Plant (cell) and Easter Egg Postcards

I am involved in 2 postcard swap groups right now, one with the Postcard Cottage, and another with a group that my blogger friend, Beth, of Notes... organized.  She lives in South Africa, so many of the swappers in that group are also from there.  It's been really fun to get postcards like these, that are made from South African "Shweshwe" fabric.

I just mailed off 7 of the 8 postcards above yesterday.  The theme was "plant", and I decided to make mine microscopic plant cells, complete with nucleus, chloroplasts, and mitochondria.  I have been using us a bunch of batik "strips" that I got on a local blog hop last fall.  Each store I visited gave us 5 strips.  I went to 6 of them.  I've also found that these strips make an excellent "accent" fabric for the pillowcases that I make... sewn between the main fabric and the "cuff".  I'm totally looking at those "bail pops" in a different way now!

Here's the 3 postcards that I received most recently, including 2 of the 3 Easter Egg swap cards.  The shiny one is from a swapper in Ireland!!

I tried out a few new things on my latest batch of postcards.  I didn't want to change colors of thread several times to sew on my little applique "organelles", so I used "invisible thread" for the first time.  It's basically very fine fishing mono-filament line that you can buy in most fabric stores.  I had a hard time finding out any information about how to sew with this, and even the person who owned the fabric store had never used it, so here's what I did that worked quite well.

I put the spool on my "side spool feeder", so that it would come off the spool cleanly.

I used my thin weight 30 Aurifil thread in the bobbin.  I tried it with a few different other white threads, and the thicker threads showed ups as white dots on the top, the thinner thread did not.  I used a needle designed for metallic thread.  There may even be a "monofillament" needle, I don't  know, but this is the closest "match" I could get locally.  Here's a close-up:

I also used my new rubber stamp for the back.  I finally figured out that I was putting too much ink on it, so I use it with a much lighter touch now, and it dries up nicely.  Finally, I bought a rubber stamp from our local Wal-Mart that you can personalize for the return address.  It's self-inking, and of course can be used for regular mail too.  I wish I'd done this years ago!

It's Tuesday, so I'm linking up with "Fabric Tuesday" at Quilt Story.  Come see what others have made!

Postcards

I just finished up my swap postcards for February.  My theme this month is "I'm still sleeping".  Being a former wildlife biologist, I knew I had to do a hibernating animal.  Originally I was going to do a cute curled up little mouse or squirrel, and even made an attempt, but didn't really like it, so I went to the "dark side".   I used to work a lot at night with owls and bats in my old job, so I love bats, but I hope the recipient likes it!

I thought I'd share all of January's postcards with you too.  I joined 2, something I rarely do, but they were so much fun.  The themes were "Embellished Owls", and "Year of the Dragon".

I'm also doing a postcard swap with some other on-line friends, but the deadline is a few weeks away.  I have those started, but don't have much to show right now.

I thought I'd also show you the new home of our "barn quilt".  I love it!!

It's Tuesday, so I'm joining up with Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story's blog.  Come see what other folks are up to!

On a final note, yesterday was a dark day for me (maybe it influenced my design?), as I got a robo-call in the morning from the school that both my kids attend informing us of a threat that had locked down the school, and sent police to their campus.  I can't remember the last time I've felt that kind of panic, and knowing of the morning's school shooting in Ohio made things worse.  Everything was fine, but I was incredibly happy to see my kids after school.  I actually helped out at their school this morning, and everything seems back to normal.  Once again, though, it's a reminder of what I take for granted each and every day.  My heart aches for those who had a different outcome yesterday.

Postcards and Pictures

This week I received not 1, not 2, but 3 fabric postcards from my "Year of the Dragon", and "Embellished Owl" swap.  The first 2 are from Monika of "My Sweet Prairie".  The last one is from postcard swapper Karen.

I also have some pretty pictures to share from my walk this morning.  One of the best things about having our dog, is that he gets me outside just about every single day, usually in the morning.  This morning we happened to be out just as the freezing fog was lifting and the sun was coming out.  The white frost on the trees and grasses were just beautiful, not yet melted by the sun, and the sky was such an amazing blue!  I'm so glad I had my camera with me!!

