Last week at Crunch (Creative Lunch) we got to work on an extra-special project that we hope you’ll all get to see in person soon - a new ‘welcome’ mosaic. And this week we grouted it.

It’s going to be installed at our new gate into the community garden, but for now we’re just very proud to show it off here. Thanks Crunchers (led by Lee - our resident mosaic expert).

Hi everyone,

It was nice to finish off last week with a Halloween-themed Community Lunch and our AAA Arts group also got into the spirit of things!

Just a reminder that we won’t be open this Monday and Tuesday due to the Cup Weekend public holiday. We hope you’re all enjoying the long weekend as much as we are!

We’ll be back to business as usual on Wednesday. On the radar this week we have:

• Line Dancing on Wednesday morning from 10am-12pm down at Alphington Scout Hall

• Armchair Theatre in the afternoon from 1-3pm (if you’re feeling a little exhausted by the morning’s exercise)

• Or, if you’re in need of a good stretch, Community Yoga will be on in the evening from 5.30-6.30pm

• Book Clubs are running three times this week, on both Wednesday and Thursday evening from 7.30-9pm, and Thursday morning as well from 10-11.30am.

• We have another great Crunch planned for you this Thursday, starting at 12.30pm

• And, of course, we can’t wait to see everyone at Community Lunch on Friday at 12pm, and hope you’ll come along in the morning for gardening outside or craft and chats inside.

Unfortunately, AAA Bowls won’t be running this week as the Alphington Bowls Club has another event on, but we’ll see you there bright-eyed and bushy-tailed next Wednesday!

See you soon!

Cheers Leanne

Alphington Open Studio Weekends are back! For the last two weekends of November, we will be one of a number of locations around Alphington showcasing some fantastic artists from our community.

We are very excited to feature works from Fiona Currie, Francesca McNamara, Sharon West and Jane Haussegger, and for the workshop Clare Mannion will be running on 29th and 30th of November!

We’ve just got in the new brochures for this event, so pop by soon to pick one up and find out all the details (including a handy map of where you can find all the artists). Come show your support!

A date for your diary.

It’s that time of year again… the weather is warming up, the magpies have nearly finished swooping, and our very creative community are working hard to provide another classic Christmas Makers Market. This year it will be on Saturday the 22nd of November from 11am - 2pm.

We’ll have a whole lot of great stalls selling things by talented locals, including the CWA, and our own jams and preserves, a sausage sizzle (obviously) and fun Christmassy kids’ activities.

Get in some early Christmas shopping and enjoy the (hopefully) lovely weather, and catch up with friends in the local community!

We had a great night on Thursday with Alphington Arts. Elise Coughlin led a workshop on landscape painting - giving us lots of tips … and then we all had a crack!

As usual it is amazing to see how everyone approaches things differently. Everyone went home with the start of something … and I am sure with fresh eyes tomorrow and an hour or two more of painting they will evolve into masterpieces! Here are a few of the works in progress.

Super right? Thanks Elise. I think everyone learnt a lot!