Halloween Postcards

These Ghastlie Witches were sent to Washington to haunt there permanently.  I know they'll do a good job of it.  Best keep one eye on these ladies, Opal.

The address/correspondence side.

Ms. Skellie is out again and she's gone to visit her biggest fan, my daughter.

For the address side I found these sticker portraits that change faces at certain angles.

Creepy fun!

Have a fun spooky week!

xxx

Annie

Summertime

This fabric sailboat postcard sailed the high seas to The Netherlands and arrived quite safely.

A birthday card (that I basically copied from a Pinterest card).

A scrapbook spread from one of my bicycle rides last summer in Wisconsin.

I always wish summertime would last forever.  Just not the 100+ degree days!

Happy Days!

xxx

Annie

Sunday Postcard Art - Picnic

This week I get to host at the Sunday Postcard Art with my choice of theme, which is PICNIC.  I chose this theme because I wanted to stitch this ant.  I was worried how his little legs might end up looking. I was surprised to be so pleased.  And ants go so well with picnics.  This little guy is on his way to a picnic right now.

My postcard backside...

I'm anxious to see the variety of picnic art that my fellow postcard artists will create.

Happy summertime!

xxx

Annie

Spring Button-winged Birdie

The theme this week at Sunday Postcard Art is SPRING.

Spring is the most wonderful time of the year!

I "drew" (amazement in itself) my birdie based on the great mixed media birds I found on Pinterest created by this blogger: http://www.erinbassett.com/creativite/2012/04/bird_canvas.html. I gave mine a faux button that is just a fabric circle.

This cute little guy will be taking flight to travel to his new home on Monday when I can get into the post office to have his postage stamp hand cancelled.

I couldn't decide whether to make him with fabric or paper.  So I made him in both mediums.

This paper button-winged birdie has a faux button made from glitter paper.

Happy Spring and Happy Easter!

xxx

Annie

Mail Art LOVE

It's the month of Love.  And a bit of a different take on the subject from me this week.  This time I got out my neutrals bin of scraps for my postcard background collage.  Chopped and stitched.  Then a heart stitched on.  Then an envelope charm tied on.  And there you have it...my love of mail art.

I must give credit to the Sunday Postcard Art.  This card started out as just another Valentine card.  But SPA challenged us to create a postcard and add a charm to it.  I had no ideas for a charm.  But after the heart was stitched on and I looked at the card, I decided it needed something more.  The SPA must have planted this charm idea into my subconscious and I remembered that I had a tiny stash of envelope and postcard charms....somewhere in this mess.  Of course they were in the last place I looked and literally hiding right out in the open.  Always the best place to hide something from yourself, or anyone else for that matter.  

"Just another Valentine" transformed into my love of mail art.  Especially for fabric postcards.  This one is in the mail on Monday.

Happy Mail Day!

xxx

Annie

Orange Collage Butterfly

There was a butterfly in my mind wanting to be stitched.  But what color did it want to be?  The Sunday Postcard Art challenge made a delightful decision for me.  Orange.  Yes.  Perfect.

I have made well over 100 fabric postcards.  Yes, most of them have been mailed out.  114 of those can be seen in my Fabric Postcard Flickr Album.

In the beginning the ideas for them came in masses.  Now I struggle for new ideas for stitched postcards.  The recipient of this one has waited quite a long time.  My waiting list is now complete.  Now I'm just waiting on new and more ideas for stitching more postcards.  

Happy Mail Day!

xxx

Annie

Christmas Postcard Exchange

Last November I joined in a Christmas Postcard Exchange with other like-minded bloggers, hosted by Sheila at Sheila's Quilt World. I mailed my postcard to Lin in Paris. 

This card seems to have taken the scenic route, as it took a bit long in arriving. But finally arrived, it did.  just as I was about to start on a replacement postcard. Sometimes all we need to do is threaten our original mail art with replacement mail art. 

I did not have the long wait that Lin had. Her beautiful postcard arrived well before Christmas for my holiday enjoyment.

I love all these perfectly made hexies stitched together with such perfect and incredibly tiny, barely visible stitches. And something I've not seen before, teeny tiny beads stitched at each inside point. All finished off with a metallic thread satin stitched edge. Thank you so much Lin for this beautiful postcard. 

This day after Christmas is a great time to look back on Christmas Day and all the days leading up to it and reminisce on the beauty of this season with a smile. I hope everyone has happy hearts. 

xxx

Annie

Air Mail

I have been following this Mail Art Projects blog.  I began to wonder why as most mail calls are either not very clear to me as to what they want, what they will do with it, etc.  However, I have now participated twice.  The first time was sending a mail art envelope to a woman celebrating her 55th birthday and was hoping to receive 55 pieces of mail art.  She sent in return a mass produced postcard art.  It was very cool.

