love February with EEWI

We're still feeling the Valentine's love here, and to help us through the last days of winter, we've invited romantic novelist Jean Fullerton along to our meeting on 21st February to talk to us about why she loves writing stories about the East End and the lives of women.  I went along to see Jean at Bethnal Green Library and was really impressed by how passionate she was about what she does, and the inspiration she takes from East London.  So whatever your preferred reading matter is, I'm sure you'll enjoy hearing about what it's like to share stories.  Usual time and place, 7.30 for 8pm, St Margaret's House, Old Ford Road, E2.  We'll provide the tea and coffee, but do feel free to bring along cakes, wine or whatever to share.  There may even be pancakes.  Visitors are welcome of course - we just ask for a donation of £3.

Our coffee morning on 24th February will be at Whitechapel Art Gallery cafe at 10.30am, followed by a visit to Simon Schama's choice from the Government Art Collection.  It's a lovely little exhibition - well, I think so - and I can't wait until someone asks me to browse the collection and make a choice (I know, dream on).

If you're still wanting to fit in some late Valentine's fun this weekend, you could pop into Rich Mix to join in their Snapshots Part 8 series of events with Valentines: An East London Love Affair.  Take along a wedding photo to scan and add to the exhibition, book a workshop for the kids to make a gift out of clay, listen to a story.  

I'm off to a potato fair at the Garden Museum, thinking ahead to the Edible Garden (more news when we meet!).  Whatever you choose to do this weekend, have a lovely time. 

Looking forward to seeing you all next Tuesday.

stay warm with a good book

We love our libraries here at EEWI and we're lucky not to have suffered with closures like lots of places in the country.  So if you fancy doing a little something to celebrate National Libraries Day tomorrow you might want to get along to Bethnal Green Library tomorrow afternoon to have a cup of tea, a slice of cake and some advice on how to fall in love with the past.  Sounds like a good way to celebrate to me.

aim and aspire women's business club

You may remember that Lana Hersak mentioned Aim and Aspire's Women's Business Club which runs lots of networking events.  Their next event on MAstering Your Money is on 7th February.  If you are interested in attending, you'll find further information on their website . There is also a link to the website in our "You may be interested in..." box in the sidebar.

where the heart is

copyright Dorothy Lloyd Magic Me

55+ Local women needed for "where the heart is" arts project 

Every year, local charity, Magic Me partners with The Women's Library and 

Mulberry School for Girls to work on an arts project. Magic Me needs local older 

women that are over 55 to get involved in this year's project, Where the 

Heart Is. You will explore stories of love in the East End with experienced 

Magic Me artists. Using film, theatre and story telling techniques as a group 

you will design a walk of the area drawing from your stories. The final artwork 

will be presented as part of this year's LIFT Festival. 

Sessions start on the Wednesday 22nd February from 2-3:30pm, and then 

every Wednesday from 3:30-5:30pm at The Women's Library. 

For more information call Clea on 020 3222 6064 or email cleahouse@magicme.co.uk

the edible garden gets cooking

Now normally the idea of an afternoon at a steering group would not fill my heart with joy, but when we met today with Corinne, Sue and Fabio from Phakama to discuss the Edible Garden project we all came away full of the fun to come.  And food too, lots of lovely food.  We've got grand plans - a space has been identified in Mile End for the garden! - and we are already thinking about how to use the space, plan our growing, and what we need to do to get ready for a grand feast later in September 2012.  And for a trial run, we shared a food preparation and testing session with our prospective chefs with some imaginative and delicious outcomes.

Many thanks to Annie, Clare, Heather and Ruth for coming along this afternoon and sharing their time, ideas, experience and all important tastebuds.  We are really looking forward to working in partnership with Phakama, giving and gaining to make the Edible Garden a beautiful, productive space.  There will be regular updates on the Edible Garden blog and plenty of opportunities to get involved with growing, cooking, crafting and story-telling.

Watch this getting-greener space.

life chances

It's January.  Resolutions are still in the air.  So it was good to welcome Jay Bharvada along to hear about Chance to Live, the charity he has set up with his wife to increase the number of people signing up to the Bone Marrow Register.   Jay spoke very movingly about his own son's illness and how we can help people like him who would benefit from bone marrow donation.  Jackie's daughter has signed up, and Niki has circulate the information to her work colleagues.  Even if you are not eligible to sign the register, you may want to think about how else you might be able to help.  We'd love to hear what you've done to raise awareness of the register.

Our second speaker, Lana Hersak, explained how to go about setting up a small business.  There was lots of sound advice - who'd have thought it was so complicated?  Some  members shared their own experience of running businesses and there was a lot of note taking.  If you didn't manage to get all the information, Lana has let us have a checklist and some links to organisations that can help.  You can find them on a separate page on the blog here.  And good luck if you are thinking of taking the plunge. Let us know how you get on - we're always keen to support our talented women.

After such a thoughtful start to 2012,  it was good to see concentration of a slightly different sort at the coffee morning at Hurwundekei....

Nice work.

january meetings: aim and aspire

If you are want to explore new horizons in 2012, Lana Hersak, the speaker at our 17th January meeting, may be just what you need to stir you up.  Lana will be talking to us about setting up a small business, drawing on her experience leading aim and aspire workshops.  We will also have a short talk about charity "Chance to Live".  And we'll be encouraging you to vote on your preferred resolutions for the NFWI AGM.  So a busy night ahead.

We are meeting at the usual time 7.30pm for 8pm start at our usual venus, St Margaret's House, Old Ford Road, E2 (just next to the Gallery Cafe).  If you are new to the WI, do please come along - the weather may be chilly but you'll find a warm welcome and refreshments available; we suggest a donation of £3 to cover the cost of refreshments.  If you are a member, we'll be taking 2012 subscriptions - £31.50 for the year, or you may prefer to pay in three instalments.

Our coffee morning on Friday 20th January will be the Hurwundeki Cafe in Cambridge Heath Road (just before you reach the railway station going north.)  We'll gather from 10.30am onwards.

And just another reminder that we are continuing to work with Project Phakama on the Edible Garden project.  There will be a meeting on 28th January at Queen Mary College in the Arts building, 2 - 4pm if you want to know more about the project.

It's going to be a busy year,  See you soon.