Mandala CCLIV, The Doll Plates

(Above:  Mandala CCLIV, The Doll Plates. Custom framed: 29 3/4" x 29 3/4".  Found objects hand-stitched to quilted background made from donated, antique blocks.  Objects include:  A set of vintage doll plates; a votive candle base supported by purple, toddler snack tops; antique poker chips; red-handled children's scissors; blue poker chips; vintage slides; purple Mardi Gras doubloons; wire connector caps; pruning snips; Monopoly hotels; copper U-clamps; plastic bottle caps; bright pink can pull tabs; purple figures on horseback; blue lids with dark pink, fabric yoyos; assorted buttons and beads.  Click on any image to enlarge.)

I finished stitching this mandala long before I went to Montana for a month-long art residency but never got around to mounting/framing/photographing/blogging it.  There's plenty to do after the last object is stitched in place! 

 

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CCLIV.)

There were a couple other mandalas that were likewise stitched but not otherwise progressed.  I had lots of work to do when I returned.  Some of it dealt with the artwork created while away; much of it dealt with the waiting mandalas.

 

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CCLIV.)

Most (if not all) of my Found Object Mandalas have a story or two behind the quilt and/or objects used.  This one has a couple!  First, the antique quilt blocks were donated to my stash.  I created two squares from the very damaged blocks.  One square was transformed into Mandala CCXLV.  This is the other square.  Like the earlier mandala, I positioned the square onto batting and a backing fabric and then quilted it.  Unlike traditional quilts, I do not aim for tiny stitches.  Instead, I use perle cotton to make the stitching more obvious!  It can easily be seen in the image above.  I stitched with both navy blue and lavender thread.

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CCLIV at an angle.)

One of the stories regarding the objects is about the votive candle holder in the center.  I've had it for at least a year. I auditioned it dozens of times for a centerpiece. It never seemed to work because the edges are so far off the quilt.  I almost threw the thing out!  Then, I remembered the toddler snack tops! They were used to fill that space.  Another story is about the doll plates.  Steve and I visited an antique mall and were disappointed in the selections.  Almost everything was too highly priced for me to purchase.  Right before leaving, I spotted the plastic doll plates in a locked cabinet.  I assumed (especially since they were in this guarded enclosure!) that they were expensive.  Steve asked for the key.  Twelve dollars!  That's the right price range!  It never hurts to ask!

 

(Above:  Mandala CCLIV hanging on one of my ProPanel walls for its photo-op!)

The other thing about this mandala is its name.  Since the beginning of this series, Steve and I have referred to the mandalas using a nick name.  We have to!  Though we both know our Roman numerals, it's impossible to remember one number from the next.  Now ... with over two-hundred and fifty ... I am going to include the nickname with these blog posts.  I'm even using it on the photo folders!