Jan 2010
This is a book for more experienced and adventurous textile and mixed media artists. The AMCs presented are created using techniques such as needlefelting using a sewing machine, using iron-on transfer paints, melting fabrics and machine embroidery. While a keen textile or mixed media artist will have many of the supplies required, some more unusual supplies, such as Tyvek, are used. Readers will be able to source most products from a good craft store although some items, for instance a felting sewing machine needle, may need to be sourced via the Internet.
* Suite101.com *
Feb 10
Make your own postcards, collect them in an album, swap them with other people and have fun using up your stash of fabrics, beads, yarns and anything else that can be stitched onto a 4x6 rectangle of stiffened fabric.
Elsewhere on this site is my review for Inchies Edited by Peggy Doneda-Kobert, which is a book on making inch square works of art. These postcards are also known as AMCs (artist mailing cards) and are the larger cousin of ATCs (artist trading cards) and perhaps offer even more scope for expression. They are yet another way of recycling all those leftover bits and pieces from other projects, and this book is filled with ideas on how to make them. Like Inchies it is of composite authorship, and each contributor has compiled several chapters of ideas on how to make your postcards. First follow the basics section on how to make the base (you need to use some of your fabric store, plus iron-on and double-sided interfacing). Then have fun learning about and experimenting with different looks from vintage to landscapes, utilise some dried flowers and leaves, have a go with Tyvek and Angelina Fibers, put your sewing machine through its paces and even make some fabric of your own by combining scraps. It is all great fun and very addictive, although probably more so for anybody already proficient with a number of different fabric and fiber arts with a large enough stash to allow for total freedom of experimentation. That is a very large number of people however, and this is definitely another one for the keeper shelf.
* Myshelf.com *
Feb/Mar 10
Christa Rolf is a successful author and an experienced patchworker and quilter. This book is the result of collaboration with a group of well-known authors from the German-speaking patchwork and quilting scene. There is a brief introduction to each contributor giving a small insight into the individual's work. For those who are not familiar with artists' mailing cards (AMCs), they are miniature works of art the size of a postcard (10cm x 15cm or 4 x 6) with a personal artistic design on the front. The artist trading card (ATC), on the other hand, which you may already be familiar with, is the size of a playing card. These cards are a wonderful way of experimenting with new techniques and learning about different materials and their applications. The book is beautifully illustrated and each artist offers a different method or project, so it is possible to work through the book and try everything at least once. Some ideas could then lead on to larger pieces of work by changing the subject matter but expanding on the method. The themes in this book are just a small cross-section of the exciting world of stitch postcards. This is an excellent starting point for anyone wishing to explore mixed media without expensive outlay in materials.
* Fabrications *
Apr 10
Stitch something different and try out new techniques whilst making artistic postcards that are fun to make and lovely to keep. This inspiring collection from a group of leading textile designers incorporates quilting, free-motion stitching and mixed media techniques to create a range of designs that create maximum impact with minimal materials. The size of a standard postcard (10 x 15cm; 4 x 6in) is used throughout and the book includes a basic introduction to card making with details of suitable stabilisers and instructions for layering fabrics and finishing edges. Project ideas include the use of drawings, dried petals, felted yarns, silk papers, melted fabrics and transfer paints so there's plenty of scope for experimenting. Suggestions for the reverse side of the card are also included along with a storage box project as these cards are far too good to throw away! Each technique is explained in detail and we particularly liked the sewing machine section that advises on handy feet for decorating and finishing small-scale projects.
* SEWING WORLD *
Apr/May 10
Stitched postcards are postcard-sized (15x10cm) pieces of art decorated with landscapes, flowers, geometric and abstract designs. The instructions include the basic construction of a card and finishing techniques for the edges. Once you can construct a card, you can decorate the front in any way you choose. Create a new fabric by layering different materials on top of each other, colour the background with iron-on transfer paints or even print a design onto the surface, and then embellish with yarns, machine or hand embroidery, metal shim or wax - in fact, anything you would use ona larger piece of work. Just in case you're stuck for ideas, there are over 30 different postcard designs and the techniques used to make them are all clearly explained.
* Stitch *
Summer 10
I found this book particularly interesting, not so much for their intended use as Artist Mailing Cards, but because I could see this as a way of making use of small pieces of work rather than abandon them to the back of a drawer. With contributions from other designers Christa has put together a comprehensive book of ideas and techniques using a wide variety of materials. For those just beginning to explore mixed media there are examples using Tyvek, heat guns, water soluble film, sizoflor and angelina to name but a few. The original use of these cards was a form of advertising but now people like to exchange (not sell) and collect them. I think they would also be useful for reference before embarking on a larger project as it wouldn't take too long to work a small example with the materials etc. written on the back and a small plastic pocket for samples of thread etc. (Margaret Cox)
* West Country Embroiderers *
Oct 12
Stitched Postcards, Edited by Christa Rolf, is full of pretty fabric postcards, from lots of designers. I was inspired to get stitching, and I took inspiration from a project by Renate Bieber to make an Autumn stitched card for myself, using an A6 card blank and various scraps from my much neglected fabric stash. It was quick and fun to make, and now I'd like to stitch some more! I'd like to make some landscapes, like the ones by Gisela Bunth in the book. But I think I need to buy myself a freehand quilting or darning needle for my machine before I can attempt these!
* makeandcraft.com *
