Mandala CXI, Steinway Piano Key Mandala

(Above:  Found Object Mandala CXI, The Steinway Piano Keys.  Hung as a square: 52 1/2" x 52 1/2"; hung as a diamond: 74 3/4" x 74 3/4".  All 88 piano keys from an old, broken, upright Steinway hand-stitched to a section of a vintage, hooked rug.  Click on any image to enlarge.)

Late last month I blogged about the old, broken upright Steinway that I received from Carolina Steinway in Charlotte, North Carolina.  (Read it HERE.)  At first, I couldn't believe that I would be given this musical instrument.  Seriously ... it was a STEINWAY.  Like many others, I thought that a Steinway was like a Stradivarius violin, something that could last "forever" ... or at least for centuries.  Sadly, that's just not true. Once the sound board is cracked/broken, needed repairs cost considerably more than a new piano.  So ... I got a Steinway and had a wonderful time dismantling it.  Two Found Object Mandalas were stitched and offered to the Steinway dealership. I'm very pleased and totally honored that both were purchased.  Yet, I hadn't done anything with the piano keys!

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CXI, The Steinway Piano Keys.)

Believe it or not, this Steinway was so old that the white keys are real ivory.  I was told that they could be bleached but that just didn't seem like the right approach. A bright white, new-looking key just doesn't suit my personal aesthetics, this series, or the even the rest of the wooden key.  Also, I liked the very slight discoloring. Real ivory does this over time.  Some of the keys show organic patterns called Schreger lines.  This is a sign that the material came from an elephant's tusk, real ivory.  I really didn't want to bleach this away.

(Above:  The vintage hooked rug used as for the foundation of this piece.)

Another reason against bleaching the white keys was my choice for a foundation layer.  I didn't want to use an old quilt.  I wanted something stiffer, less flexible, and very sturdy but also nice and flat.  Well ... I had just the thing!  I got this old hooked rug last summer while at Bill Mishoe's auction.  No one wanted it.  I gave the minimum six-dollar bid, a mercy bid. I understood the lack of interest.  This rug had seen better days.  There were several holes and obvious signs of repair ... but I couldn't resist it.  Still I wasn't sure if it were the perfect surface for the Steinway keys.

(Above:  Laying out the Steinway keys.)

I am blessed with a very good ability to visualize size, color, shape, and all sorts of other artistic things, but eighty-eight keys on this vintage hooked rug was questionable.  There was only one way to truly "see" how it might come together.  I lay out the keys in their correct order ... right on the floor ... near the rug ... to see if a mandala circle would even fit on the rug ...

... and was about to move sections of the keys to the rug ... when Ernie the Cat let me know that he absolutely approved of this idea.  The size was perfect too.  I didn't even have to put the keys on the rug.  I could see the finished piece at this stage.  Steve built a stretcher bar.  A heavy-duty staple gun attached the rug to it.  I thought about how I would stitch this piece and then drilled four, well-placed holes in all eighty-eight keys.  Next, everything went upstairs for the next phase.

(Above:  The eighty-eight keys on top of the vintage rug foundation.)

The photo above shows how my living room has looked over the past few weeks.  Two sets of workhorses have been in the living room for over a year now.  Large Found Object Mandalas are stitched there.  This one, however, was the biggest.  The piano keys were laid out in proper order.

(Above:  Laying out the piano keys around a large pan's glass lid.)

It took about an hour to arrange the keys around a center circle.  I knew I was making the right choices because one of our glass pan's lid was the absolutely perfect size to hold the center circle!  Although I rarely use any glue on my Found Object Mandalas, it was necessary to put a dab of hot glue under each key ... just to hold it temporarily in place for the hours of hand stitching.

This was my view of the work in progress.  On the left side of the photo, there are a few brown lines of thread ... just beyond where the black and white parts of the keys end and the wood shows.  There's one stitch coming up from the back, on each side of each key, and going down through the drilled hole.  That's 176 stitches around the middle of the keys.  

The same thing was done for the holes drilled on both sides of the "nail thing" on the end of the keys.  There is also a stitch at the end of every key, right near the base.  For this, I used a really great thread.  It is thin but SO STRONG!  If I were to attempt to break it with my bare hands, I would end up bleeding ... and without a broken thread.

