Scrapbooking

Taking inspiration from the exhibition at the V&A Photography Centre we will embark on a street and environmental photography workshop. Photographers currently on display are Elliott Erwitt, Robert Mapplethorpe, Dorothea Lange, Edward Weston and the controversial Sally Mann amongst other giants. Come and learn a little history of the photographers and be surprised at who shot some well known music album covers! Afterwards we will head out and shoot street and environmental photography around South Kensington. EQUIPMENT * Any camera * Any lens * An open mind and fun attitude! TRANSPORT As usual check the TFL website for any disruptions that may delay your journey on the day. CONTACT Alex 07956 264049 **UPCOMING EVENTS** **VENICE PHOTOGRAPHY WEEKEND - Oct 2026** **[https://www.meetup.com/londonphotographic/events/313109100/](https://www.meetup.com/londonphotographic/events/313109100/)** **UPCOMING EVENTS** **[www.meetup.com/londonphotographic/events](https://www.meetup.com/londonphotographic/events)** Cover photo ©Elliott Erwitt

Step away from the online ads and join Offline Women Going Thrifting. Modern shopping is often fast and wasteful, so we are heading out to find a better way. Thrifting is an act of resistance against a system that wants us to keep buying new things. Every item we buy second-hand is one less thing in a landfill, thousands of liters of water saved and supports a charity at the same time. In Charity Shops we can find pieces that were made to last, high-quality fabrics and timeless styles that haven't been dictated by an algorithm. We will meet outside the **Octavia Foundation** in Pimlico (where fashion insiders go), just a few minutes from Victoria Station. We will tuck away our devices before exploring the cluster of around eight charity shops nearby. Please bring a reusable bag and your best eye for hidden gems. Come as you are and leave with unique finds and a lighter footprint on the earth. P.S. Thank you, Angie, for suggesting this wonderful idea. Follow us on [WhatsApp](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbCZyvCD38CTaXBpQ72V) to get early tickets for our upcoming events.

Do you have spare books lying around your home? Do you want to read new interesting books for free while socializing with interesting people? This is the event for you. We will enjoy nice drinks and snacks together at a beautiful lounge bar in London. You can bring your books and exchange them with whoever has the books you want to read. Since this is a Science and Philosophy book club, it would be great for you to bring non-fiction books that are insightful and thought-provoking. If you want to bring fiction books that are scientifically or philosophically insightful, feel free to bring those as well. Since it is a social event, I encourage everyone to make deep meaningful conversations and make new friends. You can come alone or bring your friends with you. If you come alone, there is no need to be shy or scared. I will welcome you and introduce you to cool interesting people to speak with. Also feel free to come even if you forget to bring any books.

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/make-a-roman-blind-95](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/make-a-roman-blind-95) ⋆⋆⋆ Suitable for beginners. Enjoyable for everyone. One-day workshop. 10am – 5pm. Drawn to the look of fashionable roman blinds but not sure how to make them yourself? Then this one day workshop is for you. From measuring the window to fixing it to the wall, experienced tutor, Ian McQueen will guide you through the tools and techniques for making bespoke and accurately fitting blinds for any room in your house. During the day, you will master the art of producing a fabulous window treatment. You will make a sample blind using a 75cm x 1-metre drop piece of fabric. We keep our workshops very small for this discipline as you will need room to spread out when you are measuring and sewing so we aren’t able to make larger samples. You can take your professional handiwork home with pride. You will learn what to buy when shopping for cords and rings and how to select a suitable fabric to bring perfection and privacy to your decor. The Goodlife Centre has a varied selection of quality fabrics for you to use.

Picture - Public domain Meet by Edith Cavell memorial statue on St Martin's Place, close to the church of St Martin in the Fields @ 11-11.10 - closest stations Charing X and Leicester Sq. Fee £15 **Pay on the day and RSVP me please by email - on this page - or text** So many paintings so little time! But we'll do our best and i'll be covering periods from the Renaissance to the Impressionists and a host of amazing ones in between. There are some wonderful art galleries in London but to me this is and has always been at the top of the list. This will be a great way to discover a bit more about some of the greatest artists and what made them tick. Host Blue Badge guide Laurence 07889 298573

Do you feel called to slow down and truly listen to your inner knowing? Are you searching for clarity, guidance, or a deeper connection to your intuition and subconscious self? The Light in the Dark Oracle cards are designed to work with you and the daily cycles of nature―dawn, day, dusk, and night―each offering its unique magic, wisdom, and transformation. Draw from the suit that mirrors the time of day for an in-the-moment reflection, or journey through the full deck as a deeper guide to help you navigate life’s cycles with intention and trust. Created by artist and tarot reader Lucia Dami, this beautifully illustrated oracle deck channels the rhythms of the sky and the cyclic intelligence of nature. Each of the four suits represents a phase of your journey: · Dawn―The Suit of Beginning: Awakening, possibilities, and new paths waiting to unfold · Day―The Suit of Action: Confidence, purpose, and creation · Dusk―The Suit of Reflection: Surrender, integration, and the wisdom of experience · Night―The Suit of Mystery: Intuition, shadow work, rest, and unseen magic Inspired by archetypes, elemental energies, shadow work, and the divine feminine, these cards act as mirrors guiding you back to your spirit and self.

