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  1. We are delighted to be the UK’s first stockist of Bee’s Wrap, an eco-friendly, reusable alternative to modern food wrap such as clingfilm and foil. Bee’s Wrap is made from an organic muslin cloth steeped in beeswax, jojoba oil and tree resin. It comes in a variety of sizes and can be used to cover bowls and wrap a wide range of foodstuffs; from sandwiches and onion halves to lumps of cheese and half eaten fruit and vegetables (it can currently be found housing an avocado in my fridge).

    Bee’s Wrap has all of the plusses of plastic wrap; it is malleable, water resistant and airtight with the added bonus of keeping food fresh due to the antibacterial properties of the natural oils. 

    Most fantastic of all, you can avoid all of the downsides of using plastic wrap; the chemicals used to make the plastic soft, the fact that clingfilm is inherently non-recyclable and non-renewable, not to mention the problem clingfilm poses to wildlife if not disposed of properly. You can also save yourself a pretty penny as Bee’s Wrap products can be re-used for up to one year.

    Bee’s Wrap is the mastermind of Sarah Kaeck, a mum-of-three living in Vermont, USA. Kaeck lives the ‘good life’, growing her own vegetables and rearing chicken, pigs and goats. In line with this organic lifestyle she wanted to find a sustainable and toxic free alternative to plastic wrap for storing her half eaten fruit and vegetables. 

    Since its launch Bee’s Wrap has taken off spectacularly in the USA and is now sold in over a dozen states. This has created a small industry for Kaeck who now employs a group of local women to help with production. Bee’s wrap is also now sold in over 12 countries internationally.

    At The Wise House we currently stock all lines of the Bee’s Wrap products; the Assorted Pack at £14.50 (a great starter pack containing a small, medium and large wrap). Choose from the original honeycomb print, clover floral print and geometric print. The Sandwich Wrap at £9.50, available in the original and clover print.The Bread wrap is fantastic for keeping bread fresh, at £13 for the classic size and £11 for the baguette wrap.

    Bee's Wrap Assorted Packs

    I am currently using both the Sandwich Wrap and the Bread Wrap. I’m suitably impressed with how well it works. It definitely keeps food fresher, something I’ve noticed in particular with the bread as it used to be on the dry side by day two. The smell is pleasant, fairly strong at first but fades quickly with use. I'm delighted not to have to get the clingfilm roll out every day!

    Bee's Wrap Sandwich Wraps

    The Sandwich Wrap is really useful for my son’s lunchbox and can be used for a sandwich, wrap or pitta. It even survived the explosion of an entire strawberry yoghurt over it the other day! I like the string and toggle which gives it some extra security.

    Questions & Answer Session

    How do you use Bee’s Wrap?
    The warmth and pressure of the hands moulds the wrap to the food or bowl, keeping it secure and airtight. When the wax cools (almost immediately) a seal is created. The Sandwich Wrap has the added bonus of string and a wooden toggle fastening, making it even easier to secure and perfect for lunchboxes.

    What can you wrap?
    The Bee’s Wrap can be used to wrap cheese, vegetables, bread, and baked goods.  The Sandwich Wrap can be used for pitta bread, wraps and rolls as well as sandwiches. The Assorted Pack contains a small, medium and large wrap sheets for use across all foodstuff and bowls. The Bread Wrap is extra large and suitable for loaves as well as cakes.

    It is not recommended for raw meat as it can't be washed at a high temperature.

    "The beeswax and jojoba oil have antibacterial qualities," explains Kaeck. ‘This keeps the wrap fresh and aroma free.’

    How do you clean the wrap?
    Once you have finished with the food within, shake excess crumbs into the bin and wipe down with a damp cloth using cool water. You can use mild dish soap. Hang out flat and it will dry very quickly.

    How long does Bee's Wrap last? How do I care for it?
    Bee's Wrap lasts for about a year, but with proper care they often last longer! Keep Bee's Wrap away from heat, as this will melt the wax. You can use Bee's Wrap in the freezer, but since our wraps allow your food to breathe in a way that plastic containers do not, please use in the freezer for only a couple of weeks.

