Last week, I had the opportunity to attend David Harrison’s “Poetry for the Delight of It” workshop, organized by the Highlights Foundation. I’m happy to report that I found not only the poetry but the entire experience delightful. From my ride from the airport to the tour of the Highlights for Children offices to the comfy couches where we discussed poetry to the massive fireplace on the patio where we roasted s’mores, every detail was taken care of so that I didn’t have to think about anything but poetry. And the food—oh, my! We were spoiled. During breaks and in the evenings, we retired to our own cozy cabins with rocking chairs on the porches and plenty of wonderful books to read—a writer’s heaven!
David Harrison (
a Guest Teaching Author in 2012) led group discussions with a reassuring blend of wit, humor, explanation, and examples. He supplied writing prompts that resulted in humorous and heartfelt poems, and he provided perceptive, encouraging critiques of our work. Poets
Jane Yolen and
Kenn Nesbitt visited via Skype to share their own tips and examples.
Boyds Mills Press Senior Editor Rebecca Davis participated in a session about editorial and marketing practices, and Executive Editor Liz Van Doren joined us for dinner.
Lucky me! I’m still floating.
Here’s a poem I wrote there, inspired by one of David’s prompts, about waking up early:
Day
Catbird screeches up the morning.
Acorns drop to mark the minutes.
Knock! Woodpeckers count the hours.
Crickets sing me back to sleep.
Another lucky surprise: I got to meet and hang out with our longtime friend Linda Baie, who wrote about
connecting the experience to writing in one of her blog posts. What fun!
Today’s Poetry Friday Roundup is at
The Miss Rumphius Effect. Enjoy!
JoAnn Early Macken
No matter if it's a beautiful sweater, scarf, hat, mittens....whatever, 100% wool makes me itch!!
acrylic & Prismacolor pencils on bristol paper
(This was done a couple of years ago as a Christmas card design..."Fleece Navidad!)
By: Maxwell Eaton III,
on 11/18/2007
Blog:
Maxwell Eaton III
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The July Drawing winner was just randomly selected, and it is Jeremy from Portland, Oregon!
You know Jeremy? From Portland, Oregon? Come on, you've met him a million times! How can you forget? Geez!
Anyway, congratulations, Jeremy, and thanks to everyone who entered!
Now don't forget to enter again for this month's drawing. The last coat of wash is drying on it, so I won't be able to post it until tomorrow. But be sure to check it out!
It's fun, it's free, and it only costs the author postage. Everyone's a winner!
http://www.maxandpinky.com/drawing.htm
Author: Janet Lunn
Illustrator: Kim LaFave
Published: 1988 Groundwood Books
ISBN: 0888998457 Chapters.ca Amazon.com
Folk art, flying fleece and fury contrast the carefree contentment of two oblivious farmers with the blatant anguish of their frustrated sheep in this hilarious example of the bliss of being understood.
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childrens book,
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Day one - motorbike to Manchester with camping equipment, about 270 miles with two ten minute breaks. We pop over to the headquarters of Natural Attrill and are treated to a lovely buffet and grand tour of their amazing house. Finally, someone who has more stuff than me!
our trusty work horse laden down
Day two - motorbike out to Lake District. It is glorious weather and Cumbria is looking stunning - my old memories of gloomy, misty, looming mountains and constant rain are dispelled. We set up camp at Sykeside, which is a simply gorgeous site with fantastic facilities - but outrageously expensive for a tent pitch - 18 pounds per night, as (unusually) they charge per person. So we only stay two days...
Andy setting up camp while I lounge against a stone wall
A picturesque ramble through Sykes Farm makes me fall in love with the area.
Day three - sausages for breakfast - excellent spicy Cumberland ones from the little butcher in Ambleside High Street. We find a nearby beauty spot and I draw a sheet of sheep, while Andy treks up one of those big fell things. I don't do real walking - I'm much happier pottering about with a good supply of paper and pens. Lots of new ideas popping into my head thanks to new surroundings.
I get rather too good at not scaring the sheep and after an hour they are surrounding me and looking about as menacing as sheep can get...
"Do we know you?"
Day four - time to head back. Pack up camp and return to Manchester for a pitstop, then a somewhat tortured trip home, three hours almost nonstop. Biked well over 300 miles in one day. With rucksack. Walking like an aged crab by the time I prise myself off the bike. Good to be home and the cats are overjoyed to see us. If you like pictures of fells, sheep and sausages, there are numerous ones here.
And so with renewed vigour I start a week of paper cutting, and set up my little Etsy shop. Lots of lovely friendly sellers from the UK in the forum and I persuade Andy that I cannot live without this exquisite mermaid bracelet...(thank you Andy!)
...which I found in another 'newbie' Etsy shop, 'Infinite Reverie'. I was her first customer. She wrote a perfectly beautiful description, which was the final persuasion - if any were needed. A very good lesson in how to market and sell your goods. With her kind permission, here it is;
"This delicate bracelet reminds me of walking barefoot on sandy beaches and the glimmer of the sea in the sun. It is simple yet elegant and is sure to add some mermaid magic into every outfit... This bracelet combines a focal turquoise gemstone oval bead with light grey freshwater pearls and peacock (half lime green, half turquoise) faceted Czech glass beads. The turquoise gemstone bead measures about 20mm x 16mm. The bracelet is finished with an ornate twisted sterling silver toggle clasp. All the metals used are 925 sterling silver."
