Fabric Postcards

I was looking up some information on fiber art when I found a website that is full of information and inspiration for fiber artists.  It is a whole website dedicated to creating and sending fabric postcards around the world called Postmark'd Art. I decided that making fabric postcards would be a great project for my post this week. I wanted to go with a spring theme so I started out by coloring a piece of white cotton, large enough to make nine postcards, with a yellow Derwent Inktense block.  I sprayed my fabric lightly with water and added the yellow color.  I made some areas intensely yellow and some more pale.  I blended it all together with a brush and textile medium.  I let this layer dry. I used three colors of Metamica paints and Tam's Butterfly Wings stencil to add butterflies over the yellow background. I used some of my hand carved stamps and more Metamica paints to add flowers and dragonflies over the butterflies. I added splatters and drops of pearlescent acrylic inks to get some more contrast.  I let all the paint dry completely and then I heat set the paint. Next I layered a piece of cotton flannel and muslin with my painted fabric and I free motion stitched a wavy pattern over the entire piece. I didn't want the postcard to be too thick, so the flannel makes the perfect batting. I choose some fibers from the Pacific mix and hand stitched them over the surface. I then cut the piece into nine pieces that were a little smaller than 4" x 6" postcard size.  I picked one piece to add details to and finish off for mailing. On this card I added some more hand stitching.  Next I layered another piece of muslin, a piece of stabilizer and the quilted postcard.  I satin stitched around the edges and trimmed off the excess fabric. Now my postcard is ready to add an address and a message and be sent off to a new home. I hope that I have inspired you to make some fiber mail art.  It is fun and easy to personalize these small pieces of art.  Sending them through the mail should bring a smile to the recipient and some postal workers too. Janelle You can view more of my art on my website at www.handsandharts.com