Oliver.

Christmas present, Christmas gift, Christmas experience, buy less,

Give Group Love

Get together with friends and family to buy one big gift that’s really wanted.. It doesn’t have to be a material object. A massage, dancing lessons, or a special dinner date can all be gifted easily. Or club together for that really wanted new bike or watch that will make them happy. An eco-Christmas can and should be fun and joyful and gift giving is about showing love and thought and giving something that will be treasured and loved.

Green Christmas, coloured pens, stationery

Good green stocking fillers for under £5

It’s easy to find reasonably priced stocking fillers for an eco-Christmas. How about a bamboo toothbrush, some packaging free beauty products like these gorgeous ones from Lush or the latest novel from around £5.00 (even better if it’s second hand!). Support your local charity shops and bookshops or try Waterstones.

Pop some slave free chocolate in from Tony’s Chocolonely – they use uncoated, recycled FSC-certified paper for their wrapping or try this from Seed & Bean – the wrapping is non-plastic and fully compostable.

Then raid the charity shops for pre-loved toys and games and don’t forget the socks and satsumas!

To set up your own eco Christmas wish list check out our beautiful and easy to customise template here.

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Party Planning

5 Independent Drinks Brands We Love

by Ismay Ozga December 5, 2018

written by Ismay Ozga

Whatever you’re celebrating, one thing’s a given – you’re going to need some drinks. Alcoholic or non, you’ll want some delicious (preferably bubbly) stuff to serve at your party so it goes with a bang. Of course there are the cheap and cheerful go-to brands at your local offie, but here are some of Patchwork’s favourite independent UK drinks brands and why we think you need them at your party.

Everyone loves BeerBods

Patchwork friend and founder Matt Lane sources all the best independent beers and packs up a box for you. So you get all the glory of choosing great beers without actually having to do the hard work. Each beer is made by a small independent brewery and has a story behind it, so if you get stuck in a corner at a party you can always read your can. Beerbods are perfect whether you’re having a decadent, fully catered affair or if you’re filling the bath with ice and getting everyone to help themselves. Your guests will love the beer (and you) either way – and if they really like what they taste, they can sign up to the Beerbods monthly beer subscription.

Get Naked (wines)

We love the concept of Naked Wines. Entirely funded by their customer community they invest in a selection of talented, independent winemakers. So as a member you pay £20 a month, then you get to choose from all of their lovely wine at a 25-50% discount, and independent businesses are supported by your input. Good wine and the joy of people power in action, what more could you want? We’ve always had Naked Wine at our own Patchwork parties and can highly recommend their huge variety – we’ve tried bubbles, organic, reds and whites and we’ve never met a drop we didn’t like. Plus, they’re wine experts, so whatever you need for your celebration, whether it’s a summer ‘do or a cosy winter gathering, just ask and they’ll be happy to advise you.

Seedlip is for sophisticated non-drinkers

We first heard Ben (Founder of Seedlip) speaking at an eatbigfish event which introduced us to some great challenger drinks brands. Ben shared some personal insights about not wanting to have to order juice or Coke at parties and how he felt as a non-drinker basically reduced to a child at the bar. He, of course, wanted to feel as sophisticated as his alcohol-drinking friends. So, he created the world’s first distilled non-alcoholic spirit brand. We think having good non-alcoholic drinks options at parties is a thoughtful, considerate thing to do – every party goer should feel grown-up and elegant with a delicious drink in-hand. Mix up some Seedlip cocktails or simply serve with tonic. Yum.

Our Vodka, your vodka

Our/Vodka started in Sweden, but soon branched out to cities across the globe, setting up micro-distilleries in each new place. All of their vodkas have a different character and taste as they source all of their ingredients locally. Our/Vodka London is made from British wheat using a unique yeast originally found in wine production and is bottled under the arches of Hackney Downs. The thing we love about vodka is its versatility – whether it’s a warming winter tipple or a fruity summer cocktail, you can easily create something delicious to fit the mood. And if you’re feeling slightly worse for wear the morning after your party, you can even use your leftover vodka to make Patchwork Founder Liv’s favourite – a Bloody Mary.

