Mandala CXLVIII

(Mandala CXLVIII. Custom framed.  Found objects hand stitched to a section of a vintage quilt. Found objects include:  A souvenir plate from the St. Louis zoo; laminated Tampa Nugget cigar bands; four screen window brackets; costume jewelry; buttons and beads. Click on image to enlarge.)

This piece is special.  It was a Christmas gift from Steve and I to our best friend's daughter.  Our friend has been so very generous to my stash of found objects, especially giving me "precious" things that had once been her mother's and her aunt's.  These ladies are no longer with us but they sure knew how to save things ... lots of things ... like thousands of Tampa Nugget cigar bands and several large bags of costume jewelry.  Our friend's daughter (like many young people) wants nothing from their estates.  Yet my friend and I were compelled to create something using some of these things that would be treasured by the young lady.  After I found the St. Louis zoo souvenir plate, the rest was easy!  I got the plate at the Emmetsburg Antique Mall while I was the artist-in-residence at Catoctin Mountain National Park.  It cost three dollars ... but it made the best centerpiece!  Why?  Well, the young lady is finishing her masters degree and sending out applications to earn a PhD in veterinarian sciences.  She had a summer internship at the St. Louis zoo!  The frame was an old one.  It didn't come from the estate but it sure looks like several that did!  Steve carefully cut the large frame down to work with this piece.  Happily, the gift was received as intended ... something from "grandma" ... from Mom ... and from Steve and me.  Something to keep!  We are all so proud of this young lady's accomplishments and have our fingers crossed for her continuing education.