Mandala CCLXVI, The Miniature Duckies

 

(Above:  Mandala CCLXVI, Nicknamed: The Miniature Duckies.  Custom framed: 17 1/2" x 17 1/2".  Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt.  Objects include: Eight miniature rubber duckies and one normal-sized one; a souvenir plate; rabies pet tags; beer bottle caps; yellow telephone plugs; belt buckles; copper U-clamps; yellow Tiddlywinks; assorted buttons and beads. Click on any image to enlarge.)

When designing Mandala CCLXV, (Nicknamed the Ultimate Rubber Duckies), I auditioned these eight miniature ones in various placements.  Nothing worked.  I gave up.  Yet, the eight duckies just sat on my table as if staring at me with disappointment.  

 

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CCLXVI.)

I couldn't help myself. I sort of promised them that they would get their own mandala. Okay ... I admit it!  I do talk to my materials ... not out loud ... because I'm well aware that they won't answer ... but in my mind there's a conversation.  A promise was made and another foundation was put together for these otherwise lonely duckies!

 

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CCLXVI.)

Because this piece is small, it didn't take long to make the duckies happy!  In the process, I was happy too!

Mandala CCLXVI, The Ultimate Rubber Duckies

 

(Above:  Mandala CCLXVI, Nicknamed: The Ultimate Rubber Duckies.  Custom framed: 20" x 20".  Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt.  Objects include:  Rubber duckies; duck profiles cut from a set of shower curtain hooks; wooden honey tasters; copper-colored aluminum can pulls; brass hinges; four antique cardboard lids of chocolate milk jars; a miniature doily; assorted buttons and beads.  Click on any image to enlarge.)

While I was enjoying an amazing art residency in Montana, Steve went weekly to the Pickens County flea market.  Some weeks, he found nothing.  One week, however, he scored big!  He bought a big tub of assorted rubber duckies.  The seller assured him that there were over three hundred.  I was thrilled.  It took a full day to sort them, trying to find ones that could work together for a found object mandala.

 

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CCLXVI.)

Oddly enough, there weren't many that truly resembled the rubber duckie featured on Sesame Street.  You know the type!  Simple yellow ducks with orange bills ... like those on this mandala!  This didn't matter to me!  After all, an assortment of 151 were absolutely ideal for Tidal Wave V.  Ones with black hair or hats worked well on Mandala CCLXV.  A variety went on Mandala CCLXIV  Duckies carrying tiny surfboards looked great with the Bullwinkle plate, Mandala CCLXIII.  But I did manage to find eight "traditional" duckies that were the same size and one that was a little bigger for the center.

 

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CCLXVI.)

 After looking at this group, I knew I wanted to make a small mandala to feature them.  I already had the ducks cut from shower curtain hooks.  It was just a matter of finding a few other things to compliment the arrangement.  I'm happy with how this piece turned out ... the ultimate rubber duckie mandala!

Mandala CCLXV, Wired Face

 

(Above:  Mandala CCLXV, (Nickname: Wired Face). Custom framed:  27" x 27".  Found objects hand stitched to a section of a vintage quilt.  Objects include:  A decorative wired face on a souvenir pewter plate which is on a decorative trivet; dominoes; toddler snack tops; car fresheners; Colorado buttons; assorted plastic lids; rubber duckies with black hair/hats; assorted buttons and beads.  Click on any image to enlarge.)

This is another Found Object Mandala that was finished during the second half of December but not photographed until the light was better in my studio.  At some point, I really ought to invest in high quality lights.  Maybe that should be my New Year's resolution!  

 

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CCLXV.)

I could probably rationalize the expense.  After all, the Ohio State Buckeyes lost their quarter-final playoff game.  Steve and I will not be going to Hilton Head to watch the semi-finals.  That might save enough for professional lights! LOL!  (It might not though!  I have no idea how much they cost!)

 

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CCLXV.)

This piece was created on a quilt top that I backed with batting and a section of a damask tablecloth.  I quilted it before adding the found objects.  The car fresheners were purchased at the Pickens County flea market several months ago.  My studio smelled of pine scent for weeks and weeks.  Thankfully, enough time has gone by that only a pleasant aroma remains!

 

(Above:  Mandala CCLXV at an angle.)

Despite not having professional lights for my photographic needs, I do have lots of natural lighting in my sanctuary/studio.  I use a few sections of my ProPanel booth ... in the middle of the giant space ... often angling these walks so that I seem to have rather even light from both sides.  So far, it's been working but I think I could do even better.

