Mandala CCLIX, The Montana Mandala

 

(Above:  Mandala CCLIX, The Montana Mandala.  Custom framed:  21 1/4" x 21 1/4".  Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt.  Objects include:  A ViewMaster reel; an aluminum faucet handle; eight Grizzly chewing tobacco lids; black, wooden profiles of bears; four bear paw print coasters; blue and green plastic lids; off white backgammon pieces; assorted buttons and beads.  Click on any image to enlarge.)

 Last year I applied for an Open AIR art residency in western Montana and was lucky enough to get a month ... this past October ... in Hamilton, Montana.  I applied with images from my Found Object Mandala Series despite knowing that it would be impossible for me to continue the series while there.  After all, my stash is enormous.  There was no way to transport it all to Montana but that didn't mean I wasn't on the look out for other unique items to add to it!

(Above: Detail of Mandala CCLIX.)

I visited several thrift shops during my month in Montana.  I found all sorts of things though I had no idea how I would put them together once I returned home.  I relied on luck to assist me.  It worked!

 

(Above:  Mandala CCLIX at an angle.)

With any luck, this Found Object Mandala will get to return to Montana for the upcoming 2025 Alumni Group exhibition being arranged by Open AIR!  That show is scheduled from February 6 - 28, 2026 at Bob's Your Uncle Gallery in Missoula with an opening reception on Friday, February 6th from 6 - 9 P.  Although the opening is on Steve's birthday, we cannot travel that far for an opening!  Yet, I do hope to return to Montana myself.  There are several other exciting opportunities for a return art residency with Open AIR.  I might apply!

Mandala CCLVIII, Harley-Davidson Orange Reflectors

 

(Above:  Mandala CCLVIII, Harley-Davidson Orange Reflectors. Custom framed:  20" x 20".  Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt. Objects include:  A child's yellow 45 record; a red plastic lid; a blue faucet handle; bottle caps; red drink swizzlers; green and blue plastic lids; wooden clothespins; dominoes; shower curtain hooks; red telephone plugs; laminated Tampa Nugget cigar bands; foreign coins; pink can pull tabs; Starbucks coffee stirrers/beverage plugs; decorative blue spirals; orange Harley-Davidson reflectors under which are cardboard Coke souvenir discs; assorted buttons and beads.  Click on any image to enlarge.)

I've had the orange Harley-Davidson reflectors for a long while.  They were "auditioned" several times but never made the cut.  They never seemed to work while designing earlier mandalas.  They were either "too big" or "too orange" or just didn't balance with the center and/or other objects.  Often, I wished I had eight instead of only four.  I might have been able to use them on a larger mandala ... if I had more. 

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CCLVIII.) 

There's something about size and color and the number of objects that need to be "right" in order to assemble a nice mandala.  The objects need to "play well together".  The quilt also lends a certain, almost unnameable influence over the objects.  Finally, this small mandala was ideal for the reflectors!

 

(Above:  Mandala CCLVIII at an angle.)

Most of my Found Object Mandalas are framed in "floater" styled moulding.  This is a framing solution that doesn't have the lip of the frame coming over the top of the piece.  This one, however, isn't in a floater.  It's framed using a traditional moulding ... but one with a very reflective inner gold lip that acts almost like a mirror.  In the image above, the reflection of the laminated Tampa Nugget cigar band and the two, pink can pull tabs can be seen on the inner lip of the frame!  Cool!

Mandala CCLVII, Clock Face and PEZ Dispensers

 

(Above:  Mandala CCLVII, Clock Face and PEZ Dispensers.  Custom framed:  21 1/4" x 21 1/4".  Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt.  Objects include:  A plastic clock face; PEZ dispensers; an orange faucet handle; coffee K-pods; dairy pull tabs; ViewMaster reels; stainless steel, locking hemeostatic pliers; red plastic lids; blue Tiddlywinks; assorted buttons and beads. Click on any image to enlarge.)

Steve looked at my as if I'd lost my mind when I agreed to purchase the cheap clock at the flea market.  He said, "You know it probably won't work."  I knew ... especially after I dismantled it.  I only wanted the face, not the battery operated device.  

 

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CCLVII.)

I also knew that I had at least twelve PEZ dispensers to encircle the clock face.  This piece came together quickly ... but also ... not so quickly.  I thought I'd finished it once.  Then, I stood back.  Something was missing.  I added the dairy pull tabs and blue buttons.

