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The postcard saga

12/3/2020

 
I'm focused on two things this week: decorating for Christmas and making postcards. The truth is that I'm kind of over decorating. Years ago I would go crazy with something like 5 trees. I must be my mother's daughter because she's pared down to a door decoration and a 1 foot tree that she pulls out of a box. I'm heading in that direction but I'm not quite there yet. This year we are doing the outside (finished that Sunday), the fireplace mantle (this afternoon) and the tree with the glass ornaments (Sunday) and that's it. I'm not doing the beaded ornaments this year. No one is visiting and it's way too much work for a room that we probably won't go in all month. I'll peek at them in the closet if I miss them.
It's more important that I get these postcards done. I'd like them in the mail by the 10th and even though they have been more "difficult" than usual, I'll get them done in time for sure. 
Why have they been difficult? Because I can't decide on designs. I don't remember having this much trouble deciding on designs before but I probably go through this every year and just forget.
Picture
I started with this idea based on something that I saw online. Ignore the green feather stitching, that was some practice after I had already rejected this one. It's supposed to be an ornament and garland but it just doesn't work. I might revisit it next year with different fabrics.
Picture
Here's another idea I saw online in a paper card. I love it but I surveyed 3 friends and all agreed that this one would not survive the mail. Rejected because I refuse to mail them in envelopes. Envelopes take all the fun out of it! It is a really cute design though.
Picture
Then came an idea based on a roll of ribbon that I bought at the craft store. That led me to fuse 30 pieces of muslin and then use a stencil to paint trees. Really, really ugly trees.
Picture
I tested one out and I hate it. It turns out that I really hate the ribbon. I'll keep the painted trees. I might come up with something clever for next year. A friend took the ribbon so at least that's out of my life.
Picture
Then I went to my friend's house for Thanksgiving and we did some fabric shopping and I bought 2 packs of red and green batik fat eighths and that inspired these cards that I'm really happy with. Now I'm sure that I have fabric that I could have done this simple design with but I think it was the process of just seeing something new that got me out of that postcard funk. For that, the purchase was totally worth it.
(All fabric purchases are totally worth it all the time.)
Picture
So, as of Sunday I had these 2 piles of cards read to go to get backs and go through the serger for edges. I only needed one more design. I went back to Electric Quilt and looked through the applique Christmas motifs for inspiration.
Picture
EQ has a Gingerbread man block and that was just what I needed! I have a box of vintage ric rac that produced the perfect icing trim. I'm in the process of edging all of them in the brown thread. Once the are trimmed they will get the rest of their embellishments with paint. I think they are going to be really cute and they could potentially be in the mail early next week. Hooray!
Kristin F
12/3/2020 12:19:04 pm

I like them all! Well. OK, the first one doesn't really say Christmas to me. I don't think your trees are ugly - they show the natural variations of the greens in a tree. I like the one with the buttons - maybe you could replace them with sequins and they would survive the mail? My favorite is the one with the red ribbon that says Merry Christmas. The gingerbread man is fun too.

Wanda Hanson link
12/3/2020 12:48:14 pm

This makes me appreciate my card from you so much more. You put so much of yourself into the creations each year.

I think the stenciled trees just need a big gold start on top and a little bunny looking up at the tree.

patty
12/3/2020 02:24:51 pm

You are certainly going thru the creative process with these postcards! I am with Wanda - I like the stenciled trees and her idea of the star and bunny.

Sharon link
12/3/2020 03:29:32 pm

So creative, even if you don't like a few. I think the ugly tree is very nice! And your cards with batiks, wonderful!

Nancy Sumner
12/3/2020 04:09:39 pm

Those are all great designs. Good job sticking with it. That is such a loving thing to do each year. I hope the recipents appreciate and save your cards. I know I would. I made some very simple Thanksgiving postcards that I sent out and I got several responses back that they were very much appreciated. I was just wondering though about the cost of mailing them. My post office charged me .70 cents each because they had a little raw-edge appliqué and were < 1/8" outside the standard postcard size, and I wanted them hand stamped of course. I was just wondering what your experience was with the post office. Thanks for sharing all you do. Always fun to watch your processes. Merry Christmas!

Tina in NJ
12/3/2020 04:37:08 pm

I like all three finalists. I saw an embroidered gingerbread man ornament on Etsy that had a mask over his face, and your gingerbread man reminds me of that one. This year, I broke the bank and got photo cards, but our daughter graduated high school and our son got married. (In our backyard!) Also, because of my health, we haven’t sent out cards the past couple of years. Time to get back in the game!

Vicki in MN
12/4/2020 08:41:16 am

What pretty cards you came up with, my favorite is the tree/star. But that could change when you are done with the gingerbread man;) Happy Holidays!

shirley bruner
12/4/2020 08:50:47 am

i think if you replace the real buttons with painted buttons or fused buttons, it would be great. i like them.

Sylvia
12/4/2020 08:53:03 am

Hi Vicki. Gotta love that gingerbread man, although I really think they are all beautiful. Looking forward to seeing him all decked out for Christmas. As usual, Wanda's suggestion was perfect.

Gene Black
12/4/2020 08:53:46 am

You always manage to find designs that are delightful. You put so much of yourself into the cards. That is why they are treasured by everyone that gets them.

Terry
12/4/2020 11:39:30 am

I like those ugly trees. I look forward to seeing what you do with them! I loved your comment about the fabric purchase being worth it at the time! I'll remember that the next time I'm out to buy some! All of your postcard designs are terrific. . .even the designs you rejected. I see that first one with ribbon garland behind it and a top added to the ornament so it can hang on the garland!

Mary Anne
12/6/2020 10:23:17 am

Personally I rather liked the trees - perhaps add a star at the top? Enjoyed reading about your process of making the decisions. And you're right - fabric purchases are never a bad thing!


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    About Vicki

    I'm Vicki Welsh and I've been making things as long as I can remember. I used to be a garment maker but transitioned to quilts about 20 years ago. Currently I'm into fabric dyeing, quilting, Zentangle, fabric postcards, fused glass and mosaic. I document my adventures here.

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