Mandala CCLXXXIII: Clock on a Game Board

 

(Above:  Mandala CCLXXXIII: Clock on a Game Board.  Custom framed:  23 1/4" x 23 1/4".  Vintage game board, game pieces, clock, toddler snack lids; yellow plastic from a beer six pack yoke; copper beverage can tabs; toy car wheels; small blue tubes of unknown use; heart-shaped buttons and beads. Click on any image to enlarge.)

Over the past few years, many people have commented on my ability to create perfect symmetry on my Found Object Mandalas.  I've always laughed and replied, "There's no perfection, just an illusion!"  Often, I refer to the arrangement as "implied symmetry" and talk about how the quilts on which I'm working aren't usually perfect to being with ... and how the placement is all done by eye, without a ruler ... and the reality that most found objects really don't lay flat and lend themselves to perfection.  Most of my pieces simply look like they are symmetrical.  They aren't.

 

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CCLXXXIII:Clock on a Game Board.)

This piece really proves several points!  Why?  Because a vintage game board really has perfectly straight sides with perfect ninety degree angles.  No ruler was needed.  It came that way.  Yet, when placing it on the antique quilt background, I didn't quite see that the sides of my frame weren't perfectly parallel to the game board.  It's off by less than an eighth of an inch, but that itty-bitty fraction is visually obvious now.  (It wasn't obvious when stitching it ... probably because I am too close to it.  One needs to stand back to see the angles!) This might have happened when attempting to place the hole for the clock in the dead center (which was successful but perhaps included me shifting the game board around.) This might have been because of the lines on the quilt blocks weren't parallel, but it is more probably because I just didn't see the slight distortion!  So ... this clock is a little cock-eyed!  Frankly, both Steve and I like it that way!  There's nothing wrong with a vintage (or more likely "antique") game board not being perfect in this day and age!

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CCLXXXIII:Clock on a Game Board.)

The clock really does work.  It really is keeping perfect time.  I might attempt creating another Found Object Mandala with a clock mechanism.  It wasn't difficult to do.  It runs on a single AA battery.

 

(Above: Mandala CCLXXXIII: Clock on a Game Board at an angle.)

I hope someone loves this piece despite the slight distortion.  If not, Steve and I will just keep it.  Being a little "off" suits us.  There are so many things in our life that aren't perfect ... like most things! LOL!  Why should this mandala/clock be any different! LOL!

Oswald Home Laundry is going to Ohio!

 

(Above:  Oswald Home Laundry. 2020. 44" x 61".  Digital image transfer and paint on antique Irish chain crib/lap quilt with buttons and a hand-stitched outline. Blogged with in-progress images and concepts at:  http://artbysusanlenz.blogspot.com/2020/03/oswald-home-laundry.html )

Every week or so, I browse through the call-for-entries on CaFE, a website listing all sorts of opportunities for mostly visual artists.  I saw one entry that intrigued me.  Then, I got an email from the Dairy Barn Art Center that also announced this particular juried show.  At first, I didn't think my work would qualify for Fibers of Appalachia.  The prospectus was written for works related to the more northern Appalachian area.  I'm in the south.  Then, I read the fine print!  As long as the work related to the regional area near Ohio, I qualified.  Oswald Home Laundry depicts my great grandmother who owned her own business in Huntington, West Virginia.  What could be more truly "Appalachian" that that!  I entered and the work was accepted.  Due to the size and the extremely high price for shipping, we are delivering it in person ... going on to Columbus to switch out artwork at Chaos Contemporary Craft, a gallery that now represents my Found Object Mandalas!  Fibers of Appalachia will run from June 15 to 21 and has an opening reception on Thursday, July 2, 2026 from 5pm-7pm.  We can't return for the opening but would appreciate photos from anyone who will be there!

Lancet Windows CCXLI and CCXLII

 

(Above:  Composite image of Lancet Window CCXLI and CCXLII.  Each one is framed: 31" x 11".  Layers of polyester stretch velvet fused to recycled, black industrial felt with machine embroidery and unique melting techniques.  Click on any image to enlarge.)

Though I haven't blogged in a bit, I have been working.  In fact, I created three Small In Box pieces.  Each one was constructed, stitched, melted, mounted, and framed but no photos were taken.  Why?  Well, I'm busy gearing up for the South Highland Guild's summer show in Asheville, July 16 - 19.  I need a full assortment of my Stained Glass and In Box Series.  I've been so focused on the "making" that I sort of forgot about snapping pictures.  After being satisfied with the number of In Box pieces, I turned my attention to the Stained Glass fiber work ... realizing that I didn't have a single Lancet Window.  I plan to create two more in addition to these two!

