Mandala CLXIII, Spinning Out of Control

(Above:  Mandala CLXIII. Custom framed: 40" x 40".  Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt. Found objects include:  Mahjong tiles; dominoes; clear, plastic candle holders for a Xmas tree or cake (?); copper-colored, red, and blue can pull tabs; external toothed lock washers; a brass lid; an ornate aluminum lid; light blue syringe plungers; blue plastic bottle caps; large and small screw eyes; a brioche mold; a blue casino chip; a coffee K-pod; a glass part of a table lamp; part of a rotary telephone receiver and ringer; 45 record adapters; toy motorcycle wheels; red and white plastic connectors from a child's building set; crystal chandelier prisms; buttons and beads.  Click on any image to enlarge.) 

For quite some time, I've thought about stitching another "spinning out of control mandala".  I did this once before.  The piece sold.  (CLICK HERE to access the blog post featuring this artwork.)  The original idea was to use some of the unique things I had in my stash, things that I didn't have in multiples.  Yet, I didn't want to try duplicating my design.  So, I didn't look at my earlier blog post or any of the images saved on my computer.  I thought I'd started with circles of buttons.  Looking back (and finally reading my own blog post! LOL!), I realize that's not what I did.

(Above:  The well worn, vintage quilt used for the mandala's base.)

I didn't remember that the base of my earlier "spinning out of control" mandala was made on scraps of a quilt that I stitched together.  I didn't do that either.  Instead, I cut a big square from this red, white, and blue vintage quilt.  The quilt was well worn and donate to my stash by a local friend.  Then, I penciled circles onto the surface and stitched rings of dominoes, Mahjong tiles, buttons, copper can pull tabs, etc. 

(Above:  In progress photo.)

Looking back, I now realize that I started with an off-kilter focal point made from three, large pinking scissors and three, strange piano parts. Inside my penciled lines, I started stitching randomly placed small objects. The design wasn't obvious enough. To correct this problem, I added the circles of bottons.

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CLXIII.)

Because this time I stitched all the circles first (and because they were made from so many different things), there really wasn't a good way to add random objects.  Instead, small circular arrangements looked better.  They were fun to construct.

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CLXIII.)

Now that I remember (LOL!) what I did, I will probably try again ... hoping to use some of the many found objects in my stash that just haven't found a place on a mandala.  I won't try to duplicate my earlier design.  In fact, I have a totally new idea and can't wait to start it.

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CLXIII.)

Unfortunately, I will have to wait.  Why?  Well, I'm deep into stitching pieces for my upcoming Patchwork Installation.  Thankfully, I love doing that too.  Both projects feed my soul, my desire to give "second life" to all these assorted things!

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CLXIII.)