Mandala CVII

(Above:  Mandala CVII. Custom framed: 27 3/4" x 27 3/4". Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage, signature quilt. Found objects include: a film reel on which a part of an old typewriter is screwed; diamond-shaped, aluminum brioche molds; orange, plastic circles cut from a six-pack beer yoke; red casino chips; Heineken beer bottle caps; green, white, and peach-colored, plastic bottle caps; wavy hair curlers; part of a ribbon award from the SC Commerce Department; brown rings of unknown function; Starbucks coffee stirrers; laminated Green Back grocery stamps; woven straw beads; and buttons. Click on either image to enlarge.) 

I was nervous when starting this Found Object Mandala. The old quilt was a reverse applique.  Each floral motif included several, small openings in which a name (or initials) was embroidered in black thread.  Because of this personalization, few people really wanted this quilt when it went up on the auction block for bidding.  I was the only person who bid.  Success for fifteen dollars.  But I was also worried.  Should I pick out the stitched names? Would the resulting holes look worse than the names?  Quickly, I decided not to do this, but if I left them, would they take away from my found object design?  Well, there was only one way to find out:  Start stitching!

 

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CVII.)

I knew that I would need to add elements that would increase the visual contrast in order to have the black thread blend in.  To do this, I added lots of white buttons layered with navy blue buttons.  I think it worked!  I especially like the unique, undulating shaped created by all these layered buttons. It sort of mimics the shape of the applique!  How great!