Creative Writing

At my church I facilitate a group for those who enjoy creative writing.  I set up the group at the beginning of Lockdown 1 on Zoom.   We have remained meeting on zoom most months.

Recently we had our second in-person get-together.  I set us the task of writing on either the theme of River or Lost and/or Found.

In my recent posts on travelling around Wiltshire you might remember I mentioned the problems I had with the satnav.  This inspired my 15 minute piece of writing.

LOST/FOUND 

The satnav screen showed an arrow ploughing through farmers’ fields. Running parallel to the A road the car was actually travelling on. Sometimes there was just a grid. Totally lost. Not knowing where I was. No signs. Just following the ribbon of tarmac in the fond hope I was travelling north and would eventually arrive at my destination. 

‘Turn left onto Friday Street.
Do a U-turn and continue on Friday Street.
Go South East on Friday Street.
Turn right and continue on Friday Street.’ 

The satnav’s voice seemed to get more anxious as it blurted out a stream of nonsensical instructions. At any moment I thought it was going to self-destruct. 

And just as it seemed on the verge of giving up, the voice calmly said:
‘At the roundabout take the second exit and stay on the A342.’ 

At last, the satnav had found its way. 

 

Thanks for joining me today
Bernice

The first of a series

You may remember the Nonet I wrote called Dancing in Fetters.  I also wrote recently about the zoom workshop I did with Julia Triston.

One of the exercises was to write words on a piece of paper and cut it up and reassemble it.

Instead of the textile I was going to make, I started a new piece by writing the whole of the Nonet on a piece of calico.  I used a thermofax screen I had made some years ago of chains that I had drawn.

I cut this fabric into squares and reassembled it using the sewing machine.  The letters show up more as letters than marks as in the original paper collage.

I printed out various sizes of a treble clef, stave and music notes to see whether this was what I wanted on my hanging.

I settled on a size and drew it out on Stitch 'n' Tear.

I straight stitched the stave on the machine and tore off the tissue.  I hand stitched the treble clef.  I then satin stitched on the machine over the top of the straight stitch.

I drew the music notes on bondaweb befor ironing it onto fabric.  I cut out the notes and ironed them onto the hanging.

I used calico to make the binding.

I had some fabric in my stash that was a perfect match for this piece as it looks like bass clefs.

So, Dancing in Fetters 1 is finished.   Now on to Dancing in Fetters 2.

Thanks for joining me today.
Bernice

Last day in Wiltshire

On my last day in Wiltshire I had promised myself a visit to Caen Hill Locks on the Kennet & Avon Canal.  The satnav had another meltdown whereby the map on the dashboard screen showed the arrow (my car) to be driving through farmers' fields and not on the A road that I was on.  Despite this I managed to get to Devizes and eventually saw a sign for the Locks.

This was my first view as I walked from the car park.  At this point I made the (in hindsight) mad decision to walk the whole flight of locks.  Locks 22 to 50.  This point was lock 42.

And without checking the distance!

I walked downhill all the way to lock 22 spotting a heron on the way.

It was quite a cold day when I started out but then the sun came out and I got quite hot due to all the layers I was wearing.  But it was worth it to see all the locks.  I've been wanting to visit for at least 10 years.

It took me 2 hours to walk the 4.4 miles.  I was quite tired - to put it mildly.

I started my journey towards the Midlands with a slight detour to Adlestrop to take a photo of the station sign.  There's no longer a station there but the sign has been preserved.

This was because I have loved the poem Adlestrop by Edward Thomas since I was a child.

Then on to my final visit - Chastleton House.

Sadly I didn't take a photo of the front of the house.  This is the back.

Back to the car and the final miles back home.

Now for some stats:
4 days, 3 nights,
317 miles of driving
276 photographs
3 lunches with 3 different friends
one 4.4 mile walk
3 National Trust properties
2 hotels
and one very tired me when I got back.

However it was well worth it.

Now back to the textiles!

Thanks for joining me today
Bernice