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

Autumn Colour

This month's photography theme has been Autumn.  I took quite a few photos and here are the ones I like best.

I hope you found time to go outside during the Autumn.  And maybe you took some photos.

Thanks for joining me today
Bernice

Out and About

Some weeks I may only go out of the house to the hairdressers or church.  But this week I not only did those two things I also got out and about elsewhere.  

First I went to a Studio Day at Littleheath Barn Studio.  On these days each person takes their own pieces along to work on with the added benefit of being able to have input from Liske as well as the other attendees.

Do you remember these collages from last post?

 

 

Well, this is what they look like now after the time I spent at Littleheath.

I don't usually post photos of me.  However Liske took this for me as I need a photo of me working for some publicity for the Creative Textile Studio at Festival of Quilts next year.

On Wednesday I was invited to talk about my work at the Lichfield Textile and Stitch Group.  The ladies were most welcoming.   I put out all my work in themes - Florida, Venice, Canals and Others.  I left all my hangings rolled up and unrolled them one at a time as I talked about the process.

 

 

I also took sketchbooks and workbooks that support the textile pieces.

I explained some of the techniques I use including how to do breakdown printing and how to use a Thermofax screen.

At the end everyone was invited to come and look at my work.  I was very happy for the work to be touched.

I had a lovely time.  And I was very pleased that I didn't get held up driving home.

Thanks for joining me today.
Bernice