Four New Windows

(Above:  Steve holding up two of the recently finished Windows.  Pardon the slight glare from the glass!  Click on any image to enlarge.)

Getting ready for the Smithsonian Craft Show has meant making new work including these five Window Series pieces.  For scale and presentation, I had Steve hold up two of them.  He smiled in one of the images but the glare from the glass was worse! LOL!  For the first time in years, I've decided to raise the price of these pieces from $265 to $275.  I don't take raising prices lightly.  It's hard to do, especially in this economy and with the fact that unemployment is hitting the DC area badly.  Yet the past few years, my costs have been gradually creeping up too!  Plus, lots of artists have told me that my prices are too low to begin with (an opinion I actually know to be true!)  Below are the photos I took of each piece before it went behind glass!  If you'd like to adopt one, please reach out!  Although I've returned to this work "for the Smithsonian Craft Show", it really doesn't matter if they get there.  If they find permanent homes beforehand, I'll simply create more!

 

(Above:  Window CCXV.  Framed:  19 1/4" x 17 1/4".  Layers of polyester stretch velvet fused to recycled packaging felt.  Free-motion machine embroidery using 100% black cotton thread before being exposed to unique melting techniques.)

 

(Above:  Window CCXVI.)

 

 

(Above:  Window CCXVII.)

 

(Above:  Window CCXVIII.)

 

(Above:  Window CCXIX.)

Mandala CCXXVI

(Above:  Mandala CCXXVI. Custom framed:  27 3/4" x 27 3/4". Found objects hand stitched to a section of a vintage quilt.  Objects include:  Part of a Grove Park Inn souvenir stitched to the lid of a bird bark container on a decorative plate; plastic sewing thread spools; decorative plastic pears; beer bottle caps; Masonic medallions; brioche molds; child's scissors; blue casino chips; yellow poker chips; a 60" measuring stick cut into four sections; assorted crochet hooks; buttons and beads.  Click on any image to enlarge.)

It seemed absolutely surreal to find another Grove Park Inn souvenir at the Pickens County flea market, but I did.  Thankfully, the old tin was just two dollars ... and the decorative element (the part depicting the Grove Park Inn) was easily detached from the ugly tin.  It didn't take long to stitch it to the birch bark lid but stitching through the lid to attach it to the decorative plate required a lot of effort! 

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CCXXVI.)

There's almost a bit of engineering involved when designing these mandalas.  I'm constantly thinking about where my needle will need to travel in order to stitch all the objects in place.  There's also plenty of drilling to do.  Each one of the little pears has two holes in it!  The beer bottle caps only need one hole but five stitches!

 

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CCXXVI.)

The sixty-inch measuring stick was also found at the Pickens County flea market.  It was in such great shape that I almost felt badly for cutting it into four sections and drilling holes every two inches ... but the results are great!  This is also the first time I've included a button edge that isn't on the perimeter!

 

(Above:  Mandala CCXXVI seen from an angle.)

Before stitching down the plastic sewing thread spools, I collaged anonymous photos/faces to the end that once was the label.  I'm really pleased by the way this piece turned out.  Hopefully soon it will be at the Grovewood Gallery ... right on the grounds of the Grove Park Inn!