haiku. remembering summer skies

The Morning Glory continues to flower, despite the leaves turning yellow. I think it's single handedly trying to hold back the autumn. Here's my haiku;

defiantly blue -
echoes of clear summer sky,
autumn's change of light

Poetry & Printmaking. Winding House.

Today there was poetry and printmaking at The Winding House in New Tredegar, in advance of National Poetry Day next Thursday. This year's theme is water.

Visitors made lovely prints with artist Amy Mackenzie Mason, and had a lovely time getting covered in paint. After making a print, they came to me for help writing a poem to go with the image. Very pleasing.

As well as an image on paper, each artist printed their image on fabric that Amy will eventually make into a wall hanging.

Everyone had a lovely day. Here's Amy and I trying to look artistic!

The Winding House is worth checking out, with its historic exhibitions, and the mighty restored winding engine from the colliery.

http://your.caerphilly.gov.uk/windinghouse/content/welcome

It's also worth looking at all the wonderful work done by Head 4 Arts in Caerphilly, who helped arrange today's event.
http://www.head4arts.org.uk/ 

magic under the moonlight

I leaned out of my bedroom window late last night and took this photo with my phone. I really like the windows of the house opposite appearing to be eyes, and the cloud rising up from the roof as if it was peeling it back.

How could magic not happen under the moonlight? 

Be careful what you do when the bright moon shines. 

Here's a poem from Blue Moon at the Map Shop, my collection of moon poems.

                                   changes

                                   light headed with sex

                                   alcohol and guilt,

                                   he walks back,

                                   footsteps loud in the sleeping street,

                                   he's thinking of home now,

                                   where everything is the same as before,

                                   he's considering the cold air he will bring

                                   to the second shared bed tonight,

                                   his skin is tingling,

 

                                   he is reassured,

                                   he is reluctant,

 

                                   he turns the corner,

 

                                   his house has gone.

 

Planting poetry. Seed packets of poems!

One of the really enjoyable things about going to book and craft fairs is the chance to show my poetry and present it to the visitors. I've never really liked the idea of putting my poetry in books, where the order of them is fixed, and they are stuck inside covers, so I invented the poetry seed packet.

 All the poems are printed on separate sheets. And I have designed and made a seed packet for them to go in!

 There are proper instructions on the back, and the number in the edition is written where the price would be on the front of a real seed packet. I like the whole process, from writing the poetry through to making the packets, doing all of it myself.

It's hugely enjoyable displaying these packets, and seeing the reactions to them - AND of course sending them off to new homes!
You can see them in my Etsy shop, if you don't find me at a fair.
http://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/quarto17

Crickhowell Craft Fair. Selling.

Here is the imposing entrance of the Clarence Hall in Crickhowell. At the Craft Fair today I sold lots of poetry, cards and finger puppets to discerning visitors.

             My sales were so good I almost bought a piece of cake to celebrate, but as I was also celebrating wearing a new and VERY slimline dress, I decided against it.

       What a great day!

Late summer colour. sunrise, roses, bagels

There have been some astonishing sunrises this week, as the autumn chill takes over from summer warmth.  I think these vibrant orange shades are a celebration of the sunshine season.

The last roses of summer have bloomed in the garden.  This is called Oranges and Lemons. These flowers, although small, have more intense colours than those that bloomed in June and July.

 And the breakfast of my lodger, before she runs a half marathon with assault course. Peanut butter and raspberry jam, in a much thicker and more vibrant layer than usual.

The autumn is upon us.

Morning Glory. Celestial blue flowers.

While I've been rushing about, and not paying any attention to my garden, the pot of Morning Glory on my patio has finally decided to flower.

I planted the seeds in the spring, and the plants produced lots of leaves and tiny buds that stood still.

At last, some have flowered. Morning Glory opens as it gets light, blooms in the day, and is gone by night fall. 

I don't think they will all flower, but these splashes of celestial blue have quietly reminded me to stop. And look.

h. Art at The Print Shed. A must-see exhibition.

I have had a really lovely day being a steward at The Print Shed, Madley, where there is a great exhibition as part of h.Art week, Herefordshire Arts Week.

In pride of place is the mighty 1834 Cope & Sherwin printing press, in regular use by members of the studio. I've printed linocuts with it. Brilliant.

This is a poor quality photo taken with my phone, but one of my favourite artists in the exhibition is Ursula Prosser, who makes wonderful linocuts, and captures the essence of what horses are.