 

(Above:  Mandala CCLVII at an angle.)

I thought it was finished ... again.  Then, I stood back.  Something was missing.  I then added the stainless steel, locking hemostatic pliers and the white/gold shank buttons.  Voila!  Done!  Sometimes these mandalas need a long view, a bit more time than the initial excitement affords, and a perspective of several feet away!

Mandala CCLVI, Pellegrino Caps

 

(Above:  Mandala CCLVI, Pellegrino Caps. Custom framed:  22 3/4" x 22 3/4".  Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt.  Objects include: A decorative plate on which is stitched a red and a yellow plastic lid; copper-colored can pull tabs; green drink swizzlers; four plastic prisms; dominoes; large washers; bicycle wrenches; corn cob holders; computer parts; bingo numbers; red plastic lids; assorted buttons and beads.  Click on any image to enlarge.)

The first time I used corn cob holders, it was challenging.  I had to figure out how to deal with the prongs because they "stick out" when the holder is laying flat.  Now that I know that bingo numbers solve the problem, I love using them!  Two drilled holes in the bingo numbers and the prongs are easily stitched into a non-threatening place!

 

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CCLVI.)

It took a while for me to collect enough bicycle wrenches that were similar in size.  Like cookie cutters and hole punches, these are things I collect until I have enough to use!  Their are other objects like that!  The Pellegrino caps, however, are among my favorite.  Like Heineken beer, there's a star on the cap!  I like that!

(Above:  Mandala CCLVI at an angle.)

There's quite a job looking for found objects but it's a job quite suited for me!
 

Mandala CCLV, Sevens in the Corners

(Above:  Mandala CCLV, Sevens in the Corners. Custom framed: 27 1/2" x 27 1/2".  Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt.  Objects include:  A decorative shipping helm; ViewMaster reels; bubble-headed PEZ dispensers; felt piano hammers; Mardi Gras doubloons; drink swizzlers; insulin fingerstick lancets; copper colored can pull tabs; assorted bottle caps; slides; pet rabies tags; pink hair curlers; expired medical devices in clear/blue and clear/green plastic containers; dairy pull tabs; red telephone plugs; red checkers and green sequins; assorted buttons and beads.  Click on any image to enlarge.)

This is another Found Object Mandala that was stitched before my art residency in Montana but not mounted/framed/photographed/blogged until after I returned.  It was a fun piece to stitch and I'm in debt to Gail Patterson at Spiralis Gallery in Easton, Maryland.  Not only does she represent my work but she donated the PEZ dispensers to my stash!  

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CCLV.)

Lots of nice people have donated to my stash.  That's how I ended up with the insulin fingerstick lancets and the expired medical devices but also the sizzlers and many of the bottle caps.  My stash is now quite large but I'm always looking to add to it!

 

(Above:  Mandala CCLV at an angle.)

 

I hope that Spiralis Gallery needs additional artwork in the near future.  I'd love to return the PEZ dispensers to Maryland!

 

Mandala CCLIV, The Doll Plates

(Above:  Mandala CCLIV, The Doll Plates. Custom framed: 29 3/4" x 29 3/4".  Found objects hand-stitched to quilted background made from donated, antique blocks.  Objects include:  A set of vintage doll plates; a votive candle base supported by purple, toddler snack tops; antique poker chips; red-handled children's scissors; blue poker chips; vintage slides; purple Mardi Gras doubloons; wire connector caps; pruning snips; Monopoly hotels; copper U-clamps; plastic bottle caps; bright pink can pull tabs; purple figures on horseback; blue lids with dark pink, fabric yoyos; assorted buttons and beads.  Click on any image to enlarge.)

I finished stitching this mandala long before I went to Montana for a month-long art residency but never got around to mounting/framing/photographing/blogging it.  There's plenty to do after the last object is stitched in place! 

 

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CCLIV.)

There were a couple other mandalas that were likewise stitched but not otherwise progressed.  I had lots of work to do when I returned.  Some of it dealt with the artwork created while away; much of it dealt with the waiting mandalas.

 

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CCLIV.)

