Fabric and Fibre Postcards: Day 47

At last....on to the last couple of days of Postcard blogging!
It's been an interesting time for me,if for no other reason that I have had to make a daily posting on the same theme.

Now,can you come up with helpful suggestions please ?

After participating in the recent ATC Haiku themed swap over on Aus_NZ_Artquilters, I'm wondering if something similar could be successfully done with Postcards!

I can visualise the backing, as per the 'normal' fabric postcard,being anchored only on three sides(the two 6 " and one 4")
but how could an insert be contained,unless the card was mailed in a clear cellophane envelope?

Also,if there is an insert (even if it's only a small sheet of paper) will the postal authorities deem it to be a letter rather than a card?

I'm looking forward to asking the local (patient and helpful) Post Office staff and seeing their reaction.
I guess I better make a card first,so they can see what I mean.

It's all Jo's fault!

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It all gets back to Jo introducing Julia of Camille's Place and me to Linda(http://lindawalshoriginals.blogspot.com/)

Linda apparently tagged Julia creative ribbons.blogspot.com/ ,who tagged Jo,nzjo.blogspot.com/who...........
you guessed it!
Wants me to name FIVE WEIRD things about myself!

1.. Start with my car rego: FWL (Fairly weird lady") How weird is that!
2..My car sports a broomstick riding witch sticker on the rear window.(How weird is that!
3..I regularly talk with myself.......mainly discussing if my current project is proceeding "right"
4..That I'm actually responding to Jo's tagging! WEIRD!!
5..The time I spend at the computer! Totally WEIRD!

And,no I'm notgoing to tag anyone...........
how weird is that!!

Fabric and fibre Postcards: Day46

The things that land in my letter-box!!

Ellen in AZ was another swap partner in the FATs"Crystal Ball" swap and this card arrived from her today!

Ellen's seer visualises a celebration in my future!
( Trust me,I won't dispute the issue.)

Ellen has printed the scene on fabric,then by using a circular piece of vinyl she has enclosed package,stars and balloon sequins within the ball;
She then fussy cut the ball gazer's hands and positioned them over and around the crystal ball.
A fringe of navy blue fibre frames the scene,and to keep the fringe intact and safe from postal machinery,the card was mailed in one of my favourite see-through envelopes. 

Fabric & fibre Postcards: Day 45

No hints,tips or suggestions today,but some eye candy from Gunnel in Sweden,
Jo in N.S.W.,and
Judith in the UK !

These three cards arrived today and each has a different them and treatment:

Gunnel's card appears to me to be a type of confetti of threads fibres behind a type of crystal Organza which has an overpainting in places with a metallic or pearlescent paint;She has then embroidered two skeleton leaves and added seed beads and random stitching in aqua and lemon.

Next comes a Carnival Mask from JoS in NSW.We were Swap partners in a Carnival themed postcard swap....well,I sent her one,and was happily surprised to receive this in return!
Jo has appliqued a mask and embellished around it with eyelash yarn and gold thread;and I like to think those are firework exploding in the background!
But oh....check out the neat binding and it's mitred corners!

Last but not least,a Crysatl Ball swap through Fibre Art Traders (lovingly referred to as FAT!!)

Judith in the UK sent me this "ball" containing a Cathedral by night and bats and stars in a "shaker" like a snow storm ball.
The ball itself seems to be floating on a wave.....see the Light house? and a gull hovers nearby.
Judith's prediction of seeing many PCs coming my way,was certainly true today!

Thank-you Gunnel,Jo and Judith,I love them all!

Fabric and fibre Postcards: Day 44

Window Template :
A tool I use regularly with my Crazy Quilting is a "window template"
or viewing tool.
In the case of fabric postcards the template window measures 6 by 4 inches and is cut from a piece of matt board.
(I normally use black card for this but as its gone walkabout at the moment ,the grey will do to illustrate its purpose!

Initially make your postcard / fabric block larger than required....e.g 5 by 7 inches instead of your finished 6x4 size.
Having made your 5x7 fabirc postcard,place your template over it to decide where is the best area of the design.

Hint: If you use an A4 sized cardstock,you will be able to to make two template windows by first cutting the stock in half and cutting the 6x4 window in the centre of the resulting 5 and a half by 8 and a half inch pieces. 

Fabric and fibre Postcards: Day 43

Bird's nest:
About two years ago ,at one of our weekly SnB sessions Shasa introduced me to birds' nests---Using a bowl to save the snippings and off-cuts of thread,particularly when doing hand worked stitcheries, and in her case,utilising those snippets when only a very short length of thread is required.
What has this got to do with fabric postcards you ask?
Well,why not use those threads offcuts to create a different background for a PC?
Lay them on a piece of homespun,whatever lay the threads in a light mesh and randomly FME or stipple quilt over them to hold in position;
or layer fine tulle over the threads to stabilise them.
You can go multicoloured,or get artistically picky and stick to shades of one colour.