(Above:  The strong thread!0

I got an enormous cone of this thread from YLI in Rock Hill, South Carolina.  I don't really know what it is ... except that it is great!  For the most part, I stitched using a very large chenille needle, this thread doubled, and a pair of bent chain needle nose pliers.  It was hard work but worth every stitch!

(Above:  The reverse side of Found Object Mandala CXI.)

My stitching wasn't finished when all eighty-eight keys were attached.  The weight of these pieces has to be distributed.  It just can't be framed while stapled to a stretcher bar.  First, the piece was removed from the stretcher bar.  A piece of foam-centered board was glued to the front of the stretcher bar.  Then the piece was carefully stapled around the perimeter ... every half inch.  It went back to the workhorses in the living room.  It took time but more stitching was done ... straight through the foam-centered board, the rug, and through the existing hole/slot in each key.  More stitches were also plied ... distributing the weight of the piece evenly over the surface.

To hide the staples along the edge, I used a gold liner.  The outer dimension of the liner matches the outer dimension of the stretcher bar ... thus ... it sits on top of the staples.  Then, a large, deep antique styled frame went around the liner.  Of course, I forget one, important thing.  I forgot to add my name!  So ... in the photo above, I'm sitting on the floor stitching through the foam-centered board and rug ...

 ... adding my name and the date.  I did this in two orientations because this piece can actually hang as a diamond.  I am really happy with this piece!

Peacock Feathers

 

(Above: Peacock Feather XXIX. Framed: 17 1/4" x 15 1/4"; unframed: 12 1/2" x 10 1/2".  Real peacock feathers on layers of fused polyester stretch velvet and under a ultra thin piece of a chiffon scarf.  Free motion machine stitched.  Melting techniques. Each piece is framed for $195.  Click on any image to enlarge.)

Worlds have collided.  Okay ... that's an exaggeration but there are seemingly unrelated things in my life that are coming together in unexpected ways.  For example, Peacock Feathers!  I've been creating Peacock Feather artworks for a couple of years.  They've been long, skinny pieces featuring one, full peacock feather.  I've always used a dark olive polyester stretch velvet under an aqua piece with plenty of turquoise metallic foiling.  I've always used copper metallic squares around the perimeter.  I've done this so many times that this is the way I see peacock feathers ... always with turquoise and copper ... which is a lot like "blue and orange".  (Click HERE to see earlier Peacock Feathers.)

(Above:  Me holding one of the new Peacock Feathers.  Please know that I'll soon be blogging about both the large piece far behind me and the one with all eighty-eight Steinway piano keys.  Finished photos need to be taken but today isn't that day.  Today, we are getting new shingles on our garage roof.  I use the garage door for photography!)

Well "blue and orange" was recently the way I saw my In Box Series.  After successfully creating 145 "blue and orange" In Box Series pieces for a local hotel (which is nearing the end of construction!), I knew I needed to see things differently.  That's when I created a series using "blue with anything else".  I blogged them less than a month ago.  (CLICK HERE for that blog post.)  I thought I had my "color coordination vision" back to normal.  Then, the art consultant company ordered five more "blue and orange" pieces ... as "attic storage", things to replace one of the original 145 in case something happened.  I made them.  I was back to seeing "blue" always with "orange".  Something had to happen.

 

(Above:  Peacock Feather XXX.)

Something happened!  I was offered a solo show at a very upscale, local senior citizen complex.  Of course I said, "Yes!" even though this was to happen in April and even though the fancy venue with professional track lighting can accommodate just over SIXTY PIECES!  That's a lot of artwork!

 

(Above:  Peacock Feather XXXI.)

April is already a very busy month.  I'll be at the Smithsonian Craft Show with my Found Object Mandalas.  Found Object Mandalas are also part of a solo show at Artisan on the Square in Greenville, Georgia.  Of course the dates overlap!  The first weekend is also Open Studios here in Columbia.  The second Sunday is another, local event: Melrose Art in the Yard Sale.  So ... please insert a touch of terrified sarcasm here ... why not do another solo show with almost sixty other pieces? 

 

(Above:  Peacock Feather XXXII.)

It would be really nice to spread these opportunities out ... but that isn't within my control.  I either have to say "Yes!  I'll do that!" or "No! I'm not going to do that!"  After two years of this on-going pandemic, I'm much more inclined to say ABSOLUTELY!  I want to do that!  Besides, I have plenty of artwork in storage and I can make more! 

