Textile Graffiti for International Women's day 2012

Wowee...

The afternoon of March 7th our planned action day was incredibly blustery, and i personally got blown off a pavement and soaked! I was anxious that the event would be a wash out, but karma was on our side, and the evening dried up and was mild enough that we could get cracking with our Textile Graffiti.

Every year since the Stoke Newington WI was formed, there has been some kind of action around Albion parade to celebrate International women's day. It began with giant knitting and the "Yarn-bombing" of one of the trees in Albion Parade. Last year's Pom Pom's even made it into the guardian, having been spotted by the journalist Suzanne Moore as she passed by on a bus!

This year had a more "fabric" themed action, so we renamed it "Textile Graffiti" Our February meeting was spent making over 35 fabric and upcycled plastic rings. And we also made 20 Suffragette Rosettes.

On March 7th, armed with a couple of ladders, and lots of enthusiasm, we strung up one of the trees on albion parade with our suffragette coloured rings.

Not only was there tree decorating, but we marked the occasion with some Suffragette songs too!

Thanks to all the lovely ladies that came along on the night, and thanks also to the ladies at february's meeting for put together all the fabulous wreaths and rosettes.

We were lucky enough to have 2 ladies visit from other North London WI groups. Amy from N1WI who kindly took all of these lovely pics, and Yvette from the very new Stroud Green WI group

Here's the Textile Graffiti Gang!

March is international Women's month- Here's how we can get involved

It's March, and it's international women's month. What does that mean for us 21st century women? We've got the vote, most of us are free to pursue the careers we choose, and marry whom we like. 

I recently met with Victoria, a representative from the charity Women for Refugee Women. It's a very small charity based out of Tindlemanor which is a fabulous and unique "women only" building that houses many female organisations. I was struck by how little I knew about the life of refugee women in the UK. I had always assumed that our welfare state would take care of them. After chatting with Victoria I was filled with how my life couldn't stay the same if I was "transplanted" from the UK to another county with no finances, no local language skills, and no access to family or support. All the things I take for granted as an educated middle class woman, would be meaningless. Without speaking the local language, I could no longer work in the industry in which I have extensive education and training. Essentially I'd become a different version of the woman I am here in London.

Here's a little about the charity, and how we as local WI members can help out

Women for Refugee Women challenges the injustices experienced by women who seek asylum in the UK. They work to empower women who have sought sanctuary here to speak out about their own experiences to the media, to policy-makers and at public events. They are particularly concerned about women fleeing gender-related persecution, such as rape, forced marriage, honour crimes, threats of female genital mutilation, and trafficking for forced prostitution. Many women who have fled such experiences are turned down for asylum on arriving here. If women are refused asylum they face destitution and detention in the UK, and deportation back to places where they feel they would be in danger.  They aim to give a voice to women who are all too often unheard and unseen.

Women for Refugee Women support the group Women Asylum Seekers Together (WAST) London. The WAST London meetings provide a safe welcoming space where these women can share their experiences, and find strength and solidarity in one another. Weekly English classes, advice sessions and lunch are provided to the group at Tindlemanor in Old Street. WAST London also meet on a Saturday each month.

They are currently looking for creative women who are happy to volunteer to share their arts and crafts experience with the group. If you are interested in meeting members of the inspiring WAST London over some sewing and knitting this spring just let us on the Stokey WI Committe know by  e mailing on stokenewingtonwi@gmail.com

Here's a couple of other things you can do during international Women's month-

3 March: Million Women rise march

8 March: On the Bridge march, Women for Women International

9-11 March: Women of the World Festival (WOW)

Love your libraries campaign day sept 16th

Last friday September 16th was the WI birthday campaign " Love your Libraries"
To mark the occasion, a small crack team of stokey wi ladies landed at the Stoke Newington Library armed with our library cards and some unique "Love Your Libraries" Bunting...

Here are 3 of the Stoke Newington WI ladies checking out books today as part of The "Love Your Libraries" campaign

Our Lovely "Love Your Libraries" bunting made as a group on monday at a local pub. This bunting will soon be displayed inside the Stoke Newington Library

The Love Your Libraries Bunting was created in a bar with a selection of fabrics and threads brought along by our members

Our Lovely secretary Georgie outside the library with our group's bunting

Thankfully for all Hackney Wi members, hackney council are not cutting any library services and are committed to provide an excellent service to all hackney residents. They have provided us with the most up to date news about the hackney library service below


Hackney Libraries

10 key facts and figures for Hackney residents


1. Hackney Council is keeping all eight of its libraries open and has a budget of around £8.1m in 2011/12 for its library and archives service.

2. As part of this budget, there will be no front line cuts to the services the Council provides to residents.

3. Hackney Council has been investing in libraries to provide a first class service for the people of Hackney.

4. Councillor Jonathan McShane, Cabinet Member for Community Services said: “I’m delighted to be able to announce that Hackney Council is keeping all its eight libraries open. We will also continue to offer some of the longest library opening hours in the country. We are committed to investing and improving the service which is why we have agreed a budget of around £8.1 million this year.

5. The Council is committed to improving the service and soon every library will have Wifi and more reference materials available online. The Council is also looking into the provision of out of hours book drops at libraries.

6. In the last year, for the first time ever, there have been more than 1.5 million visits to Hackney's libraries, and membership is increasing too.

7. Dalston C.L.R. James Library and Archives will be one of the largest in the UK to open in 2011, and the first to be built in Hackney for over 20 years.

8. Clapton Library has been refurbished offering customers a modern comfortable environment within a superb listed building.

9. Woodberry Down library is an excellent example of a community run library. Already twenty eight volunteers have found work, several of them with the council’s library service.

10. Not only can you borrow books, DVDs and CDs from your local Hackney library, you can use a PC or study, search for jobs, develop your skills and find information about a myriad of subjects – and all free.

Love Your Library!

What a cosy and productive evening we had in The Londesborough last night! All the ladies were exercising their sewing prowess with slip stitches and chain stitches a go go! Thanks to CL and all her amazing yarns, fabrics, templates and top tips! We created a wonderful string of bunting with the words 'Love Your Library' to adorn Stoke Newington Library on Stoke Newington Church Street this Friday. We signed a petition and all filled in postcards to send to the government in a bid to save our local libraries. If you would like to sign the petition please follow this link. http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/1269

Here is more information from the NFWI.

Carry your library card with pride!
At the heart of the campaign is the belief that libraries are essential resources that are too important to risk losing. That's why we're calling on every member that cares about public libraries to take the simple first step of joining your local library and getting to know your local librarians.

Sign the petition!
Before the last election, the Prime minister, David Cameron MP said he planned to introduce a scheme whereby any petition that raised 100,000 signatures would trigger a debate in the House of Commons. The NFWI wants to call on the PM to honour this commitment and we'd like to see every member sign our petition with their family and friends to demonstrate just how much the WI really values our libraries.

Write to your councillors Individuals and WI groups can make an impact. Please use the information in the campaign briefing,  to write to your local councillor highlighting the Love Your Library campaign, and expressing the importance of libraries to your local community.

Do remember to localise your letter - if you know that libraries are under threat then please do incorporate this information, and any feedback from members about the impact service reductions would have on them

Our tree has blossomed!

The tree we decorated in celebration of International Women's Day is awash with the most glorious pink blossom, and nestling between the blossom are our celebratory pom poms! It looks so positive and beautiful!