    Is Bee's Wrap bee friendly?
    Promoting a healthy bee population is vital to their ethos over at Bee's Wrap head quarters. They carefully evaluate the beekeeping operation for environmental impact, a healthy bee environment, and a quality end product. The evaluation considers forage quality, use of pesticides and medications, and feeding and harvesting practices. They also evaluate hive construction, human intervention of natural bee cycles, and filtering processes.

    The beeswax is never chemically altered or bleached, and is tested by the USDA for 200 pesticides and herbicides, ensuring the use of the cleanest possible wax.  They are currently working with beekeepers in Iowa, Pennsylvania and New York.The beeswax we use is merely a byproduct of the honeycomb. They use cappings wax only. 

    We'd love for you to give Bee's Wrap a try. We can all do our bit for the environment and save a few pennies in the process...#hellobeeswrapgoodbyeclingfilm

    A selection of customer reviews for Bee's Wrap;

    'Love the bees wrap! Such a beautiful product. Smells so good - lovely and clean. Plastic wrap is a thing of the past for packed lunches. Gorgeous site with everything so well presented. Easy to order and quick delivery! Thank you'(Karen)

    'Great customer service. I'm loving my bees wrap -- such a great and environmentally friendly product. Worth the money. Thank you!'(Rachel)

    'My packs of Bee's Wrap arrived today, and was beautifully gift wrapped by Lucy at The Wise House. This attention to detail in customer service seems to have long gone with online purchases and so it was a nice surprise to receive on delivery. It smells good with the natural oils in the Wrap too, looking forward to using it.'(Sofia)

    'Bee's Wrap is super! I love it. Your packaging and your service was impeccable. I am recommending you to friends.'(Rachel)

    'The Bee's Wraps are wonderful. I bought the pack of 3 different sizes and loved them so much I then bought the sandwich wrapper too. My husband thinks they smell great and they are so much nicer to use than cling film. Brilliant!'(Michelle)

    'So excited to receive the products.. being able to send my son to school and using no plastic has been so liberating.. Fantastic product.. and they were so beautifully wrapped by you it felt like I had received a gift... Delivery was super quick too..'(Tracey)

     

  2. We live in a world of the mass-produced; from cheap value goods to high street brands and designer labels. Traceability – how, where and by whom a product is made – is rarely front of mind when we see a product we like at a good price; or indeed a product made by a brand we want to be seen with and will pay a premium for.

    Recently, I read an interesting article by Mary Porter, who spent 2 hours examining 63 items of clothing on the high street, until she finally found what she was looking for ‘one single item, a dress, which has been made in the UK.’

    The fact is that the vast majority of retail goods are now mass produced overseas. The resulting impact on the UK manufacturing sector has been huge, as evidenced by its decline by two-thirds in the past 30 years.

    I’m no different to the next person in my buying behaviour; do I like it? Is it affordable? I want it! My ethics stretch to convincing myself that I will get as much use out of it as possible.

    However, when I really think about it, I do derive more pleasure from discovering an item that shows something of its origin; whether it’s in the design, attention to detail, craftsmanship, or originality. I love owning things that are unique to me and my family; our taste and lifestyle, things that tell a story.

    My journey with The Wise House has brought these issues to the fore. I’ve unearthed a passion for beautiful things made by lesser known creative brands, often using traditional methods of production. The truth is that I want to jump off the mass market bandwagon, and encourage others to do the same!

    The good news is that we are seeing a move back towards the idea of the designer/maker and the preservation of traditional skills. There is now a big Craft section at the Top Drawer trade show for retailers like myself, and the rise of websites like Not On The High Street, Etsy and Folksy have all done their bit to champion small creative businesses.

    A customer who gave her friend one of our Hokolo Tote Bags for Christmas (London designed and made) was told by her not only that she loved it but how pleased and surprised she was to receive something made by a small UK company that she hadn’t heard of before.

    I’m absolutely not against overseas manufacture per se; many brands are now focussing more on ethics and sustainability. We stock products from companies like Basket Basket and Nkuku, who work with families and fair-trade organisations overseas to protect the amazing skills of artisans. It is the nature of the ‘mass-produced’ that can mean that the quality is poor, the ethics are questionable and there is a big distance (both rhetorical and physical) between the designer and the end product.

