Mandala CLXXVIII

(Above:  Mandala CLXXVIII.  Custom framed: 16" x 16".  Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt.  Objects include:  Kitchen timer dial; six, miniature fighter jets; six vintage belt buckles; burgundy colored tops from injectable medication bottles; light blue insulin lancets; casino chips; Cheerwine bottle caps; round, front rail felt punchings from my old piano; all but two letters from a Scrabble dice game; assorted buttons and beads.  Click on either image to enlarge.)

Every day sees Steve and me a little closer to moving into the old Cateechee mill village church that is being renovated into our future home and my sanctuary-sized fiber arts studio.  Just yesterday, I delivered all the wood that was my 8' x 8' mat cutting table and a glass storage unit.  These were essential parts of our framing shop.  Although we are no longer accepting custom picture framing orders (as in RETIRED after 35+ years!), we will need these units for framing my own art and storing finished artwork.  We got lucky!  We met a great guy who does plenty of remodeling and custom woodworking.  He came to Columbia and carefully dismantled the units ... noting where each plank and slat went.  Even as I type this blog post, he is at the church reassembling everything.  Soon ... as in "this time next month", I plan on being able to cut my own mats in my new studio space!  

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CLXXVIII.)

The only way I am keeping calm and sane during this transitional period is by stitching a little every day.  This Found Object Mandala was recently finished.  Two more pieces for my Kinsfolk Series are nearly ready to blog. Another mandala and a commissioned In Box are also underway.  Yet, I am really looking forward to getting moved into my new studio and resuming work on my Cascade Installation!  The desire to spend all day, every day with a threaded needle is my driving force!