Beading the Sedona Spring Mandala

 

I started beading the Sedona, Arizona, spring mandala this week. Gold seemed to be called for, given the golden light that shines down on Sedona's famous red (actually, orange) rocks.

After embroidering blanket stitches with Artfabrik's hand-dyed thread around the sun mandala and the rocks, I sat in the sun and added gold beads. Very meditative.

Here are some of the rock formations whose colors inspired me. The first photo shows Courthouse Rock on the left and Bell Rock on the right. We've hiked the three-hour loop around them several times and the scenery is incredible.

This second photo I took today as we hiked Deadman's Pass and Long Canyon.

Many desert plants remind me of unfolding mandalas, including these two:

The photo above and below show how the oranges and greens of Sedona have influenced my mandala piece.

Most of all, this piece is about the sun! You'd never have these great shadows without sun! I wish I could send some to those of you still in the snow when it's almost spring.

I've linked this to Nina Marie's Off the Wall Fridays at http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/, where you can see what other fabric artists have on their design walls this week. Enjoy.

 Have a colorful day!