(Above:  Detail of Lancet Window CCXLI at an angle ... in its frame ... hanging on the outside of our brick church/home/studio.)

I think I have enough Window Series pieces.  I want to make at least one (possibly two) Large In Box pieces.  It is very difficult to guess just what I will actually need, especially since I've never before been in this show.  At least I'm having a great time in my studio!

(Above:  Detail of Lancet Window CCXLII.)

I've already made one Large Stained Glass piece ... which I'm hoping is enough ... and two Peacock Feathers.  I'd like to make at least two more Peacock Feathers.  Time will tell if I get all this work done!

Mandala CCLXXXII, Sewing Pattern Figures

 

(Above:  Mandala CCLXXXII, Sewing Pattern Figures. Custom framed: 26" x 26".  Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt.  Objects include:  A yellow child's 45 record on which sits a porcelain plate, a blue, aluminum ashtray, a yellow lid, and a large, pink shank button; more than thirty figures cut and laminated from the front of vintage sewing patterns; four decorative coasters; yellow hair curlers; orange rabies pet tags; bottle caps; souvenir spoons; plastic crystals from an old bracelet; assorted buttons and beads. Click on any image to enlarge.)

A dear friend is going through a tough time.  A relative refuses to move to an assisted living facility despite her failing health and forgetfulness.  The relative had once been a professional seamstress whose collection included hundreds upon hundreds of old sewing patterns.  These were recently given to me.  I found homes for some of them.  I kept some of them.  I cut out the figures on lots of them.  These were laminated and I used some of them to start this mandala.

 

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CCLXXXII, Sewing Pattern Figures.)

Stitching through the lamination was easy but require a strong but very thin thread.  I had to cover up their feet because not all the figures were the same height!  I positioned them, however, with their heads along the same line ... right inside a ring of coral-colored buttons.  

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CCLXXXII, Sewing Pattern Figures.)

Also hiding the longer feet and obscuring the shorter ones is the ring of lavender buttons that were stitched along the edge of a yellow child's 45 record.  In the picture above, the red isn't really obvious but its there!  I drilled holes to line up with the holes in the porcelain plate ... all except for the one hole in the middle.  Yes!  I drilled another hole through a piece of porcelain.  It was needed in order to attach the blue ashtray, yellow lid, and the shank button.

 

(Above:  The pink chiffon scarf that protects the fragile quilt.  Picture taken when the work was under construction.)

Yet, as accomplished as I feel about drilling that hole, the thing that I'm most pleased about it the chiffon scarf.  All of my other Found Object Mandalas have a layer of tulle/netting over the quilt to protect the fragile seams and threadbare areas.  For some reason, I remembered having a stash of very sheer chiffon scarves.  In the past, strips of chiffon were fused over my Stained Glass and In Box creations but production of these things was discontinued a couple years ago.  I had to switch to strips of netting/tulle.  Very few people see this netting/tulle ... but when using the chiffon scarf, I can't even see it!  The scarves are 27" x 27".  I plan on using more of them!

Mandala CCLXXXI, The Red Rooster

(Above:  Mandala CCLXXXI, The Red Rooster.  Custom framed:  31 1/2" x 31 1/2".  Found objects hand-stitched to the section of a vintage quilt. Objects include:  A red rooster trivet; red, plastic forks; small orange-red checkers on large, metal washers; ViewMaster reels; discs for decorative patterns on a vintage sewing machine; drawer handles; four, red aluminum "Smokey the Bear" ashtrays; Kodachrome slides; toddler snack lids; Grizzly chewing tobacco lids (upside down); keys; vintage pilot pins; white plastic lids; heart-shaped rabies pet tags; assorted buttons and beads.)

Some mandalas start with a circle of multiple objects.  Some start with the desire to place four unique items in the corners.  This one started with the red rooster trivet!  Designing it was a challenge to create balance with this very obvious and very red center.

 

(Above:  Detail  of Mandala CCLXXXI, The Red Rooster.)

To pull the eye, I immediately auditioned the ViewMaster reels because they provided high contrast.  From there, more items were added but I only designed the center before stitching.

 

(Above:  Detail  of Mandala CCLXXXI, The Red Rooster.)

 It wasn't until the drawer handles were firmly stitched in place that I addressed the corners and edges.  Thank goodness for the red "Smokey the Bear" ashtrays.  They are definitely vintage!  The embossed words say "Prevent Forest Fires".  Nowadays, it wouldn't be deemed appropriate to even make flimsy, aluminum ashtrays ... much less ones featuring Smokey the Bear regardless of the embossed words!  Time change.  Some "found objects" are now obsolete but perfect for my mandalas!

(Above:  Mandala CCLXXXI as seen from the side.)