Why Fabric Postcards?

I have been making and mailing fabric postcards for almost twenty years. It started with a fabric postcard exchange at my local quilting guild. Based on a provided theme, such as “spring” or “play”, each member was challenged to design and create a unique fabric postcard to mail to another member of the group. And yes, we mailed them! As a working mom, it was just what I needed! A small project to design and make each month. Like most textile artists/designers, I have more ideas in my head than I could every make into full-size bed quilts or even wall-hangings during my lifetime!! With a 4”x6” postcard I am free to work in a theme or experiment with those “outside my comfort zone” colour schemes. I can machine or hand stitch, and I have the freedom to use variety of fabrics, threads, papers, paints, or even small found objects. I can savor the touch and feel of my hand-dyed and eco dyed fabrics while making something beautiful.

When the 2020 pandemic rolled into 2021, I challenged myself to create every day! And I did! When I wasn’t stitching, I was upcycling 100% cotton bed linens, napkins, linen table cloths into one of a kind fabrics using a variety of paints and dyes (my favourites being the Color Vie pigment system, and Procion MX cold water powder dyes). I also “eco” dyed using local plants, flowers, walnut, and my collection of “rusty things”. What joyful surprises were revealed! You will see from the shop that my favourite subjects are landscapes, trees, birds, and flowers. As my collection grew, I attended a couple of local markets and the support for my fabric postcards lead to this online store.

When you purchase a fabric postcard you are purchasing a one-of-a-kind small 4”x6” work of art. No two are exactly the same. All fabrics are securely fused to the backing and most are embellished with machine stitching. All cards are finished around the edge using a wide embroidery stitch. Each card is signed, dated, and stamped “postcard” on the back using archival ink, ready for you to pen your greeting, recipient address and add a stamp. I do my best to take a representative photo of each card; keep in mind that between my camera and your computer screen, colours may not be exactly as shown.

I gift fabric postcards for any occasion all year round - birthdays, holidays, celebrations, or a simple “I am thinking of you”. Fabric postcards are both a card and a gift! They are stunning when mounted in a frame, either alone or in a group. I even have a family member who mounts their growing collection on a wide ribbon on the wall.

For anyone interested in making fabric postcards, a selection of my favourite patterns and my hand-dyed/painted fabrics are coming to my website soon. Making fabric postcards is a great option for anyone with a limited studio space - you can work on a small ironing pad or a compact portable cutting board/ironing board travel case. You don't need an out of control stash the size of mine – basic supplies can fit in a small tote or under-the-bed box. You also don't need extensive yardage since you can make many cards from 4.5”strips/scraps of fabric. Fabric postcards are the perfect size to explore new techniques like water-soluable interfacing, burning/melting, oil pastels, thread painting, felting, and more. Techniques and options are yours to discover!

I hope you fall in love with fabric postcards and enjoy the variety in my shop. Thank you for your support! :-) Darlene