It is October already and with most of our family birthdays celebrated we now look forward to the end of the year and more excitement with a family road trip to the Tankwa Karoo and some spare time on our hands. 

Many students have been caught up in the Jewish holidays which start with Rosh Hashanah and end with Simchat Torah with many visits to schul, some fasting and the enjoyment of delicious food and good company. 

Classes have been rather random with the holidays taking precedence of course. It seems that we will restart at the end of October and finish the 2024 sessions at the end of November. I've compiled some new classes with the view to re-look at creativity and boost letterform. Through 2024 most of us have consistently worked in A4 watercolour books to keep pace with the lessons presented. I encourage students to be brave and work directly into the workbook with just a few trials for colour and letter size before commencing with the work. While it can be daunting, the spontaneity of the piece outweighs deliberate working out. And of course, if all else fails, another piece can simply be pasted over the unwanted or unliked piece. 

For me, working directly into the book removes the serious 'faffery' of over-worked art. I read that delightful word in a blog written by Lucy of Attic24. It describes the many times a person faffs around without achieving much. So I 'pinched' the word with many thanks and much admiration. Lucy is a wonderfully creative crochet designer, photographer and many-sock knitter. Bright and colourful, she is such an inspiration. 

Stationery and art materials are not only essential to my 'well being' they are part of my life and I enjoy browsing for new papers and materials. I have found some beautiful 'Have-to-Haves' from Etchr at the ArtSavingsClub store which I've known for a long time online and they now have a store in Linden. An Aladdin's Cave of delights for creative people of all calibres and disciplines. My latest choices are a tin of A6 watercolour postcards and an A6 concertina watercolour book beautifully bound. Cannot wait to work on them.  These will make wonderful gifts for the right people. 

With November around the corner and new projects in the making I created this Lest we Forget piece for the 11 November which I shall post then. New projects to keep students interested are always a challenge and I really enjoy stretching myself to make lessons interesting and creative, especially at the end of the year. 

And in between all that I have been reading some fascinating books in the past week or so: Tidelands by Patricia Gregory is an historical novel (Book 1 of a trilogy) with interesting historical details (Roundhead times in England) and great descriptive writing. Little Stories of your Life by Laura Pashby where the author encourages the reader to become more aware of the finer details of everyday life and to 'make notes' and record beautiful moments. And to end off winter: Nature Tales for Winter Nights edited by Nancy Campbell. Short stories and commentaries about winter. Some intriguing, others charming.

As October ends we still haven't heard the Piet-my-Vrou who usually greets me on by birthday in early October. I suppose the weather patterns have wrecked his flight path, or perhaps Piet doesn't need a 'Vrou' at the moment?

Here's to your happy place, whatever or wherever it may be...

Anne-Marie

 It seems that if one is not a 'serious blogger' life interferes with any creative blogging that might be on the computer.

Thursdays seem to have become the day of Calligraphy and we continue that tradition to keep us constant and focussed. I shall create moments of creative calligraphy insights with other bits and pieces in between.

Coming to the end of a year of more calligraphy I have split the final sessions into 2 week modules to keep students interested and creative.

Small Book Gems

These are concertina books, folded paper books, flag books, in fact anything which creates a book-like structure which can be read as a book. 

My grandchildren love books which can be opened like a concertina and used for imaginative play and colouring in. In fact the colouring in was fortuitous as I had made three little 'hole-y' books as small gifts when I visited them leaving no time for me to colour. Good omission as everyone was happy to use crayons and kokis to make the pull-out exciting. Of course these are ideal cards for gifts too AND quick and easy to make. Add a pretty paper cover and some ribbon and there you have a complete card (which costs much less than any card in a store).

Twirls & Swirls. Remaking Marks. 

Ever since my father read from Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories and especially How the Alphabet was Made, I have been fascinated by letter shapes and forms. In this 2 session course we explore various tools and sticks to create a background for shapes and letter forms. A loose and creative way to place strokes in a more formal manner to create a personal alphabet. 

Holidays in the Air.

Always fun to create cards and book marks for friends using strips of paper, colour and collage.

Again use up paper left over from a larger project. Experiment with brush lettering. Use colour. 
In other words, just have a little fun.

Perhaps ask a friend what her favourite quote is and write it out. Use various techniques.

Enjoy the tips and ideas. 

Till next time.

Remember there are no mistakes in your creative endeavours. 

Anne-Marie

Another Test Post

 Hello there (this is a test)

Another lovely morning filled with ideas and delightful chuckles.