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/gardening-in-small-spaces-container-gardening-7/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/gardening-in-small-spaces-container-gardening-7/) ⋆⋆⋆ Perfect for beginners. ‘Purple thumbs’ are welcome. For everyone who wishes to learn about plants but doesn’t want to set off on a full-time training course Your space may be a balcony, a tiny front yard, a windy terrace or a dim space in front of a basement window. Do you want to start growing plants but don’t know how? Are you mystified why plants hate you? If you want to begin gardening, you may not know where to start, these sessions with professional gardener Jane Rogers, will instil confidence and drip-feed you with enough knowledge to watch your green fingers grow. This half-day workshop is designed to demystify the reasons that your plants don’t thrive and how to choose the best plants for your type of space. As Jane explains the selection process for your type of terrain, you will construct a flowerpot with individually mixed soil and a seasonal selection of plants to take home. Dig into the wonderful world of gardening – we offer advice and tips for busy people who don’t have a lot of time to care for their new green friends. Jane Rogers is a busy professional gardener and has led many workshops including long and short courses at Kew Gardens, London.

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 - thank you card * One Intention What to bring - stickers, gems and anything to decorate a card. Card and coloured pens provided. 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.

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/hand-caning-furniture-96/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/hand-caning-furniture-96/) **⋆⋆⋆** **Also known as Hand, Strand or Hole-to-Hole Caning.** KEY PROJECT: HAND CANED WOOD FRAME. Suitable for beginners. Enjoyable for all. One-day weekend workshop. 10am – 5pm. Ever seen a great chair in a junk shop but noticed that the caning that spans the seat is sadly coming away at the edges? Sometimes a chair that had been caned has had an unsightly slab of plywood tacked onto the broken seat. This is an opportunity to increase your upholstery know-how and bring a ‘once pretty’ seat up to scratch. Now you will be able to snap up a bargain and re-cane the seat yourself. The task is not as daunting as you think and can be done easily in a domestic setting with no specialist equipment- unless a washing-up bowl and some golf tees could be defined as such. This is a very old traditional craft, sometimes known as hand, strand or hole-to-hole caning. Specialist split cane is woven from side to side and fixed in place. During the one-day workshop, upholstery expert Netty Erw will inspire confidence while guiding you through the stages of intertwining the fine split canes. At the end of the day, you will have completed a square panel of traditional caning to take home with pride. The skills learnt during the day will enable you to embark on your own project at home. Netty has learned her skills from her clever aunt Rachael South, who in turn learned from her grandfather. We are thrilled to share in this generation's cascade of talent. All use of tools and materials supplied. We have a cane to buy after the course if you want to get started as soon as you get home. Beginners welcome. No previous experience in upholstery is required. If your chair is wobbly or scuffed – or even repainted, you can come to our ‘[Intro to Furniture Restoration](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/furniture-restoration-wood-revival/)‘ day course and learn how to make it look loved and valued again.

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/diy-in-a-day-drills-349/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/diy-in-a-day-drills-349/) **⋆⋆⋆** Learn the basics at this fast-paced but relaxed one-day workshop. A perfect starter for all those annoying jobs around the house that you feel you should be able to tackle…if only you knew how. We know it’s frustrating to wait for it to be done and then get charged for it and we understand it can be a bit daunting to head into a wall with a power drill. Pick up the skills to hang curtains, blinds, and simple shelves on any wall. Learn to drill into wood, brick, tiles, or hollow walls with confidence. We will show you how to judge what is behind the walls before you drill. An enjoyable ‘ hands-on’ one-day workshop that covers many of the common aspects of basic DIY. If you have just bought your home and have realized it didn’t include a landlord to fix stuff, or just don’t want to rely on someone else, this day is for you. There is plenty of time to practice on several exercises over the day. The workshop also covers hanging pictures and heavier objects like mirrors, cupboards, and flat-screen TVs. You will learn how to hang a hook, fix a baton, and then a pair of level shelf brackets. Finish off the day learning how to fit shelves into awkward alcoves – a handy skill you can use to fit work surfaces too. Learn how to select the correct drill bit, wall fixing, and screw to secure things confidently. The day will also include a chance to fill small and medium holes in wood and walls to prepare your surfaces for painting. Along the way, we show you how to remove old wall fixings and what to do with the ones you can’t. This a fun fast day with plenty of tools to try and lots of advice on which tools to have in a basic toolkit. If you are thinking of upgrading your drill, you can test all of the ones we use and feel more knowledgeable about what you want to buy. This course is especially suitable if you are not handy or if you are able, but not that confident, about tackling small but important tasks in your home. We will also suggest how to tell if a task is appropriate for DIY or GSI (Get Someone In). You will take home a set of skills that will last a lifetime. All tools and materials included. Perfect for beginners.

