snappy

I hope everyone's photographic skills have improved exponentially after Ella's perfectly pitched presentation this week (thanks, Ella!).  Lydia chose East End WI as the story for her snaps, with a lovely shot of the bargain EEWI badges and mirrors Sarah has made for us to sell.  I managed to get a couple of photos of people playing on the WiiFit Plus equipment (thanks ladies!) but I don't think people would thank me for publishing their attempts at virtual hula-hooping or standing on one leg.  Nor would the snaps have been quite right for our photographic competition.  The theme  is "green" so make the most of the last days of summer with some happy snapping.  More details soon.

There will be a chance for some practice today at our coffee morning at the Zealand Cafe (corner of Zealand Road and Roman Road, just along from St Barnabas. 10.30am onwards).  Later on in the day, there will be plenty of green at our summer picnic - Wennington Green, Mile End Park (opposite St Barnabas Church in Grove Road) from 5.30pm onwards.  Just bring a blanket and some teatime treats.  Looks like it might actually be fine weather...

whatever next?

With such turmoil going on over the last few days, we want to remind everyone how important it is to get together and celebrate the good things about the East End, and especially EEWI.  So big thanks to everyone who has been involved in all our events over the last few weeks, especially those dedicated troopers who turned out for the Museum of Childhood Summer Festival and have only just managed to dry out after torrential rain in the afternoon.  And to the lovely Ruth for taking the floor at our last meeting and showing us how to sort out our wardrobes. Now we all know how to make the most of our assets, plentiful or otherwise.  It was a fab evening and we learnt a great deal about how to liberate our unloved stuff and fill our wardrobes with gladrags instead.  We're very,very proud that we have such talented members willing to share their knowledge and skills with us.   

We are equally delighted that at the August meeting, our Ella will be showing us how to improve our holiday snapshots with a session on using photography, focusing on how to get the best from your  digital camera.  We'll also be launching our photography competition for summer, so do bring along your cameras and get some expert advice.  We'll also have the people from WiiFit with a demo on how you might use some electronic help to stay fit.  We are meeting on 16th August, our usual venue, St Margaret's House, Old Ford Road, E2, 7.30pm for 8pm.  We'll have tea and coffee for you, and as many cakes as our generous bakers bring along, but do feel free to bring a bottle too if you wish.

On Friday 19th August we have our coffee morning from 10.30am at the Zealand Cafe, on the corner of Zealand Road and Roman Road, just along from St Barnabas Church - it's quite a small venue, but they know we're coming.  And in the evening we'll be gathering from 5.30pm onwards for our summer picnic at Wennington Green, Mile End Park, close to the Adizone/ Bow Wharf.  Just bring some food and drink, blankets and bunting and your happy selves and family.

We'll be keeping our fingers crossed for fine weather. And if it rains there are plenty of pubs nearby for us to get dry.  Or wet our whistles.

it's summertime

We're well and truly in the swing of serving tea and cakes this summer.  We didn't quite manage the tea at St Margaret's House Garden Party because we couldn't get into the kitchen, though thanks to Clare, Carolyn, Elizabeth, Janet and Vivien we did manage to serve up a few cakes while listening to the music. So  Heather made up for it by managing three teapots at once when we were participants in the wonderful artwork that was the Piccadilly Community Centre.

Annie and Elizabeth had a lovely time chatting to the tourists. and selling crafts by our makers and our own EEWI bags and flowers.  They learnt all about knitting in Latvia, what some Portuguese students were doing in London, found a WI member from the North East and were given a donation from a lovely American lady in memory of her mother-in-law who loved the WI.

  And when she wasn't chatting to people, Elizabeth went nuts with the fluffy flowers.

Indoors, Anne, Clare, Heather and Veronika charmed visitors and centre users with their tea and cookies and cakes.  We'd nearly sold out by the time we left.

And to keep everyone busy we offered a choice of pompom making with Jo, or rag-rugging with Janet (Janet- where were you hiding when I came along with my camera?)

Thanks to friends who came and visited us on the day.  Don't worry though if you missed us, because we'll be at the Museum of Childhood Summer Festival this weekend - Sunday 7th August from 11.30am - 4.30pm  - having a good time with more EEWI goodness.  Do pop in if you are passing by!

blossom

We got a little bit hot in the sun on Thursday at St Margaret's House Garden Party, but that hasn't stopped us hoping for more sun on Saturday when we are at the the Piccadilly Community Centre from 10 - 6.  Come and buy a bag, make a pom pom or rag a rug, have a cup of tea and something to eat.  Or just blossom in the sun (we hope).

tea anyone?

Right now we're thinking about what cakes to make for a couple of events we've got coming up this week.  On Thursday we'll be serving tea and cake at St Margaret's House Garden Party, a family event for the local community.  Admission is free and includes lots of fun things for children and, erm, us of course with our tea and cakes.  Do pop in and say hello if you are around.

We're also very excited about being involved in the pop-up Piccadilly Community Centre this Saturday 30th July from 10am until around 4.30pm.  Hauser and Wirth Art dealers have converted their Piccadilly gallery, just along the road from Fortnum and Mason, into a fully functioning community centre for a ten weeks, complete with a charity shop, a range of classes,  a community canteen, and a stall outside in the St James Arts and Crafts Market.  We'll be making tea and selling  food in the canteen, running some indoor crafting activities, and selling muffins/ cupcakes and crafted goods on the outdoor stall. It's the centre's last day, so we want to make sure as many people as possible know about the work of the WI and what a lovely cup of tea we make.  Along with everything else, of course.

Come and say hello!

July Meetings

We're really excited to have the lovely Ruth along at our next meeting on 19th July to talk to us on how to discover your true shape and learn how to dress to enhance it.  Yes, ladies, we're being superstyled!

The question on everyone’s lips will be what body shape am I? When you discover your true shape you can quickly learn to dress to enhance it. You will have many "ah ha!" moments when you realise why clothes suit you and others don’t. You will be able to shop quickly and with confidence in future and enjoy choose outfits from your wardrobe that really flatter and enhance your best bits. It will revolutionise the way you look and feel when you get dressed.

The talk will last about 25-30 minutes including live demonstrations and there will be a special offer on the night for EEWI women to tap into more of Superstyling’s personal shopping and personal styling services.Ruth’s website is: www.superstyling.me.uk

So come along, bring a friend (£3 suggested donation for non- members), share a cake, whatever. Tuesday 19^th July at St Margaret’s House, Old Ford Road, E2, 7.30 for 8pm start.

Don't forget too that we will also be taking in Denman Award applications (follow the link for a copy of the form) for our fabulous £200 bursary towards the cost of a Denman College course.  If you're not sure what you fancy, then take a look at the new Denman website here.  So much to choose from!

For our Coffee Morning this month we are hoping to go to the Counter Cafe on Roach Road, Fish Island. The café has moved into Stour Space Art Gallery and has stunning views of the Olympic Park. We plan to meet there at 10.30am and if anyone is interested in either joining a cycling party to the café or a public transport one or would like a lift please do let us know.

The 339 from Bow goes to near to the café and is easy to get to by bike.

this weekend

We'll be at Parklife selling cakes on Sunday.  Do come along, say hello, and applaud the dog who looks most like his owner - or is it the other way round? If you want to bake or help out, let me or Clare know.

Some of us will also be in the WI tent at the Big Feastival at Clapham Common over the weekend too, starting Friday afternoon.  Feastival is a foodie event and it wouldn't be proper without the WI there.  If you are a keen baker, there is a competition too - details above.

If we don't see you, do have a sunny weekend.