Most (if not all) of my Found Object Mandalas have a story or two behind the quilt and/or objects used.  This one has a couple!  First, the antique quilt blocks were donated to my stash.  I created two squares from the very damaged blocks.  One square was transformed into Mandala CCXLV.  This is the other square.  Like the earlier mandala, I positioned the square onto batting and a backing fabric and then quilted it.  Unlike traditional quilts, I do not aim for tiny stitches.  Instead, I use perle cotton to make the stitching more obvious!  It can easily be seen in the image above.  I stitched with both navy blue and lavender thread.

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CCLIV at an angle.)

One of the stories regarding the objects is about the votive candle holder in the center.  I've had it for at least a year. I auditioned it dozens of times for a centerpiece. It never seemed to work because the edges are so far off the quilt.  I almost threw the thing out!  Then, I remembered the toddler snack tops! They were used to fill that space.  Another story is about the doll plates.  Steve and I visited an antique mall and were disappointed in the selections.  Almost everything was too highly priced for me to purchase.  Right before leaving, I spotted the plastic doll plates in a locked cabinet.  I assumed (especially since they were in this guarded enclosure!) that they were expensive.  Steve asked for the key.  Twelve dollars!  That's the right price range!  It never hurts to ask!

 

(Above:  Mandala CCLIV hanging on one of my ProPanel walls for its photo-op!)

The other thing about this mandala is its name.  Since the beginning of this series, Steve and I have referred to the mandalas using a nick name.  We have to!  Though we both know our Roman numerals, it's impossible to remember one number from the next.  Now ... with over two-hundred and fifty ... I am going to include the nickname with these blog posts.  I'm even using it on the photo folders!

Work made in Montana

(Above:  Composite photo of two, hand-stitched In Box Series pieces entirely stitched while enjoying a one-month art residency in Hamilton, Montana.  They are now both framed with outer dimensions of 21 1/2 x 17 1/2" and with a price of $425 each.  Click on any image in this post to enlarge.)

It's been two weeks since I last posted and much has happened since then!  First, my one-month Open AIR art residency came to an end when Steve flew back to Missoula on Halloween.  He'd driven me to Montana and returned to drive me home!  I am indeed one lucky artist.  It took three-and-a-half days to travel back across this giant sized country.  Sure, we could have shortened the trip by about a day ... but we are now retired and no longer need to rush, rush, rush ... which might be one of the reasons it's taken so long for me to update my blog!  Yet, writing a blog post really couldn't be a priority after being away for a month!

 

(Above:  Three of nine Relic Series pieces entirely created during the art residency.)

 

Putting everything away took time! Catching up with various correspondence was necessary. Going to the Pickens County Flea market was great ... and resulted in plenty of new "found objects" for future mandalas.  There was sweeping and laundry to do and our van needed a new windshield due to a nasty rock that flew off a semi somewhere in Illinois.  Petting Ernie and Minnie was a "cat requirement" too!  But most importantly, I had framing to do!  After all, ten Relics were made while I was away.  One immediately was used for the annual World Affairs Council Award (a commission that was waiting for me!)  I didn't even snap a photo of that one!  Yet, the other nine needed to be matted and one needed to be framed for a potential sale.  

 

(Above:  A composite photo of three more Relic Series pieces.)

 

Each one was created on a scrap of antique Chinese silk using layers of polyester stretch velvet.  Then came the free-motion machine embroidered outlines and details before lots of hand stitching and plenty of decorative beads.  My inspiration is almost always architecture with a little ornate, medieval-like embellishments.

 

(Above:  Three more Relic Series pieces.)

 

The average size of the artwork is 9" x 6" though some are a bit taller and others a bit wider.  Each one is matted to a standard 20" x 16" with a price of $250.  The one that is framed is $325.

 

(Above:  The one that got framed!  Sorry about the reflection from the glass!)

 

I have no photos for the five strands stitched during the first week of the art residency but I'm proud to announce that there are now fifty-one total strands for The Lace Forest!  My initial goal was fifty.  When first shown at Featherstone Gallery on Martha's Vineyard Island, there were thirty.  (Click here to see that show!)  When part of Fiberart International in Pittsburgh, there were forty-six.  Now I've exceeded my original goal and can say that there will be more in the future because I still have plenty of lace!

 

(Above:  Montana Plantlife I.  Natural dyeing with free-motion machine embroidery and hand stitching.)
 