    My hopes are that a balance can be struck, at home and abroad, so that whilst we will always buy mass-produced goods, we will also make room for well-made, quality products with their own personality, that will last a long time, if not a lifetime. In the end, we have to be savvy enough to work out which offers the better value.

    Below I speak to two of our wonderful British suppliers; Vic from Mac & Ninny Paper Company and Megan from Megan Alice England, to find out more about what it is to be a designer/maker and the process they go through in order to make their products.

    Who are you and what do you make?

    Vic
    Hi, I’m Vic from Mac & Ninny Paper Company. My husband Tony and I launched in January 2012 with a range of contemporary bookplates and jam jar sets. This year we’ve expanded our range to include coasters and planners.

    Megan
    I’m Megan, the sole creator of the gifts and homewards brand Megan Alice England.

    Where do you make it?

    Vic
    We have a workshop in an old match factory in Gloucester where all our stock is held along with our vintage Heidelberg windmill press.

    Megan
    I work from home.  I have converted the garden room into my studio/workshop.  It’s a small space that has to be multifunctional due to the number of different roles I have to undertake as the only employee of my business.  The products are designed, screen printed, sewn and packed up for the customer all from this room.

    Where does it all begin?

    Vic
    Inspiration can come from anywhere – looking in the mirror created the beard-day cards, childhood memories of hot summer holidays led to the ice cream cards and stumbling across old books or patterns can give you the spark to create something different.

    Megan
    I am inspired by the everyday for both my designs and products.  It’s great to take practical objects and give them the Megan Alice England treatment.  I love drawing animals, flowers and everyday objects to create designs that make people smile.

    How do you go about getting it from head to reality?

    Vic
    We usually share ideas that we have and how we think they could work. Then Tony will draw up scamps to see what sort of illustrative style would lend itself to that idea – whether it’s words or pictures, there’s always some creative sparkle to add. We’ll then go through the scamps and discard those we don’t think will work and then focus on those that we think will.

    We discuss possible colours, stock, sizes etc and then Tony will then design and illustrate the visuals. It’s always amazing to see an idea come to life this way and you can really start to see how the finished product will look.

    Megan
    I usually go about this by making several samples until I am pleased with the outcome.  The more experience I have the easier it is to turn ideas into reality.  I love trying out different prints in different colours on different products. It’s always so exciting to see the finished product.  

    Are there any limitations?

    Vic
    Choosing the paper material is always fun – we request lots of samples that we rub between our fingers and umm and ahhh over – picking the right shade of stock to show off the design and make the colours pop is important; as is ensuring its quality as well as its being ecologically sound.

    We have an extensive range of inks which we mix by hand so we can get the colour we’re looking for absolutely spot on. Also, as we print everything by hand, we can experiment with different colours to see what we think works best.

    Megan
    I can only print on a small scale so am only able to make products of a certain size.  It would be fantastic to print on a larger scale so that I could produce curtains and bed linen.  I think they would be great. (So do I!-Lucy).

    Are there ideas that don’t make the grade? Can you give us an example?

    Vic
    We’ve been toying with an idea we have for notebooks for a while. Whilst we have a great design idea, we haven’t quite developed a cost efficient way of producing it on the letterpress so for now, that idea is on the backburner. But we keep returning to it in the hope we’ll find a way!

    Megan
    Sometimes there are. There are a lot of factors to consider when creating a new product so you don’t get it spot on every time.  Luckily I have the chance to make improvements and develop my products if they are not selling as well as I would like.

    What materials do you use?

    Vic
    Mainly paper with a high cotton content. This allows us to get that lovely tactile letterpress feel.

    Megan
    I screen print using eco friendly non toxic water based ink onto natural fabrics including cotton, linen and calico.

    How do you choose/ mix your colours?

    Vic
    Tony loves experimenting – sometimes we’ll try some neon, other times something more muted. You get a very different look depending on the colours you use. Sometimes it’s fun to play with conventions – contemporary designs but more traditional colours and vice versa, just to see how it looks.

     Inks

    Megan
    I am a huge fan of colour so use a broad colour palette.  I don’t follow trends, I just pick colours that I like and hope other people will too. All my inks are hand mixed to my own recipe.  I use weighing scales and an electric hand mixer to ensure I keep my inks consistent.  You can watch a video of this if you click the link below.

