I use many binders at work to help me organize my notes. A great way to make binders pretty is to make fabric binder covers. I found the sewing instructions on Youtube but added a few embellishments at tweeks on my own. After sewing a couple, I like cotton twill best and second is cotton flannel. Other quilting cotton works too with interfacing, but I find them a little slippery to the touch because the binder covers are made of smooth plastic. It is fun to add elastic, ribbons or even pockets if you wish.

I find a good way to alleviate stress, anxiety and depression over Covid times is to create. My head has been filled with so many ideas that I don’t have enough time in the day to implement them. Then I want to share with friends, but then think, “Ah no, they do not want to hear about my silly ideas!”, so I thought instead of keeping a journal why not just record them in a blog. The creations are in no particular chronological order as I am not that organized with writing everyday. This is a start for me. I will start with something I am most excited about, healing bracelet wrist cuffs. It has multiple uses, one of which is they keep the wrist warm, they are fun to look at, and they serve as an inspirational or prayer reminder. They are also fun to make. These ones are simply embellished with some stitching and butterfly buttons.

Maha Chundi,  Zhǔntí Púsà (準提菩薩, “Chundi Bodhisattva”) or Zhǔntí Fómǔ (準提佛母, “Chundi Buddha-Mother”)

Chundi (Sanskrit: चुन्दी, literally “Extreme Purity”) is a bodhisattva venerated in the Mahāyāna Buddhist schools and is also known as a bhagavati, or “mother of buddhas”,

Chundi Bodhisattva is a being of great spiritual status.   Being the mother of all the deities of the Lotus class, she is therefore known as the Mother of Seven Kotis of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. She is all-powerful, and her Tantric epithet is the Most Victorious Vajra, or Subjugation Vajra.

Chundi is attended by two dragon (naga) kings who stand guard by her lotus throne. These two dragon kings are Nanda and Upananda.    Devotees pray to Maha Chundi Bodhisattva for protection from all kinds of harm.  The articles which are held in her hands possess great power and have symbolic meanings.

Chundi is well revered in the Chinese and Japanese Buddhist Esoteric sects.   In China, she is known as Zhǔntí Púsà (準提菩薩, “Chundi Bodhisattva”) or Zhǔntí Fómǔ (準提佛母, “Chundi Buddha-Mother”), while in Japan she is known as Juntei Kannon (准胝観音) or Kanji,and in Vietnam as Phật Mẫu Chuẩn Đề. In Malaysia, among the Fujian Chinese speaking community in Penang, she is known as Tao Bo Hut, translated as Divine Mother or Mother of all Buddhas.

Paying homage to Maha Chundi can be done by reciting her mantra:

 To constantly recite the mantra as follow,

namaḥ saptānāṃ samyaksaṃbuddha koṭīnāṃ tadyathā

oṃ cale cule cundī svāhā

This dharani was revealed by Buddha out of great compassion for sentient beings, to help relieve them from sufferings.

 

Inspired gift for friends or family. Spread the love! This pendant is reversible.

 

This is so much fun to make. The necklace bracelet has grey purple lustrous pearls with round disk like jasper with grey, green, purple and pink hues and flecks. It can be worn as both a bracelet and necklace. Comes with detachable antique brass chain.

Double-sided easy bookmarks to make reading fun!

A pretty gift from Susanne. Lovely spring summer colors.

My girlfriend Susanne makes the most awesome mug rugs. They are sewn to perfection and all so chic and cute. Even the ones that appear the simplest are carefully thought out so that they are always pleasing to the eye. Here is one I took a picture of. Will take more pictures next week of her new creations.

Sacred Geometry Inspiration

I took pictures of the Medicine Wheel in Morongo as a source of inspiration for my flower of life flag. These apparently link up to seven other sacred sites in the world.