What I got out of our chat:

1. We meet twice a month (generally at my studio or Zoom if easier for you).
2. First session: Friday 21 July. 9h45. Refreshments available.
3. A-M to start the 'editing' process using Microsoft tracker
4. SLM to pull July '22 to July 23 off the computer (or was that A-MM? (Please confirm). We will then merge the documents and proceed with adding chapters etc
5. We may find that the chapter headings open to us during this process
6. We should aim to have 2 retreats in 2024 (if I haven't 'popped' by then: 1 Dullstroom, the other perhaps Emoyeni?
7. A-M to restart/setup Blog. Perhaps DH could access that too (or not) in future?
8. Thanks for the book which as you will have seen is paid for and which I shall start this afternoon. I feel like being 'Gothic' today in the light of my 'considerably diminished hearing' and scrape down the side of my car.
9. Suggestion: that you join online Creative Calligraphy online from Thursday 3 August to Thursday 31 August. 17h30 - 19h00. (my Rosh Hashanah gift to you - or something).

I will communicate with you before I leave. Have a good meal with your mother.

As always. thank you.

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Prompts & Notes-A weekly Write

 I have so enjoyed the Natalie Goldberg workshops I attended in May and June and met some great people during the reading and writing sessions. Since then we formed a group: Writing Around the World and meet every Wednesday evening SA time and various other times as the group comprises people from around the world-France, SA, US and Canada so we have a wonderful and eclectic group of people.

Because (in a way) it is 'my' group I get to host the one hour sessions more often than not which was initially quote daunting, but (obviously) becomes easier the more often I do it. The session is an hour long and the 'host' generally has a quote and 2 prompts for each session with writing ideas for the week.

We don't discuss much, but do sit quietly for about 5minutes before we start the writing and then the 'host' leads the session keeping pace and time. So far it works extremely well and we all enjoy a quick 'hello' before we move into writing. What I do find is that the writing time stimulates my own writing and I really enjoy the variety and silent times.

Here is an example of tonight's session:

9 June Session:

Quote: Winter Solitude: In a world of one colour, the sound of the wind. Basho

Writing prompts:

10 minutes

1) A broken window

15 minutes:

2) The last autumn leaf on the tree

Writing prompts for the week:

1) A storm in a forest

2) A concert

3) A shooting star

4) Yellow lemons in a blue bowl

Quote: 'Each moment is a place you’ve never been’. Mark Strand

Take care all. It is very cold in SA at the moment (0 degrees early morning and night. COLD in the day). I hope you are all enjoying your summer.

By all means use the prompts and enjoy the quiet time. 

Looking to the Mountains

 It's been a day of reminiscing and remembering travels to Kashmir due to the fact that I have embarked on a journey to learn and write Sanskrit. 

I have a wonderful Sanskrit teacher who has been attempting to teach me to read and write in Sanskrit for a while. Gillian has a gift for teaching. She encourages, repeats and encourages again and I simply enjoy every moment of the time spent in lessons.

When we were visiting Leh in Kashmir we came upon some intriguing Gompas (monasteries) where we observed monks and participated in pujas and became immersed in the local culture. Such a privilege to experience the cracking silence of the Himalayas and the vast and never-ending icy crags. 

From the Bhagavad Gita

Carved stones in Kashmir

I am also working on poems for a journal of photographs which a woman has compiled over the past few years. We use her images as inspiration and it is another great initiative brought about by the pandemic. It is a wonderful creative initiative and I am in the process of working though some short poems, prose to describe some images. The photographs are taken along the Ou Kaapse Weg in Cape Town and are very beautiful.

Here are a few pieces written so far: 

So many blessings in the golden light of dawn.

Rainy day puddles dance differently in early morning light. No footprints to fill.

In the meantime I continue to work on calligraphy and Sanskrit and writing with a group from around the world every Wednesday evening. So satisfying as we are all so different in cultures and writing techniques. 

Just a little book, some palettes of paint a brush and a pen

Time to be Aware

 I don't know where I've been over the past years, but obviously very absent from this blog. 

I haven't been lolling in bed in a haze of 'not wanting to do anything'. In fact I've been extremely busy being busy. Teaching and staying at home mostly because of the COVID-19 pandemic but I think that too has become my excuse for not 'going out' as I used to. 

I've kept a diary, done many courses and created a calligraphy piece a day for over a year. Written poetry, gained 2 new grandchildren and quite frankly simply enjoyed my new contained studio space upstairs.

My visual diary has over 400 calligraphy pieces in it and I have written a few poems and prose pieces which I have worked on from time to time. 

