(Above: Mandala
CCXIII. 2024. Custom framed: 32 1/4" x 32
1/4". Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage
quilt. Found objects include: Model train cars; decorative wooden
plate with a lion shaped belt buckle; coffee K-pods; dominoes; pastry
molds; hinges; Tinkertoy connectors; hair clips; gold belt buckles;
vintage poker chips; 1970 UAW pins; green Monopoly houses; and
assorted buttons and beads. Click on any image to enlarge.)
Over the years, there have been several occasions when a table lot of train parts has come up for bidding at an auction. The price has always been too rich for my blood. I figured that using model train cars for a Found Object Mandala was simply not in the future. Then, Steve and I stopped at the Lavonia Antique Mall. One of the dealers specializes in model trains and had an extremely wide selection of very, very affordable parts.
It took plenty of time for me to examine all the train cars ... lining them up by their varied lengths, sizes, and colors. Steve was patient while I selected an arrangement that would work on mandala. I must have spent forty-five minutes in that antique mall booth! It was time well spent. Not only did I get these twelve train cars but I got eight more, shorter ones too! They will go on a future mandala.
Some of these train cars were slightly broken (which explains the cheap prices!) For the most part, this didn't both me, especially since I removed their wheels and bases before drilling holes in their sides. I am sure that real train enthusiasts would be horrified! LOL! But without these extra parts, this mandala is a lot lighter than it looks!
