Princess Bubbles Creates

                                                           The Peace of Wild Things “When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.”  Wendell Berry The line 'I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief.' So good!  Art helps me get to that same place.

 This photograph is disappointing.  The wool circle is actually a powder blue but it looks grey and so dull in the photo.  I will put this one in the completed pile even though I feel it needs a bit more.  I will know better what it needs when the whole project comes together.  Moving on to the next mandala seems the right thing to do now.   There is still a stack of wool circles to get through.  I am not even half way through the stack.  I will try to stay concentrated.  I know I will love the project when it is all finished. I am linking to https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/

 At the beginning of November I started a joy practice.  I am generally a mostly positive and joyful person but sometimes our positive emotions can use some magnifying.  My joy practice is much like a gratitude practice.  I want to notice something that brings me joy and then sit with it.  Enjoy the joy. I was driving passed a schoolyard the other day.  I noticed a young boy scoop up a big pile of leaves and throw them over his head.  It was absolutely delightful! Another joy moment happened just before a yoga class.  Two friends came together.  They hadn't seen each other for a while and they gave each other the most beautiful long hug.  I felt their love and joy in that moment.  I was so grateful to get to witness it! I will share one more joyful moment.  After a yoga class I told the teacher about my joy practice and for that day what brought me joy was her beautiful smiling face.  She then shared with me that she was h...

I have made some progress on this mandala.  I decided to add the heart stitches that I learned this year.  It is on my sampler and I love the way it looks.  It is much harder to get the stitches even when not using Aida cloth.  They still look like hearts though so all is good. I wonder what this stitch would look like beaded.  I bet it would be good.  I must find a project to try that on!  

 I bought some circle-shaped watercolour paper a while back.  So far, I haven't created any remarkable mandalas on said paper.  I am not quite sure why. This one is the best so far and it is only okay.  I will keep working at it and see what I can do. 

  Another slice of the pie is finished.  I learned some new stitches which is the goal of the project.  I think this sampler will be a lovely reminder of the stitches.  I plan to keep it accessible in my studio so I can easily refer to it.   With only two slices left to fill, I find myself thinking about a project for next year.  I rather enjoy having a year-long project.  I like having something small to accomplish each month.  Years ago I did a bead journal a month project and loved it.  I don't think that group is going but I could just do it for myself.  It is fun to see what others do though. I am linking to https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/

 Yep, I am working on another scroll.  This one is a bit shorter than the others.  I have started stitching on some small doilies that I have hand-dyed.  This scroll is made up of fabrics that I have dyed or painted and did some rubbings or stencilling upon.  I hope that the doilies pull it all together in a pleasing way. If not, I will figure out something else to add to it!