One of the most popular artists is Lee Wright,
who makes reduction linocuts. This is of Carreg Cennen castle.

You really need to see them in person, but I hope my images give an idea.

                                                                             

Artist in Residence Richard Bavin has a studio up in the roof of the studio. Interesting to look at, as he has both finished work and work in progress.


I had a great day talking to people, making tea and dispensing cake, and selling art, including some of my own!

And in an unexpected half an hour lull, I got the first drafts of two haiku that have been at the back of my mind for ages.

h.Art is on until Saturday 15th September.
www.theprintshed.net

Poetry Book Fair. Alison Brackenbury's book 'Then'

I was so delighted to meet Alison Brackenbury at Free Verse: The Poetry Book Fair at the weekend, and be able to tell her how much I love her most recent book Then.

Her poetry looks delicately made, often beautifully rhymed, and is so strong and incisive it goes straight to the reader's heart.

She writes about horses better than anyone.
 

 Horses are poetry.

Poetry Book Fair. Spending the float.

I was carrying my cash float from the Poetry Book Fair back to the Bank, when I stopped to have a quick look in The Red Cross charity shop, and saw the most wonderful evening dress ensemble.

 

Here it is, pictured against the multitude of pink in my bedroom. It's mostly muted green, shading in and out from dark to light. A very straight dress, with a beaded bodice, thin straps, and a floaty top over it.

 The beadwork is amazing.
 The photos don't do it justice.

Unfortunately I have already sent my feedback form to The Poetry Book Fair, or I would have suggested that next year's event is in formal evening dress.

The cash float? I have already forgotten about it.

poetrybookfair.com

Free Verse: Poetry Book Fair. A fantastic day.

Well the day finally dawned, and I got up very early to catch the train to London and the Poetry Book Fair. My biggest problem was that I had forgotten that the dress that goes best with my Sancho cowboy boots is now much too big, but I decided not to start ironing other things, and settled for looking less slimline that I would have wished.

The Fair was very interesting, with a huge variety of books and publishers, all attracting  enthusiastic readers. The room was very full of tables, making narrow aisles, and the day was punctuated by the sound of people apologising to each other as they carried around their bags full of books.

Here's my 45 centimetres of stall!

And here's my best selling item

There's a lot of ideas and inspirations to think about. But tonight, a huge dinner and then a great deal of sleep.

Letterpress printing ready for Poetry Book Fair

Strange how anxiety expresses itself. In the midst of preparing for Free Verse: The London Poetry Book Fair yesterday, I suddenly decided I must print business cards.

Inking the Adana and setting the very simple card was actually rather soothing.

The front of the card is very simple, with my favourite letterpress block in pride of place.

All the real information is on the back.

And now I am ready for the fair!

 poetrybookfair.com

found ampersand. number 2.

When I posted my first found ampersand on the blog on 17th June, I didn't really expect to find any more. However,  I found another this morning!

It's a little indistinct, but nevertheless rather extravagant and curvy.

 

Now I'll tell you where I found it.

I have a mane of curly hair, and the ampersand formed itself from one of the hairs that escaped from my head into the bath this morning as I stood under the shower.

I apologise for taking you into the bathroom, but I have a feeling found ampersands don't come along very often, so I must record them when they appear!

The Print Shed. h.Art exhibition. Fantastic!

Tonight was the opening of the exhibition at The Print Shed in Madley, as part of the h.Art event, happening throughout Herefordshire, between now and 15th September. 

It was a beautiful warm evening.

It's my first exhibition in a proper art gallery, so I was rather nervous, but it looked lovely!

I was so nervous driving to the exhibition that I had to listen to the second movement of 

Beethoven's 7th Symphony on a continuous loop, which calms me down yet keeps me going.

I made sales! And came home so so happy.

www.theprintshed.net

 

Kitchen table publishing. Rehearsal.

I met up with Jeremy Dixon of Hazard Press yesterday, to rehearse the set up of our shared HALF a stall at Free Verse: The Poetry Book Fair at the Conway Hall in London on 7th September.

We have 90cm between us at this prestigious event.

Jeremy makes beautiful books, and was completely ready for the rehearsal. His half of the stall looks lovely. I hadn't finished making the display board at the back of my half, so it's not painted white, and I am having to hold it, but it gives the general idea.

 

I realise that I am going to a book fair with poetry seed packets, wall art poetry, and Wordsworth finger puppet gift cards. I wonder if anyone will notice the lack of - erm - books!

poetrybookfair.com 

www.hazardpress.co.uk