September - A new start?

To me, September 1st often feels more like a new start than January 1st.  I think it's probably because the UK school system conditions us to this, as the new school year starts in September.

I haven't had much motivation the last couple of months to be creative.  Left to my own devices I haven't worked on much.  I have kept my journal going and worked on ideas for a creative 6 week course at church.  But I need something to give me real impetus to make stuff.

So I've signed up for two online classes.

First Notice what you notice with Christine Chester.  I've done other classes with Christine so I'm really looking forward to seeing how this works with some of us on zoom and others in her studio.

Poetry of Decay (2016)

Secondly I've signed up for Hilary Beattie's Sketchbook Saturdays which sounds like fun.  I've also done classes with Hilary before.

Sense of Place (2018)

Plus there's a new theme Textile Explorations for the Art Textiles group at Littleheath Barn.  It will be great to do an in-person workshop at Littleheath Barn.

Wall hanging from the last group workshop

I feel there's some comfort in working with people I've worked with before.  I realise I need both the impetus for new plus the comfort from knowing the tutors.

What are you planning to do this term?

Thanks for joining me today
Bernice

Leicester

A week ago we went to Leicester to look at a new-to-me car.  After a test drive where we got lost - despite the copious directions the salesman had given us - we decided that I would buy the car.

We could have driven it home that afternoon but we didn't.  Instead we went into the centre of Leicester and had lunch at The Globe.  We were amazed to see how lovely the city centre is.  We had not expected it to be old.  The Lanes were lovely.

After lunch we went to the Richard III visitor centre.

Sadly the Cathedral was closed by the time we had done that so we didn't get to see inside.

We walked down to the river.  I rather liked this building's mix of old and new.

We walked through Castle Gardens past this imposing building.

Then back to the car and the drive home.

We went back to pick up the car this week.

Thanks for joining me today
Bernice

Photo Scavenger Hunt

As we are not meeting in August, the ladies in my photography group decided that we would use Mary-Lou's Summer Scavenger Hunt list for our theme from mid-July to mid-September.

The full scavenger list is available here.

When we went out last week for my birthday I took the list with me and with three taken at home this is how far I have got.

 
3 Something to Represent Home but not the building
This set of keys has my home front door key and the key for my 'home from home' friends' house in Florida.  It's on a key ring chosen by my daughter-in-law as one of the gifts from their wedding.

5 The Art of the Fold
This is part of a wall hanging I made many years ago

7 What's in Bloom
Plants in the border at the Botanical Gardens

8 Window Views
Looking through the window to a wedding dress fair

9 Something Older Than You
A boundary marker from 1852

11 The Shape of Round/Circular
A bench at the Botanical Gardens

12 Something That Is Cause For Celebration
My birthday!

 

 

17 An Exit
Leaving th Botanical Gardens

Thanks for joining me today
Bernice