Category Archives: Monthly meeting

Amazing they were!

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Alison Rockett certainly amazed us with the ease with which Acholi beads could be made.  Members rapidly learned how to use cocktail sticks, long triangular pieces of colourful scrap paper and clear nail varnish to make unique beads.  You can the results below and even more pictures on Twitter WomenoftheWI

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MHWI members rolling and varnishing their own Acholi beads from colourful scrap paper

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Alison is prepared with scraps of paper (left) and glitter, tiny beads, etc (right)

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Samples of the finished Acholi bead items sold locally by Alison Rockett

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Small scraps of paper which are rolled to make the beads

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Sample necklace using larger Acholi beads. Card is used and these beads are usually made by the men as greater strength is needed

Alison also told members how she became involved with the Ugandan Acholi people when she taught out there in an international school.  The Acholi tribespeople experienced racisim and struggled to make a living by digging small pits for stone to make gravel: also one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.  With intervention by various parties, the opportunity to make and sell beads for exporting has enabled women not only to feed their families, but also to pay for education for their children.  Her intermediary in Uganda is Josephine at Acholi Bead Craft – pictures below give more details.

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Amazing Acholi beads – have a go

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Acholi beads

Acholi beads

Alison Rockett will be showing us this beautiful technique of making jewellery made from paper and her work with Ugandan women.  Join us on Wednesday 28 October at 7.30 pm at the Congregational Church Hall.

100 Tips booklet out now

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Have you picked up your copy yet?  At just 50p, this collection of members’ tips and favourite recipes is something that just has to find a space on your kitchen bookshelf.  I’ve already successfully tried out the tip on using baby wipes to remove gloss paint.  I used some all purpose wipes that I had in my bag to moisten and remove paint from newly painted, chrome door hinges.

Remember to pick up your copy at October’s meeting.

Happy 4th birthday MHWI!

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Packed hall for our 4th Annual Meeting

Packed hall for our 4th Annual Meeting

We celebrated our 4th birthday yesterday at our Annual Meeting.  A full hall, a homemade raffle, Dutch supper and Beetle Drive, all created a happy, fun evening; people just having a good time.

Clare Farquhar, set the scene, describing her ‘incredible year’ as President.  Her vision

for members of ‘unlocking doors and achieving our full potential’ has certainly been achieved with amazing results: the diverse range of visiting speakers at monthly meetings, a craft evening arranged at  a moment’s notice when the speaker

Clare Farquhar, President and the Delicious Dutch Supper

Clare Farquhar, President and the Delicious Dutch Supper

pulled out on the day, local and national social events (notably 2 wine and gin distillery visits (!?) and the WI Centenary AGM in London), our first ever float winning the Market Harborough Carnival (thanks again to Gemma for her design input),Tea and Tents (yellow bricks knitted by members will shortly be part of a travelling display in Cambridge and then archived for all times sake), hearing Frances Quinn speak about the background to winning ‘Bake Off,’ and the county wide acclaim for the touring ‘Raising Agents’ show that performed for us (thanks to Fiona Thompson for organising this event).

 

Laura and Vicky - designers of our Top Tips booklet

Laura and Vicky – designers of our Top Tips booklet

Big thanks went to Laura and Vicky for their help in organising and designing our Centenary Top Tips booklet as part of our Centenary celebrations.  Similarly, thanks to outgoing Committee members Fiona Thompson, Lynda Meadows, Claire Salisbury and Chela Grainge for all their help.  Welcome to Isabel Aldrich and Yvonne Conroy who are stepping up.

 

Some of the homemade raffle prizes

Some of the homemade raffle prizes

Enjoying the Beetle Drive

Enjoying the Beetle Drive

Reminders for Wednesday’s monthly meeting

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It’s the Annual Meeting at 7.30 pm in the Congregational Church, Bowden Lane.  There’ll also be some games and don’t forget to bring some nibbles to share for our Dutch supper.  Bring a bottle and glasses if you want to share a drink.

Homemade raffle – remember to bring something you have made (or someone else has).  Everyone will get a prize this month!

‘Bob Ross’ painting technique demonstrated

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Jayne Good with her painting created using the 'Bob Ross' wet on wet oil technique

Jayne Good with her painting created using the ‘Bob Ross’ wet on wet oil technique

Anyone can paint!  That was the message on Wednesday this week when artist, Jayne Good, expertly demonstrated a very effective, wet-on-wet oil technique.  A landscape picture was gradually built up within the hour and raffled at the end (pictured above).  Jayne’s witty commentary was humorously interjected with demonstrations of techniques that included ‘flicky over,’ ‘curly whorly,’ and ‘whacking.’

Jayne also explained how she had tried working in various mediums, including water colour, coming across the Bob Ross technique unintentionally on a birthday treat painting day.  She enjoyed it so much she became a Bob Ross instructor, now teaching a range of workshops and undertaking regular work with people who have had strokes or are experiencing mental health problems.  More examples of Jaynes’ work are below:

Jayne Good-w500-h500 (4) Jayne Good-w500-h500 (3) Jayne Good-w500-h500 (2)

Inspiration for budding artists

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Tomorrow evening, Broughton Astley artist, Jayne Good, will be painting and creating another masterpiece using many techniques.   She specialises in a wet on oil technique which you can check out on this U tube link.  She will be selling off the painting at the end of the evening.  This may inspire some artists amongst us!

See you at the Congregational Church Hall, Bowden Lane at 7.30 pm.

What will be your handmade raffle prize?

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Our September monthly meeting raffle will be tombola style.  Each member is asked to bring something along that is ‘homemade’.  You can make it or someone else can.  It can be anything, eg cake, jam, craft.  Just let your imagination run!  All donations will be numbered and everyone will go home with a homemade prize.  It all follows our President’s theme of caring and sharing.