Friday 9 May 2014

My First Mandala

Hello Lovelies,
yesterday was a rainy day. The world was drippy wet..........


It was lovely weather for Ducks..........


and baby Coots...........


When I got home from my usual weekly shop it was nice to spend a little time with a hook and some colourful yarn.........


I'm sure most of you will know of Lucy's Mandala project for Yarndale this year.....


I've never really been tempted to make one before, but knowing how lovely it was to contribute to the Yarndale Bunting LAST YEAR, I thought I would give Lucy's gorgeous pattern a try.

As always it's a super well written and easy to follow photo tutorial. Find it HERE. 

I already had a big of yarn colours sitting waiting for me........do you like them?



After my woodland walk on Saturday.....with images fresh in my mind....I came home and put together this selection of the colours I had seen.

It was such a perfect sight and I thought I would try and recreate mother natures beautiful colour scheme in my next blanket.............


I'm still not sure what pattern I will use for my blanket but it seemed natural to use these colours for my first mandala.

Working the rounds I tried my best to recreate the feeling and sights of my beautiful Bluebell walk again .

In the centre is a lovely pink " Red Campion" flower, surrounded by fresh shades of green.
Dotted among the green you can spy beautiful bluebells between the dark of the tree trunks.
The new leaves on the trees are so bright and fresh.
Cow Parsley and Hawthorn blossom add touches of frothy white beauty and between the trees you can see the clear blue sky.
The woodland in May is such a special place to be and if you are lucky you will come across a carpet of blue, with a ribbon of dainty pink flowers to frame it's beauty.


Oh how I loved making this sweet Woodland Walk Mandala..............

It might sound daft but I feel like it's captured a special moment in time for me to keep.

I'm not sure If I'll be sending this one to Yarndale......I might not be able to let it go.......but I'm hooked on this circular crochet at the moment.......so I'm sure there will be others flying off my hook very soon.
I love the other patterns in Lucy's post .

Searching google images THIS one caught my attention too (but I'm not sure how big it is )

Have you been bitten by the Mandala bug yet lovelies?

Jacquie x

p.s. thank you so much for the kind comments on my previous post.....yay for Vintage Camper Van love :0)

42 comments:

  1. Oh that's lovely, I love how you've used colours from your walk! I am going to attempt one to send, I've got the pattern printed so far ........... :-)

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  2. I felt the same - I couldn't really see the point of a finished mandala so I wasn't tempted to make one. However I made a Lucy one for Yarndale yesterday too and I really enjoyed seeing how it grew.

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  3. lovely pictures.
    How well done, this blending of nature into your mandala.

    At this moment I"m looking at your Russian Doll , it inspires me. Next project perhaps?
    I made some good luck-babushka's myself, but I tricked a bit, feel free to have a look:
    http://homeiswherethedachshundis.blogspot.be/2014/03/geluksbabushkas.html

    Have a nice day!

    Brigitte from Belgium

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  4. I haven't been tempted yet but love the idea of being inspired by a walk.

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  5. I am going to make my Yarndale mandala at the weekend. I've made the starflower one for me. I wasn't sure what to do with it initially, so have turned it in to a cushion, to be admired as we walk by. It seemed a better option than putting it on the table as a mat and covering the central pretty part. Hope you have a good weekend (and the rain stops - it's not looking hopeful here.) x

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  6. I love your mandala and the story of what it means. It is lovely.
    The girl who runs A Creative Being blog is a mandala builder and has done lots of them. She also uses a computer programme to help her select her colours. It's pretty cool.
    Cheers

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  7. I have got the bug, I managed to ignore them for ages then Lucy's post made me think, oh I will just try one. Hmm now on number 4 and loving them.

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  8. You have picked some lovely colours from your walk to use. I might have a go tonight, it will give me break from my knitting.

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  9. It's so lovely to have a story about the way in which you chose your colours for the Mandela, and such a lovely one too. It makes it all the more special. Liz x

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  10. Hey Jacqui! The spoke mandala is 7 inches when finished :)
    xo,
    wink
    acreativebeing.com

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  11. You really have captured your walk in this mandala, how clever! Beautiful colour palette, I love it x x x

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  12. Hi Jacqui, Having just finished my first mandala I'm thinking that Lucy was right, you can't just make one ! Can't wait to make another. I'll post this one off tomorrow. No wonder she said to only send one ! I love yours and the idea behind it. Really like reading your posts.

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  13. How lovely, this sounds like a keeper for you.

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  14. Love your mandala Jacqui and how your walk inspired the coloured. I do feel like I must have a go myself now. I was tempted when I ready Lucy's post, but yours has persuaded me! Elaine

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  15. Jacqui, that is beautiful. I'm working all weekend and starting a baby rainbow ripple on Monday, so I will use some of that yarn to make one...probably to send to yarndale, unless I fall in love with it!! I really love your photos, I'm aiming to get my blog photos looking half as good!! xx

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  16. Made my first one this morning, it is a very pleasing and quick project.

