January's Writers Group

Today’s writers group was a mixed bag.  We had a beautiful story where the ornaments on a Christmas tree discuss the best ways not to get broken, with a particularly bitter red glass bauble (the last of a set of 6), a piece of flash fiction about farts (my effort) and the start of a musical about Dragon Bill a highway man from Cromwell’s time, amongst others.  So a busy session.

The homework came from a writing competition I came across last year (deadline sadly past now): Write about your favourite Bus Route.  It could be long, short, rural, uban but what makes it your favourite?

If you don’t use a bus what would make a bus route your favourite, or use a different type of public transport.

Piigs

Happy New Year everyone!

I've just had the most refreshing holiday, with no pressure to complete any TMA's or to do anything I didn't want to.  I ran a bit, saw family, ate good food, watched good films and made paper piigs - more paper models from the Toxic Paper Factory.  I love all the designs, it's so hard to decide what to make next, I want to make them all.  Maybe I will.

Frankfurt and the Christmas Market

In the beginning of December ‘im outdoors, one of my girl friends and I went to visit another girl friend who had moved to Frankfurt in Germany over a year ago with work.  While we were out there we also made time to visit the Christmas Market, Zoo and Botanical Gardens.  You can read all about it on my ‘Not all who wander are lost’ blog.

Happy Christmas from Fred

You might recognise Fred here from the beginning of the Lola course where we created person shapes.  Once we'd named him we didn't want to pull him up and as Christmas approached he wanted to join in.  In the end we sent this image out as our Christmas card to all our friends and family.
Happy Christmas everyone.

December's Writers Group

After some beautiful if sad pieces today, following my 11th November homework from last month, I thought we better have a more upbeat homework this month and set this: Off in the distance, I heard the sound of sleigh bells… Write a short story or poem. Or try and answer this question – Does falling snow have a sound?

Toxic Paper Factory

Lola seems to have given me back my creativity.  I'm full of projects now, although I still don't have the time to do them.  While looking round the internet for something completely different I stumbled across the Toxic Paper Factory.  This amazing site is full of paper models which you can download, print out and bring to life. If you have never made anything out of paper before you might find them a little hard as they don't really come with instructions, but if you know how to fold, cut and glue paper you won't have any trouble with these models.  The cats above are just the first of many.  What I love about the cats is they took me about half an hour to put together so I had a finished product very quickly.  I can't wait to make more.

November Writers Group

This week I actually had something to read out to the group.
There is nothing better than reading something out and getting the responses you were hoping for, the groan or the laugh as you mess with your characters head.
The fact that it also helped me to deal with the frustration of the police being able to do nothing when things are stolen from 'im outdoors truck is a bonus.

This months homework: What does 11^th November mean to you?  Poppies, parades, or family history?  Use this to inspire a short story or poem.

Operation Christmas Child

With just 7 days to go my shoe box is packed and ready to start its journey to a child somewhere who has nothing.  This year it's aimed at a little boy, but I'm sure most children would be happy to get their hands on a monkey and lots of pencils and felt tip pens etc.  I just hope it makes them smile, but maybe it will be the start of the journey to becoming an artist or maker, who can create things to make other people smile.
Good luck little monkey, I hope you are loved.