Mandala CCLXIV, Green Handled Pruning Shears

 

(Above:  Mandala CCLXIV (Nicknamed: Green Handled Pruning Shears). Custom framed: 37 1/2" x 37 1/2".  Found objects hand stitched to a section of a vintage quilt.  Objects include:  A sun shape that was peeled off a decorative plate stitched to a souvenir porcelain; blue perns/spindles wrapped in yellow yarn; dominoes; green handled pruning shears; wooden blocks (cut in half); Mardi Gras doubloons; wooden clothespins; toy drum Christmas ornaments; blue coffee K-pods; fabric figures; assorted plastic lids; toddle snack tops; tins in the shape of card suits; spoons; assorted rubber duckies; a toy train track circle; assorted buttons and beads.  Click on any image to enlarge.)

Christmas has come and gone.  New Year's Eve is almost here!  (On that evening, the Ohio State Buckeyes face Miami in a quarter-final National playoff game.  If our team wins, we might travel to Hilton Head to watch OSU along with members of the alumni association!  Go Bucks!)  

(Detail of Mandala CCLXIV.) 

I haven't blogged in two weeks but we had company and I kept very busy making art.  I also accepted a commission for nine Stained Glass Series pieces from an interior designer in Charlotte.  Many afternoons were dark and gray ... not good times to capture quality images.  Then it became unseasonably warm; outdoors called!  Today, however, I've shot pictures of artwork and will start writing a series of posts that will publish over the coming days.

(Detail of Mandala CCLXIV.)

This first piece was started months ago!  Literally!  The train track was stitched down but I just couldn't decide what objects I wanted to go with it.  Finally, I acquired the green handled pruning shears but still couldn't figure out other items.  Finally, I returned from my one-month art residency in Montana and knew that as assortment of colorful rubber duckies were meant for this piece.  Steve bought a tub of duckies while I was away.  Yet, I was so excited to create my Tidal Wave of Duckies that this mandala got neglected.  Plus, I had lots of other things to finish, frame, blog, and basically "catch up" with!

 

(Above:  Mandala CCLXIV at an angle.)

At long last, the piece was finished!  I'm glad I waited for the perfect pieces!

Tidal Wave V, The Rubber Duckies

 

(Above:  Tidal Wave V, The Rubber Duckies. Custom framed: 37 1/4" x 37 1/4".  Assorted rubber duckies and buttons hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt.  Click on any image to enlarge.)

While I was enjoying a month-long art residency in Montana, Steve continued to visit the Pickens County flea market ... every Wednesday morning.  One week, he scored big!  He bought a large tub of assorted rubber duckies.  According to the dealer who sold them, there were over three-hundred.  Looking at the duckies I have left, the dealer was correct!  There are about as many still in the tub as are stitched to this piece!

 

(Above:  Detail of Tidal Wave V.)

In order to create this piece, I prepared the surface.  By this, I mean that I cut a vintage quilt to the size needed for a large stretcher bar. The quilt section was stapled to this stretcher bar.  Next, I placed a piece of sheer off-white netting over the surface.  I do this in order to protect any fragile/worn/tattered areas.  Then, I stitched the button outline and added the star-shaped embroidery in the area where there would be no duckies.  The vintage quilt was tied, not densely quilted.  Thus, the star-shaped stitches went over the tie ends.  This helps integrate the sheer netting to the quilt.  You can't even see it in these photos!  In person, I can point it out but most people don't even see the netting!

(Above:  Detail of Tidal Wave V.)

Then, I tacked down the duckies using a bare minimum of hot glue.  It was the only way to cover "the wave" adequately and spread out the colors of the duckies.  Stitching through rubber is hard enough.  Stitching through hot glue is really, really hard ... so not much is used ... certainly not enough to seriously attach them, just tack them down "a little"!

 

(Above:  Detail of Tidal Wave V.)

It took several days to stitch all the duckies.  Some of them were easy to stitch.  Most required a part of pliers to get the long needle through the colorful creatures.  Several needles broke.  Some swearing was involved.  I used plenty of hand lotion every night to help revive my fingers.  Yet, it was really fun to do!  

(Above:  Tidal Wave V and me!)

Jim Henson's voice played in my mind constantly ... singing along with the Muppet Ernie who debuted the song Rubber Duckie on the Sesame Street episode of February 25, 1970.  Steve loves oldie countdowns on Sirius radio and knew that the song was a hit single ... number sixteen on the Billboards Hot 100.  As I finished the piece, Steve snapped a rough photo of it and printed it.  We numbered the duckies on the photo ... 151 rubber duckies!  That's a lot of duckies!

