Scrapbooking

🎨🍷 Trade spreadsheets for paintbrushes. Join us for an after-work Sip & Paint evening near Bank / London Bridge — a relaxed social night with music, drinks, guided painting, and good company. No experience needed. Just bring yourself, grab a drink, and unwind with a canvas in hand. 📍 Near Bank / London Bridge 🕖 Thursday \| 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM ✨ What’s included: * All art materials provided * Selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages * Selection of light snacks * Good vibes + music * A painting to take home Perfect for: 👩‍💼 after-work socials 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 meeting new people 🎉 socialising Price: £20 per person 🎟 Limited spaces available

Hi everyone! Welcome to the West London Niche Non Fiction Book Club, so excited you're here! Join us at the The Drapers Arms in Ealing on Thursday 28th May to grab a glass or cup of something and chat about the book! (And don't worry if you run out of time to finish the book by then; there's lots to chat about even if you haven't quite finished. But please make sure you've read most of it so we can have a good discussion.) If we reach 10 people attending which is the max Meetup allows and you've not yet signed up but are keen to come, please do still come to the meetup as we usually get some drop outs. Feel free to send me a quick note to let me know you're coming and I look forward to seeing you there! Feel free to use free or paid-for digital copies of the book - no need to buy a paper copy if you prefer digital. If you do like paper copies and are in Ealing, Oxfam Books on The Green (W5 5DA) is wonderful and may have copies so do pop along there if you can :)

**Welcome to StitchUp** – a welcoming social group that embraces individuals of all skill levels, providing a shared space for crafting in a social setting. **Bring your current project**, whether it's knitting, quilting, embroidery, or any other textile craft. Work on your project or piece while having a chat with us. Some people knit, some people mend or just join the conversations. If you are starting new, I’m sure we can give you tips, but generally this is not a class or workshop and you will have to bring your own materials. Also keep in mind that we sometimes don't have a table, so something that requires table space might be difficult to do. **Background** – StitchUp began among friends with a shared love for textile crafts, evolving into a thriving group with regular meetups. Unfortunately, the group faced a decline during the COVID-19 pandemic but we would now like to revive these regular meetings in a social, in-person setting.

**NATURE GETAWAY IN OLD PLOVDIV AND THE VALLEY OF ROSES** **28th May to 1st June 2026** Repeat trip due to popular demand! Explore the history-rich sites of the 6th oldest city in the world, Plovdiv, (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/galleries/The-worlds-20-oldest-cities/1old-plovdiv/) visit Bulgaria’s enticing valley of roses with its acclaimed Rose Festival and discover the secrets of the age-old tradition of rose oil production. **OLD PLOVDIV – A JOURNEY TO ANTIQUITY** Plovdiv is one of the most ancient cities in the world with signs of habitation dating as far back as the 6th millennium BC. The Old Town of Plovdiv is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s small, quiet and picturesque and a real gem for culture and history lovers! **Fascinating highlights:** **The world’s most aromatic rose oil today comes from Bulgaria.** **‣ The highest percentage of rose attar in the world is obtained from the Valley of Roses, Bulgaria** **‣ The Bulgarian “attar” of roses is an important component in the perfume business throughout the world.** **‣ Rosa Damascena is the name of the oil-yielding rose, which made Bulgaria famous for the production of the best rose oil in the world. Damascus, Rosa Damascena Mill was brought to Bulgarian lands during the 17th century.** **‣ Plovdiv is the World’s 6th most ancient city and European cultural capital for 2019.** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtH_TAXUf80 The festival itself takes place every year on the first Saturday of June. It originates in the Rose Valley and runs across the near by towns of Karlovo, Kalofer, and Kazanlak. The area is breathtaking when the famous Bulgarian rose blossoms in May/June exuding its enticing fragrance. 3,5 tons of rose petals go into the making of one kilogram of rose oil, which costs as much as gold. **Join this extraordinary experience in Bulgaria, take part in the authentic rose-picking ritual and gain insights into the rose-distillation process. In addition to the authentic rose gathering ritual, the festival offers a small beauty-pageant of a kind, where the most beautiful girl amongst the rose-pickers is crowned Queen Rose.** But that’s not all! There are even more celebratory events taking place during the festival weekend, such as choir a cappella, folklore concerts, art shows, exhibitions, wine-tastings and much more! **Dates 28th May to 1st June 2026** **Itinerary:** Day 1 Arrival in Sofia Meeting and greeting with your local host. Transfer to Plovdiv, hotel check-in Dinner with the group Day 2 Breakfast. Walking tour in the Old town of Plovdiv. Lunch near Plovdiv Roman stadium. Dinner with the group Day 3 Breakfast. Departure to Rose festival - a day full of impressions. Transfer to Plovdiv in the evening Day 4 Breakfast. Lunch and wine tasting experience Free time for shopping, sightseeing in Plovdiv. Day 5 Breakfast Departure to Sofia and full day in the city centre Last impressions and a private transfer to Sofia airport for an late afternoon flight. **What is included:** **4 nights in a 4-star central hotel in Plovdiv** **4 breakfasts** **2 Guided walking tours** **One day trip to Rose Valley Festival** **Rose picking ritual** **Entrance fee to Old Plovdiv Revival house** **Degustation of rose products: rose jam, rose liquor** **Wine tasting experience and appetisers** **Transfers from/to the airports in Bulgaria** **Social event with the group, before flying to Bulgaria** **Tour leader** **Compliance with Travel Package Regulations and financial protection 2018** What is not included: Flights: London- Sofia Personal expenses; Travel insurance. **The price for this trip: £580 in a twin/double room share.** **Single supplement: £ 80** To secure your place £150 (non-refundable deposit) info@travelinvision.com or 0740 3358828 for further details.

