Knitting people recreate children’s book classics

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While knitting designs are usually associated with making clothing and add-ons, you do not need to be limited to fashion items, as proven having a knitting group from South Shields.

The Materialistics have been getting creative utilizing their winter knitting ideas and possess created some real artistic pieces of art inspired by classic children’s tales, the Shields Gazette reviews.

Inside their latest exhibition, Not Such A Long Time Ago, the crowd has recreated moments from traditional tales for instance Hansel and Gretel, The Jungle Book and Beatrix Potter additionally to more sophisticated pictures within the Gruffalo as well as the Snowman.

Using a number of craft materials the images are actually given another lease of existence and celebrate legendary figures from children’s literature and illustration.

The project remains arrived at day centres throughout South Tyneside, additionally to local women’s groups and primary schools.

People people keen to have a look can mind for the Sandford Goudie Gallery within the Customs House in Mill Dam, South Shields, where the collection is running until February.

Guerrilla knitters invited to show work in New York

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Spring is in full swing, meaning that now could be the perfect time to pick up the knitting patterns and immerse yourself in this creative habit, while also producing some snug designs to keep the family warm.

You may also be inspired by a group of knitters from Cornish town, who have recently hit the news after being invited to show their work in New York, the BBC reports.

These so-called “craftivists” have gained much attention after they took part in a new craze known as “yarn-bombing”, which involves decorating lampposts, signs and benches with knitted cosies and accessories.

The anonymous bunch have since been invited to a show held by Vogue Knitting, after the magazine got in touch with the group through Facebook.

One of the knitters told the BBC: “We thought they were hoaxing us so we ignored them. Then they came back and we thought maybe it was true.”

The Cornish gang of knitting enthusiasts are to begin showcasing their work at Vogue Knitting Live from January 14th.

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Group recreates nativity scene with knitting patterns

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Group recreates nativity scene with knitting patternsA group from South Shields have recreated the nativity scene with the help of knitting patterns, according to the Shields Gazette.

The Knit and Natter group have been secretly using their talents to design the stable scene from wool and have presented it to the Boldon Lane Library, where it now takes pride of place.

It was presented as a surprise to the library, which is where the group meets, and features a scene with Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, the three kings and a range of different animals.

The set was given to Elaine McCulloch, who helps run the group.

Mrs McCulloch told the newspaper: “I had noticed them whispering in sessions, but didn’t have a clue as to what was actually going on.

“What they have done is amazing, absolutely incredible.”

Christmas could be a great time for you to dig out the knitting needles and learn to knit some festive decorations for the house.

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Posted by Alice Rowe

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Employees ‘need work-life balance’

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A good work-life balance is important to workers in Britain, a leading pharmaceutical company has claimed.

Mike Wilkins, director of performance and reward at AstraZeneca, said that people should be enthusiastic and excited about their job.

He commented that part of this is ensuring family life matters such as a correct balance is in place.

Mr Wilkins added that that his firm aims to achieve this by offering employees support networks, as well as offering opportunities which could enable mothers to operate remotely.

He said: “As part of our reward and benefits schemes, we try to emphasise reward and flexibility wherever we can.”

Mr Wilkins went on to comment that in the US, childcare options and schemes in which parents can take advantage of up to 52 weeks combined paid and unpaid leave are in operation, during which time they can take care of family life issues.

Recently, research commissioned by HireScores.com found that 63 per cent of parents find a family holiday more stressful than a week at work.

Govt ‘redraws growth charts with breast-feeding as norm’

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The federal government has introduced that it’s redrawing its growth charts to consider the variations between breast-given babies and individuals raised around the bottle.

The Department of Health makes the modification to coincide with National Breastfeeding Awareness Week, because the previous standards were according to children elevated on formula milk.

Underneath the old system, babies elevated on their own mother’s milk would frequently be considered underweight.

Dr Sheila Shribman, national clinical director for kids, youthful people and maternity in the Department of Health claims that breastfeeding is the greatest type of diet for infants.

She states: “[The] charts won’t provide better dimensions for infant development of breastfed babies, and can also help health care professionals and parents to recognize early signs and symptoms of overweight or weight problems and supply support.”

In other news, moms and mums-to-maintain the Birmingham and Solihull area are now being specific by a few occasions striving to showcase breastfeeding.

Some cereals ‘more sugary than ice cream’

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Some cereals 'more sugary than ice cream'Parents should be wary of what they are serving their kids for breakfast, as recent research reveals many cereals have very high sugar levels.

Research published by Which? found only one in 28 breakfast cereals aimed at children do not have high sugar levels, while 31 of the 100 products studied had more than the four teaspoons recommended by health experts.

Cereals thought to be healthy, like Bran Flakes and Special K, were also found to have high levels of the substance, with a bowl of the latter being similar to Tesco’s Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake Ice Cream in sugar content.

The report from Which? found Morrisons’ Choco Crackles had the most amount of sugar per serving, more than a Cadbury’s Chocolate Flake, with Frosties and Ricicles following soon after.

Sue Davis, chief policy adviser at Which?, says: “Some cereals deserve their healthy image, but most simply don’t. It’s especially shocking that almost all those targeted at children are less healthy. With such little choice, it’s a daily struggle for consumers.”

It follows similar research from the consumer information company a few years ago, when it found some cereals had almost the same amount of fat as a thick pork sausage.

For more advice see the Candisfamily magazine website.ADNFCR-2352-ID-19147646-ADNFCR

Health Report : Are superfoods really so super?

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Health Report : Are superfoods really so super?

