Siham Craftlink at Belle Bazaar Markets

 As the sun goes down, roll up, roll up to the

Belle Bazaar Twilight Market

Looking for a unique, family-friendly Saturday night out?

Are you looking for Unique and Designer Christmas Presents?

Belle Bazaar Twilight Market is on 3rd December 3pm - 8pm Mt Gravatt Showgrounds, Logan Rd, Mt Gravatt and SihamCraftlink Pty Ltd is excited to be a part of it.

Market organiser Jessica Low said her southside Twilight Market was born out of her love for similar European markets where visitors could enjoy the myriad food stalls, light entertainment and shopping, while delighting in the ambience of nightfall in Summer. She described the market as a truly ‘lifestyle community’ event encompassing something for all ages, from young children to parents and grandparents, with some 90 hand-selected stallholders taking part.

For the foodies, you’ll be able to indulge in Chinese, German, Italian and Middle Eastern fare, along with cupcakes, gourmet slices and other delicious sweets and in the festive spirit the Famous Lions Christmas Cakes will also be sold.

Our popular cupcake and cookie decorating classes are back showcasing Christmas themes for all ages.

For the Christmas shoppers, you’ll be able to scratch your retail-spending itch via offerings from the various invited boutiques and small businesses as well as other quality handmade products from talented local artisans.

For everyone else in between, there will be Iive music and Bollywood dancing and workshops, roving entertainers, face painting, also Santa will be making an appearance saying hello to all the good little boys and girls there will also be a host of barnyard babies at the travelling animal farm and also for the first time we will have the Queensland Fire Fighters selling their Hot 2012 Calendar.

“We are really excited to be part of something so special and unique to South-East Queensland,” Siham Craftlink Pty Ltd, Director Pam Mcgann said. “It will be a great family night out.”

Ms Low said visitors to the Christmas-themed market will be asked to donate a gold coin on entry with all proceeds going to the Surf Life savers who’s Summer Appeal starts the same weekend. In her three previous Twilight Markets this year, Ms Low has been able to collect and donate thousands of dollars to reputable charities including Chicks in Pink, Ride to Conquer Cancer and RSPCA.

The next Belle Bazaar Twilight Market will be held on Saturday, December 3rd, at the Mt Gravatt Showgrounds, Logan Rd, Mt Gravatt.

The event will run from 3-8pm.

For more information, please contact Ms Low at belle.bazaarmarkets@hotmail.com or

drop into her store, Belle Bazaar Boutique, at 139 Lumley St, Upper Mt Gravatt.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bellebazaar

For more information, please contact:

Siham Craftlink Pty Ltd
Unit 2, 18 Overlord Place
Acacia Ridge Brisbane
Ph 32760684
sihamcraft@optusnet.com.au

"Hands of the World" Fair Trade Artisans Market

" Hands of the World " Fair Trade Artisans Market, Francis Rush Centre Elizabeth Street, Brisbane CBD. From Saturday October 29 to 1st November , 9 am to 5 pm . Free Entry.
Featuring  bowls , baskets, bags, boxes made from timber, ceramic, straw, textiles and glass.Hosted by the Cathedral of Stephen Art Group.
Ph 07 3870 9427 Email : mollyjon@tpg.com.au

A producer story from Shohojogita

John Gomes giving out gifts to the artisans.

This story was shared with me by John Gomes, the Director of Shohojogita, a Fair Trade Organization in Bangladesh.

" I want to self-establish in the society and educate my children it is my vow....I found the spark of hope and light to change my family."
These words were spoken by Kabita Mollick, jute producer of Shohojogita at Dhorjirpar, Agailjhora.

Kabita Mollick is 38 years old living with her old mother-in-law and father-in-law. She has one son(8) and one daughter(5). Four years ago,

her husband died of an unknown disease. Telling the story to me, her Mother-in-law was crying. I (John ) couldn't stop her crying.

Kabita's children are going to a primary school regularly. For five years, Kabita is making jute baskets and other jute products. She learnt
from her mother-in-law how to make a basket. When I was questioning her...she said that making this basket is hard but she is getting good price/wage for this. She was smiling because this time she is making nine jumbo baskets !! She wants continued orders then she can solve all the problems she faces.
This year Kabita received advanced payment for the purchase of the jute raw material as stock.

