This is part of some work I am doing for a series on Tulips.

Dr Dorothy Gibbs (in Leicestershire UK)

I recently visited the Living Threads Exhibition in Leicestershire and saw this work, which I couldn’t resist buying. if you click on it you should see her lovely stitching.

Hi There.

I have been taking an online class called Mandala Madness with Barb Owen at HowToGetCreative.com

This is an excellent, professionally set up site for anyone who is interested in mixed media, writing, journalling and stitching. Barb runs live streams from her workroom every Friday evening at 2pm EST (9pm BST) There is a different topic every week and one can take part in live chat or not depending on your interest. The live audience is eiher watching, joining in chat, following along with Barb or simply watching while doing one’s own work. Up to you.

One can sign up to the site for a taster  for 1$ and get a feel of it before committing to full membership, which gives access to all of the site, workshops and special member only live streams.

Mandala Madness is a separate course run from the site for members who have signed up for it. It has consisted of a series of workshops on different techniques, live video sessions for the lessons  and bonus classes, plus ‘Show and Tell’ sessions where one can see and hear what other students have done during the week. You can choose whether to be seen on screen or not… so there is nothing scary about it at all. All the sessions are recorded so if you can’t be there for some reason you can still watch, although I find it is not as much fun without the live aspect.

Here are a few of the Mandalas I have completed.  I still have more to do and will post when I do them.

AS USUAL, CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO ENLARGE AND SEE THE CAPTIONS.

Done with Crayola markers

Done with coloured pencil

Water soluble crayons

Gel pens

Metallic gel pens

Baby one!

Water soluble pencils

Black micron Pen

Coloured Pitt Pens

These images are all drawn by eye. In some of them I used a compass to draw circles to work from, but the drawing is free hand.

The lacy ones start with a single white spot in the centre and are then worked out from there.

The last two are known as Zendalas as they are zentangle inspired using defined named patterns.

Such huge fun and relaxing to make these images.

I thought I would share some images I took at the FOQ on Thursday. I had a most enjoyable day and whilst I could not see as much as I wanted because of mobility issues I did enjoy it. Two days later I have nearly recovered too! 🙂

I don’t have the names of all of the artists whose work I am sharing but they are all amazing. Some of them are from the prize winners section.

CLICK ON THE IMAGES FOR MY COMMENTS.

Amazing colour in this one

Mandala Quilt

Detail of Mandala

Mandala like design

Some of this is painted I

Loved the precision

Detail

Group quilt

Closeup

Detail

Tiny Quilt about 12 inches

Detail

Lovely design

Detail of quilting

Djanne Cevaal Pomegranets

Detail

Annabel Rainbow

Detail 1

Detail 2

are’t they gorgeous? If you click on the images you can see my thoughts on each one and where I know the artist’s name I have included it.

Next are some from the Through Our Hands Stand.  First up are images of Laura Kemshall and Annabel Rainbow, painting a quilt in aid of Save The Children.

Annabel Painting

Laura’s Painting she is resting in the background.

Next, two images from Linda Kemshall of her grandaughter Amelie.

Amelie by Linda Kemshall

Detail thoughts like butterflies floating in her head.

Finally a few of the miniature portraits in the TOH gallery and two favourites out of many. They were all superb.

A selection of the portraits

Drawing and colour

Another, bit out of focus).

I think it is high time that I started to blog again so I am resurrecting Pandora and will be back shortly with some updates. 

On Sunday I was lucky enough to get a place on a one day workshop with Jean arranged by my branch (Lutterworth) of the Embroiderers’ Guild.

It was an excellent day as always with Jean and I learned lots of new tricks, using my Embellishing machine. The topic was all about textures and layers and the subject matter was fields and hedgerows. Here are some images from the day, firstly of Jean’s work and then some from the members.

Sample of Jean Littlejohn’s work

Another of Jean’s

This one is an altogether lighter piece of Jean’s. really fine and ‘floaty’

Next are two pages from her Sketchbooks.

Jean’s work

Another sketchbook page

The rest are all of member’s work.

Table laid out for Jean to review

Some were total beginners with the embellisher and I think there are quite a few new ones being bought now! 🙂

A selection of closer views

Of course in a day we couldn’t start on big pieces of work so we were encouraged to make little gems showing techniques.

Jean is a really fun person to be with and a very giving tutor. I should love to meet her little grandson who loves to play in her workroom.

A most enjoyable day.

Today was the day to go and look at some of the gardens in my village. There were many more open than I managed to view…… it was very hot and of course a lot of walking … some of them unsuitable for me with my wheely walker 🙂

Th first one I visited was at The Old Butchery, no longer that but the buildings once used for such are still there. This garden was huge and had many ‘rooms’ to visit. There was something new and different around every corner and a big surprise at the bottom of it! Here are some of the shots I took.

Too late for the poppies here but I love the seed heads.

Another ‘room’ with one of several sun rooms

There are fairies at the bottom of the garden

Impish grin?

This was round another corner, leading to yet another secret sitting place.

And the big surprise the garden overlooks the working quarry! There are seats here too allowing one to sit and watch the wildlife

Another view.

Next I visited the Old School House this one really was too steep for me but I took some shots where I could get to.

Walking down from the house

A patio area with many pots near the potting shed.

Next was the old Rectory. Again… a very steep garden as the house on the side of Croft Hill. This is quite a landmark in an otherwise flat landscape in this area. In the old days people used to take a bus out to the hill for picnics. It is a good place for birdwatchers and is also known for butterflies and dragonflies.

This is the view from the rectory patio area.

Another view looking towards the village

The brook, leading into the River Soar makes a good drinking spot for the cattle

Finally some shots in the garden of Rose cottage….

Bill or Ben the flowerpot man!

I know this is a bit of weed but it’s lovely!

All in all a lovely day out. And the muffins and coffee at the Old Rectory were delicious!