Carina has also written two books: Stitched Blooms, published by Lark in Feb 2014, and Romantic Motifs, published by Search Press in 2016. Mandalas to Embroider is her third book. Carina designs her own embroidery patterns which she sells successfully via her on-line store Polka and Bloom, and also sells items of clothing and accessories which she embellishes with her embroidery designs.

This book is beautifully photographed, with lots of bright, compelling images of each project. Carinas wonderful sense of color is evident throughout this book. It's a delightful book, and I recommend it to any stitcher! What's in the book Slip into serenity through your stitches with this collection of 24 beautiful, meditative mandalas by Polka & Bloom's Carina Envoldsen-Harris.If you’ve never tried embroidery, I’d definitely encourage you to give it a try – I found it very relaxing and satisfying to watch the design come together. And I think Mandalas to Embroider is a perfect introduction to embroidery, as you can build your confidence by practicing your stitching on the smaller patterns, or do as I did and jump right into a large one.

Ever since Carina mentioned that she was designing a book of mandalas, I’ve been waiting to see what she came up with, and I wasn’t disappointed! Embroidery, like other slow crafts, can be a calm relaxing hobby, and combining that with repeating mandala patterns sounds like a perfect recipe for slowing down and enjoying some crafting time. Search Press supports the Self-Regulatory Principles for Online Behavioral Advertising of the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA), the Digital Advertising Alliance of Canada (DAAC), and the European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance (EDAA). Two dozen colorful, mandala-inspired embroidery designs created by Envoldsen-Harris (Transfer & Stitch: Romantic Motifs) are the focus of this collection. Floral motifs figure prominently, including seasonal designs featuring cherry blossoms and poinsettias, as well as stylized and Scandinavian-style flowers. Other designs serve as a showcase of stitches, such as the winter solstice mandala, which includes a variety of decorative stitches in a traditional circular layout. Suggestions for colors and stitches are provided, but stitchers can customize based on individual preferences. Twelve of the mandalas are large (sized to fit in a six-inch hoop), and 12 are miniature (sized to fit in a three-inch hoop), with iron-on transfers provided for each. VERDICT These beginner-friendly designs will provide a meditative stitching experience. The book offers 12 large and 12 smaller mandalas to embroider, which Carina explains how to make through simple, beautiful stitch diagrams and keys. Only 10 stitches have been used to create all the mandalas, and each one is explained and accompanied by clear, step-by-step diagrams at the beginning of the book. In addition, there are notes on what you need in your basic embroidery kit from fabrics through to needles and thread which means those new to embroidery can start their journey to mindfulness right away. There are 24 total patterns with iron on transfers, and materials, stitch, and color guides.There are 12 large patterns made to fit in a 6 or 7 inch embroidery hoop, and 12 mini patterns for tiny Dandelyne hoops.The lovely people at Search Press sent me a free copy of this book to review (thanks, guys!) and have another copy for me to give away - hurrah! With Carina's gentle guidance beginners can also learn how to display their creations in embroidery hoops, including the much-loved Dandelyne hoops which the 12 mini mandalas can fit inside perfectly. Any long-forgotten, tired pieces in your wardrobe and home? There is also advice and photos inside on how to use your stunning mandalas to embellish myriad accessories and items, from shoes to tote bags. Slip into serenity through your stitches with this collection of 24 beautiful, meditative mandalas by Polka & Bloom's Carina Envoldsen-Harris. With Carina's gentle guidance beginners canalso learn howto display their creations in embroidery hoops, including the much-loved Dandelyne hoops which the 12 mini mandalas can fit inside perfectly. Any long-forgotten, tired pieces in your wardrobe and home? There is also advice and photos inside on how to use your stunning mandalas toembellish myriad accessories and items, from shoes to tote bags. Carina's work has been published in many magazines including: Cross Stitcher, Mollie Makes (three issues), Australian Homespun (twice), Hoop-La!, Homemade with Love. She has also contributed to the following books: Mend It Better, Mollie Makes Christmas, The Needlecraft Stitch Directory, Stitch Along, Doodle Stitching: The Holiday Motif Collection (upcoming) , Mollie Makes: Embroidery (upcoming).

Mandalas to Embroider includes 12 large and 12 small delicate repeating patterns. Nature-based, geometric, or more abstract, the designs are all bold, happy, and – of course! – colourful. The circular nature of the patterns means they fit perfectly in an embroidery hoop, making the finished pieces easy to display. The book offers 12 large and 12 smaller mandalas to embroider, which Carina explains how to make through simple, beautiful stitch diagrams and keys. Only 10 stitches have been used to create all the mandalas, and each one is explained and accompanied by clear, step-by-step diagrams at the beginning of the book. In addition, there are notes on what you need in your basic embroidery kit - from fabrics through to needles and thread - which means those new to embroidery can start their journey to mindfulness right away. I really love this book, and (gushing friendship moment) I'm really proud of Carina for designing it, she is so talented and her use of colour is always such a joy. Carina’s designs always have a hand-drawn quality to them, and I was impressed to see that she’s managed to maintain that even with the repeating patterns in Mandalas to Embroider. There’s still a free, natural quality to the designs. I noticed while I was stitching the flowers that the petals of each flower aren’t perfectly identical. This is a good thing – the relaxed nature of the design felt like permission to be relaxed in the execution – there’s no need to make every stitch exactly even and perfect to get a beautiful result. This book is beautifully styled and photographed, and I couldn’t stop paging through again and again to admire the variety of mandala-inspired patterns.Carina's work has been published in these magazines: Cross Stitcher, Mollie Makes (three issues), Australian Homespun (twice), Hoop-La!, Homemade with Love. She has also contributed to the following books: Mend It Better, Mollie Makes Christmas, The Needlecraft Stitch Directory, Stitch Along, Doodle Stitching: The Holiday Motif Collection (upcoming), Mollie Makes: Embroidery (upcoming). With Carina's gentle guidance beginners can also learn how to display their creations in embroidery hoops, including the much-loved Dandelyne hoops which the 12 mini mandalas can fit inside perfectly. Any long-forgotten, tired pieces in your wardrobe and home? There is also advice and photos inside on how to use your stunning mandalas to embellish myriad accessories and items, from shoes to tote bags. Mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning "circle", and these beautiful round motifs are a part of Buddhist and Hindu religion. Recently they have gained popularity for more secular reasons, but are still a meditative and calming practice which is why they feature in so many coloring books. Embroidery is also a soothing hobby, and so putting the two together makes sense. The result is a book of twenty-four gorgeous patterns. Slip into serenitythrough your stitches with this collection of 24 beautiful, meditative mandalas by Polka & Bloom's Carina Envoldsen-Harris.