Mandala CCLXIII, Bullwinkle

(Above:  Mandala CCLXIII, (Nickname:  Bullwinkle).  Custom framed:  21 3/4" x 21 3/4".  Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt. Objects include:  A Bullwinkle plate; bottle caps; rubber duckies; suspender attachments; white poker chips; letters from a board game; rabies pet tags; green flags/fan blades from a set of Tinkertoys; four, shiny gold, disposable "Smokey the Bear" ash trays; assorted buttons and beads.  Click on any image to enlarge.)

This mandala is the result of several stories!  First ... I almost didn't buy the Bullwinkle plate when I saw it ... months ago ... at the Pickens County flea market.  Truly, it seemed "too big" for a centerpiece but how could I resist?  I don't actually remember watching Bullwinkle cartoons but I also can't remember a time in my life when I didn't know the characters!  So, reluctantly, I bought it for a whole dollar! LOL! 

 

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CCLXIII.)

Finally, I figured out a way to make the Bullwinkle plate visually look "smaller".  It took hours to line-up and drill holes and finally stitch the beer caps to the rim.  They moved during the stitching.  They weren't tight against the plate until a series of pulled knots tightened the attachments.  Swearing was involved but it was worth it!  The gold beads were how the plate was then stitched to the quilt.  For something that looks so simple, this was complicated!

 

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CCLXIII.)

A more recent purchase from the Pickens County flea market was the four Smokey the Bear disposable ash trays.  I do remember visiting Smokey the Bear at the Smithsonian National Zoo.  (He died in 1976) And, I remember the night when the last cigarette ad broadcast on television.  I wasn't allowed to stay up and watch it though!  (The last televised cigarette ad was for Virginia Slims and shown on the Johnny Carson Show on January 1, 1971 at 11:59 PM.)  Somehow or the other, I would never have imagined anything about Smokey the Bear and cigarettes being put together ... but someone must have!

 

Finally ... the rubber duckies!  While I was in Montana enjoying a month-long art residency, Steve continued to go to the Pickens County flea market.  One Wednesday, he bought a tub of assorted rubber duckies.  The dealer claimed that there were at least three hundred in the tub.  It took an entire afternoon to sort through them.  These eight had little surf boards and were the first to be incorporated.  I've been stitching rubber duckies ever since!

Mandala CCLXII, Strawberries and Snowflakes

(Above:  Mandala CCLXII, Strawberries and snowflakes.  Custom framed: 11 5/8" x 11 5/8".  Found objects hand-stitched to a block of a vintage quilt.  Objects include:  A very small Oriental dish; strawberry shaped emery pincushions; small bells; snowflakes from a broken string of Christmas lights; buckles; antique capacitors; assorted buttons and beads.)

Steve built this little "floater" styled frame for me from four scraps of moulding that would otherwise be thrown out.  It was small ... very small!  Therefore, it was a challenge to design something for this little enclosure.  Naturally, I thought about the tiny porcelain dish.  I've had it for months and months but it has been too small to use in the center of any other Found Object Mandala.  I told myself, "Susan, if you can drill a hole in this dish, it will be used on this little piece."  Well ... I was successful!  The hole was drilled and I found things to surround it!  Stitching this one didn't take long! LOL!

(Above:  Photo for scale!)

Mandala CCLXI, Small Indian Icon

(Above:  Mandala CCLXI, the small Indian icon.  Custom framed:  15 1/2" x 15 1/2".  Found objects hand stitched to a block of an antique quilt.  Objects include:  A small, leather patch featuring an Indian woman; a protractor; antique chocolate milk bottle cardboard lids; external tooth lock washers; brass screw eyes; pieces of jewelry; gold shank buttons mounted on grommets; assorted buttons and beads.  Click on any image to enlarge.)

This piece started with two frames left outside the custom picture framing shop where our orders of moulding and framing supplies are delivered (because our supplier doesn't want to add another stop to our weekly truck delivery service!) Thankfully, the couple who own The Framery in Liberty, South Carolina are really nice and allow us to pick up things at their shop!  They are so nice that they leave scraps of mat board, old boxes, and discarded frames outside their front door with a sign reading:  FREE!  The two frames were in terrible shape.  One was definitely broken but I could easily see that between the two, one unique frame could be cut and built.  Steve built it and added an interior frame (the gold lip shown in the image above.  Yes ... this is "double framed"!)

 

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CCLXI.)

I then went to work designing something for the frame ... something exotic because that outer frame seemed quite ornate.  This is what I came up with and I'm very please how it all came out!

