Mandala CXLIV

(Above:  Mandala CXLIV.  Custom framed: 28 3/4" x 28 3/4". Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt.  Found objects include:  A rotary telephone dial; cookie cutters; doll clothes hangers; keys; bottle caps; paper sewing machine bobbins; lavender insulin syringe caps; checkers; long needle-like parts of prostate radioactive seed implant devices; red, adapters for 45 records to be played on a stereo; buttons and beads. Click on any image to enlarge.)

It took more than an hour for me to dismantle the old rotary dial telephone.  There are all sorts of "things" firmly attached to the back of the dial.  I wanted it "flat".  I was determined! I'm very happy with the results and grateful to my friend Flavia Lovatelli who donated the telephone to my stash. 

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CXLIV.)

Flavia and I are both getting ready for the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show.  It's a lot of work but so rewarding to be surrounded by aisles of top-notch fine craft artists from all over the country.

(Above:  Mary Edna Fraser and me in front of The Grid of Photos, one of my pieces at my solo installation, Anonymous Ancestors, at City Gallery at Waterfront Park.)

It was equally rewarding to have Mary Edna Fraser come to the opening of my solo installation, Anonymous Ancestors, at City Gallery at Waterfront Park in downtown Charleston.  Mary Edna is like ... famous! ... and fabulously talented!

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CXLIV.)

Believe it or not, I am still working on another Found Object Mandala.  I think that the way I deal with anticipation, fear, stress, and all the other emotions associated with "the next big thing" is to keep stitching! LOL!