Pushing the pause button on my boho heart crochet mandala project seems to have done the trick, and in doing that, I have made progress on the granny square bag that is my front burner project, and I am almost done (I think) with the crochet boho heart mandala.
While my granny square bag-to-be is nowhere near done — there are still a number of ends to be woven in and even more granny squares to be crocheted — here it is in it’s current, messy glory:

and it seems that pausing on the one project has been and effective tool to shake loose whatever it was that was impeding my progress on the “almost done” boho heart crochet mandala.
I don’t understand the mechanism by which pausing or stopping one’s work can actually help one get more done, but as of yesterday, every heart was seamed and joined:

And today, building on yesterday’s progress, I not only wove in all of the straggling ends and trimmed them, I also soaked the entire crochet mandala and blocked it.
Even the weather cooperated and here is how it looked basking in the now late, late afternoon sun:

No doubt devising and attaching an armature so this can be hung on a wall will present its own challenges, but with all of the crocheting and joining and trimming done, I think I’m ready.
Gorgeous! This mandala may become the latest must-have among crocheters everywhere.
I love it! Yes, I want to make my own boho heart mandala! I’d give it to my mom who posts wreaths on her front door for every season and occasion. Thanks for all the inspiration!