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 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 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
Janelle
