Art, cakes and DIY

Dear Malago WI

How are you keeping? Well, I hope, despite the unseasonable chill. For those who weren't at April's meeting, we hope you'll notice an improvement in our diction from here on in. Selina from InterCre8 did us proud - we learnt trick after well-enunciated trick designed to get our vocal cords waggling like never before, and I doubt I'll ever forget our little library mime. A triumph.

But it wasn't all fun and bumping into each other - there was the serious business of resolution votes to contend with too. The results are now in and I can reveal that, although a very close-run contest, the Megafarms resolution just pipped Libraries to the post. More on campaigns later in the year.

Coming up next month, we have Jo Behari, DIY expert extraordinaire, who will give us the lowdown on easy ways to Do It Ourselves and fix those annoying little jobs about the house. Hooray. Membership has hit record levels, and we are now freezing membership - this means May's meeting will be members only. No guests for the time being, but we will be sure to let you know when membership is open again.

And don't forget: this weekend is the Southbank Bristol Arts Trail, when wondrous arty delights await you in homes and other locations across Southville and beyond. Malago WI will be selling cakes and creating children's crafts at the Tobacco Factory market on Sunday, 10am-2.30pm. Pop by and say hello!

*Last minute call - is anyone a dab hand at face painting? If you could spare two hours to paint faces at our stall, please contact us ASAP (wearemalagowi@gmail.com). Thanks *

That's all for the time being. All together now: Mo Mah Meee Mah Malagooooooo....

MWI x

Spring is in the air...

Malago Mondrians, Monets and Matisses!

The Southbank Art Trail is nearly upon us, and we are beavering away at our Learning To Love You More assignments, which will be displayed at 84 Greville Road on 9 and 10 May, alongside the Marmalade Cafe.

MALAGO WI NEEDS YOU!

Without donations - of artwork or cakes or time or all three - from Malago WI members, we won't have a show. So please help us, it's a fine cause as you all know, and we have high hopes it will prove to be a successful fundraising and awareness-raising exercise which all goes to making MWI bigger and better.

Alice has done battle with Adobe Illustrator and come out victorious, with two beautiful posters for you to download for your window here in pink or here in grey

Marmalade Cafe

We know there are some very adept cake-makers out there as we've experienced at our meetings so far. Please, if you can spare the time and ingredients to make something, anything, large or small, for us to sell in the cafe we'd really appreciate it.

Or, if your skills lie in tea-making or waitressing, we need you too! If you can spare time (between 11-5, even an hour will do) or cake or creativity, let us know by emailing jointhewi@gmail.com or talk to Lottie at Wednesday's meeting.

Learning To Love You More

The assignments may appear a little daunting to the uninitiated, but fear not - they are designed to be completed by everyone, regardless of artistic experience. Here, we have picked out a couple of examples that we think we might attempt, and we hope might tickle your fancy too:

14. Write your life story in less than a day

27. Take a picture of the sun

35. Ask your family to describe what you do

39. Take a picture of your parents kissing

50. Take a flash photo under your bed

55. Photograph a significant outfit

63. Make an encouraging banner

If you're stuck indoors with nothing to do, have a pop at one of the above. And don't forget to bring it along to Wednesday's meeting!

Talking of which, Wednesday's double-header features urban self sufficiency from one half of Bristol's own Good Life duo, Dave Hamilton, and a talk from Kath Kelly, best-selling author of ‘How I Lived a Year on Just a Pound a Day’. See you on Wednesday 29 April at 8pm.

And if you haven't already seen it on the website, we've drafted an environmental policy to set out Malago WI's aspirations in terms of minimising our impact on the environment. Take a look here, and leave a comment if you feel inclined.

Coming up

May’s meeting is all about campaigning. Learn about the WI’s impressive history in campaigning (Keep Britain Tidy being one of the most famous) and how we can get involved both locally and nationally. Is there something that you would like to change, perhaps we can channel our collective voice and energy into doing something about it? This year’s national resolution is ‘SOS for honey bees’ which, if passed, aims to address the declining honey bee population. Find out more about it, listen to our speaker Ivor Davis, a master beekeeper and ex president of the British Beekeepers’ Association and cast your vote.

A bientot

Malago WI x