A walk along the sea shore

I also started a correspondence with my friend Paddy in the deepest days of the first Lockdown which kept both of us sane over a few weeks and I need to relook at the writing to see if it worth keeping, or whether it was just something to do' in a crazy world. 

I still continue writing with prompts and with a friend. This time Sam. She and I Zoom almost weekly to chat about a writing group we've joined and how our personal writing continues as well as books to read. So we are busy and focussed. 

I'm also writing words for a project which a young girl has managed the past year. Photographs taken from a similar spot for two years. She's requested that various authors and poets write about the images. Which is a beautiful way to write - from images not words.

Now that I have re-discovered this page. I shall certainly keep it going. 

Time and Creativity

There is never 'no time' to add a colour or quote to a creative page. Sitting chatting to a friend [not face to face] but at home is a great way to 'doodle' a design. While you wait to have coffee with a friend, take out your note pad and scribble.

Just as many people I know have nut and sweet bowls scattered around the house, I have several 'creative stations'. One next to my bed, another in the studio, one more on my mother's desk and another in the computer room.

My absolute essential tools are: pencils, anything from HB to 4B, pencil crayons: GOOD pencil crayons, Karisma and Derwent are just two of my favorite colour pencil crayons sets. Black fine-liners and fountain pens I find are useful for out lining and creating lines on which to write, curl and flourish. At some of the 'creative stations' I have scissors, glue and beautiful scraps of paper, fabric and even felt. Watercolours also beckon, especially in my studio. I also have several rolls of pens, pencils and colors which I can pop into my handbag with a small notebook in case I need to write or draw a quick figure or highlight a colour. I discovered wonderful pen rolls at my local art store and I bought a number which had nasty paint brushes which are good for mixing colours and some even for glue. I turf out the brushes I don't need and use the rolls for my own bits creative bits and pieces.

My two granddaughters have no trouble finding paper, scissors and colour to create a card or simple concertina book. They simply gather up what they need, sit down and make.

So I really have no excuse for adding a quote or line to my creative diary. Why not set up your creative stations as soon as possible, you will find them much more useful than nuts and raisins. In fact they will become your essential 'nuts and raisin' necessity and help you become creative in both writing and drawing.

Happy creating.

A few 'nuts & raisins' for the girls

Creative Journals

Every year I create a journal/diary which is important for me to make notes on creative thoughts, ideas, colours, words and so on.

This year I was given a ready-made journal by my friend Sam who is also a writing partner. So instead of creating backgrounds with pages that need binding I had an 'almost complete' book.

The exciting thing is that now I don't have to do the 'heavy' work and simply need to create designs, add ideas and of course write.

I use many prompts for the 'muse to descend'. Oracle cards, poetry, Pinterest [of course] together with walks, found articles from nature and anything else that will help me start creating.

 Front Cover - altered to fit in with my personal likes

 Adding lines, writing and colour to the background

Some of the materials I use: watercolours, pencil crayons, prompt cards

These are the first few pages of this 2013 diary. I hope you start one too.

Authors and Book Signings

It is always a joy to meet authors, especially when they are South African and there is some connection however tenuous.

I have read and enjoyed Marguerite Poland's books for many years and when possible try to be at her book signings and talks.

Her newest book, 'Taken Captive by Birds' is a 'coffee table' book filled with reminisces of her childhood which includes tales of Port Elizabeth. With fine detailed drawings by Greg Ivor, the book is a delight of evocative memories which could be sentimental but are not.

She has also written several children's stories and adult novels. One of them 'The Boy in You', is about boys at St Andrew's College Grahamstown, the school that David went to. So you can see the connection developing.

While I was chatting to her during the book signing (David had me buy one for each child and one for ourselves - for Christmas, of course) she told me that for one miserable term she went to St Andrew's School in Bedfordview, the same school my sister and I went to. So now you can see we are nearly related.

A few years ago Marguerite wrote her doctorate on the Nguni herds and co-authored a book based on the subject 'The Abundant Herds: A Celebration of the Nguni Cattle of the Zulu People'. (Another 'coffee table' book and certainly worth owning).

I am reading 'Recessional for Grace' which is a riveting and rewarding read.I t allows insights into a world past and enjoyment of lyrical writing.

I enjoy following an author's progress. Marguerite Poland's stories allow the reader to delve into their own South African heritage and dredge up times of childhood and memories that should not be forgotten.

It's a treat to read such an author and a South African one at that.

Kaleidoscope

Writing is an exciting past time, especially when a writing partner is part of the journey.

My friend Sam and I write together over mail and occasional writing workshops.We share books, quotes and blogs. Writing sites, poems and mentors.

