Nature through the eyes of my camera

 Quilting is the stitching together of layers of padding and fabric and may date back as far as 3400 BC. Much of early quilting was a technique to provide physical protection and insulation. Quilting appears on more than just quilts, it is found on clothing, particularly jackets. Quilting was stitched by hand before the invention of the sewing machine in 1856. My granddaughter and I made a quilt during covid from all the odd pieces of material that I had. Originally it was a cover for her doll, but eventually it became a cover for her own bed. My granddaughter loved using the sewing machine to stitch all the squares together (under supervision, as she was only eight years old). The quilt still lays on her bed today. It is from this experience that I decided I would like to have a go at making a quilt myself. Rather than jumping in at the deep end I have started by making a square foam cushion and am now making a tote bag.  Square cushion ...

 Mandala art originated in India. The Buddhist monks spread Mandalas along the Silk Road in the form of Rangoli designs. It spread throughout Asia and was soon adopted by other cultures like Tibet, China and Japan.  (The Silk Road is India's ancient network of land and sea trade routes that connect East and West).  The word Mandala is Sanskrit (language) for 'circle', and symbolizes the universe, with designs around a central point. By the 20th century Mandalas had been introduced into western culture as tools for self-exploration and for achieving inner balance. I found Mandala art through Pinterest and thought I would like to 'give it a go'. I already had some acrylic paints and I found sound thick card pieces that I had saved. In January I started by making some circle shapes. I enjoyed dotting my circles and so went on to make some coasters using various designs. I preferred using black backgrounds as I felt this showed the colours I was using better. Each desig...