You can’t have a party without Sipsmith

Everyone loves gin and tonic, whether you’re a cucumber or classic lime type. So you know serving a fresh G&T at your party is bound to go down a treat. You can’t move for independent gin distillers at the moment, but wherever you are in the country you’ll find Sipsmith. Once a little Hammersmith start-up, they are now happily taking over with their delicious hand-crafted gin. This is a drink that caters to all tastes and encourages trying new flavours – whether it’s in a ‘Millionaire’s’ Martini or a simple G&T served with Fever Tree tonic. And for a bit of extra theatre, why not book the Travelling Gin Company to serve your guests from their bicycle. Or the Lucky Pineapple – a giant golden pineapple from which you’ll be served boozy delights.

Team Patchwork’s favourite party drinks:

“My favourite party drink is a cocktail called Shakey Pete’s Ginger Brew, which was created by a bartender called Pete Jeary at the Hawksmoor. It contains Beefeater gin, ginger, lemon and London Pride beer. It’s like a homemade ginger beer shandy, with an added gin kick. It’s SO delicious and refreshing.”

Ismay, Creative Director

“Mine’s a Twinkle – it’s Prosecco topped with elderflower cordial and vodka and it just makes you feel twinkly. Perfect for any party, any time of the year and delicious and totally appropriate from 11am if it’s a very special occasion.”

Olivia, Founder

“Has to be a Dark and Stormy – it’s super tasty and reminds me of my Grandpa who always had a cocktail in the evening and who’s nickname was Stormy – perfect!”

Kate, Design

“Honestly, my party drink of choice would be champagne, or a nice English sparkling wine, followed by a good dry white wine, with possibly some frozen grapes in to keep it chilled.”

Rosie, Customer Experience

“I think this shows that I’m a total lush but I think for parties out and parties in I’d choose something different. For nights out on the town an Espresso or French Martini to jump start the evening (but after two most of my martini starts sloshing over the side of those impossibly wide flat glasses). With that in mind, for parties at home I would definitely go for an endless flow of prosecco or champagne – perfect party bubbles and zero stress for the carpets!”

Kim, Commercial Director

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Parent & Baby Party Planning

10 Super Cute Baby Shower Ideas

by Ismay Ozga December 14, 2016

written by Ismay Ozga

We love baby showers. There are few occasions in life that are so full of love and excitement. And cute baby things. If you’re organising a shower for one of your bezzies we’ve got some ideas you’re going to want to steal. Take it from us, if you include just one of these in their shower, you’ll have a lovely day. Do them all and you’ll go down in history as the best mate ever. So get your organising-head on and take some notes:

Beautiful blooms

Fill your venue with fresh flowers. This is a foolproof way to make the occasion feel super special. Get friends to help you gather the parent-to-be’s favourite flowers from the market and arrange them around the place – it will look and smell incredible.

Make a delicious non-alcoholic drink

Invent a fresh and fruity non-boozy drink for the occasion and name it after your bestie. We love a refreshing cucumber + mint limeade, but why not do a bit of experimenting yourself with different juices – you can’t really go wrong.

Throw an outdoor picnic

Picnics make for a practical and relaxed baby shower (weather depending!) with enough room for everyone to spread out and for big kids to run around. Just head to a local park, or ask a friend with a nice garden if you can use their space. Keep things casual by asking friends to bring a blanket and a dish, then make your little area feel special with balloons, twinkling lights and pretty decorations. Don’t forget to bring a garden chair and lots of cushions for the pregnant person in case they’re not comfy sitting on the ground.

Baby shower biscuits by Tuck Box

Baby themed snacks!

Like these incredible baby biscuits by the genius Tuck Box Cakes. Order enough for everyone and they will be amazed by their beauty. Or if you’re a star baker, whip out your whisk and make some little cakes of your own. We’re not huge fans of the whole pink for girls and blue for boys thing – why not make some in your friend’s favourite colour instead. Or a nice gender-neutral yellow.

Go polka-dotty

If you’re struggling to come up with a fun theme, polka-dots are always a winner. It’s a bright, cool alternative to pastels and you can incorporate it into the day in lots of ways. Buy polka dot straws for your drinks, dotty napkins, and huge clear balloons filled with confetti.

Baby shower planning patchwork — A Subtle Revelry

Bring out your inner-artists

There are tons of baby shower games to keep everyone entertained, but this activity might be our favourite. Buy a bunch of plain white baby-grows (in a range of sizes so baby has something to grow into) and some waterproof fabric pens, and get everyone to sit down and draw a design. It’s a chance for everyone to get creative, plus they’re lovely for the new parents to keep as mementos.