It is soon to be that time of year again! Whether you are an ardent royalist or just want to let out your inner paparazzi, this royal parade is the ideal event for you to practice crowd and action shots. The parade goes from the Palace to Horseguard's Parade then back again giving you two chances to shoot the procession. It is followed by the fly-past watched by the King from the Palace balcony. We will be meeting **EARLY** to have the best chance of getting a place to shoot at the front of the parade. While we are waiting we can photograph people and preparations before it all starts. SUPPORT * Help with camera settings will be provided if needed EQUIPMENT * Any camera including smartphones * 18-55, 24-70mm lens for parade shots * 200-300mm lens for balcony shots (if you have one) * Fully charged battery TRAVEL * Check TFL website for any delays that will affect your journey CONTACT * Alex 07956264049 **UPCOMING EVENTS** **VENICE PHOTOGRAPHY WEEKEND - Oct 2026** **[www.meetup.com/londonphotographic/events/313109100/](https://www.meetup.com/londonphotographic/events/313109100/)** **MONTHLY EVENTS** **[www.meetup.com/londonphotographic/events](https://www.meetup.com/londonphotographic/events)**

**Join us for an afternoon of community art and craft time!** 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 - Hilltop Branch** in **Meeting Room 4**. 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** The RSVP count for this event 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. Please try to give at least 48 hours' notice if you need to cancel, allowing folks on the waitlist time to check their schedule. *** **We can't wait to meet you and see what you're making! All skill levels welcome.**

**Our June novel is: *The Eights* by Joanna Miller** **This month’s novel is set during World War I. It’s a 20th-century historical fiction story about friendship and war, with coming-of-age elements and a slightly haunted tone. The book is 384 pages in print and 10 hours and 9 minutes on audiobook.** Oxford, 1920. For the first time in its one-thousand-year history, Oxford University officially admits female students. Burning with dreams of equality, four young women move into neighboring rooms in Corridor 8. Beatrice, Dora, Marianne, and Otto—collectively known as The Eights—come from all walks of life, each driven by their own motives, each holding tight to their secrets, and are thrown into an unlikely, unshakable friendship. Dora was never meant to go to university, but, after losing both her brother and her fiancé on the battlefield, has arrived in their place. Politically-minded Beatrice, daughter of a famous suffragette, sees Oxford as a chance to make her own way - and some friends her own age. Otto was a nurse during the war but is excited to return to her socialite lifestyle in Oxford where she hopes to find distraction from the memories that haunt her. And finally Marianne, the quiet, clever daughter of a village pastor, who has a shocking secret she must hide from everyone, even her new friends, if she is to succeed. Among the historic spires, and in the long shadow of the Great War, the four women must navigate and support one another in a turbulent world in which misogyny is rife, influenza is still a threat, and the ghosts of the Great War don’t always remain dead.

**$45 chose your own design**

Welcome, readers! Our June read is ***Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible*** ***Voyage*** **by Alfred Lansing.** A work of nonfiction, and one of the most astonishing survival stories in history, we follow Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew after their ship is crushed by Antarctic ice. Stranded in one of the harshest environments on Earth, the men endure months of isolation, freezing temperatures, and near starvation—yet refuse to give up hope. Lansing brings their ordeal to life through vivid detail and firsthand accounts, capturing both the brutality of nature and the resilience of the human spirit. At its core, the story is a powerful testament to leadership, perseverance, and the unbreakable will to survive against impossible odds. 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 **all** **drinks must be purchased at the bar.** Happy reading! 📖

Grab a drink or some food and get to know each other. This is our first event and we can take it slow. I’d love to meet everyone and hear if there’s anything you like to get out of the group. Looking forward to meeting you all!

Join us for our June Book Club gathering where we will come together to discuss [The Queer Principles of Kit Webb](https://catsebastian.com/the-queer-principles-of-kit-webb/) by Cat Sebastian in a safe and welcoming environment. Make new friends who share your passion for books and connect with fellow LGBTQ book enthusiasts.

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