Join us for Pink Ink - our LGBTQ+ creative writing support group! Pink Ink offers a safe writing space to all LGBTQ+ people to come together to write, share and discuss work. Each workshops will offer up 2-3 creatives writing exercises in a a fun sociable setting - refreshments, snacks and an opportunity to chat about writing, poetry, authors and a whole lot more! Our January workshops will also include a poetry exercise which will support any creative writers looking to enter the LGBT Swichboard [Poetry Competition ](https://switchboard.lgbt/switchboard-news-poetry-comp/) Every 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month 7-9pm 86 Caladonian Rd

Let's sketch Alexandra Palace! Bit of a schlep to the outskirts of town this one but totally worth it for the views of the city and the utterly stunning venue that is Ally Pally! Meet outside the main entrance in the car park. Nearest Train Station: Alexandra Palace Completely free of charge, no need to sign up, bring a friend! Feel free to drop in for the whole two hours or just short while if you'd prefer. Look for the tall ginger fella sketching away as the central meetup spot, but feel free to roam as far and wide as you like and sketch anything you damn well please! Please bring your own sketchbooks and pens/pencils. The plan will be to meet at 1pm, sketch for a couple of hours and meet back and chat at 3pm. There is a lovely foyer in the middle where we can grab a coffee afterwards, hopefully the weather is good! \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- About Sketchbook London Every week we will choose a location around the magnificent city of London and draw people, buildings, pigeons, bins, anything you want.... No payment, no pressure, no need to sign up, just show up and draw for a couple of hours. All levels, abilities and professions welcome, bring a friend! Zero pressure to interact, network, impress in any way, this is just a way to get out and about and appreciate the joy of urban sketching and all the weird and wonderful creatures that inhabit this thriving metropolis. I am a storyboard artist working in animation and I am happy to discuss sketching techniques or give feedback on any work but this is by no means an exclusive event for artists, all are welcome :)

Basic Ideas: 🌞 📚☕ Any books sitting there collecting dust? Some holiday gifts? Or it’s a book that has changed your life that you want to share? Feel free to bring book(s) to discuss or swap, we usually have more books than people in the end, so feel free to pop along just to have a chat as well. Aiming for every 4 weeks book swap meetup. Note: The event is free to attend, so the only cost for you will only be buying a drink at the location, so coffee/tea/beer etc.

**\*FREE FOR MEMBERS, JOIN WHEN YOU ARRIVE!\*** Come and join us at the **Living Room Club Glengal Groove** on Fridays between 1 p.m. and 3 pm to upcycle second-hand clothes. We gather for creative transformation and upcycling of second-hand clothing items and materials to sell in our cafe. The income from this project supports our Homeless Project in Soho. For further information, please contact Neide on 07585560345

Hi all If you are interested in joining an Ottolenghi potluck, look no further! Join us for an afternoon of delicious food and great company 🍷🍴 I’ve created a separate event page for our meetup - you will need to RSVP and pay to confirm on here: [Link to event page](https://partiful.com/e/WSOtSPiPVJuzT6KKr8UD?c=R0YXGgJv)

Welcome mums to be to our weekly Present in my Pregnancy Gathering. This is a space where we pause, appreciate and remember to enjoy our pregnancy journeys together. **First up - Mum & Baby Time** * Journaling * Memory recording What to bring - a journal or phone for writing, a sketchbook or phone for recording memories (I use canva) **Second Up - Helping Each Other** * Discovery swaps - sharing ideas and tips What to bring - nothing **Third Up - Time Out** * Sharing Circle - listening to each other * Craft Activity - open craft for relaxation eg knitting, sewing, colouring, drawing * One Intention What to bring - everything you need for your craft I’m really excited to meet you and for this space to open up. I need it so much and hope we can support each other to make it happen 🙏🏽🤰🏾🩷. Why is this a paid event? The truth is Meet Up charge a hefty fee for setting up a group. I hope the fee is low enough to not stop anyone coming but also enough to cover the monthly organisation cost of running this lovely space. Thank you for your support 🙏🏽. Option to pay by PayPal as well.

Join us for our monthly series where **Offline Women Explore the Royal Parks**, visiting one of the eight different royal parks each month. The fourth walk in this series will be through **Greenwich Park.** This is a dedicated, phone-free, quiet space where you can disconnect from digital distractions and reconnect with nature and each other. It is a simple way to enjoy the park and engage in real conversation. We will have plenty of time to talk, share stories, and get to know one another without any digital interruptions. Leave the event feeling energized and refreshed, with a heart full of good conversation and the peaceful feeling of a walk spent in great company. Follow us on [WhatsApp](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbCZyvCD38CTaXBpQ72V) to get early tickets for our upcoming events.

