Princess Bubbles Creates

 I love this tree shape.  It seems so happy to me.  I have used it numerous times in my art but I have not tired of it.  I plan to use this shape each month this year.  I was gifted with some silk samples and plan to use them as the base each month.  I have 13 of them so enough for a cover as well.  This will be in a book form. I used the silk 'paper' technique and then cut out the tree from it.  I then stitched it to the silk base and added beading.  There isn't much contrast in this piece.  I didn't think about that at all as I put it together.  I need to get better at working with contrast.  Still, I like my happy little tree.

 I don't have this mandala fully glued together yet.  I am pondering how to best adhere all the layers together.  Two of the layers are coffee filters.  Coffee filters are strong but they can be tricky to glue together.  It tends to get wrinkly.   Now I am thinking I need to look through my stash and find a different base layer.  One that is more robust and will handle the glue better.  Hmm, thinking, thinking.   addendum Thanks to Karrin for suggesting stitching it together!  I have done that in the past and not sure why I didn't think of it this time!

 More mixed media was added to this mandala.  Even though this is a slow stitching project no stitching was added.  I stencilled it with some acrylic paint.  I have also added some transfer foil.  That will be it for the mixed media on this one.  The rest will be embroidery stitches. I like having this structure.  It helps to have it when adding the stitching.  I hope I have time for some stitching this afternoon!  It is cold outside so getting snuggly and stitching sounds good! I am linking to https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/

 I like that I have self-published my second book!  I feel it is important to stop and recognize this accomplishment.  So often I merely move on to the next thing.  I need to be proud of this!  I need to celebrate this!  This is no small thing!   This book is full of my gorgeous kaleidoscope photos and inspiring quotes.  It has been a long time coming.  The program I used wasn't great and caused some issues.  It was easy to get frustrated and walk away, for long periods!  But I have another book I want to write and I knew that it would not come together before finishing this one.  I persisted and I finished it!  Yay! Kaleidoscope Inspirations  is available as a PDF for $9.99US. I like that the contractor is coming tomorrow.  The reno that we started one year ago!  will now be moving forward.  Getting a contractor to come seems like a small miracle.  He has been promising to come for months!...

 Yep, more dog hair that I didn't notice before I took this picture!  I love the start of this mixed-media mandala.  The circle in the centre is a paste paper I created many years ago.  Paste paper making is so much fun!  It is like fingerpainting!  It was stitched on with a gorgeous holographic thread.  Yummy!  The outer design was done with transfer foil that is similar in colour to the holographic thread.   Now this mandala needs some embroidery.  Some of the mandalas for this project have loads of embroidery.  Others not quite so much.  I am a bit concerned that they won't all go together.  That isn't a big problem.  I can use those that don't fit in something else.  I might have to make more to replace them but that isn't a big deal.  I don't have a time crunch on this project.  

 The glue is showing through the paper in some spots on this mandala.  That seems like a major flaw but weirdly I like it.  I could probably add some paint to cover it up and possibly that could make it more interesting but I don't think I will.  I think I will enjoy my flawed mandala just the way it is.  

I enjoy having a monthly project to work on throughout the year.   I have landed on an idea for this year but it is not fully formed.  I love mixed media and have so many wonderful supplies.  I have not explored a lot of them.  So my intention is to use those supplies and create a tree each month.  Possibly I will create more than one tree.  I plan to play with silk pods, silk carrier rods, Angelina fibres and more. I also have some samples/experiments that I want to use.  Some of these can be difficult to stitch through so that is something to consider.  Also, I am undecided about what form this project should take.  Do I want to make another scroll or other book form?  What will my substrate be for each tree?   At least I have a direction to go in.  I know it will all come together eventually! I am linking to https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/