 
 

Jute is eco-friendly,

Jute is a vegetable fiber derived from the bark of an annual reed like plant grown mainly subtropical areas of Asia: Bangladesh, India, China and some other countries.
It is one of the great natural fibers in the world. The fiber from this plant is extremely versatile and has a wide variety of uses. Jute is bio-degradable and articles made from jute, unlike their synthetic counterparts, are easily decomposed. Thus, jute is the perfect ecological substitute for artificial fibers.
 

Presenting Christmas Collection 2011



B-YW-C17 Advent calendar spectacular


To see our wonderful Christmas 2011 handcrafted gifts please visit our web site  click on more information under the photos on our site to view more information about the gift and the fair trade artisans who produce it .


B-AT-C01b Gift Basket Christmas

  

Holy Family School, Indooroopilly Shines !



Feet show the way to the Fair Trade Market



Siham Craftlink had the privilege of being invited to Holy Family School at Indooroopilly to showcase a wonderful collection of fair trade hand crafted items. This gave the students the opportunity to observe craft made by talented people from other cultures, the opportunity to purchase a special item ethically( the bamboo flutes were an enormous hit!), to learn about fair trade and justice in trading. We wish the school the very best in their competition participation with the theme "Shine". By purchasing fair trade goodies, the school community opened door ways for many of the poorest people in our world to "shine"- to have hope and dignity both now and  in the future. Thankyou Holy Family School, Indooroopilly.

Many feet created by the students led the way to the market.



Siham Craftlink at Paniyiri 2011



Crowds dancing the zorba at Paniyiri, Musgrave Park, Brisbane


Over the weekend Brisbane celebrated the Greek Festival called Paniyiri. It is estimated that about 50,000 people attended. Masses of delectable Greek food was eaten including the famous honey puffs and visitors embraced the culture by dancing the zorba to the beat of the lively music. Amongst the throng of people, Siham Craftlink was also there!! What a great way to end fair trade fortnight 2011. We exhibited a delightful mix of fair trade delights from Bangladesh, India, Thailand and Peru. Siham Craftlink was there to enthrall the masses!!



Pam McGann , Siham Craftlink








MMMM  smell that food cooking !

Fair Trade fortnight event, Caloundra and Blacksoil.

Caloundra is the place to be this Saturday the 14th of May between 9am and 2pm .
Its Fair Trade Fortnight so why not swap your coffee and tea for a Fair trade coffee or tea.
Siham Craftlink will be there with beautiful baby handmade items , jewellery, alpaca wear and home decor and many other unique gifts.
Come along and browse through the stalls and support a great day.
Come along on Sunday May 15th to Bush Kidz Daycare for a Flood Relief Fundraiser.
19 Eleazar Drive, Blacksoil. From 8am -1pm
 Siham Craftlink will have a stall  represented by Fair Choices .Fair Choices will have lots of early childhood fair trade gifts and also many other items from the Siham Craftlink range.
The event will features a huge variety of market stalls, a sausage sizzle, games for the kids, face painting and a baby animal nursery.

Siham Craftlink celebrates Fair Trade Fortnight with great specials

Hello Dear Customers and Supporters of Fair Trade,

Between the 7th and 22nd May , we are celebrating Fair Trade Fortnight. This is an annual event in which fair and ethical values in trading are celebrated. Time to kick up our heels and be proud to know that the way we choose to do business is bringing smiles and renewed hope for many, many artisans.

Some of the artisans who hand make our exquisite items also celebrate this world wide event. Likewise , we at Siham Craftlink are also celebrating . We are overjoyed to offer to our customers thirty five items at greatly reduced prices. The items are available from now until the end of fair trade fortnight ( unless sold out previously) This is also a wonderful opportunity to showcase some exquisite gifts for Mothers Day.

The excitement doesn’t end there. For every customer who purchases over $400 in sale items, you will also receive a complimentary gift package ( surprise) to the value of $50.

I realize that some of you are having promotional events in your stores. I hope that by offering these specials to your customers, this will also add to the excitement and “festival” atmosphere for the fortnight.

Many stores are promoting the fortnight with banners and photos. Please ask if you would like some photos. I can forward, by attachment to email, relevant photos and stories from my visiting the fair trade producer groups .


If there is any other way that I can be of assistance , as always, please just ask.

