Shape Shift Words

Last weekend I went to Ledbury to Red Earth Arts Studio to do an unusual-for-me workshop.

At lunchtime I nipped out to see the exhibition in the Weaver's Gallery - the half timbered building on the left in the photo above.

In the morning Sara-Jane Arbury led us through several creative writing exercises.  After lunch Jeanette Mcculloch helped us experiment with text and different media.

Our first exercise was to write for 3 minutes starting with the word IF.  I wrote about my experience of getting to Ledbury that morning.

If only!  If only I
If only I had driven a different way.  If only I had taken notice of Google Maps and taken the M5 to the M50.  I'll go home that way.

I wanted to see the Malvern Hills in the sunshine.  I saw them.  I saw the Autumn leaves on the trees.  I saw lots of places in the middle of nowhere because a road was closed.  If only it had been open.

If I'd followed Google Maps I would not have had a problem.  I'll go home that way.

We did three other exercises based on a given word.  The final exercise was based on choosing a type of weather and writing from the point of view of the weather.  I chose the sun.

SUN
Here I come
Are you ready?
I've left the southern hemisphere
I'm on my way
Wake up you northerners
I'm here
Ready to warm you up

Do you see how strong I am?
I'm stronger than the wind.
The wind makes you clutch you coat and pull it tight.
My heat undresses you.

Layer upon layer removed.
You bathe in my light.
I can reach high temperatures.
You become unreasonably hot.
You hide in the shelter of shadows
While I bounce high into the sky.

I burn and bake
The land dries up.
Cracks appear
Drought comes
Plants and animals die
Wildfires burn

But still I shine
I burn and bake
Until the south calls my name

I sink below the horizon
And turn my eyes upon the southern hemisphere
Here I come
Are you ready?

I saw this as I walked through Ledbury.

Next time I'll show you the text I played with during the afternoon.

Thanks for joining me today
Bernice

National Michaelmas Daisy Collection

Last week we went to Ledbury because I wanted to see a textile exhibition by Textile Alumnae called Paths.  It's part of H.art - Herefordshire Art Week which is on this week.

On our way we visited the National Collection of Michaelmas Daisies at The Picton Garden.  We had visited the collection before but possibly 20 years ago and we don't remember the garden at all.  It was beautiful and we were there at just the right time.  Here are my photos.

I love Michaelmas Daisies but as you can see those weren't the things that particularly caught my eye.  It was enough to walk amongst the daisies some of which were shoulder high.

Thanks for stopping by,
Bernice