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  17. I love your Mandala and how it is inspired by your walk in the woods. Having a go at a Mandala is on my list for this weekend. I can't blame you for wanting to keep this one as it is a real memory maker
    Jackie x

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  18. Your mandala is super cute! I've been wanting to make one for a long time!

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  19. Your mandala is so pretty - I don't think I would be able to part with something so pretty either! You have inspired me to get my yarn and crochet out for Yarndale 2014. Lovely post as always :o)

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  20. Excellent idea to be inspired by the colours on your walk! the end result is so cheerful, captured perfectly...
    bestest Daisy xxx

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  21. I love it! The pink and blue are so beautiful together. I have only just discovered your blog and have been enjoying reading back through some of your older posts. Looking forward to following you from now on - love your photos and hooky creations!

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  22. Aww I love your woodland walk mandala, they are so addictive I recently finished a Springtime garden inspired one, so pleased Lucy has picked them as the group make for yarndale

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  23. I can certainly see your springtime inspiration in your colour choices Jacquie! It looks great and you can always make another one to send to Lucy! They are addictive when you start making them, so I doubt that you will stop at just one. xx

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  24. I'm telling you....you will be "hooked" making those mandalas....they sure are fun ♥♥

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  25. It's really lovely, you captured those naturally occurring colours so well. I haven't made a mandala yet, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time before I catch the bug. x

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  26. I'm definitely trying to crochet one of these one day soon, I love mandalas, and yours is amazing, I agree, you managed to capture the feeling of that day! : ) xx

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  27. I love your Woodland Walk Mandala!! How special! Yes, as soon as Lucy started posting the bug bit me....haven't had a chance yet but want to make a few this summer.

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  28. lovely work! I'm a bit hooked on mandalas too and made my first one recently. Zelna Olivier is so generous with her beautiful patterns

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  29. Beautiful mandala in nature's colours, Jacquie, and it's good to see you've been smitten and joined the mandala club - there'll be no stopping you now .. .. .. you know it's quite a sickness that takes a lot of getting rid of, don't you?
    I absolutely adore the foliage colour in your first pic today, thank you! Joy xo

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  30. Hi Jacqui, you have captured your woodland walk perfectly, your Woodland Walk Mandala is stunning, the name itself conjuring up beautiful woodland flora colours and hues. Mandala'itis is very catchy and addictive with no cure that I know of!! My first mandala was so pretty I just have to frame it, can't possibly let it go .. and I have a second in my head to send to Yarndale .. This was a first for me, first mandala and first pattern on my blog. Zelna's mandalas are fabulous, so many patterns out there to choose from .. I could go on and on ....... sorry!
    Pat :)

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  31. I love your mandala, you have chosen lovely colours, I have only made one and it is pretty addictive. I hate making something for which there is no real purpose but Yarndale is a good excuse so I think I just may make another one or two or thr....lol have a great weekend. :)

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  32. Pretty nice :)

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  33. I Love how you have used the colours from your walk as inspiration :)

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  34. Nice colours Jacquie. I've made loads of mandalas but I call them doilies! I suppose you could say that doilies are much lacier but these days the very fine cotton ones are not in fashion and the trend is for bright and vibrant colours in a thicker thread :-)

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  35. Beautiful Mandala and you really have captured those colours so well. I too have printed off Lucy's instructions to crochet a Mandala for Yarndale, x

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  36. Jacqui, it is beautiful, You have managed to tap into the true meaning of Mandalas which are often used as tools for meditation and contemplation, there is something so lovely about creating these circles of colour which capture feelings and memories. I think the "purpose" of mandala making is very much about the creative making process itself, the joy to be found using our hands and engaging our thoughts and feelings as we work. You should keep your woodland mandala, hang it up on the wall and take pleasure from the memories :)
    Lucexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  37. You have really captured your woodland walk in your mandala,it is stunning. I am hopeless at putting colours together, I have some different shades of mainly stylecraft wool I wonder if it would be possible for you to list the ones you used?
    Kathy x

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  38. Your mandala is gorgeous and captures the colours of your walk perfectly.
    Anne xx

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  39. I'm not surprised you want to keep it Jacquie :-) it's beautiful
    Tracey xx

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  40. I think I would keep it if I were you! What a wonderful idea to tell a story and describe a scene through the use of your colours :) x

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  41. I did the same thing on our latest rainy day, hooked a mandala for Lucy AND, was inspired by the very mandala you linked too! (how funny is that?!) Love your woodland inspire mandala. (They are addictive!)

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  42. I have been hooked for some timehttp://moodymakes.blogspot.ie/2014/05/mandala-mania.html

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