Buns & Roses WI

"If I had a Hammer" - March Workshop - Bricklaying

Sunday, 16 March 2014 § 0

Bricklaying is probably one of our more unconventional workshops and probably not one that you would imagine as a typical WI activity, but our ladies and honoury gentleman (yes men are allowed at our workshops although not at our meetings) had a great time learning this classic skill.

We learned all about how to measure if our mortar and bricks were at the right height.

We then learnt how to manipulate the mortar and "butter" a brick (not much different to putting butter cream on a cake!)

It's very important to make sure that your wall is level and we used a spirit level to check.

Some intense concentration on brick laying!

Some of our ladies looking very proud with their excellent walls!

The end of the workshop culminated in judging of each walls on how level they were, number of bricks laid, finish (had it been pointed well) and how accurate the spacing was by laying a flat surface along the edge of the wall and seeing if it touched every brick.

And so who was the winner? It was our honoury gent who received the brief moment of glory to hold the "Golden Trowel"

For more information and for a great place to learn bricklaying and a number of other DIY skills, please visit Build Skills Academy

February Meeting - Dr Bones

Wednesday, 12 March 2014 § 0

For February’s meeting we were joined by the lovely Dr Janet Fletcher, an osteoarcheologist at Sheffield University who is a specialist in neonatal and perinatal remains.

Janet treated the group to a fascinating talk about the Chapel Wood Ritual Landscape site. Janet even let the group get up close and personal with some human remains including two skulls!

The Roses were then taken through some of the basics of identifying individuals from their bones as well as teaching us about the site as a whole. Overall, it was a good evening for all.

February Workshop - Dr Hook

Sunday, 9 February 2014 § 0

The February Workshop ‘Dr Hook’ quickly descended into Croaky Crochet, with Helen losing her voice, but this was not to put a dampener on the evening.

After receiving there hooks and yarn the fabulous Victoria and Trish worked the room masterfully supporting and guiding everybody regardless of starting level.

As the beginners were getting to grips with their hooks and starting to chain stich the advanced students started developing the use different patterns to make some beautiful squares.

At the end of the night everybody had learned a little something, with complains of hurting heads and fingers following the intense concentration and work. People left the Cosmo with a big smile and a little crochet to take home.

A big well done to everybody who came, and a huge thanks to our lovely volunteers for donating their time and skill to give something back to Buns & Roses.

If you think you might like to volunteer to help out or lead a workshop, please email or talk to us at any point.

January Meeting - Always Look on the Bright Side of Life (Coach)

Sunday, 26 January 2014 § 0

It was a packed room of Roses who assembled for the first meeting of the year, membership subs were gathered in, committee members introduced themselves and what they do. Plans for the WI Centenary Baton’s Trip round West Yorkshire along with the yarnbombing plan for the Regional HQ were revealed – before a trip to the bar to refresh the glass and then it was on to the topic of the evening – Courageous Conversations.

Led by Tilla Brook a Lifecoach with many years of experience in enabling people to reach their full potential, we looked at the conversations we avoid, why we avoid them and what we can do to have them successfully.

We looked at how conversations may feel more risky than they actually physically are and strategies for dealing with this, what ways we can have those kind of conversations eg by using non judgemental language, by writing the points we want to make down so we don’t forget what we want to say but also perhaps most importantly of all how if we want it to be a conversation as opposed to a one way discourse then we need to listen and respond appropriately too.

It was an engaging and thought provoking start to the year J

December meeting - Christmas De Burgh

Monday, 23 December 2013 § 0

The room at the Cosmopolitan was bedecked with flickering fairy lights, there were sweets on every table, an enticing buffet stacked with crisps, mini pork pies, mini cornish pasties, dips, cocktail sausages, peanuts, mince pies, chocolate log, and all manner of home made festive loveliness from our members including chocolate dipped marshmellows, ginger cookies, a very intense chocolately rockie road type confection, mincemeat chelsea buns - it's making me salivate as I try and remember all the loveliness on offer. Suffice to say there was loads and all of it was delicious.

Once the business part of the meeting was done with it was on with the cheesy xmas songs, sampling the delights of the buffet, chatting and the making of suffolk puffs with festive fabric. There was enough buffet for us to take a plate of treaty goodness to the staff on duty at the Cosmopolitan to say thank you too.

A big thank you to all our members, guests, speakers, workshop leaders who have helped make 2013 such a success - and here's to 2014.

Details of all our meetings and workshops can be found at www.bunsandroses.co.uk and looking forward to seeing you at a meeting or workshop soon.

November meeting - Wishing Wellness

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For our November meeting the Roses were joined by Marianna from Women’s Health Matters who spoke to the group about the charities work with women across the city. From working with asylum seekers to those affected by domestic violence, as well as offering support for teenage mums and giving sexual health advice the charity works to improve the lives of many of Leeds’ women.

Marianna then spoke to the group about a variety of sexual health issues including how to conduct a breast exam and chatted about cervical screening. The Roses then had a chance to have a go and see if they could detect the lumps in Marianna’s fake breasts!

The Roses Horror Show: Annual fundraiser

Wednesday, 11 December 2013 § 0

This year our annual fundraiser had a rather goulish theme with the Roses descending on Toast for the Halloween themed Roses Horror show.

The Roses not only raised a lot of money for the group with ticket fees and a fab raffle (the prizes were great it has to be said) but there was also a cake competition – which was one not by a Buns & Roses but by a man! Dobo took away the well deserved prize for his fantastic cookie monster cakes which the judges say not only taste great but looked amazing too.

While the best dress prize went to Steve for his fab murdered husband look and Becky who wore an impressive homemade spider’s web hat.

Stay tuned for news on next year’s party!