2017 CQI Halloween/Autumn Postcard Swap Part 2

Look at the beautiful postcard I received this week!

Gayle Schipper made this beauty and I absolutely love it.

Just look at this lovely embroidery.

It is perfect for me - it even has a pumpkin!

Thank you Gayle!

It is displayed on our fireplace mantel.

The postcard was received as part of the 

2017 Crazy Quilt International Halloween/Autumn Postcard Swap.

The postcard I mailed on Friday the 13th went to Gayle.

That postcard was shared in this post.

Crazy Quilt International meets here on Facebook.

Thank you for stopping by.

Renee

My First Postcard Swap

Oregon State Fabric Postcard

As mentioned on my Goal List in my WIP Wednesday post this week, I made my first fabric postcard for a swap with the CQ for Newbies Yahoo Group. (Let me just say this is a very fun, supportive group of ladies.  I spent about a year lurking - reading emails and enjoying eye candy - before I actually participated in a swap.  The emails frequently leave me smiling.)

The theme of the swap was states, so my very first fabric postcard is Oregon themed.  (And if my sister sees it, I may need to make another one!)

In my world, an Oregonian is expected to be either an Oregon State University Beaver fan OR a University of Oregon Duck fan.  (Don't tell anyone, but I secretly cheer for both.)  I have 3 relatives that graduated from Oregon State, making me a Beaver fan.  So, I decided my postcard would be orange and black.  (I do my best not to sound negative, so let me just say almost every Beaver fan I know would have felt the same... I was thrilled to have some fabric I purchased before they changed the Benny the Beaver logo.  Why? Well, you can actually see a duck flying in Benny's eye with the new logo.)

I Googled free Oregon coloring sheets, downloaded a page with a picture of the state map (including a star for Salem, the capital) and printed it from Picasa (my photo program) in a 4 x 6 size.  I held the page up to a window and traced the outline with a sharpie.  Then, I held muslin over the outline and used a pencil to trace the reverse image onto the muslin.  This muslin became the back of my crazy quilt block.

I wanted the state outline to stand out, so I kept most of the stitching subtle, using mostly black-on-black.  These close ups might help you see some of the detail. (Click on any photo for a larger view.)

 

 

Then, I couched down 6 strands of DMC orange cotton floss, carefully following the outline on the muslin backing.  A star bead for Salem was the finishing touch. (Sorry, I did not realized there was a shadow of me holding the camera on the lower-left side or I would have taken a better pic!)

Crazy Quilted Oregon State Fabric Postcard Front

Crazy Quilted Oregon State Fabric Postcard Back

I used two fabric postcard tutorials to put mine together.  I followed the directions on this tutorial at Patchwork Posse to determine the size, thickness, and materials needed, and decorating the postcard side.. And I used this tutorial at Quilted Delights to finish off the edges.  I also used a little tip I discovered on Pinterest (I wish I knew which one, the idea just stuck in my head) and used a black sharpie to color over any areas my finishing stitches missed.  Aside from needing a bit more practice on the corners, I was very pleased with how this project turned out.  (Cris received my postcard and pointed out we are our own worst critics.  I am taking her advice and being a bit less critical of my work on the corners.) Making this postcard was SO much fun! 

I would love to thank Alice for the swap idea and Beth for being our swap hostess!  I also want to thank Lesa for reminding us of the deadline and encouraging participation.  It was FUN. And, had I not participated, this beauty from Lisa B. would not have arrived in my mailbox today! (Note: this is not the same Lisa from the Heart Round Robin I am in.)

The beautiful fabric postcard I received from Lisa.

Is this gorgeous or what?! Lisa combined the British flag and the Tennessee flag, The Union Jack is the British flag, and the three stars in the circle represents the Tennessee flag.  The gorgeous red roses represent England and the Irises represent Tennessee.  I am absolutely thrilled to begin my fabric postcard collection with this beauty.  Red, white and blue is one of my favorite color combinations and this is just fabulous.  Every time I look at it, I am reminded of a trip we made to London years and years ago, making it all the more special. 

Have you ever made a fabric postcard?  If not, I encourage you to give it a go!