**Let’s kick off our very first CBUS Maker Meetup!** Whether you are looking to carve out dedicated creative time, wanting to get a lingering project across the finish line, or just looking to chat with fellow local makers—this is the space for you. 🧵 **What to Bring** Bring any art or craft project you are currently working on, as long as it is portable and quiet. Think: * **Yarn & Thread:** Knitting, crochet, embroidery, cross-stitch, hand-sewing, mending. * **Paper & Sketching:** Sketchbooks, adult coloring books, watercolors, bullet journaling. * **Digital:** Tablets, iPad drawing, laptop writing/design. * *Please note: Because we are meeting in a shared public space, no power tools, sewing machines, or high-odor materials (like strong solvents or spray glues), please!* **📍 Where to Find Us** * We will be meeting at **Columbus Metropolitan Library - Karl Road Branch** in **Meeting Room 1**. Room is reserved under **CBUS Maker Meetup.** **⏱️ Timeline** * **1:00 PM:** Arrive, grab a seat, get settled, and do a quick round of introductions so we can see what everyone is working on. * **1:15 PM - 3:00 PM:** Open maker time! Chat, craft, relax, and swap creative ideas. **⚠️ A Note on RSVPs** Space for this first meetup is strictly limited to 10 spots. If your plans change and you can no longer attend, please update your RSVP to "Not Going" as soon as possible so someone on the waitlist can grab your spot. We ask that you try to give at least 48 hours' notice if you need to cancel. *** **We can't wait to meet you and see what you're making! All skill levels welcome.**

The theme for May is Thriller. • The book we will be discussing is A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson. (determined by votes from April Book Club. Let me know if you'd like a free digital copy of the book) • This event will be at the main library. Feel free to come whether or not you've started or finished the book. • Small snacks will be provided. You're welcome to bring your own snacks & drinks too! Let me know if you’d like to volunteer to bring snacks or drinks for the group.

**Get your creative flow going with a Sunday Afternoon Maker Meetup!** Whether you are looking to carve out dedicated creative time, wanting to get a lingering project across the finish line, or just looking to chat with fellow local makers—this is the space for you. 🧵 **What to Bring** Bring any art or craft project you are currently working on, as long as it is portable and quiet. Think: * **Yarn & Thread:** Knitting, crochet, embroidery, cross-stitch, hand-sewing, mending. * **Paper & Sketching:** Sketchbooks, adult coloring books, watercolors, bullet journaling. * **Digital:** Tablets, iPad drawing, laptop writing/design. * *Please note: Because we are meeting in a shared public space, no power tools, sewing machines, or high-odor materials (like strong solvents or spray glues), please!* **📍 Where to Find Us** * We will be meeting at **Columbus Metropolitan Library - Martin Luther King Branch** in **Meeting Room 1**. Room is reserved under **CBUS Maker Meetup.** **⏱️ Timeline** * **1:00 PM:** Arrive, grab a seat, get settled, and do a quick round of introductions so we can see what everyone is working on. * **1:15 PM - 3:00 PM:** Open maker time! Chat, craft, relax, and swap creative ideas. **⚠️ A Note on RSVPs** Space for this first meetup is strictly limited to 10 spots. If your plans change and you can no longer attend, please update your RSVP to "Not Going" as soon as possible so someone on the waitlist can grab your spot. We ask that you try to give at least 48 hours' notice if you need to cancel. *** **We can't wait to meet you and see what you're making! All skill levels welcome.**

Big Ohio Book Con "A convention for book lovers all over Ohio (and beyond)! Author panels, signings, bookish vendors, meet & greets, and more!" Featuring more than 100 authors, more than 50 bookish vendors, and plenty of exciting activities throughout the event! Travel with fellow book lovers or meet us at the event. Park for free at the Medina Convention Center, 735 Lafayette Rd., Medina, Ohio 44256, then hop aboard one of the free shuttles whenever you’re ready for your next bookish adventure! The convention spans three neighboring locations, giving you even more to explore and enjoy.

Let’s meet and wander the galleries! General admission on Sundays is free.

Welcome, readers! Our May read is **_Kindred_ by Octavia E. Butler.** The story follows Dana, a Black woman living in 1976 California, who is suddenly pulled back to a Maryland plantation before the Civil War. She learns her survival is tied to a white slaveholder’s son. Forced to move between centuries, she must endure the brutal realities of slavery while fighting to hold on to her identity. Tense, intimate, and unforgettable, Kindred explores how the past refuses to stay buried. Looking forward to discussing with everyone! We will meet at Zaftig Brewing Co in their event room in the back. We are welcome to bring in our own food, but **drinks must be purchased at the bar.** Happy reading! 📖

Join us this Pride season to paint your own pride on rocks, paper, canvas, and yes- we are bringing back the bricks! Come create and paint with us. Seats and supplies limited! Come while you can for as long as you like! Westerville Public Library Meeting Room D.