CAL Wednesday: Pick 'n' Mix part 4

Oooh, lacy.  This is part 4 of the Simply Crochet Pick 'n' Mix CAL (crochet-a-long).  The colours I chose are different to the suggested palette because I adore cool colours.  I am also using Paintbox Yarns in Aran, from lovecrochet.com instead of the recommended Cascade 220.

Have I said all this before?  I probably have.

I have got two CALs on the go and I am falling ever so slightly behind... well, if there is a such thing.  I like to get the squares done when they are released, but it just isn't playing out that way at the moment.  I got these squares done quite a while ago, so not only am I behind on the actual crochet but I am also behind on blogging them!

I'm getting back into it, I promise... and no more new CALs until I get these two done and dusted!!!

Mandala Monday #10

Happy Mandala Monday, everyone!

Ok, smarty-pants,  I know it's Tuesday, but I kinda fell asleep and forces are telling me to go with the flow lately.  So sleep I did!!!  Now that I'm awake, here's a Mandala to brighten your week.

This one is another one from my bargain book from The Range.  I do love them and they are such good value.  The cardstock is great quality too.  One swipe on a scoring board turns your creation into a simple card that will bring cheer into someone's life!  All you need to do is go buy some envelopes to fit.

I coloured this an the previous Mandala with my handy-dandy Chameleon pens.  You may have seen them advertised all over social media and magazines.  That's because they are good.  This design was made with four markers:  an olive green, two purples and a blue.  The variety of tints came from using the marker according to the instructions for creating a gradient.  Do search for Chameleon Pens on YouTube or indeed anywhere to see videos of this process, I highly recommend it.

I'm thinking next week's Mandala may be a Featured Artist one instead of just my own... I shall ask about it and report back next week!  Have a Marvellous Mandala Monday.  Even if it's Tuesday.  Or Wednesday... or indeed any day you may be reading this.

Citrus crochet day

Nothing like seeing a new follower pop up on Bloglovin' to remind a gal she hasn't been blogging!!  Hello new follower!

What shall I share?  It's not Monday... so the mandala will have to wait... wednesday is for CAL updates... I had planned something for Fridays but I can't remember, so let's find a pic to share...

I guess I should catch you all up... I seem to have started selling essential oils.  I just took delivery of a lovely citrus trio of oils and so I was inspired to make this little orange crocheted car diffuser.  It has a loop on the top and bottom and I clip it to one of the vents in my car with mini clothespegs.  Then I just drop some essential oil on and presto, citrusy freshness.

Just in case you're curious and would like a look at what I've got myself into, check out my page:

http://mydoterra.com/sycares

Any questions, message me across my social media channels... Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram @hapaxstudios if you please.

Happy Friday!

CAL Wednesday: Pick 'n' Mix Part 3

I haven't been posting my Pick 'n' Mix CAL squares in a while, but I assure you, I have been making them!!  I did get a little bit behind on them as the other CAL I'm doing, the Secret Garden CAL, has been taking up a lot of my crochet time too!  I love them both!

This pair of squares, at first glance, appeared to be standard grannies, but they're not!  Instead of three treble crochets in each chain space, they in fact are 3 treble clusters!  So they make little points instead of little rectangles.  I love this small difference.  It adds character.

You'll notice the lighting conditions and background are different... this is because I was far far away in a country cottage in Herefordshire with several other mad birds this weekend just gone.  I used the time to catch up on a lot of CAL squares but I'm not quite there yet!!!

I thought I'd pace myself posting it all though, so Wednesdays will be for posting CAL squares until I run out... although I have discovered that I do love a CAL so the two I'm doing will not likely be my last.

So, Mondays are for Mandalas, Wednesdays are for CALs... What's coming up on Friday?

Watch this space!

Mandala Monday #9

This week's Mandala is a quite simple one.  I picked up an absolute bargain- two books of 50 mandala cards for 1.99 each at The Range.  These are quicker than the ones in the book if you need a colouring fix, plus you can use them later as cards!  I plan on adding a few details to them so that they aren't just mandalas on their own.  I may add jewels, glitter, a sentiment on a raised panel or tag, something... but this is the base.

How about you?  Have you had a Marvellous Mandala Monday?  Share a link to your mandala entry here, whether or not it is on Monday. :)

See you next week for another Mandala!

Mandala Monday #8 - late!

Hello folks, I hope you had a Marvellous Mandala Monday!  I wasn't feeling particularly Marvellous and I forgot to post. So sorry, but here it is, a day late.

This Mandala was so fine in detail that I moved onto fineliner marker pens for it.  I love it, it made for some great moments of concentration and now it's amazing to look at.  For now, it is staying in the book with all the rest of them, but maybe someday I'll come up with a great way to use them in something bigger.

Feel free to share links to your mandalas in the comments, or any Instagram accounts with great mandalas in them!

I look forward to sharing more Mandalas with you soon!  Keep it Marvellous!  x

Mandala Monday #7

...and a Marvellous Mandala Monday to you again!

This week's mandala is another limited colour palette with plenty of uncoloured parts again!  This one is a bit patchy because I was using water-based markers this time.  I'm not the biggest fan of water-based markers, but I am a fan of using what you have to make art, so I thought I'd have a bash.  They are misbehaving miscreants!  Back to alcohol markers, methinks!

How about you?  Any mandalas to share?  Link in the comments.  Even if the link doesn't click, I will copy and paste and go see your lovely work!