 

(Above:  Peacock Feather XXXIII.)

So ... twenty-seven pieces from my Muses Series will be going to the retirement center.  I love this work.  I still love this work.  It was made back in 2011.  Originally, there were eighty-eight pieces.  Twenty-five were framed. Several pieces sold but eventually, they were all shrink-wrapped ... and perhaps waiting for this opportunity to go into frames again.  Yet, I need more artwork ... like the recently finished In Box Series pieces meant to "get me over thinking blue-and-orange."

 

(Above:  Peacock Feather XXXIV.)

Yet, there are only twelve of these pieces.  More artwork is needed for the senior citizen center opportunity.  I looked around Mouse House and wondered about the frames on another series.  The Home Series was created when the pandemic shutdowns happened. As depressing as these works are, I knew none would sell ... and none sold ... but the frames could be used!

 

(Above: Peacock Feather XXXV.)

I looked closely that these frames.  They have a wide, bright silver metallic lip.  A thought occurred to me:  I could attempt to change the way I've always viewed peacock feathers!  No more aqua and copper!  I'd have to try different colors to work with this silver lip!

 

(Above:  Detail of Peacock Feather XXXV.)

The challenge was on!  I wasn't sure I'd like every one of the resulting ten works but I do!  I'm now more excited about peacock feathers than ever before!  (By the way, the Home Series is now shrink-wrapped!)

 

(Above:  Peacock Feather XXXVIII.)

I even tried other variations on the theme of peacock feathers ... like two together or one with the non-eyed feathers.  It was fun!  Now ... why I made ten pieces when I only had nine frames?  I don't really know.  Apparently, I didn't count correctly when cutting the synthetic felt substrata.  No worries though!  I found another frame for the last one.

 

(Above:  Peacock Feather XXXVI.)

Still ... I'm short on the work for the senior citizen retirement center ... but I will figure something out!  I'm up for this challenge!

(Above:  Peacock Feather XXXVII.)

Two more Found Object Mandalas

(Above:  Mandala CIX. Custom picture framed: 17 3/4" x 17 3/4". Found objects hand-stitched to a block of an old quilt. Found objects include: a vintage cherry candy tin lid; fleur di lis charms; miniature, black clothespins; four toy motorcycles; old keys; Italian beer bottle lids; beads and buttons. Click on any image to enlarge.)

I am more than happy to report that Carolina Steinway purchased both of the recently finished Steinway Found Object Mandalas!  In celebration, I immediately started another piece ... in fact ... I started three.  Two are finished.  One will be taking considerably longer as it has all eighty-eight Steinway piano keys on it.  

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CIX.)

I'm also anxious to stitch even more pieces in this series.  Why? Well, I have a solo show coming up in April at Artisans on the Square in Greenville, Georgia.  This opportunity overlaps the Smithsonian Craft Show and both need mandalas!  It is fun to think about artwork in two different venues, in two different states, and in front of entirely different people.  All that needs to happen is MORE ART!

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CIX.)

These two pieces include things donated to my stash by several friends including Flavia Lovatelli (whose incredible paper pieces were also accepted to the Smithsonian Craft Show), Jane Hiller, Sabrina Lindenmann, Sue Porter Heiney, Dolly Patton, and Shirley Fassell ... among others.

(Above: Mandala CX.  Custom picture framed: 12 1/2" x 12 1/2". Found objects hand-stitched to a block of a vintage quilt. Found objects include: a copper brioche mold; felt piano hammers (non-Steinway!); grey hair curlers; four, green Christmas light bulbs; English coins; buttons and beads; and green felt circles (function unknown to me!) from the recently dismantled Steinway.)

Mandala CX was inspired by the green, felt circles that were retrieved from the recently dismantled Steinway piano and the four Christmas tree light bulbs.  The felt circles were filthy but they hand washed well in cool water.  I really should have snapped a photo of Ernie the Cat while he tried to help.  Ernie is a strangely wonderful cat.  He seems to love a stream of water flowing from the sink's spigot. He also like going outside while it is raining.  Maybe next time. 

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CX.)