Now the request is for mail art on the subject of the History of Mail Art.  I had no clue and could think of nothing that portrayed the history of mail art.  So I just did a little history of mail with some art.  I've no clue whether it will be accepted.  I only know the theme and that it had to be a 4X6 postcard mailed naked.  Right up my alley.

I hate that I didn't notice that I should have lined the letter in his mouth so that his body couldn't be seen through it!

I love this fat carrier pigeon.  I'm sure I stole the bird shape from some talented artist.  Then I looked up aviator caps and drew one on the bird, then added goggles to guard his little eyes from the wind during flight.  As I am not a drawing artist, I was darn pleased with his cap and goggles!  This drawing has been sitting around here for more than a year.  (But, you might remember him as a birthday party bird a while back, wearing a birthday party hat.)

I really struggled with sending him off to no one I know.  But I've done it for one single reason.  Simply to see if he sells.  He's flown to a for profit exhibit where all received mail art (on the history of mail art) will be for sale to the public.  Half the sale price goes to the artist, the other half to the gallery.  

Back to the part about not knowing enough specifics on the projects, I had no clue if I should price the postcard or if they do.  I left it to them.  Now I wait and see what happens.  Either way, my curiosity will be satisfied sometime shortly after October 2015, which is when this project opens to the public.

Good Mail Day to all!

xxx

Annie

A Fiber Grounded Birdie

Now why didn't I think of that?!  My friend, Inky and Quirky, Donna commented on my paper Grounded Birdies thinking they were fabric.  That they were stitched to their background must have led her to believe they were fabric.  A fabric grounded birdie...why didn't I think of that?  So I immediately had to make him in fabric and mail him off to Donna.

I thought what a cute eye that button would make.  With his Route 66 eye, he couldn't help but be a good traveler.

I pressed freezer paper to the back of the background fabric and rolled it into my typewriter and typed "lovely day" right on the fabric.  I loved how nicely that worked!  This fabric is magic fabric that I printed a scrapbook paper to.  It is quite tightly woven which is most likely why I could type on it so nicely.

On the back.....

*** I had to crop off the top as I forgot to cover my own address ***

.....I wanted to write just a wee bit more than the postcard space allowed.  So I made a tiny/ envelope and glued it tightly to the space, putting my little note inside.  

Happy Mail Day to you,

xxx

Annie

Fabric Doodle Postcard

The Sunday Postcard Art challenge this week is Doodle

 (on your postcard).

Well, that fit right into my current passion for playing with my fabric scraps.  I'm not sure my Doodling with fabric and thread fits into the challenge, but I think it does.  Why not?

This postcard brings to mind the circus.  And I love a circus. 

The postcard back...

I loved playing with this fun theme this week.  Thank you Sunday Postcard Art. 

xxx

Annie

Spring Greetings

Happy Easter and Happy Spring

to Ruthie

and to Everyone

The bunny is from Nancy Halverson's book titled Easy Does It For Winter.

I really must learn to look at the photo "before" mailing the postcard...that stray fabric thread is driving me nutso!

Enjoy the season

xoxo

Annie

Music Postcard

The theme this week at Sunday Postcard Art is

 

Music

 

 

I've had some postcard backgrounds started that have not found their direction yet.  When I saw the postcard challenge theme of music for this week, this background suddenly found direction.

 

xoxoxo

Annie

 



Mail Art

Sissy Travels the World.....

 

I tell you, this girl is so much the adventurer!  She takes more scenic routes than any sightseer could ever imagine.  Twenty-eight days to her most recent destination!

 

 I've seen this face in rubber stamps with so many different names, I've decided to call them all Sissy.

 

She did have a long way to go and 10 to 14 days would have been a reasonable amount of travel time.  I wish I could so easily travel and see the world as Sissy does. 

 

A few specially made postcards also reaching their "intended" destinations...

 

 

I keep telling myself to get started on my next quilt but I keep getting these small art inspirations.  They work into my wee amounts of crafty time better than a large project.

 

Happy mail day!

xxx

Annie



Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

to you all

 

 

May both your Christmas and New Year

be merry and bright!

 

xxx

Annie



Some Postcards

I have been inexcusably lax in mailing out some postcards.  I've been a bit lax in making them as well, but I do have a few I haven't mailed yet.

 

Who's There? (paper)

 

Blue Chip (fabric)

 

Ma'am (paper)

 

Big Catch (paper)

 

and finally,

 

Share Space (fabric)

 

Have you seen one you like?  If you have, tell me which one and in a few days I will choose recipients and mail them out.

 

This favorite, Sissy, has already been mailed to Renee. 

It is a fabric postcard printed from the Sissy envelope that never arrived to Renee.  I wrote on the postcard that I hoped the postcard would find her since the envelope did not.  I hoped to make the postal system feel guilty for poor delivery and apparently it worked. :-)

 

Whatever it takes to create a good mail day **heehee**

 

xxx

Annie



Sunday Postcard Art - Coffee Time

Heavenly Morning!