To view the specials please click on the penguin on the sale photo on our home page. Or http://www.sihamcraftlink.com/fair-trade-specials.html
There are 35 items on special. If you are a retailer who would like to know more about these products please contact us. http://www.sihamcraftlink.com/contact.html

Warmest wishes to everyone.

Pam

Ladies at Artisans Effort making magnificent kuchi style bedspreads.

The beautiful ladies at Artisans Effort, Kolkata are creating magnificent kuchi style bedspreads. The material squares comprising the bedspread originated from recycled saris, scarves and saris. Every bed spread is unique- textile art at its best!

 

The completed bedspread will be a treasure for many years to come.

More delightful new treasures have arrived from Artisans Effort this morning.

More delightful new treasures have arrived from Artisans Effort this morning. Couldn't wait to unpack all the boxes !!
There was a Happy Birthday banner and wonderful leather wallets and coin purses , a patchwork throw, necklaces, Buntings (pennant shaped) with sequins and embroidered , some in the most delicate sari materials ( Gorgeous !!) and many more delicious goodies. Photos of each item will be going in the coming weeks on our Whats New page !!

About Artisans Effort,
The Dream to Build a School is becoming a Reality. by Pam Mcgann

When I first met Ejaz and Shaista , the founders of Artisans Effort in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, two years ago they shared a dream. Quietly they explained that they wanted to build a school for needy children. I listened intently. The “dream” seemed enormous . Financially how could this goal be reached? However I have learnt that when you have the sincerity and the heart such as Ejaz and Shaista to achieve something for the good of mankind, nothing is going to stop that dream become a reality.

The first part of the dream has been realized.

Suitable land had been found at Asansol which is 200 kms away from Kolkata ( Shaistas family live in this area). There was an urgency after realizing the potential of this land. Banks in India do not give loans for purchase of land, only for construction of buildings. An urgent request was sent out to the handful of buyers that Artisans Effort supplies with their beautiful handcrafted fair trade items. Was it possible to give substantial orders for craft to the artisans ? We all rallied for the cause and the percentage of profit from the sale of the craft, along with savings from artisans Effort was enough to secure the purchase of the land!!!

The land area at 8 cottahs (5,760 sq feet ) is quite small but the first part of the dream was secured.

At present Artisans Effort is sponsoring the education of two children, but since 2005, they have paid the educational expenses for nine needy children.

Ejaz and Shaista shared that when they first looked for potential students to sponsor both in Kolkata and Asansol, that they were overwhelmed with responses. Parents were pleading with folded hands. Although able to assist with some childrens education , they felt helpless . They also observed many children working in small tea stands, small hotels , washing dishes and in carriages as their parents had a very small income and the children had no other alternative but to earn some money. As Ejaz says they live “hand to mouth”.

In India everyone has to pay for their education. There are three levels of education . Even in the low education English category ( the children are sponsored in this category) the cost of admission is US$55 and then approximately US$22 a month per child. The approximate income per month for wage earners is US$100. Hence it is easily understandable why education for children is out of the reach for many families. Education is an extremely valued and precious blessing.

The school will be a Montessori school. The levels of education available at commencement will be lower nursery, upper nursery, nursery, kindergarten and grades 1,2 and 3. For the school to run smoothly, it is planned that initially 5-10% of the children enrolled will be given free education. The free education percentage will be changing each year as per the school fund. It is also planned that other grades will be added. When the school does open, there will be many running costs such as teachers salaries, electricity, maintenance and curricular activities hence the need to also include students who will be paying. As the bank interest is quite high, Artisans Effort will be trying to take the minimum loan possible. The bank rules in India stipulate that the deposit of a loan needs a minimum deposit of 20%.



Some people living near the school land have heard the news that a school is going to be built. Parents are anxiously enquiring where they can register their childrens names. Ejaz and Shaista know what it means to be poor. With twin boys and no income they were forced to give one of their twin babies to Shaistas family to look after for several years. Food was one meal a day. Wedding jewellery which was given by their families was mortgaged and they never saw it again. Ejaz and Shaista understand the suffering of the poor. That is why this year they were elected to be the Human Rights state representatives for West Bengal. This is a voluntary role.

Ejaz sums up the dream “The school will definately not be able to solve the problem in a huge population but will give a smile and happiness to some. We are very thankful to God that fair trade has taught us something to do for others. According to me, the real good human being gets happy when he/ she is able to bring happiness on needy peoples lives.”