I had this little mandala stitched and supposedly finished.  Something was "off" though.  I needed "something" in the space beside each of the one-penny coins ... "something green" but something that didn't fight with the light bulb or felt circles.  I don't really know why I looked into a container of green buttons.  I already had enough buttons on the piece, but amazingly I found eight, flat, square, antique glass beads.  They shouldn't have been in the container with buttons ... but they were ... and the perfect number too! Sometimes I think the "Great creator" is adding to my stash too!  I don't remember ever seeing these eight, unique beads!

 (Above:  The green, felt circles still on the wooden part of the old Steinway ... along with the dirt!  This is why they were hand-washed!)

Mandala CVIII

(Above:  Found Object Mandala CVIII and me!  Click on any image to enlarge.)

Mandala CVIII is, to date, the largest in this series. I'm really pleased with it!  I'm also in debt to several people who have donated to my stash ... including my friend Flavia Lovatelli who gave me the ring of yarn samples.  That colorful ring inspired this piece.

 

(Above: Mandala CVIII. Custom framed: 40" x 40" when hung as a square; 57" x 57" when hung as a diamond. Found objects hand-stitched to a section of an old quilt. Found objects include: a fly wheel; two sizes of coffee K-pods; wavy hair curlers; green, purple, and orange plastic lids; a ring of yarn samples from a closed shop once located in California; expired medical devices in clear/blue plastic containers; aluminum brioche molds; keys; twenty, green, toy tractors; tennis balls that were cut in half; brown, ice cream container lids; and buttons.)

 

For the most part, I design these pieces according to the things I already have in my stash.  This piece was a bit different.  I imagined things I didn't have.  So, I'm in debt to my husband Steve who ate all the ice cream.  I needed the brown lids.  We also had to drink more grapefruit juice ... because originally I only had seven, green lids.  I needed eight.  Two friends provided tennis balls ... because I really wanted them in the corners but have never played tennis.  Many others donated to my stash.  THANK YOU!

 

(Above:  The old quilt used for this mandala's base.)

When I got the ring of yarn samples, I wasn't sure what old quilt would work as a foundation. Amazingly, this quilt was perfect. It came from Bill Mishoe's auction. It was one of several old quilts in a stack that brought next to no money at all.  Frankly, I thought I'd never use this one.  Seriously, the spots of red are too haphazard.  The pale green squares in the sashing looked totally wrong.  Yet, the ring of yarn samples looked better on this quilt than on any other one I own.  Who would have guessed?

 

(Above:  Mandala CVIII, detail.)

There are twenty, green toy tractors on this piece.  I've had them for months.  I never thought they'd work for a mandala.  They simply wouldn't lay flat on their sides. Sitting upright, they seemed "too tall".  Yet, the height of the yarn samples is actually taller than the tractors.  Who would have guessed?  

 

(Above:  Mandala CVIII, detail.)

I'm especially pleased with this piece and sort of imagining it in my booth at the Smithsonian Craft Show, April 20 - 24.  In my mind, it is my "show stopper".  Of course, there are several weeks before this opportunity.  For all I know, I might stitch something that I like even better!  I hope so!

 

 

Mandala CVII

(Above:  Mandala CVII. Custom framed: 27 3/4" x 27 3/4". Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage, signature quilt. Found objects include: a film reel on which a part of an old typewriter is screwed; diamond-shaped, aluminum brioche molds; orange, plastic circles cut from a six-pack beer yoke; red casino chips; Heineken beer bottle caps; green, white, and peach-colored, plastic bottle caps; wavy hair curlers; part of a ribbon award from the SC Commerce Department; brown rings of unknown function; Starbucks coffee stirrers; laminated Green Back grocery stamps; woven straw beads; and buttons. Click on either image to enlarge.) 

I was nervous when starting this Found Object Mandala. The old quilt was a reverse applique.  Each floral motif included several, small openings in which a name (or initials) was embroidered in black thread.  Because of this personalization, few people really wanted this quilt when it went up on the auction block for bidding.  I was the only person who bid.  Success for fifteen dollars.  But I was also worried.  Should I pick out the stitched names? Would the resulting holes look worse than the names?  Quickly, I decided not to do this, but if I left them, would they take away from my found object design?  Well, there was only one way to find out:  Start stitching!

 

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CVII.)

I knew that I would need to add elements that would increase the visual contrast in order to have the black thread blend in.  To do this, I added lots of white buttons layered with navy blue buttons.  I think it worked!  I especially like the unique, undulating shaped created by all these layered buttons. It sort of mimics the shape of the applique!  How great!