Thanks for stopping by!
Renee

Note: This post was edited to correct an error.  The Union Jack is the British Flag. (Argh.  I even looked that up on the Internet to be sure I had it right before I posted.  Thank you, Wendy!)

Random Act of Kindness Swap with Crazy Quilting for Newbies

Crazy Quilting for Newbies (CQforNewbies) is another Yahoo! group I joined some time ago.  I spent a couple of years mostly lurking in the shadows, reading the posts and enjoying the eye candy (pictures of crazy quilted blocks.)  It is a very fun, encouraging group. Every now and then, I began to participate in conversations.  This month, I decided to finally participate in a swap.

It is my understanding that there are two groups of 10 within this swap.  Each participant emailed their name, address, favorite color, favorite stash item, and favorite (small) item that they collect.  The idea of the swap is to send a small baggie of goodies to one of the participants of the swap (keeping it a secret until it is received.) The recipient of the package chooses another participant to send a goodie bag to.  This continues until everyone has mailed and received a package. Mailings are on the 15th and the 30th of each month (though they may be mailed earlier so it will not take the last person so long to receive their package.)

To be honest, I have a hard time with favorites - mine change all the time!  My responses were as follows, with a note to feel free to randomly select any one answer from each category if need be (as that would be my only way to choose only one - lol!)

Favorite color: pink OR blue OR silver
Favorite stash item: charms OR lace OR trims
Other items I collect: ? Nothing I can think of... I do love pumpkins and snowmen

The first mailings were sent out on July 15th.  Imagine my surprise to find a package from Lesa in my mailbox on Friday afternoon.  If I had not been packing for a weekend of camping, I would have shared this post within moments of emptying my mailbox!  Talk about Christmas in July!  It is amazing how much one can stuff into a small Ziploc baggie.

Here are my new treasures. 

CQ goodies from Lesa

 I cannot wait to work these treasures into my CQ blocks!

Snowman ornament and snowman button

I just adore snowmen. I love the ornament and the button!

Pumpkin bell and pumpkin buttons

Fall is one of my favorite seasons.  I think that is mostly due to fall being pumpkin season.  I do so love pumpkin! I am not generally a fan of the color orange, but orange pumpkins are a huge exception! Some of my favorite family photos were taken at the pumpkin patch with my kids.  And, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin waffles, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin pie, pumpkin ice cream (I will have to figure out how to make some dairy-free this year), and pretty much anything else made with pumpkin is a favorite. 

I also adore bells.  The first pumpkin in the picture above is a little bell with the sweetest little jingle.  I cannot wait to use it and these adorable buttons on a block!  (I may have to make myself a Halloween purse. Glow-in-the-dark threads and fabrics and these adorable Jack-o-Lanterns would be PERFECT!)

Needle book

Now, when I discovered this, I decided Lesa must be a mind reader.  At the moment, I keep my sewing needles in a little tomato pin cushion.  Some of the smaller needles push down into the cushion making them hard to find.  Other times, a thread catches and pulls needles out of the cushion.  (I do most of my stitching on our couch.  It is not the best place to lose a needle!)  For months, I have been telling myself I should take the time to make a needle book.  Now, I do not have to!  There are red felt pages within the book to hold my needles, and Lesa already added a few pins and needles for me.  And, although I do not drink soda, I have always loved Coca-Cola themed items. Perfect!

Sticky Note Booklet

This cute little booklet holds sticky notes.  I love it!

Hanky

I do believe this is a fourth of linen handkerchief.  I have been planning to visit local antique shops to find a few hankies for crazy quilting.  Now, I have a beginning to that section of my stash.  (Sorry, I was too eager to share my treasures to take the time to iron.) I love the pattern.  I have a gift I plan to work on soon, and this beauty may make its way into that project.  We shall see!

Trims

I absolutely love each trim Lesa sent me.  I already have ideas for a few! This picture does not do them justice.

Lace

Lace is one thing I am slowly building in my stash.  I love this lace trim Lesa sent me!

Lesa, thank you so much! I absolutely love everything you sent me. :)

Now, I am off to work on the package I will be mailing out by the end of the month.  (Once it is received by its recipient, I will share the contents.)

Thanks for stopping by!
Renee