Now isn't that wonderful? What Cancerian could resist that? It is a perfect fit, not too loose or tight, and I am going to be wearing it at least all summer.
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Me too!
Just imagine if it made sheep itch!
Fun illustration.
Hi!
I love your sheep! I just discovered Illustration Friday and posted something for the first time. It looks really fun. What a cool blog you have. I look forward to watching it.
I'll link to you, too! :-)
That's adorable! Clearly the sheep don't mind their woolen scarves:>
what well-dressed sheep :)
....a beautiful illustration...fun, wonderful colors and background....just great !!
LOL! Yes, most wool makes me itch. Your colorful sheep are darling and they look so cozy in the snowy field. You created a lovely piece for the new year!
p.s. I know it's not Monday, but here I am :) Have a joyful weekend.
Me too!! Doesn't it make you wonder if sheep always itch?
Great illustration.
lol, very clever! And true!!
Ditto! Beautiful illustration and concept.
Beautiful sheep!! You'd be surprised how much less itchy it is in the raw-- I think the scrubbing of preparation for cloth is what makes it feel so crummy.
ha! great take on the theme :)
so cute!
teri
heee heee heee! too funny and i love your little woolies...very very cute, lolo! :))
Just as I was about to write "me too" I noticed all the other folks who are plagued by wool's itch factor. Wonder if ANYONE other than sheep can wear it without getting itchy?
Absolutely adorable image! Love your little sheepses!
Oh, now this is beautiful! I love the colors and patterns you've dressed the sheep in. It contrasts so nicely with the cool colors of the sky and snow. If you have a moment, I've tagged your blog in mine. You needn't reply but in trying to think of work I admire, yours of course came to mind.
Happy New Year!
Fancy Sheep there in their multicolored polyester scarves. (he he he he )
By the way, how is the book you are illustrating proceeding? I would love to know when it will be available for purchase.
hi Lolo,
wishing you a love-filled year 2008 to continually inspire you.
hugs,
Li
This is wonderful! Wool makes me itchy, too, which makes me glad I'm not a sheep.
btw: did you ever check the results of the drawing? Hmmm.....??? tsk tsk tsk
As kate so cleverly points out, the wool never seems to itch the sheep. I see that sketched out has also identified an excellent question. Isn't it about time for some research group to come up with a substance that will keep us from itching too! I'll be happy to be the test subject ... send all scarfs, sweaters, mittens, socks and anti-itch potions to me right away! :D
I did one with a sheep a too. Yours are truly wonderful! I agree wool is itchy!
I really love this image and the style of your illustration.
Your post reminds me of a story that my Dad told me. When he was a kid in Italy his Mom would make him wear woolen stockings in the winter. My Dad said that it was pure torture. As soon as he would get outside he would take them off. He said that he would rather be cold than be tortured by the itchies.
I know the feeling! and I love your sheep, they're faces are a little ambiguous, which I feel all animals look like when they look at humans. it's like they're going "wha..?"
this is cute and funny
thank u for your kind comments
have a great year!
What would happen if you were a sheep and wool made you itch? Hmmmm....
I really like your piece, great idea, awesome colors and the textures on the sheep and in the sky are brilliant. Snow..that would be nice here in the north east...
"Fleece Navidad!"
SOOOO funny! Great idea, great illo, great card!
Ahhhhhh. They are so cute.
YE SIR, I HAVE 3 BAGS FULL IF YOU NEED A SWEATER
Classic! Thanks for the visit.
wool makes me itch, too. what a beautiful illustration and i like sheep a lot!
Nice illustration. I like the symmetrical design.
This is an adorable "warm & fuzzy" kind of illustration. So sweet. & yup, 100% wool makes me itch too :)
HaHa. Wool makes me itch too, but I would still cuddle these little lovelies, they're very sweet! I love the colours you used.
They're so cute, and look warm in their blankets! Nice!
a : )
A really nice scene!!! Wool and snow were made for each other.
Great work...
I itch 100% of the time when I wear wool...
Awesome image you've created here! I love winter scenes- like how you put in those vibrant blankets as contrast to the cool blues. Sheep = funny expressions hahaha & looks like the trees are dancing on the hills.
Me too! It made me sneeze as well! I love your sheeps and the scarf they're wearing! Perfect!
Cute. The sheep are so sweet. Lovely colours!
Beautiful illustration! And I´ve been seeing your Moleskine´s blog and it´s really nice! Happy New Year!
Love their little faces, especially the lips! and the tilt of the heads. Especially love being able to see it big - all those juicy details in the fur and the texture in the background. Cute cute cute....
Nice image-this will make a popular holiday card!
so cute and clever! love those sheep and their woolen scarves!
Very true... and very cute too :o) Love the trees in the background!
great work.. this has a really rich feel to it.. rather natty scarves that the sheep have :)
I really like the snowy landscape and the blankets they have on their backs!
Thank you for the comment on my blog, that song really is one of my favourites.
Happy crafting!
Carolina