I also matted the two test piece from the natural dyeing workshop and am currently working on the bandanna-sized piece of fabric made in that workshop.  (I'll post when it's finished!  I ordered a photo of a raven taken at Yellowstone National Park during the drive to Montana ... printed on fabric to be appliqued to the natural dyed fabric!  So far, it's looking fantastic!)

 

(Above:  Montana Plantlife II.  Natural dyeing and free-motion machine embroidery.)

 Although I got both these pieces matted, they are still waiting on their frames.  There's a good chance that at least one of them will return to Montana for a show being arranged by Open AIR.  I'm also working on a Montana Mandala for that opportunity.  

 

(Above:  Window CCXXIV.  Framed:  19" x 17".  Layers of polyester stretch velvet fused to recycled black industrial felt with free-motion machine embroidery and unique melting techniques.)

All four Window Series pieces made in Montana have been framed!  Keep scrolling down to see them.  Yet, there was more framing for Steve and me to do!  Why?  Well, before I left for this art residency, I finished five Found Object Mandalas but hadn't mounted or framed any of them.  I've been busy finishing them too!  Thus, it won't be long before I post again ... PROMISE!

(Above:  Window CCXXV, framed.)

(Above:  Window CCXXVI.  Below:  Window CCXXVII.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gelli Plate Botanical Printing Workshop

(Above:  Gelli Plate botanical printing workshop at Explore the Arts.  Click on any image to enlarge.)

I'd read about gelli plate printing and seen examples of it on social media but I'd never tried it.  In my pea-brain, I thought that one had to mix up gelatin and other fluids with precision to create a solution on which paint was poured ... sort of like marbling which I've done but didn't particularly like doing.  I thought this would be difficult despite the fact that it can be done on fabric.  Guess what!  I was totally wrong!  Gelli plate printing so super fun and very, very easy to do!

(Above: Pamela K. Beer, the instructor and talented artist who works in several different media.)

 

Perhaps one of the reasons I found the approach so great was that the instructor had clear examples and lots of patience.  There were about a dozen women in the workshop and everyone was successful.  I haven't snapped photos of any of my prints but that really doesn't matter.  Why?  Well, I will be buying my own gelli plate soon and plan on exploring this medium more in depth.  Yet, one of the best things about this workshop came right at the end! Pam taught us how to fold little paper bags from our test prints.  Now I have ideas for the stacks of vintage and antique paper I have at home!  I can hardly wait!

 

(Above:  A collection of paper bags made from the gelli plate test prints.)

 

By the time I have this blog entry posted, I'll already be on the three-day drive back to South Carolina!  This month has been wonderful, inspiring, and even educational! 

  

 

 

 

Hiking in Montana's Bitterroot Valley

(Above: Selfie along the Blodgett Canyon Trail. Click on any image to enlarge.)

When I get back home to South Carolina, I'll have time to photograph the work I've made here during the art residency and eventually, I'll even have a link to the end-of-session presentation I gave last Tuesday for Open AIR, the residency's hosting organization.  Otherwise, I'm behind on my blogging but that's because I've been busy, busy, busy!  I took advantage of several days when there was clear skies and warmer-than-normal temperatures to go hiking!  In all, I went on five different trails in four different Bitterroot Valley locations:  Blodgett Canyon Trail (just three miles in and three miles out despite the fact that the trail goes on and on and on!); Blodgett Canyon Overlook (three miles round trip); Calf Creek Trail (four miles); Baker Lake Trail (three-and-a-half miles); and Sweathouse Waterfall Trail (five miles).  I love walking in nature and autumn in Montana is truly spectacular as you can see by scrolling down to some of my favorite pictures!

 

(Above and below: Blodgett Canyon Trail)

(Above:  Blodgett Canyon Trail.)

(Above and below:  Blodgett Canyon Overlook Trail.)

 

(Above:  Snowball made along the Blodgett Canyon Overlook Trail!  I could have made snowballs along the Baker Lake Trail too!)

(Above:  Selfie at Baker Lake)

(Above and below:  Shots from the Baker Lake Trail.)

 

(Above:  The hiking duo I joined for Calf Creek Trail.  There are plenty of hiking groups in this area and I got connected to the women's wilderness group that organized this outing!)

(Above:  Pinnacle formation along the Calf Creek Trail.)

(Above:  Selfie at Sweathouse Falls. Below: Just the falls!)

 

(Above and below:  Scenes from the Sweathouse Falls Trail.)