Snap a photo

Ask everyone to write down a message for the baby to read when he or she grows up. Then get them to hold it up while you take a photo. You’ll get instant results with a Polaroid camera, but if you don’t have one just get them printed and put them in a little box for your friend to keep.

Chip in for a big gift

Club together for an expensive item

If you know there’s one thing (a pram, cot, or sling) that the new parents really need but haven’t wanted to splash out on, get everyone to chip in. With Patchwork you can show everyone the gift, collect cash contributions, then buy it where you like, ready to wrap up and give to them on the day.

Send notes in the post

Send a baby shower in a box

Finally, if your best mate doesn’t live close to you, you can still show them you love them by creating a ‘baby shower in a box’ and posting it out to them to open while you Zoom. Fill the box with homemade cookies, handwritten notes, pre-decorated babygrows and all the other fun things you’d have if you were to celebrate in person. Although the ombre mocktails might not travel too well.

Get everyone involved

As with all events, organising a baby shower is way more fun and much easier if you get friends involved.

Just use Patchwork to show everyone the plan and ask them to help. You can customise our baby shower patchwork or create your own from scratch uploading your own photos and using images from our gallery. Then write descriptions telling everyone what you want them to help you to make and do. Friends can then click around the patchwork and choose whether to do the decorations, make a cake, bring a dish or pick up the parent-to-be and bring them to the venue. With Patchwork it’s easy to keep track of who’s doing what in your account. And once the day rolls around, your friend will have the best baby shower ever, knowing that everyone helped make it happen.

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creative wedding decoration ideas patchwork

Party Planning

6 Creative Wedding Ceremony Backdrops

by Ismay Ozga November 28, 2016

written by Ismay Ozga

If you’re getting married in a large space, the thought of decorating can be quite daunting. But don’t panic. We’ve got a tactic. Focus most of your energy into one area – dotting a few decorations around the place won’t have half as big an impact as concentrating that creativity in one area of the room. And what better space to focus on than the backdrop to the ceremony itself. We’ve picked some of our favourite creative DIY wedding ceremony backdrops to give you some ideas.

Balloons, balloons, balloons.

This colourful wall by Oh Happy Day! was intended as a DIY photo booth backdrop, which looked incredible. But how about doing something similar for the ceremony itself? Think of the pictures, guys. Pure happiness.

The painterly option.

This watercolour effect backdrop not only looks cool but also doubles as an excellent way to vent some of that pre-wedding stress. Pick your favourite colours, splash them all over a giant canvas, and you’ve got yourself a totally unique backdrop.

Forget traditional arches.

Get married under colourful, glittering piñatas. Why not? These custom decorations by Little Gatherer will set your happy little scene perfectly.

Clouds! Why clouds?

Because you’ll be floating on air with happiness. Obviously. And look how great they look against that industrial concrete wall. They also seem super easy to make, which is a massive plus when it comes to wedding DIYs.

Streamer overload.

This huge wall of layered streamers makes us so happy. If you’ve got a big white wall to cover this will work amazingly well and will be a stunning backdrop to your ceremony.

The geometric option.

This washi tape backdrop by B.Loved is simple, structured and super affordable. Your ceremony backdrop doesn’t have to cost a bomb – if it’s done right the simplest idea can have the biggest impact. Just map out your design in tape and play around until you’re happy – if you don’t like it just peel it off and start again. Easy.

Once you’ve decided which amazing backdrop you want, get all hands on deck and start creating. Wedding DIYs are so much more fun with your friends involved, so you should definitely ask for some help. If you don’t fancy creating a patchwork honeymoon fund or wedding registry, asking friends and family to give their time and skills rather than a gift is a brilliant option. Just make a patchwork to show everyone what you need, whether it’s help creating your ceremony backdrop or someone to DJ for an hour, then send it out to friends and family so they can choose which bit to help with. You can keep track of who’s doing what in your account, and then easily send thank yous to everyone involved. Hooray. Just customise our readymade DIY Wedding patchwork or create your own from scratch.

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Parent & Baby Party Planning

Throw the Best Baby Shower Ever

by Ismay Ozga November 2, 2016

written by Ismay Ozga

Yay! Your best friend in the whole world is having a baby. And you’ve been tasked with arranging the baby shower. But what’s next? If you don’t have a clue where to start, read on to find out the answers to all the big questions. These baby shower basics should set you up to host the best shower ever.

Who plans the baby shower?

