getting ready for christmas!

We're starting to get into gear for our Christmas Market next Tuesday (details below).  Clare will be getting her spices  ready for the mulled wine, Elizabeth has signed up to make lots of mince pies and Niki went home yesterday to practice her fourteen pointed stars so that she can pass on her expertise.  Lydia is making some hand-made loveliness to sell for U-Turn and some of us got out the needles and thread yesterday to make some pretty heart-shaped lavender bags to go on the stall too. And we have some other lovely stalls lined up for you selling handmade goodness.  Entry is free for members, £3 donation for non-members.  

Times are tougher for everyone this year, but we know that EEWI members have big hearts  so we are also hoping you can also bring along a small wrapped gift for the women at U-Turn who will be joining us again this year.  It's greatly appreciated.

It would be lovely too if you're able to join us for our last coffee morning of the year.  We seem to have made it an EEWI tradition to go along to the Geffrye Museum to see a bit of Christmas past before we indulge in some Christmas Present.  It's a lovely setting, and  a great way to ease into the holiday.  We've decided to stick to the Friday after our meeting, so we'll be hoping to see you at 10.30 on 21st December at the Geffrye.  It may well be your last opportunity to sit down with a cup of coffee before the big day.

All women are welcome. Come and say hello.

EEWI Christmas Market

Save the Women's Library Tribute

If you want to offer some support to the campaign to keep the Women's Library in Tower Hamlets, you might want to go along tonight to a free tribute event running from 6pm - 8pm at the Women's Library in Old Castle Street.  Details here.

Knit & Natter, Wednesday 6.30pm

Thanks to Aneeta's fabulous talk, we're all getting our knitting needles at the ready for tomorrow's Knit & Natter group: Wednesday the 28^th from 6.30 – 8.30pm.

This time we're meeting at The Coborn Arms, 8 Coborn Road, Mile End, London E3 2DA. Click here for a map.

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.

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

knitty gritty november

As we get well into our pre-Christmas crafting groove, we're delighted to have Aneeta Patel of Knitty Gritty fame to introduce us to her new book Knitty Gritty the Next Steps at our 20th November meeting.  Aneeta's first book laid down the foundations for novice knitters.  This follow-on book takes knitters into more challenging territory.  Aneeta will be able to tell us what writing a knitting books entails - quite a lot of hard work as it happens - and talk us through how to move up a step in our knitting adventures.  We'll also be able to have a go at a bit of knitting ourselves with Aneeta offering expert advice on any knitty gritty challenges you may have.  Do bring along your own knitting project if you wish.  We'll also have some spare needles and yarn for those who want to have a go, but if you have some spare to share too that would be great. You'll be able to buy a signed copy of the book on the night too.

We're also playing host to Esther, a bright young woman who is participating in a Channel 4 documentary and wants to get a bit of practice in public speaking.  Esther is going to speak to us for five or ten minutes and about feminism and encouraging women into public life.  She'll be filmed during her talk and later you will be able to give some feedback if you wish.  Don't worry if you do not want to be filmed - that will be arranged in advance.

We're at our usual home - St Margaret's House, Old Ford Road E2 9PL, but don't forget - earlier time of 7pm for a 7.30pm start.  All women are welcome - if you are not a member, we invite a donation of £3 to cover costs.  Tea, coffee and cake available, or something a little stronger for a donation.  If you are an enthusiastic baker we'd love to taste any recipes you want to test on us.  We're always kind.  And if you don't fancy getting out the mixing bowl, any other refreshments gratefully received.  Just saying.

Our coffee morning on Friday 23rd will be at the Larder Cafe in Globe Road starting at 10.30.  We've been before and it's a good spot for a follow up trip to the Museum of Childhood or, erm, Prick Your Finger, the local yarn shop...

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