The Steinway Mandalas

(Above:  Mandala CV. Custom framed: 22" x 22" when hung as a square; 31 1/4" x 31 1/4" when hung as a diamond.  Found objects hand-stitched to a large, vintage quilt block. Found objects include: Steinway piano parts; decorative, brass plates for drawer pulls; keys; coffee K-pods; tan, plastic bottle caps; faux-coin bangles; a silver coaster; a gold Christmas light reflector; a black beer bottle cap; and buttons. Click on any image to enlarge.)

Months and months ago, I had a solo show at Central Piedmont Community College.  Several of my Found Object Mandalas were included. During the weeks of this exhibit, the nearby Carolina Steinway dealership visited.  They were negotiating a new, grand Steinway for the new, grand arts building that was under construction. They saw that I'd stitched a few felt-covered piano hammers on some of the pieces.  They liked what they saw but didn't make a purchase.  After all, they'd rather the piano parts came from a Steinway.  They contacted me and initiated an amazing adventure!

 

(Above:  Mandala CVI. Custom framed: 22 1/2" x 22 1/2" when hung as a square; 31 3/4" x 31 3/4" when hung as a diamond. Found objects hand-stitched to a large, vintage quilt block. Found objects include: Steinway piano parts; soups spoons; keys; coffee K-pods; a glass floral frog; four brown rings of unknown function; and buttons.)

I couldn't create a "Steinway" Found Object Mandala without first having an old Steinway!  At the time, I couldn't imagine anyone getting rid of a Steinway!  Seriously, it's a STEINWAY.  Little did I know that pianos, even Steinways, aren't like 17th and 18th century Stradivarius stringed instruments.  Pianos aren't easily taken apart, carefully glued back together, re-varnished, re-strung, and played by the world's most gifted musicians.  Once the sound box is cracked or otherwise broken, repairs are more costly than a new instrument.  Repaired Steinways aren't necessarily "better" than a new one or even as good as they originally were.  So the dealership found an old, upright Steinway that had no better future than having its parts find a "second life" in my artwork.

 

(Above: Me ... in the process of dismantling an upright Steinway inside the cargo van.)

It took two men lifting and me pushing from the back to get the piano into my cargo van.  

Dismantling the Steinway went well until we could find no more screws.

Apparently, the sides and a couple other wooden parts are pegged and glued. A google search told us to "use a sledge hammer".  It seemed CRAZY but one little tap and it worked!  We are still trying to find a woodworker who wants the nice, mahogany wood.  We have taken the "harp" (the part to which all the metal wires are attached ... which produces the music) to another artist.  We aren't sure what will happen with this heavy, cast iron piece ... but hopefully it will become something "interactive" for the public.

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CV.)

For me, only the small, internal parts are most easily incorporated.  On Mandala CV, I used three different parts without cutting them apart.  Each individual key/note had these three parts.  I only had room for seven groups. Obviously, I have lots of them left!

 

(Above:  Detail of Mandala CVI.)

For Mandala CVI, I cut the felt covered hammers off the rest of their part and combined them with two other parts.  I really don't know the names of these parts ... despite having once spent hours in the Smithsonian's Dillon Ripley Center when Piano 300: Celebrating Three Centuries of People and Pianos was on view. (March 2000 - October 2001).  It was a great show.  Yes, there was a Steinway or two.  I learned to appreciate this complicated instrument but not the names of the parts!  Anyway, Steinway's signature colors are black, white, and Old World gold.  Unfortunately, most of the parts of a Steinway aren't actually black, white, or gold.  The large, vintage quilt block is about as close as it can get! 

My agreement with the Carolina Steinway dealership was to create a couple Found Object Mandalas and to give them "first refusal".  This means, these two pieces will be offered to them first.  They are under no obligation to buy either.  These two pieces will remain on "first refusal" for the coming weeks.  Why?  Well, I am also creating another "Steinway Mandala".  It will include all eight-eight keys ... the entire key ... which is a lot longer than what is seen when playing the piano.  I'm very excited about this.  It is going to be really, really BIG.  By the way, this old upright was a much older piano; its white keys are real ivory!

Mandala CIV, a commission

 

(Above:  Mandala CIV. Custom framed: 15 1/2" x 15 1/2". Sentimental and found objects hand-stitched to a single block of a vintage quilt. Sentimental objects include: wrist and pocket watches, old keys, name plate, and AA recovery medallions. Found objects include: clock gears; four brown rings of unknown function; white bottle caps, and buttons.  Click on either image to enlarge.)