Another friend,LynH scurries around during our workshops,"liberating" tiny scraps of fabric that have a heat fusible backing:
these she uses as required when she wants a confetti effect,instead of needing to mutilate good fabric for the purpose!

Now those of you with younger children underfoot...there's a fun chore for them: picking up and saving "treasures for Mum" and helping tidy up without realising!

My head is spinning......

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Over the complimentary things Linda of I love craft and craftblogs wrote of this blog and my Kurliskottage blog.
I'd read what Linda had blogged about 'our Julia' but never dreamed I'd get similar treatment.
I don't desreve it,but I'll gratefully accept it,thank you Linda! :-)
And do go and visit her blog and sites....you'll pick up all sorts of cool crafty tips and links.

And my friend belle's great Jester card is featured too!

Fabric and fibre Postcards: Day 42

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Paper piecing
Have you thought of using paper foundation piecing for constructing your postcard?
I haven't mentioned it before because I have not mastered it myself.
But talking of swapping postcards with Katie of thenkp.blogspot.com and the draft of a sunset she sent me, made me think "Why not?"

So please,if you have any tips to share please do!

Some things I do know about paper foundation piecing are
1.. to use a very small stitch length
2..Trace or photocopy your pattern,and then using a threadless machine stitch along the lines.
3..Follow the number sequence on the pattern and start with piece #1 wrong side up on your cutting board;then place your pattern (facing upwards)over the #1 fabric piece.
Centre pattern over fabric with a generous seam allowance all round.
Although you can use small pieces and not worry about grain,use a piece that is at least 3/4 inch larger all round than is required.
The rest is a flip and sew and trim method..........
right!
The external Link should explain far more clearly than me........go to it!

Fabric and fibre Postcards: Day 41

 
 
 

Only today's post refers to ATCs (Artists' Trading cards for the uninitiated) rather than Postcards
(PCs are 6x 4 inches dimension----ATCs are 2.5 by 3.5 inches.)

Back about August 9 on one of my other blogs CQCRAZY (http://cqcrazy.blogspot.com/)
I showed my first ATC made with a (Japanese) Haiku theme/interpretation.
Today's mail delivered four ATCs to me as the result of a Swap hosted by DianaB of Australia_NZ_Artquilters group.
Each card came from a different fabric and fibre artist,and interpreted a Haiku chosen by each person...........it has given me a wonderful insight into how other interpret and translate another's "thoughts" into fabric and fibre.

The four lower (orange) cards were my efforts for the Swap:
I used the same Obi fabric in the four cards,and chose to interpret two Haiku.
Because in 'things Japanese'I believe that 'less is more'I tried to remain minimalistic in my interpretation. 

Yesterday' s post correction

http://www.quiltartlugano.ch/en/docum.html


Once again my apologies for confusing you all;
You may have guessed that I'm radically "Link/HTML challenged;
For some reason my external links work by clicking on the blog of the day title!!

Fabric and fibre Postcards: Day 40

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I found an item of interest over on Cramzy's blog concerning an upcoming event in Lugano,Switzerland in June 1-3,2007.
Apart from it being the first Quilt festival in Switzerland,they are hoping for postcards to be donated for fundraising for "Vivere come prima" Society ('Living as before') a Swiss society for women after breast cancer.

Sign your card on the back with a pigma pen,showing your name,city and country;
The title and date of your postcard
Put your card(s) in envelope and address to:

Bea Bernasconi
Via Navree 5, CH-6964
Davesco-Soragno (for names A-L) email for info: beabernasconi@bluewin.ch

for names M-Z, send to:
Marlis Egger,
Via Nava 16 C,
CH- 6963 Pregassona

email: marlisegger@ticino.com

Fabric and fibre Postcards: Day 40

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Recycling !!
What about recycling the labels you cut off your clothing?
The colours and company names can make for an interesting "collection" for a fashionista friend.

Then again,those garment/fabric care labels removed from clothing and manchester could be used in a similar fashion.

Carnival mask

 

This gold carnival mask arrived from LindaM in Western Australia today.

Like Belle's Jester,I think Linda's card took a vacation to enjoy the Spring wildflowers on the way here!

It is a gold mask with handle like a lorgnette on a black background and metallic fibres form a colourful frame.
Over all is a layer of fine tulle keeping the fibres in position.

Simply elegant.
Thank you Linda! 

Fabric 'n fibre postcards: Day 39

Because my brain is still in meltdown after seeing those 100 artworks at Gallery 159 yesterday,today's message is brief:

Bobbin thread:
I use a cone of clear 100% Nylon or "Wonder Invisible thread" made by YLI Corp. in my bobbin.
As I stitch on the design side before sandwiching my card layers,the bobbin thread doesn't show through.
I also have (Janone) bobbinfil in white and black,but find the clear to my preference.
And when I satin stitch the edges,no contrary colours appear.

