Love determines our bonds.
~Mitch Alborn in Finding Chika
When we were growing up {back in the Dark Ages before the internet} my youngest sister cried because "everyone else gets mail and I don't!" So our mother told her everything addressed to occupant was hers. Mother was a clever woman.
Taking that lesson to heart, I send my grandchildren a weekly postcard. Their parents tell me they are thrilled to receive "real" mail. I look for postcards wherever I go. Museums are especially good places to find them... when they were open. Fortunately I stocked up several good batches.
Remember the story, String Too Short to be Saved? This week, just before dropping all the scraps into the trash I sewed some together to make fabric postcards. Because they are still useful... And I'm crazy.
It started with some leftover Porgs from a shirt for DH. {That curve came from the sleeve.} I backed it with muslin, stitched the layers together, then decided to zigzag the edge. Oops. Big mistake. It was straight but ended up lumpy and wiggly. However, edge treatments need to be done before attaching the card backing. As we all remember, close stitching on paper just causes it to fall away.
Because I attached the fabric to the card from the fabric side, the back is visibly uneven. Altogether as bit of a mess.
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| First postcard attempt |
The backs are 4" x 6" index cards... because I have a bunch at the house and it's better to use what's on hand. I sewed the layers together with with longest basting stitch and learned
- The "basting" stitch length is too long. A 3 on my Bernina looks best.
- Topstitch thread works better than regular sewing thread.
- Lightly glue the fabric to the card {then press with a dry iron until the glue dries} to hold the layers in place. There's no way to pin these together that won't leave a hole in the card.
- Mark a border about a quarter inch from the edges of the card and sew with the card side up to create an more even border.
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| Porg and R2D2 postcards |
I made a few more with raw edges but thought sewing a pillowcase might look more finished. No idea why that would matter with a postcard.
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| Pillowcase postcards |
They make a nice change but the raw edges are simpler. Notice how much nicer the back looks when the sewing line is drawn and stitched with the card side up.
Then I pulled any scrap that had a design on it. Crab, bird, frog, tulips. Even when they are partly cut off.
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| Fabric postcards |
These aren't the most artistic pieces but they amuse me. I've seen ATCs but was never inspired. Postcards have a similar function: a place to use tiny scraps, a way to practice new techniques, a time to play. I enjoyed myself, learned some things, and have a way to move these bits out of the house. {Mailing them to the grandchildren. Hahaha.}
Eight postcards used perhaps quarter yard. Warning: Fabric postcards are too thick for the postcard rate; they require letter stamps. But what fun this is.
Some of the beans have the loveliest purple flowers. What a joy to watch them grow although I'm not sure how many beans we will actually get.
Voting
Our national election scheduled for November 3 is 105 days away. Help someone register and encourage everyone to vote. Democracy requires the participation of ALL citizens.
Enjoy the day, Ann