 

This week's theme at Sunday Postcard Art is Coffee Time.

The background is 7gypsies scrapbook paper printed to fabric, the cup is cut from a package of fun size m&ms, the bird is rubber stamped (no identification on the stamp).  I wrote the words with a Gelly Roll Fine pen.

This would be an ideal morning, wouldn't you say?

xxx
Annie

Sunday Postcard Art - Blue/Silver

View From the Stars
this week the theme for the

Sunday Postcard Art Challenge is

Blue and Silver

Since Christmas wrap is still surrounding me in my studio space, I thought it might be fun to see how some of this silver star wire garland would play out on a postcard.  The card is also top stitched with silver metallic thread.  The rubber stamp is by Hampton Art.

I have two postcards now needing homes.  This one, (which would need to travel inside an envelope for I fear there'd be no stars upon it's naked arrival), and these

Desert Flowers ...

 

...that see all with their googlie eye centers.  (I might suggest an envelope for this one as well.  Googlie eyes are pretty tough, but maybe not as tough as our postal workers).

 

This postcard, # Man

 

arrived at his destination naked with no flower for his new owner and no shoes as well a couple of joints missing.  This was my very first sad experience with mailing a naked postcard.

 

 

Holiday Joy, 

Annie

Some Fun Mail Days
...you know, the kind without bills... 

 

 This postcard was mailed to Annie.  She always says "Create Your Life".  What a great saying, huh.  And a good plan to do so as well. 

 

 

This postcard went to Sheila.  I mused for quite some time over a design for Sheila's postcard.  This design came to mind as a reflection of how I visualize Sheila's personality. 

 

 

Are you familiar with IHAN (I Have A Notion) blog?  Kelly posts photos of a neighborhood home that displays several pink flamingos performing entertaining antics.  Kelly has formed the Flamingo Flock Fan Club.  I have so enjoyed the flamingo's antics that I couldn't resist sending the homeowners a piece of fan mail.

 

My play time has diminished over the past couple of weeks but that doesn't stop me from getting 10 to 30 minutes here and there and whenever I can.  Lately it seems that everything I start reaches a point of what's next?...because I don't usually plan an entire project.  I start with the idea and make it up as I go along.  So my latest ones are all at the what's next? stage.  But I have a couple of homeless postcards that I've been enjoying for a while.

 

 

This sweet Little Red Birdie is looking for a new home and so is...



...this Fat Orange Cat. 

 

So it's time to find happy homes for them?  Would that by any chance be your home?  Tell me!

 

Annie

  



                                              You 

Delightfully Wonderful
       Enablers,
              You 

When I asked you, my followers, to help feed my addiction to making and mailing fabric postcards, you were more than willing to be enablers!  I chuckled then feeling so happy to have new recipients for my cards.  And I chuckle now from the sheer joy it brings me to create these cards for you.  So, to you, I say ...

The first two cards I offered to share brought back some wonderful responses in regard to why you would have liked to receive that particular card.  One response triggered some thoughts for me that I wanted to design a card specifically for her based on what she had said in her comment and afterwards in our short correspondence.

This postcard was made for Marlene of stitchinbythelake. I so enjoyed creating this one and I miss having this card around to look at.

There are a couple of other responders requiring special cards that I haven't gotten to yet.  Some provoke an idea a lot quicker than others.

And a couple of followers have consented to swap/trade with me.  One being Leah of quilteddelights .  I got trapped in a bluebird stage and this bluebird flew to Leah's house.

The postcard Leah made for me is this beautifully designed and stitched scene that I call By the Sea.  I just want to unfold my beach chair and umbrella and sit a while here.  Thanks so much, Leah!

I found Penny of Zuni Mountains Quilter on flickr admiring my Always Look Your Blooming Best postcard.  After a bit of correspondence with Penny, this is the postcard I made specifically for her. 

The immediate meaning was how short on time so many of us live with.  But as I was creating the card, the amount of "time" involved within our lives began to play into the design more and more.  I titled it, "Have Time?"  But now I think it should have been "The Time of Our Life".  I'm pretty sure Penny will connect with every meaning this card presents...and then some.

I'm working on a quilt that is taking some time and I really want to get back totally involved with it, but postcards keep invading my mind making my fingers itch to bring them to life.  I just can't help but stitch them up.  I maybe need a 12-Step Program here!

In a few days my sweet cousin is having a birthday. 

I'm really having fun with my swirls!

And now, here's one that came to mind without a specific recipient in mind.  Which means that it's up for grabs by you.  Does this one appeal to you?

Names that I've come up with for this one are rather morbid...like, My Days Are Numbered and Life Is Short.  Pretty sad, and I'm really stumped, so what name would you give it?  (You don't have to name it to be chosen to receive it)

I so love you all, my followers...my enablers.  (smiles from me!)

Annie