Accepting an artistic commission using someone's precious keepsakes is both an honor and a risk ... especially if the expectation is that the resulting artwork would be a Found Object Mandala.  I might have been worried or anxious or unsure of myself, but that wasn't the case with this particular piece.  The nice lady requesting this artwork has contributed to my stash for years.  She's given me piles of beautiful old fabric to use in the workshops I conduct.  She's let me know about her church bazaar ... where I've scored dozens of "multiples".  She's brought old quilts too and has followed this series since it started.  So, I was actually excited to accept this important commission.  The items were once her father's.  

 

(Above:  Mandala CIV, detail.)

He died years ago ... after receiving his 28th AA recovery medallion.  He is remembered with love and respect.  I don't doubt that his great grandchildren will adore this artwork long after I join him in heaven.

Mandala CI, CII, and CIII

(Above:  Mandala CI. Custom framed: 13" x 13" when hung as a square; 18 1/4" x 18 1/4" when hung as a diamond. Found objects hand-stitched to a block of an old quilt. Found objects include: A brass part of a table lamp; two different types of corn cob holders; shower curtain rings; yellow ducks from another set of shower curtain rings; felt covered piano hammers; brass screw eyes; four woven beads; four brown rings of unknown function; and buttons. Click on any image to enlarge.)

Less than two weeks ago I wrote six blog posts all on the same day.  I was trying my best to "catch up".  Silently, I promised myself that I wouldn't get so far behind again.  Something went wrong with this plan.  It's not all "my fault" though.  I ran out of the thin stretcher bars on which my Found Object Mandalas are mounted.  I had to wait for my order to be delivered.  By that time, the artwork was piling up.  Then, it snowed!  It was too cold and wet to photograph anything outside on the garage door.  

 

(Above: Detail of Mandala CI.)

As a result, I spent time over the weekend mounting and framing eight new additions to the series.  This morning, they were photographed.  If I wait even one more day, the next Found Object Mandala will be finished.  Thus, I am almost "forced" to blog another round of "catch up" posts this afternoon.  This is the first one.

(Above:  Mandala CII. Custom framed: 13" x 13". Found objects hand-stitched to a single block of a vintage quilt. Found objects include: The receiver end of an old rotary dial telephone; dairy pull tabs; dominoes; red plastic bottle caps and one red plastic jar lid; buttons and beads.)

I really like to stitch on more than one piece at a time. Small ones are ideal for taking with me to Bill Mishoe's weekly auction of used household item. This is one of the places where I've found numerous "multiples" for these mandalas.  It is fun to be stitching while waiting to bid.  In my TEDx talk, I called Bill Mishoe's auction house "my very favorite art supply store".  It is!

(Above:  Mandala CIII. Custom framed: 13 3/4" x 13 3/4" when hung as a square; 19 1/2" x 19 1/2" when hung as a diamond. Found objects hand-stitched to a single block of a vintage quilt. Found objects include: A red jar lid with a "silver, spoked thing" of unknown function; a blue bottle lid; dairy pull tabs; large aluminum can pull tabs; two kinds of New Belgium beer bottle caps; small, decorative, black clothespins (intended to be used on a cheap bulletin board); beads and buttons.)

Several months ago, I lost a table lot of "stuff" while attending Bill Mishoe's auction. (On Tuesday nights, "stuff" is sold by the card table lot.  Basically, card tables are loaded with all sorts of things that are sold together for one bid.  The minimum bid is six dollars.)  The only things of interest on this particular table lot were the little, black clothespins that went with a cheap bulletin board.  But, the table was full of candles, pots and pans, small kitchen appliances, padded coat hangers, paperback books, and other "stuff".  I approached the successful bidder and asked how much she wanted for the little black clothespins.  Her answer was, "There are clothespins?" I said, "Yeah!  Little black ones".  I rummaged around in one of the boxes and showed them to her.  She laughed and said, "Take them!" 

(Above:  Mandala CIII, detail.)

Sixteen, little black clothespins became the inspiration for this little mandala that was mostly stitched at another, Bill Mishoe auction. I still have more of them. Believe it or not, there were also several, even smaller, white ones.  They will likely be used in the future.