Quilted Postcards

 *Quilted Postcards in 5 easy steps (PDF)

*An Exercise in Making Super Simple Postcards

*1 Million Mile Quilted Postcard Challenge

1 Million Mile Quilted Postcard Miles and Locations

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 We did it! TOTAL January 2016 to December 2016 – 1,000,819

December, 2016: Theme –Anything Christmas:  mileage 360, 670

Technique: paper piecing, raw edge applique, decorative machine stitching

I first made this card in 2015 based on inspiration from a tree skirt. Having just finished the Gravity quit, I had hundreds of slivers of pinked edges left over as scrap. One card did not use many scraps and I loved the design, so I used it as my design for Christmas 2016 as well.

New locations: India, South Africa, Belize

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Picture not available (if you need to know… I mailed them all and didn’t take a picture)

November, 2016: Theme –Wildcard:  mileage 44,270

Technique: flip and stitch piecing, raw edge applique

The theme of ‘wildcard’ could be taken literally, or participants could choose to use a card they previously made. Due to a holiday and time restraints, that is what I choose to do. It is a simple card that works well in a variety of circumstances. It hints ‘Canada’, but also reflects the time of year when most of the trees are loosing their leaves. It is gender neutral, a card that could be mailed to anyone

New locations: Grand Cayman

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October, 2016: Theme –Fruits of the Earth:  mileage 40,500

Technique: Needle Felting, Free motion embroidery

Grapes – God’s gift to (wo)mankind.

New locations: TBD

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 September, 2016: Theme –Back to School:  mileage 16,200

Technique: Free motion embroidery, machine embroidery

This card is pretty simple, but used 3 different sewing machines: an old 1950’s Singer for the lines, a Juki for the free motion, and a Brother PR for the machine embroidery.

New locations: Netherlands

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August, 2016: Theme –Go Vintage:  mileage 77,100 (YTD 589,300)

Technique: Silk Ribbon Embroidery, beading, decorative hand embroidery, crazy quilting

This card uses a variety of fabrics scraps and embellishments (silk, flannel, velvet, moire, lace, beads) with simple piecing. Embellishments were added at every seam.

New locations: Switzerland, Romania, Alaska, China

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July, 2016: Theme –Go Modern: 133,500 miles (YTD 512,200). 

Technique: pieced quilting

 

This card uses a small amount of bright solid colors, with lots of negative space.

New locations: France, Brazil, United Kingdom, Portugal

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June, 2016: Theme – Hit the Road, Jack: 7,200 miles (YTD 378,700). Mystery location – Love, Saskatchewan

Technique: hand dyed cheesecloth, layering, raw edge applique, decorative machine stitching.

This scene depicts the moods and colours of a typical prairie landscape. Many different crops in all shades of green, brown, yellow and blue. The sky is vast and moody. Full of drama, and always changing.

New locations: No new locations to report.

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May, 2016: Theme – Quilt Industry Appreciation Month: 45,900 miles (YTD 371,500)

Technique: Stitch & Flip, free motion embroidery, fused raw edge applique, embellishments

These flowers were sent to individuals/organizations in my quilting world that have influenced me, taught me or have provided a service that I appreciate.

New locations: Mississippi, Vermont, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Illinois.

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April, 2016: Theme – Work of My Hands; 160,900 miles (YTD 325,600). Mystery location – The Fullerton Hotel, Singapore.

Technique: hand embroidery, embellishments

I was without a sewing machine for the whole month of April so all my cards were handstitched in airplanes and hotel rooms. I had a lot of fun making each one different and inventing stitches. The card in the top left side is the one that reflects our travels – Gardens By the Bay (Singapore), Ha Long Bay (Vietnam), and Penang (Malaysia). See if you can find symbols that represent the 3 locations.

New Locations: Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, California.

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March, 2016: Theme – I love water; 94,300 miles (YTD 164,700)

Technique: Paper piecing, stitch & flip, free motion embroidery, machine embroidery stitching, embellishments

My postcard design for March is based on the Tropical Fish Little Bits tissue paper patterns by Cindi Edgerton.  Several years ago I made a small wall quilt from this pattern. It was my first attempt at paper piecing. Accidentally, I trimmed one of the 3″ blocks to the stitching line instead of the cutting line, making it too small to use on the wall quilt. Instead of throwing it away, I used it for a postcard – adding extra water, and a sandy ocean floor.

New Locations: St Thomas, Puerto Rico, Austria, Australia, Virginia

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February, 2016: Theme – Looking out my Front Door; 37,400 miles  (YTD – 70,400)

Technique: Fused raw edge applique, sharpie ‘painting’, free motion embroidery

This is my blizzard scene. I live in a place that is often called ‘Winterpeg’. Personally, I love blizzards. It might be cold outside, but it is warm inside and the perfect time to quilt. You can read more about how I made the cards from my blog post of February 24th. 

New Locations: Saskatchewan, Philadelphia, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Taiwan, New Bruinswick, Indonesia

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January 2016; Theme -‘TODAY’

January, 2016: Theme – Today; 33,000 miles

Technique: stitch & flip, fused raw edge applique

The left side of ‘TODAY’ is a sunrise. We are equal in that we all had a sunrise, and 24 hrs in a day. No more, no less. The square represents a day on a calendar. On the right are swatches of fabric.  That is a typical day for me – playing with fabric. I love it, and I am thankful for every new day.

Locations: Alberta, British Colombia, Ontario, New York, Florida, Arizona, Texas, New Zealand

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Esplanade Riel

 

Submitted to Twitter Art Exhibit 2016 .

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Christmas:

postcard with secret pocket

postcard with secret pocket

Christmas village 1

Christmas village 2

wonky star

quilted tree

It’s cold out there

rudolph

ornament

framed tree

snowman

Let it snow

odds and ends

Super simple santa

Christmas mix

gingerbread family

Other:

Exercise in Super Simple cards

Exercise in Super Simple cards

 

my first postcards

the wise owl family

half horse

tropical paradise

Children:

Cat in the Hat

colour me