Virtually no week goes by without claims with regards to a wonder food which has a radical effect on our health and wellness. It may be tempting to think that one food could protect us from diseases, but the science supporting claims can often be flawed and it could even be dangerous to set too much stock on the effects of superfoods.

January 2012

In a survey commissioned by Bupa, 10 % of people said they believed superfoods avert cancer when there’s no firm medical evidence to aid this. And worryingly, more than a third of the 55 per cent who’d heard the term thought eating these foods alone was healthier than a balanced diet. “The superfood phenomenon has taken hold over the past decade as people have become more interested in the positive effect food can have on your health,” says Sian Porter, consultant dietician and spokesperson for the British Dietetics Association. “There is no official definition of what constitutes a superfood and, by law, manufacturers are not allowed to suggest foods can prevent, treat or cure disease. But that hasn’t stopped outlandish claims in the media.” One 2008 press report claimed garlic was as effective as medication like betablockers in reducing blood pressure. “Although the research was reliable, the newspaper’s claims were somewhat overblown,” says Sian. “The study looked at whether garlic was as effective as a placebo, but they did not directly compare with blood pressure medication or measure whether it reduced deaths from high blood pressure.” And experts can be critical of research into the health benefits of single foods. The Alzheimer’s Society has slated studies alleging walnuts, blueberries, tea and coffee may protect against the disease, saying they are inconclusive.

how to look after your money

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Take a look at this month’s Top Ten Tips, from how to look after your pennies to keeping your house spotless!

1. Calorie burner!

Do you want to burn off 300 calories? Stripping down wallpaper, painting walls or scrubbing the kitchen floor clean for forty-five minutes will achieve this!

2. Candis cheats!

Have any spare drops of wine left in a bottle? Don’t think you need to drink them, just freeze it in ice trays and you’ve got a ready-made splash of wine to add to dishes as and when required.

3. Polish away…

Furniture polish can be full of harmful chemicals – why not try creating your own by filling a small bottle three-quarters full with olive oil, add in some white vinegar and add 20 drops of lemon essential oil… spread sparingly over furniture with a soft cloth and then buff off with a clean duster!

4. Extra shine…

To add an extra shine to glass or mirrors, use vinegar – fill a spray bottle with half vinegar and half water and it will leave a clear smear-free surface every time.

5. Iron trouble?

Remove those tough burnt-on sticky marks on your iron’s soleplate by rubbing with a wet cloth when the iron’s warm. For more stubborn marks, use white toothpaste or bicarbonate of soda on the cloth, then rub off easily.

6. Clear those plugholes!

Keep plugholes clean and tidy of clogging hair with a Dossil (£3.29 from Lakeland) – a easy solution to an unpleasant problem!

7. Stubborn grease…

Are you tired of scrubbing stubborn grease and unsightly spillages from your kitchen hob? Wisely invest in a set of Magic Hob Liners (£7.99 for a pack of four from Lakeland). These non-stick protectors keep off burnt-on food and fat with nothing more than a dip in hot soapy water. And they’re reusable aswell – genius!

8. Washing powder…

Unless your clothes are extremely dirty, wash them in around half the guided amount of liquid or powder – and for a white wash, add a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda to bring them up a treat!

9. The simple rule…

Save money on clothes with a single basic rule – never buy anything that you’re going to wear “once you’ve lost a few pounds”! Instead, lose the weight first and reward yourself with new clothes.

10. Fresh or not?

Are you worried about whether an egg is fresh or not? Place it in a jug of cold salted water water. If it’s fresh it will sink to the bottom, if it floats it’s no longer fresh – make sure you throw it away!

Newhall Publications the family-owned magazine publishing and marketing company.

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Newhall Publications is an independent, family-owned magazine publishing and marketing company. It focuses on publishing the well-known family magazine, Candis and running the Candis Club which is the owner of the magazine, together with providing telemarketing and subscription services through Core Contact, the third part of the business.

Newhall Publications has its origins in 1962, when founder Joseph K. Douglas developed a newsletter to deliver updates on the fundraising activities of the Cancer & Polio Research Fund.

Candis began life as a fortnightly newsletter, printed in black & white and priced at just 15 pence. Candis magazine became a great success and grew to the full-colour, 164-page version being published today. Now there are over 236,000 copies of the magazine sold every month and it is the UK’s biggest selling subscription Women’s magazine. When it started, the newsletter was delivered personally and from door to door by a number of dedicated agents. Today, it is provided by a variety of newsagents, as well as by subscription, from Newhall the publishers.

The second part of the company is Candis Club, a subscribers club that arranges savings on a wide selection of goods and services for members, in addition to organising a whole variety of social events. Discounts are available on everything from travel, home insurance, car and health cover.

Candis Club makes regular donations to health charities and it is very proud to have helped an entire variety of organisations, including: Marie Curie Cancer Care, Meningitis Trust and the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID). In total, Candis Club has raised over £53 million for charities in the United Kingdom.

The other important section of the business is Core Contact. This specializes in providing services to business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) clients, specifically associated with telemarketing, data and subscription management. Newhall’s telemarketing division was formed in 2001, when it decided it could best serve Candis Magazine’s customers by bringing telemarketing services within the organisation. However, Core Contact has proven more successful than expected and has expanded to additionally provide telemarketing and data management services to an external client base.

Newhall Publications have been recognised externally as a real success story. In 2010 it was ranked as one of the Top 100 companies to work for in the united kingdom by the Sunday Times and by Best Companies, and in 2006 they were awarded the JP Morgan Family Business Honours Award for Social Responsibility. The business also achieved the Investors in People status.