Knit & Natter, Wednesday 6.30pm

Inspired by our last meeting on changing the world and working together, we've decided to start a regular knit & natter group at local venues. This EEWI-inspired group is open to anyone who feels like popping in with a project - knitting or otherwise. It will be a casual meeting, and everyone is invited – not only knitters! Bring along your stitcheries (cross-stitch, crochet, tapestry, finger-knitting or pattern planning) or simply join us for a few drinks and a good catch-up.

Our first drop-in Knit & Natter will be on Wednesday the 24^th from 18.30 – 20.30pm.

Venue: The Crown, 223 Grove Road, Bow, E3 5SN.

The group is likely to be fortnightly and at a more accessible venue; we'll post more info once we've taken a vote and agreed.

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

personal power

My head was spinning a bit last night after John-Paul Flintoff's talk about how we can change the world.  All those inspiring stories about small steps building up into big changes.  I especially liked the idea of growing too many tomato seedlings and sharing them with your neighbours to encourage them to grow their own, and the fabulous reminder of how Rosa Parks changed the world because she'd just about had enough that day. I was very taken too with the process John-Paul took us through.  Find your spark, try getting your mates to help out with ideas, write them down, try small steps, watch them grow, change the world.  And as for the big reveal of that home-made shirt... it was a tour de force.

Big thanks to John-Paul for g-whizzing over to the East End and donating a copy of How to Change the World* to the honesty library at the Mill too (Isabel was delighted).  We hope you enjoy your marmalade, jam and Knit-Nurse's Granny's boiled fruit cake because we think that a decent piece of cake can make the world a better place too.

So come on people - how are you going to change the world? Let us know.

* you can borrow a copy at Tower Hamlets Idea Store

apple days and coffee mornings

If you are a regular at EEWI you will know that we like to celebrate apples at this time of year and this Thursday (18th) is Apple Day at the Queen Mary Farmer's Market.  

There will be:

• Apple juice pressing demonstrations
• Varieties of apples decorating the market
• Apple games including apple bobbing
• Apple and spoon races!
• Cooking up of tasters

It'll be an opportunity to get children involved in particular, as they can help with mashing, juicing, and of course the all-important tasting of the juice.

The apples and pears on sale on Apple Day will be seasonal and brought straight from the farm by the grower. 

You can taste apples and pears you’ve never come across before. There will be many Mertons, a plethora of Pippins, perfect Pearmains and several seedlings. These names may reflect the areas from which the fruit hails – Ribston Pippin or Howgate Wonder; or bear the names of their makers such as Lady Studeley; other give indications of their taste or characteristics – Rosemary Russet or Pineapple Pippin; others still, such as the Devonian cider apple Slack Ma Girdle, may be a warning against overindulgence (or an inducement for it).

Enjoy the market and Apple Day this week.

And f you are confused by the dates I put on the newsletter for the coffee morning, it is on Friday !9th ( that;s right - I can't read a calendar!).  10.30am, Museum of London at Docklands.

how about changing the world next week?

Writer, thinker and sewist John-Paul Flintoff is a man after my own heart.  His first book, "Sew Your Own" is his story of starting off on a journey to have a suit made, and ending up sewing his own shirts - and lots of other things too.  His wife is very funny too about his adventures into making do and mending.   Now John-Paul, a member of the faculty of the School of Life, has been thinking about how we can make more of a difference if we want to by changing the world.  And we all have something we want to change, don't we?  We are the WI after all.

If you want to share John-Paul's words and wisdom, join us next Tuesday 16th October at 7.30pm for 8pm start at St Margaret's House, 21 Old Ford Road, Bethnal Green.  Refreshments are available, but donations of home baking are always very welcome.  You might also want to join in the fun by wearing a little something you sewed yourself, just so we don't leave it all to our speaker. Non-members are very welcome - we just ask you to make a donation of £3 to cover costs.

October is also a very good month to join EEWI as you get a recession-busting 15 months membership for the price of 12. What's more, existing members can also bring a guest-for -free this month so we can spread the goodness a little more widely.  So bring your mates, have a cup of tea and a piece of cake, and get to change the world a bit(e) at a time.

If you want to consolidate your world changing plans, you can share them with us in the cafe at Museum of London Docklands  at West India Quay on Friday 19th October, 10.30am (free entry, map here).  All welcome - though you will have to pay for your own tea/coffee/cake.

plastic magic

Stacey fell in love with the mermaid.

Diane hazarded a guess on the pastry mixer.

Carol kept the winning team in order when things got out of hand.

I, on the other hand, had to phone a friend.

There were certainly some strange examples of plasticware and I'm still not entirely persuaded that one of them wasn't a moustache brush rather than a cuticle polisher.  But, oh, those lovely bakelite bangles! Many thanks, Carolyn, for sharing the plastics passion.  I think some us were a little smitten too by the end of the evening.

a roadshow, batwalk and books

After a few weeks of being out and about, we're back in Bethnal Green tonight 18th September to hear lovely EEWI member Carolyn Clark lead a Passion for Plastics: The Roadshow.  Carolyn is a something of an expert and will be sharing her knowledge and showing us some of her vintage collection, including some lovely jewelery.  What's more she would be more than happy to answer any conundrums about any vintage items that you'd like to know a little more about so bring them along.  And so you don't have it too easy, Carolyn has been working on a mini-quiz to see what you know at the end of the session.  We do hope you'll be able to make it.  Usual location: St Margaret's House, 21 Old Ford Road, 7.30pm for 8pm.  Refreshments available, though do feel free to bring along something to share.

We're out again on Thursday 20th September evening, this time for a Batwalk in Mile End Park with Ken Greenway from Tower Hamlets Cemetery.  We're meeting at the Palm Tree Pub in Mile End Park (by Haverfield Road) at 6.30pm, just before dusk when the bats get flying.  The event is free for members and their families so bring your children or your granny and granddad too.

Our coffee morning next Thursday 27th September will take in a trip to the Guildhall Library for a curated visit to see their food and wine collection, including some advice from the WI.  Meet at the Cafe Below, St Mary Le Bow at 9.30am, Guildhall Library at 10.30am.

And finally, if you are looking for something stimulating as we ease into autumn, Carolyn is also leading local history workshops at Bishopsgate Institute using material from their archives.  There are still places available if you'd like to join: let us know by emailing us at eastendwi[at]hotmail[dot]co[dot]uk.  

The sessions are held in the lovely setting of the Garden Room with refreshments, start at 2pm last for an hour and a half as follows:
25th September: East End: Myths and Realities 

9th October: Changing Lives in Victorian London

3rd on 23rd October is on 'Spitalfields: Movement, Migration and Immigration

November 6th, 13th and 20th: Workshops of your choice 

8th January: Final celebration.

Lots to see and do.  Hope to see you soon.

alchemy

We've been doing some food preparation for this Sunday's Edible Garden Feast.

There's been some food magic going on with Mike the Chef and Wizard in Chief.

We're used to prestidigitation - like the dozens of scones we whizzed up for the St Barnabas Fete last weekend.  But I don't think we've ever practiced cavitation before.

Come and join the fun on Sunday at 4pm, Mile End Children's Park, Locksley Street for Food Stories, Recipes for Life and enchantment.