Giveaway Winner, Finished Projects, and Fun Things!

Hello everyone, and Happy Mother's Day to those of you who celebrate this event today - here in Australia we set aside a Sunday in May when we honour our Mums - I don't know why it can't be universal!

Crocheted mandalas seem to be all the rage at the moment and for me, despite having been attracted to Wink's lovely work when she first started her weekly mandalas on her blog at A Creative Being, the desire to make them didn't really grab me - perhaps because in a previous life I had painted watercolour mandalas and had already worked them out of my system. However, having seen a few of you lovely ladies getting into them now I decided a week or so ago to finally give them a go, following one of Wink's beautiful patterns. It's been fun comparing the various effects obtained just by changing colours, or using the same or similar colours in a different order, in a similar fashion to working blocks (in sewing as well as crochet), and I've completed two of Wink's 'Picot Mandala' pattern, this one is from Issue 7 of Simply Crochet.

A closer look - why not - may as well . . .

I am almost finished working a third mandala, from Issue 5 this time, and I think Wink has entitled it her 'Heart Mandala' - but I'll show it another time when it's finished! By the way, if you should think the stitches in the above pics are looking a bit 'different', it's probably because I am left handed!

I think we can gain a lot from mandalas, not least learning about colour mixing and of course most of us would have heard of, and hopefully seen, at least, pictures of the beautiful works the Monks do in coloured sand of these wonderfully meditative projects. For me, often once I've proved to myself that I can do something I then go on to other subject matter, and such is the case here - perhaps that's something to do with growing older and racing against time because there are so many things I want to do . . . . .

such as finishing my latest quilt . . . . .

It measures 50" x 64' and would look good on a single size bed, I think! Here it is laid out on my Queen size,  just to give you an idea of how it looks . . . . I'm very happy it's all done - it worked out to be a fair bit bigger than my previous two and so the handling of it while stitching was a bit tricky at times, but all good experience! Now I have a need to work on smaller projects for a wee while!

Here is an idea from the book 'Hoop-la' by Kirsty Neale:

Following suggestions from Kirsty, I wrapped washi tape around the hoop, appliquéd the little fabric bunny  onto another scrap of fabric stash, and embroidered a few little flowers etc.. The fun bit is the little glued-on pom-pom tail - thanks to my Mum for teaching me how, all those years ago! I still need to do a round of running stitches around the back to draw in the (temporarily folded under) fabric, and also tie on a ribbon of some description to disguise the little screw/hook thingy on the top. That eye is a little white button sewn on and then a piece of black felt glued on top!

Now I would like to thank you all so much for your beautiful comments on my previous post in celebration of my first blog birthday - you say such lovely things to me and I very much appreciate every word, thank you! 

As planned the name was drawn from the 'hat' - which was actually a bowl - and the lovely fellow blogger who's name came up is Julie from 'Haggiz' blog ! Congratulations to you Julie,  and will you please send me an email/message with your mailing particulars and I'll parcel up and send off your new table runner to you:     joyandjeff@wn.com.au

I will be away for a few days from the middle of next week, during which time I may fall way behind in following your lovely posts - I will miss you all but may manage to pop in now and then for a quick look, depending on what happens. Hubby and I are looking forward to catching up with family and friends and having a nice little break while family and friends here at home will 'mind the fort' while we're gone! 

But before I finish this post there are a couple more pics I want to share - first our little furry friend 'Pika' and then this gorgeous plant belonging to friends who are on holiday and entrusted it to our care until their return - isn't it beautiful!

Wishing you all happy days, with my love,

❤Joy xo