Mandala CCLXXVII, Andy Warhol

 

(Above:  Mandala CCLXXVII, Andy Warhol.  Custom framed: 30 1/4" x 30 1/4".  Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt.  Objects include:  A yellow children's 45 record on which the face for a clock and a red button is stitched; plastic four-leaf clover lucky coins; miniature dominoes; blue plastic scissors for cutting decorative edges; ViewMaster reels; clamping scissors; cocktail forks; gold beverage can tabs; green rabies pet tags; brioche molds; red and green plastic lids; four Andy Warhol dishes; assorted buttons and beads. Click on any image to enlarge.)

This Found Object Mandala was entirely designed in order to use the four Andy Warhol dishes in the corners!  On the same day that I found the set at the Pickens County flea market, I also found the plastic numbers for a clock face.  They seemed to go together!

 

(Above: Detail of Mandala CCLXXVII, Andy Warhol.)

The challenge immediately became how to balance the center with such large, obvious objects going into the four corners.  Fortunately, I have a small stack of bright yellow children's 45s.  The clock face worked perfectly on top of it.  Still ... I knew that the middle area needed to be strikingly obvious too ... to balance out these other big shapes.

 

(Above: Detail of Mandala CCLXXVII, Andy Warhol.)

 I don't remember when I got the blue plastic scissors but they sure worked well!  Then, the rest of the items simply went into place!  This isn't always how I design my mandalas.  Often, it is just the "one thing" that leads to another but the entire design isn't worked out until several things are already stitched down.  This one, however, was totally designed before the first stitch!

 

(Above:  Mandala CCLXXVII, Andy Warhol as seen at an angle.)

I am thankful for my iPhone.  It is the only way that I can design an entire mandala.  After laying everything out, I snap a photo so that I can remember where the items go!