Tag: Mandala

Mandala Redux…..

This time last year, I started a project called “Let’s Quilt a Mandala! The plan was to design and quilt a new mandala pattern each month. I kept to that plan (for the most part) and finished the last one a few weeks ago.

Yesterday, I posted about using the “Quilt-As-You-Go” technique to put the blocks together and I finished up the project with a binding to finish the edges….

So, now that I can call this project officially…..

But……what did I learn?

Firstly, quilting mandalas is just like doing grid quilting (which I explored in 2023)…..except that the grid has a slight curve to it!

Secondly, I learned that the mandalas look better if I repeated elements or had a “theme for each one.

I didn’t know that for the first one and used lots of different designs to fill in the 6 circles…..

It does not have the continuity that many of the others had.

This one was a favorite as I tried to use lots of straight lines…..

I also learned how much difference it makes to add some filler designs.

That idea continued in number 8…..

The use of repetitive designs is what made number 4 work so well…..

I loved the “circles on sticks” idea!

Repetition also helped with number 11….

The repeating curved “petal” shapes and the triangles/diamonds really set this one apart!

Along the way, I also learned to trust my FMQ abilities and tackle things that I didn’t think I could do…..like these curly-que swirls…..

Several people have asked which was my favorite and the “hands-down” answer is……

I am a HUGE sunflower and daisy fan, and these red flowers on yellow fabric just tickled my fancy!!

While I am sad to leave this project, I am looking forward to what will come to take it’s place!!

AND, to not completely dismiss them, I am debating about putting together a 4+ hour workshop that would teach how to draw, design and quilt a mandala.

Is that a workshop that would appeal to you??

THANKS SO MUCH for joining me on the Quilted Mandala Journey!!

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The FINAL Mandala…..finally!

My Mandala project was started in January of 2024, hot on the heels of my “Grid Quilting” project in 2023.

To me, the mandalas were simply an extension of that project. I was still quilting on a grid, but the grid went around in circles!

At first, I despaired of being able to come up with 12 mandala designs, but I quickly got into a groove and enjoyed designing them each month.

I learned a lot along the way.

Most importantly, the mandala should have a theme, or at least have designs that were repeated throughout the circle.

Secondly, the design needed to be quilt-able…..without a lot of starts and stops!!

As you will see, I struggled with that second point in mandala #12!

I love the “peacock” feel of number 12….

I have a “Quilt-As-You-Go” planned for finishing this quilt up, so stay tuned for that!!

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When the lights go out…..

Our area of Georgia was so fortunate because Hurricane Helene passed over us quickly and with very little damage.

However, we did lose power for about 12 hours.

This was not unexpected so I had a plan for what I was going to work on when I couldn’t do anything else!! I was going to start building the final pattern for my HI (Holiday Inn) quilt!!

As I thought more about it, I decided that the best thing to do was to design 1/4 of the circle and then enlarge it as needed for each circle.

So, in my studio…..with 4 open windows providing light, I started the drawing process…..

I used the tools that are useful for my mandala preparation….

…..and fairly quickly had 1/4 of a circle done…..

Next, I wanted to draw the arcs on the end of each wedge…..

After trying to freehand it, I pulled out a compass and drew it more mathematically!!

I kept working in the semi-dark until I had a good pattern for the circles…..

Now I need to play with the designs and figure out how to quilt the “mandala” portion of the piece. I took a photo, opened it in Procreate on my i-Pad and started playing with designs….

It was lunchtime, so I headed downstairs to find something to eat. I found my husband sitting in the lighted kitchen fixing his lunch.

WHEN DID THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON??

Michael informed me that they had been on for about 20 minutes, but in my window-lighted room, I had NO idea!!

It was an enjoyable way to spend time in my studio and I have now officially “made a start” on this quilt!!

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