Sunday, June 9, 2013

fabric postcards

Good old MMSA. As soon as I think I'm nice and ahead of the game in getting postcards done for the weekly prompts, Karen posts one that makes me work at it.

Non-Paper postcards.

I read that and immediately thought 'fabric', because (a) I have so much of it and (b) because I know how to make fabric postcards. I'd just picked up a gorgeous shirt at a thrift store with no purpose in mind, other than the fabric was lovely and a large men's (= lots of fabric) 100% silk shirt for $1? Yes, please.

It had sea turtles all over it, so I cut off the sleeves, took the hems out, then lay them out on my cutting board. Next I cut a 4"x6" window in a sheet of paper and held it here and there until I found areas that looked good. I got 6 pieces from the two sleeves with material left over!

I cut 3 pieces of stiff interfacing, then began to machine stitch with a heavy variegated thread in a few different colors. When I had the basic areas done, I dug out various fibers and laces from my crazy quilting days and stitched them down.

Ironed on two-sided fusible, then ironed on pieces cut from a vintage napkin for the back. Zigzagged around the edges and waa laa! - fabric postcards. It took me about 3 hours total to do 3 of them. I might do the other 3 pieces I cut but not for the swap. They're kind of labor intensive, so 3 will do for now. Hope their eventual recipients enjoy them. Double click to embiggen and see all the stitching detail.



6 comments:

  1. Oh, these are gorgeous! I may have to try and make a fabric card myself. Thanks for sharing your process.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Have you seen these cloth post cards they are beautiful! I love cloth postcards! Lorna-arty mess.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. oh my gosh, Leslie, these are stunning! There will be some very very happy recipients.

    ReplyDelete
  4. That is so cool...thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Stunning, unusual, totally captivating. I want one! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I got one of these beauties in the swap and it is soooo awesome! The texture is fabulous! I had to laugh because I thought I was the only one who bought clothes at the thrift store just for the fabric! Thank you! Mandy

    ReplyDelete