bags, buttons, bikes, biscuits and bats

Well done everyone who managed to make a bag at our silk screening session last week.  Jill worked really hard to make sure as many people as possible got a chance to print and take home a bag and we are really grateful to her for sharing her time and for being paid in cake.  And there were some very vibrantly coloured bags made - looking forward to seeing them around the East End full of good things. We're hoping to run a separate session at the Brady Centre so that those who didn't get a chance to make a bag have another opportunity, so look out for more information soon.

Thanks too to Elizabeth for turning out some lovely Dorset Buttons with her diligent group of buttoneers.  We'd love to see what you do with them.  

There were lots of great suggestions for the Cafe Direct Coffee Sacks  so we're planning a wee competition ourselves for our AGM - more information coming up in our newsletter.  Cafe Direct have been really supportive of East End WI so we want to come up with some brilliant examples of sack crafting.  You can see what other WIs have been getting up to if you follow the link to the Cafe Direct website. So get your thinking caps on and your scissors sharpened.

And is if that wasn't enough excitement for one week  (some of us lead very quiet lives, you know), we had a lovely green tea-time picnic in the park on Friday evening - plenty of food, drink,  good company, lots of bikes and no rain.  Not much evidence of Olympic themed menus other than five oat and raisin cookies mimicking the Olympic symbol.  But surely the prize should go to Victor for his Olympian efforts in giving us a tour round the park on the back of his bicycle made for two!  Our gold medal winner, I think...

Next up, Batwalk, 7pm Tuesday 31st August, starting outside the Palm Tree pub.  

fun and games

We'll be picnicking in Victoria Park from 5pm this afternoon so come and join us.  You'll find us just north of the Pavilion Cafe - look out for the EEWI bunting! There's an Olympics theme to our picnic, and there will be  a prize for the best picnic menu.  Bring food, bring drink, bring games, bring the family, but most important bring yourselves.

Bus Tours of Olympic Site

Remember that there's an invitation to take a bus tour of the Olympics site during Open House Weekend on 18th or 19th of September.  To book a place on a tour call 03002012550.  Seats are being offered on a first come. first serve basis - be quick as spaces are likely to fill up quickly.  Tours will run from the SCORE complex on Oliver Road in Leyton where there will be an interactive exhibition and will run between 8.30am and 6.15 pm on both days.  Please note that children under 8 are not allowed on site as this is a live construction site.

London WI Event

If you are a fan of Emma Bridgewater's pottery here's an opportunity for London WI members to hear Emma talking about her 25 year old pottery company and plans for the future.  The lovely ladies of Fulham and V&A WIs. have organised the even which is scheduled for 7pm on 15th September at the Victoria and Albert Museum (entry is via the side entrance on exhibition road.  The talk will be followed by a wine reception from 8pm - 8.45pm.  Tickets cost £10 and are available from Alex Gibbs (email: a(dot)gibbs(at)vam.ac.uk or call 02079422277.  Book early as places are limited.

august meetings

We will be trying our hand at screen printing with Jill Fulbrook, local artist and exhibition officer at the LBTH Arts and Events team when we meet on Tuesday 17th August.  Jill will be helping us to screen print some EEWI bags and for a very small fee you will able to print one (or more) and take them home with you.  Entry is free for members and £3 for visitors.  Tea and coffee will be provided - please feel free to bring a bottle. All welcome so if you have never been before and you would like to see what we are all about please do come along.

We are also playing host this month to a project that recycles and mends old and broken jewellery to raise money for the Alzheimers Society. They are collecting and need anything from gold, silver or fashion pieces and metal to make into new items . Pieces will be for sale and if you have any old or broken jewellery you could donate please do bring it with you.  We are still collecting too for the other charities we support so do please remember to bring along your old bras, newspapers, towels, pens and blankets for us to donate.

When, where and how to find us

Come along at 7.30pm for an 8pm start on Tuesday 17th August at St Margaret's House, 21 Old Ford Road Bethnal Green E2 9PL. Entry is through the garden so if you are on Old Ford Road looking at St Margaret's House you need to go through the gate to the left of the Gallery Cafe and walk around to the garden - you will see us in the hall which is behind the Gallery Cafe,

Summer Picnic in Victoria Park - Friday 20th August

We have decided to have a late afternoon/ early evening picnic instead of a coffee morning this month. We'll meet in Victoria Park from 5pm onwards on Friday 20th August, just north of the Pavilion Cafe.  Everyone welcome - friends and family. Bring a picnic and anything else you think might make the afternoon go with a swing - musical instruments, games etc. We will be setting up a gazebo and decorating it so that you are able to find us easily.  If it's raining, we'll meet up at the Pavilion Cafe and move on to the Inn on the Park.

To help jolly things along, we are also going to have a prize for the best picnic menu, inspired by the 2012 Olympics.  Maybe your napkins will be sporty or you might bring along some cheesy footballs but whatever you decide to do, if it is on an Olympic theme it will be entered into the competition. The winner will be announced at around 7pm (or a little later if we know you are going to turn up later).

EEWI Twilight Batwalk 

As an extra treat this year we would like to invite you to come with us on a twilight batwalk with Kenneth Greenway of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park. We are meeting outside the Palm Tree Pub in Mile End Park at 7pm on Tuesday 31st August.

and Kenneth will take us on an hour long walk to look at the bats in the area. The walk is accessible and suitable for all levels of fitness. We will end up back where we started and after the walk we will be pop into the Crown pub at the junction of Grove Road and Old Ford Road for a drink. (The Palm Tree is not accessible).

Places are free but are limited and so if you would like to come along please let Niki know in advance. Priority will be given to EEWI members.

smile please

Summer Festival 2010, Museum of Childhood

We had a fabulous time at the Museum of Childhood Summer Festival this Sunday. It was full of sunshine, colour and smiling faces, inspiring music, dancers who looked like they'd stepped put of a story book and bubbles in the air. And cakes, of course. In fact we were so taken aback at how busy it was that we had to send for reinforcements after only an hour and a half. One little girl was asked by her mum what cake she wanted and she answered "A yellow one", which was just as well because that was all we had.

If you have ever hesitated about working on one of our cake stalls, all I can say is that you only have to see the faces of happy customers to make your day, even if you have this to look forward to when you get home...

And a reminder for the shopping list.

As ever, thanks to everyone who baked and helped on the day, and to the Museum of Childhood for looking after us so well.