When is a mandala not a mandala?

I so enjoyed Jacquie's mandala pattern over here that once one was finished I immediately started another.

But this time I couldn't stop.

I carried on, round after round, just adding extra stitches where necessary to keep the shape.

Trying to be random with the colour selection but in truth doing a little bit of fretting and changing around.

Not worrying about those stray ends.

Decreasing now to form an edge.

Until the end was in sight.

Et voila!

When is a mandala not a mandala?

When it's a hat for a stool!

You like???

Jane 

xxx

P.S. has anybody heard anything about a bloggers get together at Yarndale? I believe Lucy mentioned something on a post but I can't seem to find it. If not I think it could be a fab thing to do - any takers???

P.P.S. I've been a bit quiet over here of late but thinking about you all - looking forward to catching up with your blogs asap!

P.P.P.S. And a big hug to one and all - whether you need it or not!

Come into the garden Maud ...

... and wear a pretty frock.

Or at least that's what Tennyson might have said had he had access to the 'Kate' dress sewing pattern from Sew Me Something.

It originally came to my notice being modelled by the gorgeous Gilly over at Gilly Makes. Then she made a couple more and each time I was thinking hmmmm, yeeeeessss, maayyyybeeee. And then - whaddayaknow - old Lazy Daisy Jones goes and makes one as well. Two extremely talented ladies, a supposedly 'easy' frock pattern and a spare Sunday in the offing was all it took.

After the strangest conversation with the salesperson at our local fabric store (in which she relayed a rather intimate dream as I was pondering the cotton poplin) I sped home and started my least favourite sewing job - cutting out.

But once that was done it was plain sailing. The pattern is simple to follow and soon comes together. The only bit I struggled with was getting the neck to fit the binding, but with a little encouragement (and to be fair a minor bit of puckering) 'twas complete!

The following evening saw me wafting down the canal with Mr K attempting to take whimsical pictures of my newest make. Oddly when I scanned through they were all either overexposed or blurred. Now I remember seeing a horror film once where that happened and I must say I was more than slightly spooked, so this evening I felt it was only right to try and rectify the situation. Out came Maud.

Perhaps you can understand my frustration here. The evening light was glorious - everything glowed - but my poor old frock looked washed out. 

Time for a close up to fully appreciate the fabric.

Aaah yes that's better - even with a bit of puckering!

The gathered sleeves and pockets add a bit of interest.

And I did a double row of topstitching down the back seam   - just for the heckity heck of it.

All in all I'm thrilled with the result. 

I've even worn it for work. Adding a floppy sunhat and bursts of 'We Plough the Fields and Scatter' seemed appropriate as I bustled up and down the busy corridors - curtailed only by the look on a poor eight year old's face as he turned the corner to face me. Poor boy.

But I do like it so. And I want to make more. Lots more.

I just need to find a helpful fabric elf to do the cutting out.

Hugs to all of you,

Jane.

xxx

A Maud, a make and a mandala!

First Maud. 

A belated birthday present from Mr K. 

Here she is in all her glory.

Or should I say her birthday suit! 

Pretty roses all around.

But Maud! Where are your manners? Clothe yourself immediately!

Aha - I see you have chosen my latest make (did you see what I did there?!)

A tunic from The Great British Sewing Bee book  - the first series. Yes that's how long it's taken me.

But what's over there on yonder table?

Don't tell me ... it isn't ... you can't have?

You have! You've succumbed to mandala mania!

Destined for Yarndale and using the Petal and Puffs tutorial over at the very talented Bunny Mummy's blog here.

What fun!

Hold on - I sense mischief.

Hello Birdy, what can I do for you today?

You're hungry?

Oh dear - I don't think I have anything for you.

What's that - you've spotted some worms?

You haven't.

You're not going to...

BIRDY!!!

Jane

xxx

P.S. Some of us bloggers are going to meet up at Yarndale - anyone else going?

Belonging

Have you ever felt that you truly belong somewhere? Like at some point in the past you must have lived in a place that became such a part of you that years have not faded the link? Mr K has always felt a pull towards the sea. Now this one is easy to understand as he spent his childhood up on the North East coast of England. But as for me? My first few years were spent in the glorious seaside town of Hoylake on the Wirral peninsula. From there we moved several times - usually to modern houses on the outskirts of small towns. All very lovely and all with their fair share of greenery but nowhere that I could particularly say I felt rooted.

So why then, last week when Mr K and I ventured forth to somewhere completely new to both of us, did I immediately feel at home? 

Consall Forge first came to my attention via the lovely Rosie at Corners of My Mind. Set in the Churnet Valley in Staffordshire it turned out to be only half an hour away and yet we'd never heard of it before. As we approached, the verdant narrowing lanes set the scene. Within moments of leaving the car and setting foot on the woodland path I declared that this was my favourite place ever.

We continued along the one hour route 

Breathing in the freshness as the sun broke through the canopy

.

Layers of green

Punctuated with natural hues

Decay

Alongside new life

Somewhere to breathe it all in

Maybe it's to do with reading too much Enid Blyton as a child but who can't help but think trees like these must be enchanted?

We knew the River Churnet ran through the valley but we didn't expect this. On our way back to the car we found a clearing.

A place to rest

And be visited by the locals - some more easy to spot than others

Do you see him?

Back through the buttercup meadow to begin the journey home

I can't say what it is that I find so restorative about this particular landscape. I've thought about it quite deeply. Is it the symbiotic nature of all that goes to create such a place that makes me feel as though I am part of some larger living thing? The combination of water and woodland that makes the freshness so contagious? The timeless quality  - how would people one hundred years ago or more viewed these same woods?

 Some time ago I wrote about Sara Maitland's 'Gossip from the Forest'.

Here she goes to explore what has made the forests and woodland of Britain such magical places - using fairy tales, folklore and historical fact to describe how their personalities have developed over the centuries. It makes for a fascinating read.

For me the woodlands and rivers will remain magical places. 

Somewhere I truly feel I belong.

Jane

xxx