Saturday 24 March 2012

March meeting of the Malago maidens

Hello on this fine day, I do hope you're enjoying the sunshine.

Well, February's meeting was a hive of productivity. Fuelled only by cake, tea, and imagination, we really broke the back of the art trail crafting. With just 8 weeks to go until we open the Stormy Teacup Cafe, we now have a good supply of origami birds, beautiful embroidered canvases, wool-wrapped letters, and decoupage vases. If you did take your craft home to complete, don't forget to bring it back - either the March or April meetings would be good times to show off your wares. Thanks for all your hard work - we can't wait for you to see the caff in all its glory. Not long now...

Don't forget to let us know to add your name to the rota or if you're able to supply cakes or other foodie bits - drop us an email: wearemalagowi@gmail.com

And onto our March meeting. Back at the January 'Happiness' session, we talked a bit about ways to record the good things in your life, and the subject of blogging came up. We think this is a really interesting subject, and so we're dedicating the March meeting to the subject.

We've rounded up some of the south west's best bloggers to come and talk, chat-show style, in order to give us the low-down on blogging. It's a fascinating area but one that can seem overwhelming to a newbie, so our four panelists will demystify the world of blogs, talk a little about their motivations and what they gain from writing on the internet, and we can help out with any Malago members who are interested in beginning their own blogs.

Our four guest bloggers are:
Bethany - author of Bristol Craft
Josephine - self-styled Slummy Single Mummy
Laura - all the way from Cardiff, writes Side Street Style
Catherine - of Bristol Parenting Cafe

Do you read blogs? Which are your favourites? Bring along a list of any blogs you'd like to share with the rest of the group and we can begin our very own Blogroll!

See you on Wednesday,
MWI x

Tuesday 28 February 2012

February meeting :: Top secret art trail news

Hey Malago, still happy? Hope so. Our January meeting was a triumph - we hope it helped alleviate the gloom of January and that you are now spreading happiness everywhere you go, like the little sunbeams we know you are. Thanks to Liz of Happy City who helped us realise the important things in life after the excesses of Christmas, and thanks to the wonderful cake-bakers and tea-makers for all your efforts.

As part of the meeting, we introduced the concept for our Southbank Art Trail cafe, for which we will be a-making and a-crafting at February's meeting. So here's a little bit more to whet your appetite.

The Stormy Teacup cafe will be open on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 May, located in the house of one of our members. The cafe will be a sight to behold: delicious and unusual food and drink to buy and enjoy in a beautiful, darkly-decorated, cafe. Hopefully the sun will shine once again (as it did for our efforts in 2009), meaning both indoor and outdoor seating, both of which will look spectacular.

We will be asking for members to make and donate food, and to work in the cafe over the weekend. And we'll put together a working group to make more beautiful pieces for the show outside of our regular meetings. For more information or to volunteer for either or both, drop us an email: wearemalagowi@gmail.com

Meanwhile, we will make four different types of decorations during our February meeting. These are:
Origami birds in dark colours with a flash of colour
Canvases embroidered with tattoo designs, woodland creatures and cross-stitch messages
Decoupage tins and jars, to hold flowers, cutlery and candles
Wool covered letters, spelling out the name of our magical cafe

During the meeting you'll have a chance to try your hand at any of these crafts, and we'll provide instructions should you wish to take them home and carry on your crafting.

*MATERIALS REQUEST!*
We're on the look-out for the following:
:: Jam jars
:: Tins of all shapes and sizes
:: Dark coloured wool
:: Embroidery hoops
:: Plain canvases
:: Embroidery thread
:: Needles
:: Old cutlery
:: Fabric - dark colours (black, grey etc) or bright pink

If you have any of the above, please bring it along with you on the night.

See you on Wednesday 29 February, 8pm.

Over and out
MWI x

Tuesday 10 January 2012

Happy New Year!

Well, hello 2012, you're looking mighty fine!

We had such fun at our annual Ways With Wool meeting back in November, and loved the pompom wreaths we made. Check out Alice's awesome Flickr pics for a flavour of our last meet of the year.

