(Above:
Mandala CLXXXVI. Custom framed: 21" x 21" as shown; 29 3/4" x 29 3/4" if hung as a diamond. Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt. Objects include: A sunflower ornament; six, hand-painted, tin, Mexican Christmas ornaments; circular pieces from a metal belt in which vintage portrait photographs were collaged; small binders; brass number stencils; four Mardi Gras doubloons/coins; assorted beads and buttons. $425 plus tax and shipping. Click on any image to enlarge.)
Before going to Martha's Vineyard, I finished stitching two Found Object Mandalas. Even though everything was firmly in place, it really wasn't ready for its photo op. Each piece is stitched while stapled to a stretcher bar that has an opening that is at least the size of the finished artwork. This larger stretcher bar is necessary in order to stitch the edges ... two inches around the entire perimeter. This area is literally over the smaller stretcher bar that provides the final presentation ... and that's not all. I first glue a piece of acid-free foam-centered board over the final, smaller stretcher bar. This supports the work. I even stitch through the foam-centered board and artwork ... attaching them so that no part of the artwork is supporting more than a two to three inch square area. Basically, I'm not done when the objects are stitched in place. There's plenty more work to do. Often, I get the objects stitched down but end up waiting for days (or in this case ... more than a week!) to mount and frame the artwork.
(Above and below: Details of
Mandala CLXXXVI.)
I used several things from my stash which were donated by various people. Even the quilt came from a friend. For months, I had the metal belt and the idea to separate the oval units from one another and add vintage photographs, but until this piece, the idea just didn't work out. I've used multi-colored buttons before but not often. I'm very pleased with the results and will have to do that again! Now ... to get the second mandala finished!
