I can't believe it's been almost a month since I last posted! I've really neglected this blog woefully, as I've had to focus my attention on finishing a few orders and getting the house prepared before the baby arrives.
In fact, I was so wrapped up in my pretty world of babies and flowers, that I didn't know about the London riots until about 24 hours after they had started. On Sunday evening, M. and I heard sirens as we got ready for bed, and he said he hoped the riots weren't starting again, or spreading. I had no idea of the violence that had happened in Tottenham the night before until that moment.
Unfortunately, he was right, and the riots (looting, really) had spread. Monday morning we awoke to the news that there had been violence and looting not ten minutes from where we live... although we probably could've guessed it, because the sirens from the nearby hospital kept us awake for a lot of the night. All day and evening, I watched Twitter and live news, hoping it wouldn't happen again only to see, horrified, that it had gotten worse. Fortunately for our peace of mind, our area remained calm, but some friends and colleagues reported groups of thugs roaming their streets.
And on top of this there was the depressing news from home about the economic situation. I just kept thinking, Is this the kind of world I want to bring a child into? Do I want my child growing up in this city as it is, and then moving back to America, which seems to be heading for a different type of wreck?
On Tuesday, the #riotcleanup movement started. People made an effort to get out in the streets and protect them, just by being present. I was so relieved to see this side of Londoners... the side I've heard about but never seen, because it only comes out in extraordinary circumstances, this ability to band together and keep going, and say, you can beat us but you'll never break us. And, of course, it's not restricted to Londoners... in each city the lootings touched, there have been similar efforts. Everyone is so determined to clean up their city that it has become almost comical: there are more helpers than there are messes to clean, thanks to the excellent work of the councils.
Although I read about their efforts with admiration, I was very frustrated, as I couldn't really join in the clean-up efforts. I'm enormously pregnant and seem to have permanently swollen ankles. And the baby dropped on Tuesday, which means that walking has become uncomfortable and slow.
So when I saw a tweet from Zoe (of
Zoe and Drew), who couldn't help due to distance and was feeling similarly frustrated, about organizing a raffle of handmade goods in aid of small businesses victimized by looters, I immediately said I'd contribute something, and started mentally designing a new papercut.
There are still a few details to be worked out, but it looks like the raffle will be held via JustGiving.com, feature handmade goods from around 50 artisans, and benefit
Retail Trust, a charity that helps small retail businesses. This is amazing right now, as so many small business owners not only lost stock and had their premises damaged, many of them live over their shops. Which means that if thugs decided to burn the shop, the owners are now homeless on top of everything else. (All proceeds from the raffle will go to small businesses targeted in the looting, by the way,
not large chains that can fend for themselves just fine.)
I'll be posting more details here once I have them, but if you'd like more information you can also check
Zoe's blog. If you're on twitter, you can search for #riotraffle or follow @zoeanddrew as well.
And just to whet your appetite, here's a sneak peek of the papercut I'm working on for the raffle. I went with a simple design, but it calls for a lot of cutting. My poor fingers are aching, but I'm determined to get it done fast (before baby throws a spanner in the works)!
And I'll get back to my normal posting, starting tomorrow. I want to share some of the bouquets I've made over the past few months, not to mention a few nursery projects.