    Megan Alice England Studio Workshop   Megan Alice England Paints

    How do you get your designs from paper to press/ print?

    Vic
    We have two amazing suppliers who specialise in letterpress printing: one for plates and another for cutters. They’re also great at offering advice too – which is always appreciated.

    Megan
    To screen print my designs on to fabric my designs have to be exposed on to silk screen using light sensitive emulsion and a very strong light source.  I expose all my screens myself.  There are lots of videos on youtube that explain this process if you would like to learn more.

     Megan Alice England Screenprinting

    What machinery do you use? How many people does it take to operate it? How/ When did you learn to use the equipment?

    Vic
    We have a 1962 Heidelberg windmill press which we purchased about ten months ago. It was a massive leap of faith as neither of us had ever used one before but we had a great teacher who spent a day teaching us how to maintain and use the machine. It only takes one person to operate it – Tony. Although two when he gets his hand trapped and needs to be released!!

    Mac & Ninny Paper Company Heidleberg Press Machine  Letterpress Machine Badge 

    Megan

    I use lots of equipment to make my products including my iMac, printer, exposing lamp, silk screens, squeegees, iron and sewing machine.

    I learnt the technique of screen printing when I was studying for my degree (2004-2007) and then went on to learn more when on a work placement in Melbourne, Australia (2010).

    Megan Alice England Mixing Paints  Megan Alice England Equipment

    Your designs are now printed on paper/ fabric. What comes next?

    Vic
    Once printed, they are then put through the press again for cutting and creasing and finally folding. They’re then checked, packed and barcoded.

    Megan
    Once my fabric is printed I have to heat set the inks using an iron.  This means the inks will not run when they are washed.  I then sew all my products myself using my heavy duty singer.

    Megan Alice England Sewing Machine

    How do you go about ensuring the final product is as you want it?

    Vic
    Because the whole process is managed by one person, from design to production, it’s very easy to ensure that the design is absolutely spot on.

    Megan
    My products are made completely by myself alone which means I can ensure each item is given the attention that it requires.  This means I can keep the standard of each product consistent. 

    What’s the best bit about making your own designs?

    Vic
    I love seeing the final product. When you see flat visuals you think, yeah, that looks good. But when you hold that final printed product in your hand, it always looks so much better than you expected. You get quite excited, especially when you’re bringing new stuff to shows and you receive positive feedback from buyers.

    Megan
    When it comes to the making process the best bit is without doubt is when I lift up the silk screen to reveal my design, it’s always so exciting.

    I love seeing the customer’s reaction to my product range.  It’s always a good feeling knowing that people like the work you are producing, especially when they are willing to part with some money!

     Megan Alice England Products  Mac & Ninny Jam Jar Covers Tomatoes

    What’s the worst bit of the whole process?

    Vic
    When you think you’ve had a great idea and the design is good, the pricing competitive and for some inexplicable reason it just doesn’t sell.

    Megan
    Definitely the sewing!! 

    How important is it to you to have input from beginning to end?

    Vic
    We are very lucky, we have total control on everything – design, print, marketing and sales. Having the Heidelberg means we can tweak a design or colour fairly easily if we don’t think something is working as well as it could.

    Megan
    I’m a bit of a control freak when it comes to my work so I guess it’s ideal that I can make changes whenever I feel it’s necessary.

    Do you think there will be a return to homegrown products and manufacturing?

    Vic
    I hope so – having just returned from Top Drawer you could see a huge range of designer / makers which some amazing and unique products. Whilst mass produced goods will always have their place, I’d like to think that beautifully designed, home grown products could sit alongside them and that customers will appreciate and value them. Afterall, imagine how boring our lives would be if we all bought the same things!

    Megan
    I think to some extent there already is.  There is a definite trend on television and in magazines at the moment encouraging people to give making/growing things a go.  There are also more shops and websites popping up that only stock handmade/British products but it’s hard to say if this will continue. Fingers crossed it will!

    Thank you to Vic and Megan for talking to The Wise House. Their passion for the products and the hard work that goes into making them is both humbling and inspiring.