Thursday 16 July 2015

Dutch Mandala #MandalasForWink #MandalasForMarinke

Two resin model bunnies flank the mandala made in Dutch colours: orange, red, white and blue.  Rings of red cluster stitches represent tulips with a touch of green beneath them for the foliage.
"Dutch Mandala"
crocheted by Jodiebodie
#MandalasForWink

These two Dutch bunnies hopped across their shelf today to discover my tribute to Dutch crochet designer and author, Marinke Slump, also known as 'Wink' from the blog A Creative Being.

Marinke is famous for her crocheted mandalas which she promoted as soothing, therapeutic projects with their beautiful colours and meditative, repetitive stitches.


Two weeks ago the crochet world received the sad news of her untimely death. My condolences go out to her family and friends and everybody feeling her loss today.

In a previous blog entry  (3 July 2015), I listed a number of special memorial projects underway including Wink's official memorial site.  This post is my contribution to the #MandalasForWink online project and my mandala is destined for the #MandalasForMarinke remembrance project.

There are bound to be many more tributes as the weeks go by, such was Wink's influence, whether it was online, through magazines or with her books which were published in Europe, the UK and the USA.

Mandala has an orange star in the centre surrounded by a blue circle. Two concentric rings of green 'leaves' and red 'tulip flowers' are separated by a wider ring of tall white stitches. After the second ring of tulips is a thin stripe of white double crochets, ending with a wider blue border with orange chain loops to finish.
This is my "Dutch Mandala"
inspired by Marinke's "I Love Holland" pattern.


Wink designed her pretty "I Love Holland" mandala to celebrate the crowning of King Willem Alexander of  The Netherlands after the abdication of Queen Beatrix.

I decided to make a different mandala based on that design in Wink's honour because Wink was Dutch and I come from a Dutch family too. I was in Holland in 1980 when the Dutch crown passed from Queen Juliana to Queen Beatrix.

My mandala uses the Dutch colours–the national colour is orange and the flag is red, white and blue.  The touch of green represents the foliage of the red 'tulips' (cluster stitches).

Two resin model bunnies flank the mandala made in Dutch colours: orange, red, white and blue.  Rings of red cluster stitches represent tulips with a touch of green beneath them for the foliage.

Marinke designed vivid mandalas and other items.  Her bright colours and simple patterns are very appealing.  Whenever I needed something to brighten my day, a quick visit to A Creative Being was enough to draw a smile.  I am so sad that even the most beautiful and brightest of  crochet was unable to pervade the depths of Marinke's depression to save her.

Kathryn Vercillo of Crochet Concupiscence (web site) is facilitating the #MandalasForMarinke remembrance project to honour Wink and raise awareness about depression after fighting her own battles against the 'black dog'.

Marinke, Kathryn and me all passionately believe in crochet as a wonderful healing therapy.  The #MandalasForMarinke project is a current example as it is helping Kathryn and other crocheters to channel grief after the loss of Wink.

My Dutch Mandala has been made as much to support Kathryn's initiative as it is a tribute to an influential crocheter who will be sadly missed around the globe.

R.I.P. Wink


Mandala has an orange star in the centre surrounded by a blue circle. Two concentric rings of green 'leaves' and red 'tulip flowers' are separated by a wider ring of tall white stitches. After the second ring of tulips is a thin stripe of white double crochets, ending with a wider blue border with orange chain loops to finish.


Links and References


ACCROchet, "Remembering Wink" by Julie, blog post, 30 June 2015: http://www.accrochet.com/2015/06/30/remembering-wink/
#MandalasForWink online tribute photographic project.


A Creative Being, "Goodbye, Not Farewell" by Tinc, blog post, 29 June 2015: http://www.acreativebeing.com/2015/06/29/goodbye-not-farewell/

Lupey Loops, "A Tragic Twenty-four Hours", blog post, 3 July 2015: http://lupeyloops.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/a-tragic-twenty-four-hours.html

Much Loved, "Memorial to Wink: 1984-2015", web page: http://wink.muchloved.com/  
This is an official memorial to Wink

Slump, Marinke, "I Love Holland", crochet pattern, A Creative Being, 24 April 2013: http://www.acreativebeing.com/2013/04/24/i-love-holland/

Slump, Marinke:


Vercillo, Kathryn, "#MandalasForMarinke: Crochet Project in Memory of Wink from A Creative Being", blog entry, Crochet Concupiscence, 29 June 2015: http://www.crochetconcupiscence.com/2015/06/mandalasformarinke-crochet-project-in-memory-of-wink-from-a-creative-being

Post Scriptum 5 October 2015
 

Vercillo, Kathryn, "Jodie's Crochet MandalasForMarinke", blog entry, Crochet Concupiscence, 3 Otober 2015: http://www.crochetconcupiscence.com/2015/10/jodies-crochet-mandalasformarinke/




Yarn Details


Orange
Kmart Homemaker Everyday 8 ply 100% acrylic
Colour: 378
Dye lot: 774542
Amount:  3 grams / 9.3 metres

Blue
Moda Vera Marvel Plain 8 ply 100% acrylic
Colour:1016
Dye lot: 770670
Amount: 7 grams / 19.9 metres

Green
Spotlight Basics Premium Marvel Plain 8 ply 100% acrylic
Colour:1020
Dye lot: 1874
Amount: 5 grams / 15.5 metres

Red
Carnival 8 ply 100% acrylic
Colour: 095
Dye lot: 760466
Amount: 8 grams / 27.4 metres

White
Kmart Homemaker Everyday 8 ply 100% acrylic
Colour:301
Dye lot: 765326
Amount: 9 grams / 27.9 metres


18 comments:

  1. Such a pretty mandala! I am sure Wink would have loved it!

    Take care
    Anne (Crochet Between Worlds)

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    Replies
    1. Wow, Anne. That is a huge compliment. Thank you. I feel sad that Marinke cannot see all of the beautiful work that people have made in her honour.

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  2. Such beautiful bright colours, just such sad circumstances. x

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    Replies
    1. Very sad, indeed. I have no words to describe the tragedy without sounding trite. I couldn't imagine a world without creative colour. To think that someone as creative as Marinke could have lost that joy just leaves me dumbfounded and in sorrow for her.

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  3. a lovely tribute - both your words and your crocheted mandala.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Mary-Anne. I would like to find time and energy for another one but not sure whether I can get it done by the project closing date.

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  4. Such a lovely tribute to a very talented designer.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Meredith, for taking time to drop by even though you are going through a very busy and difficult time. As I reflect upon current events in our lives, I am coming to the conclusion that it is more important than ever to make sure we see, find and appreciate the beauty in life - in the world and in others - EVERY day and find joy in those things.

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  5. Your mandala is beautiful, real Durch. I am sure that Wink would be very pleased with it. Viola

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Viola. I need to make a South Australian one now! The design is in my head, I just need to find the time to work on it.
      I like the mandalas that you have made - both on your blog's masthead and your most recent 'Summer Project'. I will copy the link here because your most recent mandala is so pretty and I would like Lupey Loops visitors to see your work too: http://colourcrochetlove.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/a-summer-project.html
      I can see why Marinke found mandalas so inspiring.
      Wishing you a relaxing summer time, Viola xx

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  6. Thank you for your visit and kind remarks on my blog. Your crocheting is beautiful! That is something I regret not learning to do!

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    Replies
    1. It is never too late to start, Elizabeth! ;-)
      You will find plenty of resources and friends online to help you. Good luck with everything and have fun. Cheers!

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  7. Beautiful mandala. Thanks for sharing and for joining in with the mandalas for marinke project! <3 HUGS.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Kathryn. :-)
      Wishing you every success. xxx

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    2. Thank you, Kathryn, for sharing this post on your Twitter feed. That is very generous of you.

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    3. Thank you for such a detailed post aboutthe effects of depression on children and young carers as part of your Mandalas For Marinka blog series:
      http://www.crochetconcupiscence.com/2015/10/jodies-crochet-mandalasformarinke
      It is an honour to have my mandala associated with that. The resources you have found are excellent. I wish they were available when I was a child.

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  8. That is a beautiful work of art =) Thank you for sharing!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for taking the time to visit and thanks back to you for sharing #MandalasForWink on your blog. It's nice to meet you through this activity but sad about the circumstances. I look forward to reading your blog posts in more detail soon. I see so many headings that I am interested in (especially the tunisian crochet topic) but have hardly been home long enough this week. Please be patient with me - I will get there! :-)

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