Fall Postcard Swap

It's that time of year again, Sue's postcard group's fall swap is underway.  All have not been sent yet but hers have been sent and received so we're giving you a look at what she made for this round. The theme was "shadows".  Keeping it simple, she went with a fall leaf and added shadows for depth.  She started out with a leaf print on a pale blue-green linen.

Unlike our usual printing, this is NOT a Thermofax print!  This time the leaf itself was pressed into the paint (a mixture of red, yellow and bronze) and then used to print on the fabric.

It needed more definition so she added an outline and veins with a bronze Sharpie marker.

Next she added some more color to the leaf with red, yellow and orange Inktense pencils.

The colors were blended by brushing with water - maybe a little too much as you can see where it bled outside the lines :(  The others are better, Sue kept this one for herself.  

Next was adding the shadows, also done with Inktense pencils.  This is the initial application, as things progressed, she added more color to deepen the shadows.

These are the finished leaves.  Stitching, postcard backs and edge finish remain to be completed.

Here's Sue's finished card. The others were in the mail before she remembered she hadn't taken a finished picture of group!  Oh well, you get the idea.  When the rest of the "shadow" cards arrive, we'll share a picture.

Have you made fabric postcards?  It's a great way to try out a technique on a small scale, and brightens the recipient's day with artful mail!

Postcard Swap

Sue's fabric postcard swap group is still carrying on after about 15 years, swapping cards twice a year.  We are still at 5 members, though one of our originals bowed out after the last exchange. However we picked up a new member so we break even.  Our spring swap is due by the end of June; 3 of us have sent our cards, while 2 are still in the works.  Sue sent hers out last week so it's safe to reveal here on the blog.

The theme for this go-round is "corvids".  Corvids, also known as the crow family, is a family of birds that includes crows, ravens, rooks, jackdaws, jays, magpies, treepies, choughs and nutcrackers.  Before doing a little research, Sue only knew of crows being in this group, so when she saw the other birds included, she chose to feature the blue jay. Since those in her back yard didn't cooperate for a photograph, she found one licensed to use on Wikimedia Commons taken by Jocelyn Anderson. (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blue_Jay_(185317371).jpeg ) Sue's first step was to alter the image in Photoshop to remove the background and apply a filter as she does when creating screen images. Then the image was printed in black and white on inkjet fabric sheets.  (Sue uses EQ Printables by The Electric Quilt Company)

The images were then colored with water soluble wax pastels made by Reeves, and cut out.  After applying the color, brushing over it with water softens and blends the color.

Finding a background for the card was the next step.  Sue settled on a piece of ice-dyed fabric that was mainly green but with bits of other colors to give the effect of a tree or greenery. The base of the postcard is a stiff fusible like Peltex that is fusible on both sides, so the fronts and backs of the cards can be fused in place before stitching.

Then a branch was cut out of brown hand-dyed fabric and fused on top of the background.

Some machine stitching added texture to the branch. Then the blue jays were fused on top and stitched around the edges.  The fusible product used is Mistyfuse, a very thin fusible.

After adding the backing, the edges are satin stitched.  Here's a close up.

The other 2 cards received so far both feature crows.

This interpretation of the theme is by Grace Ng.  One member pointed out that 3 crows together means "health".  How appropriate!

Cathy Tyler created her version of Mourdour, a talking raven who lives in North Yorkshire, England.

Can't wait to see the next two cards!

Postcard Swap

Our regular blog followers may recall previous posts about Sue's postcard swap group.  It looks like it's been a while since we've posted about a swap.  We have been a steadfast group of 5 for a number of years (the original group got its start more than 10 years ago).  For our most recent swap in November we grew to 6 participants, but one member has decided to bow out so we'll be back to 5.   Our theme for this round was "silhouettes".  It's always fun to see how everyone interprets the theme.

Sue opted for choosing a Thermofax screen as her silhouette (no surprise there).  The screen she chose was poppies.  She started with some ice dyed fabric and first printed grasses as part of the background.

Then the poppies were screen printed in black to create the silhouette.

Each of the finished cards was slightly different because of the ice dyed background fabric. This is the group of cards that Sue made.  She chose poppies as the silhouette in honor veterans.

The other "posties" had varied interpretations.

Grace is our new member who made this lovely layered silhouette of the queen. The text in the background is overlaid with the blue and red segments.

Cathy created this striking California sunset.

Sherry had a unique interpretation with this cat silhouette created from thread scraps trapped under tulle.

Lois lamented that our visions of ourselves don't always match what we see in the mirror. :(

Paula got us all humming a tune with her interpretation of the song "Silhouettes on the Shade".

What will the theme be next time?  Our next round will be due by the end of June.  Guess you'll have to follow along to see what comes next.

Magnificent Monarchs Migrate

It's postcard time again!  Sue's swap group decided on a fall theme of Animal Alliteration - a 3 word phrase including an animal.  Some examples: "Are artichokes artful? Can cats count? Elephants eat enormously! Squirrels scamper speedily." 

As evident from the post title, Sue's alliteration is "magnificent monarchs migrate".  Using a thermofax screen of a monarch butterfly, she printed 2 sizes of butterflies with black paint on orange hand dyed fabric.  These would be used to made fusible appliques.

In order to make them a bit more realistic, Sue used a paint pen to add white dots around the perimeter of the wings. Below you can see the difference with and without the dots.

Here's one close up.

Next, MistyFuse fusible web was applied to the back of the fabric.  Then they were cut out.

After fusing a mottled blue hand dyed fabric to the postcard base, the butterflies were arranged on each and fused in place.

Stitching around each butterfly secured them, and after fusing on the back of the card, satin stitching finished off the edges.

Then they were ready to migrate to the mailboxes of their recipients!

Spring Postcard Swap

It was that time of year again for Sue's postcard swap group to send out cards by the end of June.  Now that one errant card has finally been received (it returned to sender and had to be resent), all are in and can be shared.  The theme this time around was "Mint Condition".  Somewhat predictable but all interesting interpretations of this theme - all but one related to food or drink!

Sherry was "first out of the gate" with her "mint julip condition" in time for Derby Day in May.

Cathy decided to "show me the money"  with Euros fresh from the mint!

Sue's card was a tribute to Girls Scouts' thin mint cookies, her favorite mint condition.

Paula introduced us to Mint Condition by Caribou Coffee, which is a mixture of coffee, chocolate, peppermint, and whipped cream.  Sounds yummy!

And Lois's card reminds us of the many choices when the mint craving hits!

Stay tuned for the fall swap due by the end of November, theme still to be determined.