When I’m not working with fabric I spend quite a lot of time playing with it. It feels like a treat, or a reward to make something that I don’t intend to sell, just for the pleasure of it. It is also an easily accesable displacement activity when I can’t be bothered doing any proper work. I’ve done blogposts before about these extra curriculum activities including
1 Year of Stitching
Made on Mondays
collaborations : here here here here here and here
Stitch Meditations
but I don’t think I’ve done one about Postcards.
I’m a member of a Facebook group called “Handmade Fabric Postcard Swap”
https://www.facebook.com/groups/handmadefabricpostcardswap/
Barbara Crompton runs the group and she announces themes for the coming months and members can sign up for any that they want to take part in. She then tells us who to send a postcard to, and who will be sending one to us.
The themes for 2019 are Fans, Hearts, Maker’s Choice, Things that Fly, The Windmills of Your Mind, Design a Monster, Something beginning with B, Under the Sea, Page 17 (take page 17 of any book of your choice and use a word, phrase or picture from that page), Something beginning with C,
Fireworks, A Winter Landscape.
I’ve signed up for them all.
Barbara has a website where you can read all about the group, and also see all of the postcards swapped from 2014 to present day.
Here are the cards I have made for swaps in the group so far ….
This is the most recent one I sent, I took a chance and sent it “naked” (with no envelope) and it arrived safely..
back of card – sent naked as the day it was born and arrived safely – phew!
And here are the cards I received from other members of the group ….
England
Netherlands
Canada
England
USA
USA
I really enjoy making my cards, and also receiving them from all over the world.
So much so that I joined another Facebook group dedicated to postcards, it is called “POSTCARD FABRIC ART – Quilt, Applique, FMQ Thread Sketch, Paint, Embellish+” and you can read about it in part 2 which I will post tomorrow.
You can read part 2 here
and part 3 here
Fran,
Your work is beautiful. Love the postcards. I received one as a thank you recently from the Southeast Fiber Alliance which then inspired me to make some myself. Those postcards became my Christmas cards I sent to a select few family and friends.
I also enjoyed reading your blog. The idea of Made on Mondays might be a concept I adopt too. I was overwhelmed with the stitching meditation. I might have to revisit that as I know it’s not a make or break. You do what you can…no rules and all.
Love this. I have been creating and trading cards since 1999. When I found 3 surface design groups that did regular swaps. I was hooked. I have a antique suitcase that holds my collection of over 200 cards. And I started selling them in 2006 at local arts and craft fairs. People love them. The joy I get from creating these small treasures and receiving them there are no words to explain.
Ps I have followed your art work for a while now. But did not know you were part of the group. Love your creative style
Thank you, I would love to see your cards, do you have somewhere online that you share them, please?
So lovely Fran, you are such an insperation to me. You make me LOOK!
inspired as usual Fran
Hello,
Any chance you can post the link you mentioned to the “Handmade Fabric Postcard Swap” you mentioned? I couldn’t find it on FB.
Thank you,
Frances Perea
https://www.facebook.com/groups/handmadefabricpostcardswap/
I’ll edit the blog post to include it, thanks