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.

we were there too!

It was a busy August.  Sharing food stories while we made bunting.  Coffee on the Slow Boat at Chisenhale Gallery.  Tea in Elizabeth's garden listening to the birds.  And finally, when the weather was bright and sunny, we enjoyed a free day in the park watching the Paralympic Games (thank you LLDC).  Top banana.

By the way, this is not a hamburger.  It's a Victoria Sponge.  

Come and find out the full story at St Barnabas Community Fete this Saturday from 12 o'clock.  We'll be serving tea and scones; and there will be more food stories and bunting making with the Edible Garden.

See you in the Tea Tent.

food stories and fabric

Couldn't resist, sorry!

We're all about food and fabrics at our meeting next Tuesday.  We'd like to invite you to bring along your food stories and transfer them onto a piece of bunting that we can use to decorate the Edible Garden feast in September.  Is there a particular food that you love or loathe?  What food do you cook when you want to make someone happy?  Would you rather have tea and biscuits or coffee and cake?  We'll bring some fabric and yarn to help you sew your story, though do bring your own too if you want to. We're also going to be auctioning some lovely fabric, so don't forget to bring your pocket money too.  Usual time and place:  7.30 for 8pm, St Margaret's House, Old Ford Road, E2, Tuesday 21st August.  We'll have tea, coffee, cake and more for those who fancy a tipple.

And if you're missing your sport, don't forget that we'll be choosing 20 lucky members to receive a free ticket to attend the Paralympic Games on 31st August (hope they've arrived by then!)  If you can't be at the meeting and want to put your name in the hat, just email us at eastendwi(at)hotmail(dot)co(dot)uk by midday on 21st August.

For those of you who didn't manage to get on the Slow Boat last week, we have a second coffee morning next Thursday 23rd August at 10.30am when we'll be off to Elizabeth's house to sit in her garden, eat cake and watch the birds.  Details in the newsletter or drop us in email for the address.

Now back to that cup of tea.

feverish?

So the grand opening ceremony is tonight.  Lydia has been to the rehearsal and is staying mum, but says the wild flower meadow is fabulous.  I don't think she spotted Regina, but if you look closely tonight you might see here - will she wearing her nurse's unifrom?  Who knows?  Meanwhile Ruth volunteered to help out with the alterations to the costumes (well done, Ruth!).  This is what she had to say about it:

"Turning up, going through a couple of layers of security at Three Mills, passport in hand and signing in front of two witnessed the official secrets act I know I was going to be privy to something very cool.

I was asked about whether I could work a sewing machine and off we went. My eyes were like saucers walking through what I can only describe as a fancy dress warehouse on acid.  I had never seen so many amazing costumes up close. Huge towering flamboyant outfits, sparkly, shiny, feathery and glittery in equal measure.  It reminded me of someone's dreams brought to life.

Two french Costumers (people who make and work with costumes all day) guided me and I was off, working on some very bright fabric, made into very slippery outfits, which were very tricky to sew. My nerves, and the needle were put to the test.  I have to say it was the most complex sort of sewing I have ever done but great to cut your 'sewing teeth' on the opening ceremony costumes. Needless to say the needle got broken a couple of times and I actually broke a sweat. Appropriate for the Olympics.

I asked how many outfits there were to do of this particular style, and the reply came back, "Cinq cent".  I thought that sounded pretty manageable until I realised it was 500 and not 15. The sweats were back and the needle was broken again, I went off for a well earned break. The place was staffed by volunteers as all the official costume people had gone home for the day. I was pleased to hear there were complimentary snacks, less pleased when I found out they were pot noodles.  So So not Olympic!

On my way back to start outfit number 5 of 500, I had a very wide eyed walk around the whole warehouse. Obviously not being able to take photos meant I committed a lot of very ostentatious outfits to memory and will be pointing and waving at the TV tonightand saying " I touched that, I sewed that, I tripped over that.

I managed to sew about 20 outfits in total in 5 hours. It was somewhat reminiscent of a very glamorous sweatshop because of the volume of outfits, but it was the most enjoyable sewing experience I have had the pleasure of taking part in. They even asked me to go back, so my stitching can't have been that bad now, can it?"

Oh, and we did manage to ring All the Bells, so we can honestly say we've done our bit for art. We made a mighty noise for three minutes on the top of the Mound in Mile End Park with some very imaginative bells - I think the cow bell was my favourite.  Then we did what any self respecting WI lady would do:  we went off for a cup of tea and a bite of something...

Next up, fireworks.