New Fair Trade Stock

As you know from our last post, the Fair Trade WA Oxfam Group will be running a stall at the Eco Faerie Festival this coming Sunday, 27 March. We will be selling many old favourites as well as some of the great new stock we've just received.

First, we have these adorable stuffed animals, hand made by R.T.U in India. Here we have Twiga the Giraffe ($9.95), Kavi the Camel ($12.95) and Raza the Elephant ($9.95).

We also have these colourful wooden yoyos from the Alura Amara organisation in Indonesia. Alura Amara is a self-funded, independent producer community of 50 members which anyone can join if they are committed to its goals of independence and development.

From the website:

'Alura Amara offers its members excellent working conditions, daily education programmes and a rice subsidy ... Since 2003, all members of the group have received accident, health and life insurance. After working with the group for four months, members also have access to a pension plan.'

Although members of Alura Amara receive a flat monthly wage regardless of sales, your purchase of products like these yoyos supports the group and allows it to continue its excellent work.

And finally, if you would like to know more about Fair Trade in WA you can pick up a copy of the 'Pocket Guide to Fair Trade in WA' from our stall. This compact guide is produced by Oxfam Australia and the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand and can be picked up at our stalls or Bayswater location for a 50c donation.

Waterhole Dreaming

Imagine the cutest little vases, pots and bowls and combine that with beautiful Aboriginal artwork designed with eye-catching colours and you will get our new range of Waterhole Dreaming pottery.

There is also an "ashtray" which we could not resist buying because of its intricate and special handpainted design. I personally think that it is too precious to be used as an ashtray and so I have nicknamed it "Austray" and came up with a number of ways that one could to use it.

1. Frame it using mini wooden stands
2. Use it at home parties to hold finger food
3. Perfect key holder (note to self and housemates: gently place keys in delicate Austray)
4. Brilliant gift especially when sending to family and friends overseas
5. Bring to work and use as jelly bean bowl
6. Even better, fill it with fair trade chocolates!

What fascinates me most is that "every painting tells a story and has meaning to it". The personal touch of the artwork by artists from Aboriginal backgrounds, most of them from Queensland, makes it feel like you are bringing a piece of history home with you.

For pictures and to find out more about Waterhole Dreaming, head onto their website www.waterholedreaming.com.au.

Written by a volunteer/shopper at the Fair Trade Store

Bebe Comfort Dolls

It is quite a magical experience shopping at the Fair Trade Store in Bayswater. Each product has its story, is unique in its design and teaches us a little bit more about Fair Trade. And for this month, I have chosen to blog about the Bebe comfort doll.

The comfort doll is designed in such a way that it fits snugly on your shoulder and the idea is for you to pat it on your shoulder when you are feeling sad and "your tears will go away".

Being the curious shopper that I was, I placed one on my shoulder and it took an almost immediate effect with my shoulders feeling lighter and an appreciative smile forming on my face.

The feel of the cloth itself speaks comfort and understanding. Hand-crafted by women from the island of Atauro in East Timor, these dolls are made using traditional Tais cloth. The Tais cloth has been for generations used as dresses and are now mainly worn for ceremonial occassions.

Now you are probably wondering how the making of these dolls help the women from this small island? With the work, the women are able to gain economic independence and in the process, support their families and afford to pay for their children's education.

If you are keen to find out more about the organisation that supports this work, please click on Earthlink. Till the next product review, keep posted on our Facebook page.

Picture and information sourced from Earthlink.

Written by a volunteer from the Fair Trade Store