Mandala XII and XIII

(Above:  Mandala XII.  Framed: 20 1/2" x 20 1/2" as a square or 29" x 29" as a diamond.  Four blocks of a vintage quilt covered with pale blue tulle and embellished with clock gears, screw eyes, metal hair curlers, blue cement screws, plastic and metal rings, labels from Cartier-Bresson balls of thread, buttons, zipper pulls, allen wrenches, keys, old souvenir slides from Shiloh Military Park, and lamp fixtures.  Click on any image to enlarge.)

Although I am working on new pieces for the upcoming Philadelphia Museum of Art's virtual craft show, evenings still find me hand stitching these mandalas.  It is a relaxing way to end the day and so much fun to do.  

(Above:  Mandala XII, detail.)

Even though some of the things I've been using are now depleted, I'm lucky to have cyber friends who have sent me interesting items ... like the zipper pulls.  Who would have ever guessed that they were forever lost as unclaimed airline luggage?  

(Above:  Mandala XIII.  Framed 20 1/2" x 20 1/2" as a square or 29" x 29" as a diamond.  Four blocks of a vintage quilt covered with pale blue tulle and embellished with clock gears and other parts, antique fountain pen nibs, tweezers, felt piano hammers, sewing machine bobbins, buttons, zipper pulls, yellow paper clamps and vintage paper clips, safety pins, and lamp fixtures.  Click on any image to enlarge.)

I am now stitching on the last piece of this mainly blue-and-white antique quilt.  Soon, I will be raiding my own stash in search of another quilt to cut and stitch into a mandala.

(Above:  Mandala XIII, detail.)

Hopefully, I'll find something suitable ... something that isn't going to need more pale blue perle cotton.  I had several balls but have used all but two.  I'm using one of the two.  Ernie, our six-month-old kitten, has hidden the other one!

(Above:  Mandala XIII, detail.)