I don’t know if you know this about me, but I’m a fairly crafty person. I bet if we tried hard enough, we could find some folks who are still cleaning up from opening my wedding invitations almost four years ago (#glitterbomb)!  But one medium I’ve never tried is quilling. I know what it is and have seen the supply sections in my local craft stores, but I’ve never actually attempted to quill myself. I’m not even sure if I’m using the correct terminology. Do quillers quill? Feel free to educate me in the comments section.
Anyway, recently the library got a new book in that may convert me.  Called Quilled Mandalas, by expert quiller Alli Bartkowski, takes the art of quilling to a whole new level. I might not be a quiller, but I’ve been a fan of the mandala for a long time now. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, mandalas are spiritual depictions of the cosmos. They are usually symmetrical and are found in many religions and cultures. I was first introduced to them through various coloring books and when I can, I find it very relaxing to work on them. I never imagined that you could create them by quilling, but I am intrigued.
Bartkowski claims that her book is for the beginner to the advanced quiller, but I must admit that I was a little intimidated by some of the steps. Also, there seem to be a lot of tools required to become a quiller, but the mandalas are so cool that it might just be worth the higher cost of entry. The book does give good instructions on how to do the basic steps in the front, so with proper motivation, I just may be able to pull this off. At the very least, the mandalas in the book are beautiful to look at. 
If you are any kind of crafty person, or if you like mandalas, or if you’re just looking for a new challenge, this book may be just what you need.
Happy quilling…
:) Amanda