It’s up to you whether you keep the baby shower plans a secret from the mum-to-be or if you want to get her involved in the planning. Does she like surprises or is she more of a planner? If she’s the latter it might be a good idea to keep her in the know, as the last thing you want to do is stress her out! On the other hand if she loves surprises and has enough on her plate, leave her to relax and keep all of the details a secret. Get a couple of her other close friends involved to help with the planning too – planning any party is much more fun with a bit of help.

When should the baby shower happen?

You can of course throw a baby shower at any point in the pregnancy, but we think the perfect time is around the 7 month mark. It’s super exciting because it’s almost time for the baby to arrive, but it’s also great for mum to have something fun to look forward to, as the last weeks can start to drag. Plus she’ll have a lovely big bump, so it’ll all be feeling very real.

Who should be invited to the baby shower?

You should be inviting all of the mum-to-be’s close friends to her baby shower and of course any family she’d really like to see. In fact, if you’re only going to involve her in one aspect of the shower, it should be the guest list. You don’t want to forget about her favourite workmate or beloved auntie.

Baby showers are traditionally a chance for the women in the new mum’s life to get together and celebrate, but if you want to involve the dad, go for it. It is after all his baby too! Mixed baby showers are becoming more popular, so if you want to invite the dad and his friends there’s nothing stopping you – just check with your friend if she likes the idea. Mixed showers work really well when you keep things casual – get everyone together in a garden with a BBQ and you’re sorted.

What kind of invitations should I send?

You’ve got a few options with your baby shower invitations. If you’re keeping things super casual it’s totally acceptable to send an email invite. You could even use Paperless Post and upgrade your email with one of their beautifully designed e-invitations. For a special touch it’s nice to go for printed baby shower invites, these will feel more formal and the mum-to-be will be really excited when one shows up on her doormat.

If you’re keen to save money there are plenty of ready-to-print designs that you can add your own details to. Or you can make your own from scratch – if it’s going to be a small group it won’t take you long to put together a few handmade invitations and everyone will appreciate the effort you’ve gone to. Send these out 6 weeks before the big day so her friends have time to make plans, RSVP, and arrange babysitters if necessary.

Where should we hold the baby shower?

It depends how many people you’re inviting, if the guest list is over 30 then you might need to look into hiring a venue. Most baby showers tend to be a smaller, more manageable group, so it’s best (and cheapest) to host it in a house. As the organiser it will fall to you to offer to host, but if you don’t have the space you can ask another friend if they would mind. It’s also perfectly acceptable to ask the mum-to-be if you can host the baby shower at her home, just make sure you get her out of the house for a few hours beforehand so you can set up. Send her out for a mani/pedi while you hang your baby bunting. Then make sure you stick around for the clean-up afterwards so she can put her feet up.

What should we do at the baby shower?

Play games! There are so many brilliant baby shower game options out there and they really are the best way to bond and have fun. We love the old favourites like ‘guess the bump size’ – all you need for that are string, some scissors, and a bump. Buy a bundle of babygrows and material pens and have everyone decorate them for the baby, then get mum-to-be to pick her favourite. It’s a nice touch to have some prizes for the winners – they only have to be little things like stickers and sweets.

Depending on what the mum-to-be has requested gift-wise, she might spend time opening presents too. Then just factor in lots of time for chatting, laughing and getting excited for the baby’s arrival.

How much is the baby shower going to cost?

It doesn’t have to cost a bomb. There are plenty of ways to keep baby shower costs down: host the party at home, make your own decorations, and ask everyone to chip in when it comes to the food and drink. Asking friends to bring a dish is the perfect way to save money and cater for everyone.

You won’t need to spend a lot on drink – since the baby mama can’t partake, baby showers tend to be mostly alcohol-free occasions. Although a little champagne toast among the rest of you is definitely okay – just make sure you have a delicious non-alcoholic option for your bezzie.

If you’re looking for an easy, stress-free way to organise a baby shower, setting up a patchwork will take the hassle out of it for you. You can show everyone the plan with beautiful images and your own descriptions, and ask everyone to chip in towards the shower with their time, money, or skills. You could ask granny-to-be to bring a cake, ask your friends to prepare some sandwiches, and get another mate on bunting-making duty. And if you need to ask for a cash contribution towards the day, include that in the patchwork too. Then you can collect the money for the bits and bobs you need, and easily keep track of who’s doing what in your account. It couldn’t be easier.

Customise our template baby shower patchwork or make your own from scratch.

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