At the moment we are reading 'radical' stories of women mystics like Hildegaard and Julian of Norwich. Sam gave me the new Mary Sharatt novel Illuminations, which is historically accurate, well written and - dare I say this - illuminating.

Mixed into this pot-puorrie of stories are some tarot cards, David Whytte and of course John O'Donahue. To make our path more exciting we have drawings, meditations and rote learning to add spice to our work. All to open up our 'mystical' side, which in the modern world of iPhones and iPads is often well hidden.

Our time together is precious and we hold each other together through e-mail, an occasional coffee and even more occasional call.

This Saturday we work together with Dorian on a collage of intent. I look forward to the quiet and to seeing what we produce.

No doubt our journey will be long with a few lush oasis stops as a reward along the way which will be re-created in a kaleidoscope of words and images.

Writing is what I have been doing over the past few months. Working through the GerSmarter distance learning has been a fascinating experience. However, I find critiquing and' chatting' to strangers in the course of the weeks very stressful.

Peer-crits are sometimes not-thought-through, become personal and are at times invalid. While I do not expect glowing reports each module I do expect and appreciate considered remarks and suggestions.

To counter the participants remarks my tutor, author Mike Nicol was exceptional in his dealing with the writers and their submissions. Clear-thinking and considerate he was a fine editor/tutor. So much so that he has structured a master class for 2013 for which I have been accepted.

Here is part of the brief so far:

Just so you know what you’re facing, we’ve based the manuscript length on 300 words a day, seven days a week. Now that might sound daunting but once you’re into the routine it should be easy to manage – okay, not easy but at least doable. At that rate you’re looking at 2000 words a week, or 8000 words a month. You do the arithmetic: seven months down the line you’re at almost 60000 words.

Now doesn't that sound like a great new year challenge?

In the meantime study the following image and imagine it is the first time you have seen a baobab. Describe your impressions. How did you get there, what was the weather like, why were you there?

Till next time.

Writing Courses

I signed up for a writing course in May and have been writing, reading and researching ever since. I love the 'challenge' of finding the right word and finding out when to stop and when to edit.

The Get Smarter non-fiction course has stimulated me into finding my story which although very simple, is keeping me digging and delving.

As I travel to Namibia for ten days, I've had to complete writing projects and upload them to fulfill my writing commitments. We also have to 'crit' other students work. While I am a teacher and used to commenting on work and having my own work commented on, some of the crits leveled at my work made me want to slit my wrist at worst and simply not engage in the 'buddy-buddy' exchanges at best. It seems that others need to thrust hard and sharp at other people's work without any constructive suggestions. Not my idea of fun.

Fortunately there is a very sensible IT boff who assists my limited confidence in uploading work to the site. He suggested that I focus on our mentor Mike Nichol, who is sensitive and objective in his comments and forget the snide unproductive remarks from others less qualified. As that was what I decided after the initial shock I have settled well into the challenge of writing the required assignments.

There is another 2000 word assignment waiting on my return, but with Namibia's open skies and Desert Elephants pending, hopefully creativity will bubble and words will pour onto keys on my return.

Desert Elephants - Demaraland

New Writing Course

I am always on the look out for new and creative writing courses. When I received an e-mail from Exclusive Books about the Random House non-fiction writing course AND giving a discount for Fanatics card holders, I thought this was an ideal opportunity to apply.

The moment my deposit had been made I received a phone call to welcome me to the course, an sms to say that my money had been received and an email to confirm my participation. No going back now I thought!

My paints, paper and pen have been working hard recently and I shall set them aside and with my new 'Paris Review' never-let-you-down fountain pen I aim to write, write and write some more. I look forward to updating from time to time.

I leave you with this beautiful autumn image from David Moore. What do the colours invoke in you?

Autumn Skies, Golden Trees

Publications

Working to deadline is always a challenge. One that I really enjoy. I am then able to put pen to paper, or finger to keyboard and write through almost any disturbance.

I remember a photograph of a journalist friend of mine sitting in the middle of a war zone - Beirut I think - with his typewriter on a broken table batting the keys to get the story out. Rubble and smoke behind him. No mobiles or computers then. His forehead wrinkled, eyes focussed on the paper in the typewriter, words pouring from his fingers.

That's the dedication a writer needs. Hopefully I won't ever find myself writing in a war zone.

At Rose Cottage we are as far from a war zone as possible but words do flow here with pencil, paper and computer.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Poetry and People

Some years ago I joined a correspondence course for poets. My writing partner was Graham. As writers do we shared many moments of creativity and enjoyed the interaction of our email conversations.