Fabric postcards: Day 38

 

NO Postcards today, but these eye candies instead!
Slightly larger than postcards,these beauties are in a 12 inch square format.

Today I visited "Up Over and Down Under". an international textile art Exhibition.
It is a collaborative exhibition of 100 artworks by the "Australian Textile Arts & Surface Design Association" and the Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh,USA.

I was blown away by the varied forms of textile art........the exhibition was excellent.
As today was the last day for the Brisbane showing,I urge anyone who can manage it,to visit when it opens in the Orange Regional Gallery Orange NSW between October 20 and Nov 19.

The six works depicted here are by Kay Haerland Margaret Bullock
Marj Long Leslie & Tanya Calhoun
Sharyn Hall , Gloria Allport

(At least that is what my notes said!)
I have to wait a while before I can get a colour catalogue mailed to me...

The exhibition covered a most diverse field of textile art:
From silk fusion,mulberry paper,felted vessels;beading; Gesso stiffened manipulated muslin;weaving ....the list goes on!

It is so difficult to decide on a favourite:Dewi Wong's "night out on the Town" with bobbin lace,copper wire,silk,cotton and metallic thread is one:

Another would have to be
silk screen image and poem hand stitched machine digitsed.and Etching on Perspex;

Gloria Muddle's "Fanfare" with fabric,lace,handmade paper,metallic fibres,beads and jewellery findings was a Mandala of Celebration I'd dearly like to emulate.
I could go on and on,but.......
three cats and one husband are proclaiming how hungry they are! 

Fabric and fibre Postcards: Day 37

 
 
After reading my daily dose of inaminuteago this morning,I realised how little beading I've incorporated into the cards I've made.

I wonder if this is because the themes and numbers needing to be made within a certain timeframe are causing me to drift away from my love of hand work and CQ.

The two cards featured today have a little beading,but none of the bead trails I normally like to add to my CQ blocks.

The white card,based on a Haiku has only a few small Swarovski crystals to represent hail stones.

The black and gold card by MarianneB of Postmark'dArt has tiny gold Delica to tie in with the gold stitchery and pictograms.

Some points to consider as you add beading to postcards is the "threat of the postal (bead) munching machinery"!
"But",you say "I've had my postcard hand cancelled"
That's well and good,but,trust me,at some stage your precious card will be subjected to some amount of machinery processing,so.............

add an extra stitch or two,to firmly anchor the beads;
don't make your bead trails too chunky or clunky;
REMEMBER to keep the thickness of the card to one quarter of an inch;
and consider adding a layer of fine (bridal) tulle as an added protection for the beads.

Seed beads,Delica beads and plain and twisted bugle beads in the shorter lengths(size 2 & 3) seem to travel well.

Go have some beading fun. 

kurliskottage: Wacky women & pincushions

kurliskottage: Wacky women & pincushions

Fabric and fibre Postcards: Day 36

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I KNEW I should have blogged before spending another four hours attacking the garden!
(All I want now is a hot relaxing bath to ease some aches)
So this will be brief!
Photographs and photo printing.

Yes,I did mention it on both Day 4,with VivianK's "Golden Ears Mountain" and
Day 10,with my "fractured landscape"
but what about printing and using one of your favourite photos..........like you as a kid,or your Mother (or who ever?)

I generally print on white/off white homespun that I have previously washed to remove sizing,and then dunked in BubbleJet Set liquid(Available from Ozecraft Lace & Dye) or if I have no BJS,I use a fabric conditioner,(much cheaper too!)

If I'm using the cotton homespun,I've found that if I iron the fabric to heat fusible paper-backed webbing the photo is then ready to trim and apply to Timtex/whatever immediately and saves an extra 'handling' of the fabric.
Don't forget to heat set (ironing) the photo after the inks have dried.

note; This method (i.e. using heat fusible on paper backing) does not work with silk!

You really need to use a fabric carrier sheet if you are attempting to print on a fine silk fabric........I learned this the hard way!!

Apologies,but I have no pic to share with you at the moment.

and in a jesting mood........

 

I just had to share this cheery fellow with you!
This came from my friend Belle:
(remember back some months ago the postcard of the Goddess? hers too)
I received this happy chappie in a Carnival themed postcard swap a couple of days ago.
Belle's work is fantastic........and I really treasure her cards.Wouldn't you! 

Fabric Postcards: Day 35

 

Sometimes a girl's just got to have fun!
And this card was the result of frustration over a journal quilt that was not behaving.
Needing idiot relief, I 'dug' in my cat stash where I had five or six related fabrics begging to be used,and just appliqued triangular shapes to the back ground.
I had fun;
it reduced frustration levels so much that I refer to the several cards I made as my 'cat-a tonics'.

It was fun and fast!

(I promise to be more serious tomorrow.)