(Above:  Mandala CCLXI at an angle.)

Tidal Wave IV, The White Puzzle Pieces

(Above:  Tidal Wave IV, The White Puzzle Pieces.  Custom framed: 35" x 35".  White puzzle pieces hand stitched with buttons and beads to a section of a vintage quilt covered with doilies. Click on any image to enlarge.)

Recently my stash was enlarged by a nice contribution of old, neglected, and damaged quilts.  One was in absolutely dreadful shape.  (Think ripped, torn, and tattered.)  Honestly, I didn't think it had a "second life" ahead of it.  I assumed that I would keep it for a month or two and then sadly consign it to my trash can.  Of course, that's not what happened.  It was the first of the four donated quilts to find a new life.

 

(Above:  Detail of Tidal Wave IV.)

I'm not even sure why or how I came up with the idea to cover part of the quilt with tatted and crocheted doilies.  The notion simply "appeared" in my head.  Within a few moments, I had a plan for the background and doilies laying in place.  I knew that a vast majority of the old quilt would be covered by the tidal wave ... but what objects would work with this more feminine looking design?

 

(Above:  Detail of Tidal Wave IV.)

I'd almost forgotten the puzzle pieces that were donated to my stash months ago.  The puzzle featured some holographic picture.  (I never put the thing together!)  Yet, the backside was pure white.  A few pieces were auditioned on the quilt.  Perfect.  Two holes were drilled in every puzzle piece.  Then the stitching began.  Between the puzzle pieces, I added assorted silver beads and lots of French knots.

 

(Above:  Tidal Wave IV from an angle.)

I'm really pleased with this piece and send my thanks to everyone who has ever donated to my stash!  If I don't use something immediately, please know ... its probably just waiting for the right design!

The Raven, an art quilt

 

(Above:  The Raven, an art quilt.  19 1/2" x 20".  Naturally dyed fabric on which is appliqued a photo printed on fabric of a raven.  Click on either image to enlarge.)

On the way to Montana, Steve and I visited the northern section of Yellowstone National Park.  At one of the scenic overlooks, this raven sat on a post and allowed me to get very, very close.  I'm pretty sure the birds are used to tourists who feed them.  I didn't feed this bird.  Truly, it's not something one ought to do when encountering wildlife.  Yet, there is something magical about ravens and crows ... at least it seems that way to me.  Every time I've been close to a raven or crow, I feel a spiritual connection to a deceased friend who painted them and thought of them as his "spirit animal".  I looked at this bird and smiled.  Then I snapped its picture.  Even then, I thought of the little raven art quilt I once created using another picture, one from Bryce Canyon National Park. (Click HERE to see that raven art quilt.)  I really had no intention of stitching another art quilt ... until I unrolled the bandanna-sized piece of fabric from the natural dyeing workshop I took two weeks later.  Upon seeing it, I could easily imagine the raven image appliqued on top.  After returning home, I sized the picture appropriately and ordered it from Spoonflower.  The result was perfectly what I envisioned.

 

(Above:  The reverse of The Raven.)

For the reverse, I used an embroidered, vintage bedspread that was donated to my stash.  I'm very pleased with this piece. 

Mandala CCLX, The Little Icon

(Above:  Mandala CCLX, The Little Icon.  Custom framed:  13" x 13".  Found objects hand-stitched to a block of an antique quilt.  Objects include:  A small, souvenir icon; Kindness coins; brass letter stencils; miniature keys; ROTC stripes pins; brass screw eyes; decorative pieces of brass for DIY projects or jewelry; assorted buttons and beads.  Click on either image to enlarge.)

Sometimes it's a unique centerpiece that inspires a Found Object Mandala.  Sometimes, it's a collection of multiple objects that will create a great ring.  Sometimes, it's the quilt that initiates a design.  This time, it was the frame.  The moulding used was the scrap leftover after framing two recently, hand-stitched In Box Series pieces that were done on white felt.  Four short pieces remained.  I told Steve to cut me the largest possible square from these four pieces.  This was it.  My job became a way to fill the frame ... one with a flat, shiny silver front and white sides. 

 

(Above:  Mandala CCLX at an angle.)

Serendipity played its part.  I'd forgotten the cheap, little icon until rummaging through my stash.  From there, the rest of the parts fell into place.  It took no longer than a single night to stitch the work.  Of course, it took nearly as long to mount it, put it in the frame, photograph it, enter it into my inventory book, and now blog it ... but I loved every moment.  I've very pleased that the challenge was met!

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!