David and I love Namibia and had an exquisite journey to Antarctica. Graham has a home in Namibia and has travelled to the other desert, Antarctica.

He and I have only ever met over e-mail and friends who keep us informed of our respective creative journeys.

We go to Kenya often and on one of our trips we had a musician and singer Gisela de Villiers in our group. One evening in the Masai Mara, Gisela sang the hymn Amazing Grace. The bush lit by the full moon, echoed with her voice accompanied by the call of hyena and grunt of hippo.

Dorian - who is a writer, poet and friend - sent me a mail about Graham's new poetry CD. His poems set to music and the singer and composer is Gisela and will be performed in Stellenbosch. David and I will be in Stellenbosch on the night of the first performance.

Perhaps Graham and I will eventually meet.

Do you think there is a poem or story here?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Johannesburg

Writing and Listening

On one of the coldest Saturday evenings of the year so far, we were guests at the Sunday Times literary awards. As we walked up the red carpet I wondered what the nominees must feel. Luckily I had no such 'flutter', but did meet authors and winners, chatted to truck drivers, teachers and TV presenters. Interacted with judges, journalists and comedians. The world is a fascinating place. Writers can be humble, excited, erudite and speechless. In fact human they are indeed!

In the compilation I am part of with Dorian Haarhoff as our editor, I am intrigued by the interaction of women to women and the importance of a title for the book. E-mails flew in space from one screen to another with very definite statements from a bunch of very strong women. The final title? Wait and see - certainly the editor [brave man] will have the final say.

My three pieces have been submitted and accepted by the editor. I wait to hear how much editing I still have to do. However the impetus of the deadlines has propelled me into a writer's flow. Long may it last.

We visited Namibia  - the north-west corner - at the Kunene River where we were able to interact with the local Himba people. A humbling and eye-opening few days.

With the image below, write using the following sentence as your cue:

She gazes through the windscreen down the ashy road and wonders................

Writers' Workshops

I've been fortunate enough to attend two weekends of writer's workshops. The first one with Dorian Haarhoff, long time friend and mentor. We met, a group of us to form the our portion of a book of short story memoirs which will be published in October.

Candles, Coffee and Creativity

Five of us met for two days to delve into our memory bank of childhood experiences and adult journeys. A wonderful way to share, remember and create. We meet twice and have personal mentoring from Dorian. I find that when 'pushed' for stories and date lines are set I write, write, write. A good thing indeed.

I was invited to participate in a writer's conference this weekend. Mixing with other authors, writers and young people is a great way to find inspiration and new thought patterns.
Teaching is also a wonderful way to become inspired by the people around you.

Reading from Sketch Your year in Poetry

Cosmos Weekend - March 2011 - Time to Write and Ponder

We had a wonderful weekend in the Eastern Free State with beautiful weather and great photographic and writing opportunities.

Richard and Jo-Anne of allaboutwriting (for further information:www.allaboutwritingcourses.com), joined the writers for a day workshop at Rose Cottage.

Jo-Anne & Richard

We were given great pointers on how to craft a story from scene plotting, to how to add 'drama' and dialogue. Discussion time was followed by writing time which was followed by crafting time and of course, time to view the cosmos fields.

A-M and Sam - 'Writers in the Field'

We will add our stories to these pages so that they are able to be read and discussed.

Writing Prompt:

Surrounded by friends in the dining room the young girl looks up and sees an owl fly across the open door. She gets up and walks into the cosmos filled night garden....................  

Time away

Travel is an excellent way to get out of comfort zone and what I call 'easy' space. Being away for ten days enables one to reassess and relook at writing.

Meeting new people is an ideal opportunity to take of new characters, situations and situations.

I have also had the opportunity to try out my new iPad which works like a dream and makes me wonder how I ever managed without it.

I met a friend of mine at the airport - he 'popped' in to see me and we had a great breakfast together talking writing of all sorts.

Writing prompt:

The windscreen sparkled as the lights flashed by. Would I reach the airport in time?
Write a few follow-up photographs.

Another Week

Last week was more discussion than writing. Old photographs were tenderly pulled out of envelopes and stories wove from lips to paper in intense interplay.

Our reference was the Cavafy poem on Ithaca. A poem of travel and journey. One that all of us encounter in one way or another.

'Have Ithaca always in your mind. Your arrival there is what you are destined for. But don't in the least hurry the journey. Better it last for years'..........

Write a few sentences about yourself: When you were age 12, 18, 30 and now. Write in the third person.

Taken from a hill in Dullstroom Mmpumalanga

May your journey be long and filled with adventure.