Princess Bubbles Creates

 Walking in my neighbourhood is a complete delight.  There is always so much beauty to see.  Who doesn't love a good sunflower?  Especially with a fuzzy little bee on it! I am linking to http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/ http://jaipurgardening.blogspot.com/ http://floralfridayfoto.blogspot.com/

 I have started stitching another mandala.  I wonder if everyone is getting tired of my mandalas.  I can't say that I am tired of them.  I used to lose interest in things quickly and would move on to the next idea but mandalas have really stuck with me.  Am I just being lazy?  Not coming up with something else.  No matter as they make me happy and peaceful.  This one is painted silk.  I wasn't totally happy with the way it turned out and it has languished.  I decided to cut off the part that wasn't working and put the main shape into a hoop.  I have outlined the shape with the stem stitch and silk thread.  Silk thread on silk fabric is absolutely divine! I am linking to https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/

 I have been playing around with a different idea for the dog character in my book.  There is a lot I like about this one.  The face is where I am struggling.  I have made colour copies of it to try out different ways of doing the eyes.  The eyes are everything.  They need to be right. I may need to start again.  I will probably choose different fabrics.  I like how colourful he is but it isn't quite right.  I wonder if I will ever get this book finished.  I make good progress and then lose the mojo.  Then when it returns I intend to keep the momentum going but alas that doesn't happen. I am linking to http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/

 I have started another seascape.  So much fun!  I love playing with colour and texture.  The old felted sweater found in a thrift store is the perfect base.  I have added some needle felting.  I have had fun going through my stash to find bits and pieces of silk to add.  This little playground is open to all sorts of materials.   I am linking to https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/  

 I have not added a lot to this mandala since the last post about it.  It doesn't need a lot.  It definitely needs some seed beads and that will finish it off.  When I start with a fairly busy background I tend to do minimal beading.  Creating a busy background feels a little bit like cheating.  Not sure why.  It really makes no sense.  How could creating a piece of art be cheating! I am linking to http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/

  I thought I had completed this mandala weeks ago.  However, the purple fabric base was bothering me.  It seemed the right colour but somehow now quite right.  I left it in my studio so that I could ponder it.  I realized that there was just too much of the purple fabric showing.  I have added some faux gem stones and little dots of fabric paint.  This border works better I think.

 I love beautiful glass.  The work of Dale Chihuly absolutely amazes me.  I am one of those people that will jump right into something if it appeals to me but glass is intimidating.  Working with an open flame seems a bit scary.  Instead, I have collected beautiful glass over the years.  I have a lovely collection in one of my studio windows.  It makes me happy. The garden in my front yard does not get much sun and not much grows there.  Every year I have planted and every year the flowers are mostly dead by July.  This year I decided not to waste the money.  I decided to make a glass totem and fill my garden with art instead.   You can see the totem in the top photo along with some painted rocks.   The next two photos are some 'flowers' I have created.  I have yet to devise a stem for them.  The stem will need to be quite robust as the glass is fairly heavy.