Catching UP: Round Four, Mandala XCIX

(Above:  Mandala XCIX. Custom framed: 18" x 18" when hung as a square; 25 1/2" x 25 1/2" when hung as a diamond. Found objects hand-stitched to a block of a vintage quilt. Found objects include: an octagonal shaped cookie rosette; dairy pull-tabs; Christmas light reflectors; Bud Light beer caps; single serving coffee K-pods; gray hair curlers; red protective, plastic corners for beveled mirrors when being shipped to our frame shop; and buttons.  Click on any image to enlarge.)

Between the holidays, solo exhibitions, and my day job custom picture framing, I've fallen a bit behind.  I'm not referring to my artistic pursuits ... far from it!  I've been as productive as ever!  It's just that my blogging has fallen behind.  So today, I'm determined to catch up!  This is the fourth of several posts featuring new artwork made in late December or early this year.  In fact, this is the first piece entered into my inventory book in 2022!

(Above:  Detail of Mandala XCIX.)

Like several other pieces in my Found Object Mandala series, this one was stitched on a block cut from a rather poorly made Dresden Plate quilt.  Yet, I adore the bright colors and the challenge of hiding the irregularities.  The ring of white, plastic dairy pull-tabs hides the fact that the center really isn't round.  It's very lopsided!  The protective layer of netting over the entire surface prevents the fragile fabric and poorly plied blanket stitches from being a future problem. 

(Above:  Mandala XCIX, hung as a diamond.)

Stitching down the old, Christmas light reflectors was also a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays!  Plus, I'm gearing up for the 2022 Smithsonian Craft Show, April 20 - 24.  This series was accepted!