Here's a close-up of the frost.  It took me so long to get my camera to focus on it.  One of these days I'm going to get a digital camera with a manual focus...

More Postcards, Birthdays, New Year's and National Pie Day!

I just thought I'd share a few more postcards that I've been sending out lately.  I've been making these in lieu of standard paper cards for family birthdays and other events (Mother's Day, Father's Day, thank you cards, etc...).  They're fun to make and receive, much cheaper than the paper cards, are a great way to use up small fabric scraps.  One of these is for my twin brother's birthday, which is today ;-). These were super-easy and fast to make, and so much more personal (IMO) than a store-bough card.

I also don't think I've shared this amazing card that came to me in my last swap, "Winter pastimes".  Tamara, from our swap group made it.  I hate to pick favorites, because all of the cards are beautiful, but this one really is among my "top picks".  I'm pretty sure that those knitting needles are toothpicks!!

It's also the Chinese, or Lunar New Year (Happy New Year!), AND it's National Pie Day in the USA.  I've been requesting pie for my birthday for years, and was thrilled to hear a few years ago that I share my birthday with "Pie Day".  These are 2 of my favorite kitchen tools!  I make a lot of pies, quiche, and biscuits too, because you can take this lady away from the South, but you can't take the South away from this lady!!  I hope you too will enjoy a slice of pie today!

Finally, one last picture that I took on my walk with the dog this morning.  The sun is out, it's gorgeous today, and the last of the snow and ice has almost been melted away, but left these neat little sculptures for me to enjoy and share!

Coming up for air (gulp), plus a few more postcards

Lately, I've been the kind of sick where I only worry about the survival needs of my family.  Even my husband has stepped in and helped out by making a few meals and braving Wal-Mart to get my antibiotics.  All quilting is at a stand still, and even Etsy has taken a back seat.  I'm finally on the mend, but my energy has been totally drained.  Thank goodness for the miracle of antibiotics, prescription cough medicine, and OTC meds!  I hope to be back in full swing soon! 

I'm just coming up for air to say hi, and to share a few more postcards that I managed to get done in the last week for swaps and for my mom's birthday (top).  My mom taught me to sew, among many other things, but her real passion is music.  This seems perfect for her!! 

The 2 swaps are "Favorite Winter Activity", and "Northern Lights".  I hope the winter group gets my ironic sense of humor LOL, I just couldn't resist!  All joking aside, though, when we lived in Northern Michigan (Gaylord, our closest town, averages 150 inches of snow a year), shoveling snow was a chore I really didn't mind.  It had a meditative quality to it, got me outdoors, and I really do love snow, so being out in it, even with a shovel wasn't bad at all.  I even got to see the Northern Lights while we lived there, which was an experience I'll never forget!  My dad was alive then, and the first thing I did was to call him and my mom to tell them about it as I stood out in the cold in amazement, so it's an especially fond memory for me.  I really was stumped with the NL swap until the very last minute.  Like my microscope quilt, it's very hard to represent light with fabric, but once I found the sheer red ribbon and sheer green fabric in my stash, it all came together!

Postcards!!

As you may know, I just love making and receiving fabric postcards!  I think I'm even getting the local post office folks on my side too ;-).

This week, I received not 1, but 2 postcards, and one, (the beautiful "African animal"... LOVE her cute mane and tail), was a complete surprise!  It's from Beth, one of my oldest on-line quilting friends.  She currently is living in South Africa, and shares some of the most beautiful exotic wildlife and botanical pictures on her blog, "Notes...".  She's also an accomplished quilter, and has been gracious enough to help me out time and time again with all sorts of quilting questions and concerns.  Thanks Beth!!

I was also lucky enough to sign up for a postcard swap with Monika of "My Sweet Prairie", through the Yahoo postcard cottage swap group.  She's also helped me out in many ways!  Her fiber art is so creative and beautiful!  The October swap was "My favorite pumpkin recipe.  The middle card is the one I made for everyone, and hers is the pumpkin pancakes.  Sheila made the very clever pumpkin shaped card!