Malago WI is open for business, so if you'd like to join us then come along to our January meeting with a cheque or cash for £31.50 and that coveted membership will be yours. Likewise, you can try us for size, so if you want to see what we're all about first then come as our guest.

January is typically a bluesy kind of month, but we're going to beat those blues with an inspiring talk from the cheeriest people in Bristol, Happy City.

Happy City exists to spread happiness. A small not-for-profit organisation, Happy City helps people and their communities to focus on happiness, and put their energy into the things that support and increase it. Maybe you’ve got a bright idea and need help making it happen? Perhaps you’ve got a little time to spare or some knowledge or experience to share? Come along to find out how we can work together to make our city and its inhabitants better, brighter and happier than ever before. It should make for an inspiring and exciting start to 2012. Plus, of course, we'll be breaking our diet to sample Malago's famous tea and cake - mail us to get your 'hour a year' covered off early by helping out with refreshments.

If you want to know what's coming up at Malago WI in 2012, head on over to our Programme page. And we've got a new Committee - check 'em out, MWI, they're doing it all for you.

See you next time - Wednesday 25 January, 8pm, Bedminster Methodist Church Hall.

Keep smiling!
MWI x

Tuesday 22 November 2011

Happy Birthday - we are three!

You don't look a day over two, Malago WI!

We had a fantastic birthday meeting in October, swishing and sweeting with all those beautiful clothes you brought and the amazing sweet jars filled with party bag sugar. Deliciosa!

And in amongst the high jinx, we even managed to conduct some very formal WI business, including saying a very fond farewell to our outgoing president, Karen Bowers, who has served with dedication, generosity, hard work and a whole lotta love. She is missed already.

Moira delivered our accounts with aplomb - apparently she presented Malago WI accounts to the official WI bods at head office, who were full of praise, saying they were some of the best accounts they'd seen. High praise indeed.

Incoming committee members for 2011-12 are as follows:
President - Marie Wilkinson
Vice president - Lottie Storey
Treasurer - Moira Broadway
Secretary - Yvonne Long
Members at large (covering programming, membership, fundraising, artistic direction and events) - Emma Squire, Nancy Horlick, Lindsay Brazington, Alice Hendy, Angie Last

So, onwards and upwards. November's meeting is our annual Ways with Wool extravaganza, and this year we will be making some rather spiffing pom pom crafts, including necklaces, wreaths and lampshades. We'll provide wreath frames and some equipment and yarn, but if you have your own stash - even an old woolly jumper that could be unravelled and reused - then bring it along. The more the merrier.

If you're able to bring a cake, then drop us a line to let us know. We're laying down fat for the winter, so expect hot tea and great hunks of gateau - we can always do with more of the latter, and we know you lot are a dab hand at the stove.

And don't forget - we're opening up membership for this meeting, the last before Christmas. So bring along your subs for 2012 - £31.50 - and tell your friends. Malago WI is open for business!

Tiddly om pom pom...

MWI x

Sunday 23 October 2011

Happy Birthday to us...

Many happy returns, Malago!

Can it really be 3 years ago that we held our very first meeting? Haven't we come a long way??

We had such fun at our September salsa, on that steamy evening in the Southbank Centre. Feels like a world away now that the nights have drawn in and we've got our thermals on.

October's meeting is going to be a corker, with celebrations a-plenty. Time to make sure those beautiful pre-loved clothes, shoes and accessories are clean and ready to go. Bring them along to Wednesday's meeting when we will swish the night away, with our swap, birthday cake, and sweet bar. The party will also be an opportunity to introduce the new committee and to vote in the new team.

Don't forget to bring hangers along with your swish items, and we'll see you on Wednesday - usual time, usual place.

We were thrilled to hear about a WI opera from 1969, 'Of the Brilliant and the Dark', which has been resurrected and will be performed as a one-off event at the Cube on 20 November. Check it out, sisters.

And membership for 2012 will be open from November's meeting onwards. Grab your place while you still can, for an annual fee of just £31.50.

MWI x