Mandala CCXXX

(Above:  Mandala CCXXX. Custom framed:  26 3/4" x 26 3/4".  Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt. Objects include:  A souvenir ashtray from Portugal with an orange faucet handle; 1970 UAW buttons; dominoes; syringe tops; Chinese ceramic figurine beads; gold, plastic St. Patrick's Day lucky coins; green bottle caps with white and gold shank buttons; screw eyes; miniature clothespins; beer caps; clear, plastic birthday cake candle holders; crochet pieces; four toy frogs; assorted buttons and beads.  Click on any image to enlarge.)

Every night after dinner, I hand-stitch while watching television.  This piece was done sometime last week but didn't get framed until yesterday.  It was a lot of fun.

 

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CCXXX.)

It also required plenty of drilling.  In order to stitch an orange faucet in the center of the Portuguese ashtray, I had to drill lots of holes.  More holes were needed to stitch it to the quilt.  I was determined to stitch the gold-and-white shank buttons on top of the green, plastic beverage caps too.  Believe it or not, I had to use a 1/4" drill bit to accommodate the shank.  I tried to use the 1/4" drill bit first but it tore up the lid.  I had to start with a much smaller drill bit and work my way up to the larger one ... some twenty-two times with each size!  It was worth it though!

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CCXXX, at an angle.)

Generally, I don't use glue to attach any of my objects.  This time, however, there's a dab of hot glue under every one of the Chinese ceramic figurine beads.  It was the only way to keep them all sitting straight up.  There's no way to drill additional holes in them. The hole that existed simply didn't allow the figures to sit correctly ... but I was determined to use them!  They are all so cute!

 

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CCXXX.)

Speaking of cute ... how about the frogs!  Each one is sitting on a piece of crochet that sort of appears like a lily pad.  Drilling holes in plastic frogs is no problem!