Category: Mandala's

1. From knitting to paper, mandalas have become a cornerstone of my creative work

   Posted on 12:00pm Friday 18th Oct 2024

   This morning, I had the most relaxing and creatively fulfilling experience at a mandala drawing workshop led by Jane at Mandala Holmfirth. I walked in with a stressed mind, but left feeling completely refreshed and centered. The workshop focused on the art of mandalas—a form of circular design often used in meditation and mindfulness practices. A mandala is more than just a beautiful, symmetrical drawing. In many cultures, it represents wholeness, unity, and the universe, making it a powerful tool for mindfulness. The process of drawing helps bring focus and calm as your attention stays in the moment, much like in Zentangle, but with a more circular, structured approach. We started by creating a grid of concentric circles, using a compass at various sizes to form the basis of our mandala. From there, we added symmetrical patterns, some following strict geometric designs, while others were more freeform, using additional circular shapes to build layers of structure. Each ring of the mandala is like a chapter of a story, unfolding with every stroke of the pen. The slow, rhythmic process allowed me to become fully immersed in the creative flow, letting go of any outside stressors.

   What really made the workshop special was how personal each mandala became. No two were the same, even though we all started from similar circular grids. Some people added more intricate details and others stuck with simplicity, yet each design carried a sense of balance and harmony. Drawing mandalas is an excellent practice for mindfulness, bringing a sense of peace and creativity into your day. It was the perfect way to unplug and let my stress melt away, one circle at a time

   Venturing into the world of mandala art has been a bit of a spiritual adventure for me, blending mindfulness with my love of craft. I’ve explored this art form not only through traditional drawing but as you know also in fiber arts. One of my proudest achievements has been translating mandalas into a series of knitted brioche mandala art pieces. Using the intricate brioche stitch—a technique that lends itself to bold, two-color designs—I’ve created patterns that capture the symmetry and meditative qualities of mandalas, but in a soft, textured medium.

   In addition to my art pieces, I’ve designed two knitted patterns developed from the art I created.. Flower Garden Mandala Starburst Mandala These patterns take the core principles of circularity, repetition and meditative brioche offering a peaceful, rhythmic process similar to mandala drawing. Each round builds on the last, resulting in striking, intricate pieces that evoke the same sense of balance and unity.

   I’ve also extended my passion for mandalas into more everyday expressions by creating greeting cards featuring my designs. These cards provide a unique and personal touch for any occasion

   From knitting to paper, mandalas have become a cornerstone of my creative work, offering endless ways to explore mindfulness, symmetry, and beauty in different mediums. Hope you like them xx

2. I didn't realise

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 3rd Mar 2022

   I didn't realise.............. That it would be so difficult to get my new greeting cards seen by people. I know that they are really pretty and will be appreciated by the recipient. I also know that 'knitters' will really get the time and effort that's gone in to the original design and knit. What I didn't realise is that there are thousands and thousands of greeting cards on line. How do I get mine seen? Any ideas? Can you help by sharing or passing this email on to some of your knitting friends?  Each greeting card is printed on 300 gms regular matte finish card and is 14.25cm x 14.25cm square with the mandala covering the whole of the front of the card. The back of the card shows a small image of the mandala with my design details. The cards come with a simple white envelope and are cellophane wrapped to keep clean. I've left the inside of the card blank so it's suitable for Birthdays, Mothers Day, Get Well Soon or just to keep in touch. Each card is priced at £3.50 with free UK shipping.  I do have a limitation on the web site where I can't offer free UK shipping AND a shipping charge for outside the UK. So if this is you, just let me know and I'll find a way of charging you the price of shipping to your country separately. ** PLEASE DON'T LET THAT STOP YOU PURCHASING **

   Yes! It's finished and SOLD already! Honestly these mandala's are much prettier when you can see them in the flesh so to speak. The fine mohair that is used as the background colour really makes the work look so delicate and pretty. So this one is sold to one of my knitting friends, she has seen and admired some of the mandala's I've been showing her and was just waiting for the right one (right colours I presume) to pop up.  If you are admiring and wondering whether I can complete one in your preferred colour combination then just let me know. I still haven't written up or tested the pattern yet though. It's going to take a little time before my brain feels up to it.   If you live local (West Yorkshire) you can see some of the mandala's in the window of my local post office (Slaithwaite). Greeting cards are also available in the post office.

   I design and create the mandala's using Brioche knitting, a technique that I'm in love with. It's a process that I really don't have to think about once I've worked out an initial starting plan, the design just comes to life. I have to stick to one or two rules to create the circular shape but after that anything goes. To finish I block and stretch the mandala out and attach to an embroidery hoop.