Yesterday, I got a card from Colleen, who's in our group for November's swap, "Favorite winter activity".  I haven't even started mine yet, but still have until the end of the month.

WIP Wed: Postcards and Binding (and Kindle Covers)

It's Wednesday, so I'm linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced, WIP Wed.  Come join us!

Lately, I've been busy making postcards for my October swap, and trying to make up more Kindle Covers for my Etsy shop. 

The Kindle covers take a lot of binding, so I've been making more for those, as well as binding for a few quilts I'm trying to finish up.

I don't want to spoil the surprise for the October swap, but did get my final postcard for the September swap ("Wind, How it Blows").  This is what I sent off:

Here's what I got back!  Aren't they fantastic?

I also thought I'd share a postcard that I made for my Bengal-fan, Brother-in-law's Birthday!

 Get it?  LOL  He loved it!  So what are you working on?

WIP Wed and Rodeo

Here's what's on my sewing table today... the beginnings of my next postcard swap cards... I'm glad I made an extra set for me, because these are going to be cute!

I also have been wanting to join in with Kate's of "Swim Bike Quilt"'s blog's 100 quilts for kids campaign.  A recent story in the local paper about the local Linus project was what finally got me motivated.  I also realized that I have a few UFO's that I either lost interest in, or that are too small for anything other than baby quilts that would make a great quilt for this.  Here's one of them:

 I've been trying to make more Kindle covers for my Etsy shop as well.

Here's one I just finished that I love!

The tomato situation around here has almost gotten out of control.  I've canned or frozen 3-4 dozen pints now, and picked another 20-ish pounds just this morning :-O.  But I'm not complaining.  I keep reminding myself how wonderful they'll be in January!!

Finally, it's rodeo week here in Pendleton, and our little town has once again been transformed.  My boys have had all week off school, so I've done some running around with them.  Here's our Main Street:

Here's the Rodeo grounds (first of 4 "shows" started today):

There's a lot of fun people watching to be done.

There's also tons of merchants and artists to peruse...

Of course it's Wednesday, so I'll be linking up with Freshly Pieced WIP Wed, and The Needle and Thread Network's WIP link up!  Come join us!

A few more postcards

It hasn't been all canning and preserving around here.  I sewed up a very cute purse for my 5 yr old niece that I forgot to take a picture of :-(.  Her birthday was this week.  But I also made birthday postcards for my brother-in-law and my niece.  Can you guess which is which LOL?

I just have to brag about my brother-in-law.  20 years ago, he hiked the entire Appalachian Trail, from Georgia to Mane!  His "trail name" was "grasshopper".  That's why I sewed up this card for him.  Yes, I know it only has 4 legs, instead of 6.  I used clip art, as a pattern and failed to notice this until it was done.  I'll just tell him that one of my boys (or the cat) ripped the other 2 off :-O. LOL.


I am still swapping postcards with the Postcard Cottage Yahoo Group.  My August's theme was "Flower Power".  Here's what I sent out:

And here's what I got back!

Getting these little gems in the mail never fails to just make my day!  What fun!!!!

It turns out that my biggest fan is my little 5 yr old niece.  She sleeps with them at night!  Is that cute or what?!?  I just had to make her another one!

Didn't I tell you that these are the perfect summer projects!!!  Quick, easy, not hot, and extremely satisfying!

Vintage Bed Sheets Project 2: Postcards!

I just finished up some postcards that I'm making for a swap!  I originally had fabric and a plan all figured out, and had even started cutting and sewing, but the curtains that are now finished left me with a few scraps laying around and suddenly I decided they'd be fun to use instead.  The theme is "boxer shorts (I'll show you mine if you show me yours)".  There's 4 of us in a groups, so we only have to make 3 to send off (and get 3 back).  I like to make one to keep though.  It's my second swap, and getting the first round was so much fun!  The first round was "blue and lace".  Here's the cards from that swap (mine is the top right):

Here's the finished curtains!

And I can't seem to post anything here without a garden related photo!  Enjoy!