Autumn Leaves ATC

It'd been ages since I'd done any free-style machine sewing. It was great to do a bit last night if only to make some leaves with curly cues. I fused them out with the soldering iron & then stitched them onto my backing piece along some twisted brown wool.  Added a few french knots to spruce it up a bit & then stitched more brown wool around the edges.  Now I feel like making another one.  Maybe a tree with LOTS of fall leaves.

Medieval Bunny ATC

Found this neat medieval rabbit pattern that was originally from a 14th century psalter.  I soldered the outline of the rabbit from a piece of interfacing that I had painted awhile ago.

Soldered piece over my wee jumping rabbit.

Not sure what this bumpy thread stuff is called but I sewed some around the outside & then added a few tiny buttons.  Think I'll add a few beads next.  When I'm finished I'll send it to my daughter in exchange for the 2 atc's she drew & sent to me.

Snail Mail Surprise

Snail mail is absolutely great! In yesterday's mail I received a delightful letter & these 2 wonderful artist trading cards that my daughter drew.  They are titled "Falltime Gnome & Owl-Cat Friend" done in ink & pencil crayon and "Chartreuse Magic" in water colour & ink.  Thank you so much my dear!!!  Love them both & will treasure them always!  Now methinks it's my turn :)

Malaysian Cupcake

Received this cute cupcake artist trading card from Janet all the way from Malaysia.  It sure travelled a long way!  Thank you so much Janet!! I also received a piece of lovely batik that I definitely will do something with.

ATC for Amy

I've been making artist trading cards for over a year now & it dawned on me that I have never made either of my daughters one.  Terrible.  So since I was on a roll with the cupcake ones I made this one for my eldest daughter Amy.  The base is from a gold piece of wrapping paper.  I cut out a small piece from an onion bag & stitched it on with gold thread.  The pink wool roving I cut from a piece that I had dyed at our dyeing day class.  Hope she will like it & now I'll have to think of one to make for my other daughter.

Fini La Cupcake Artist Trading Card

Glad that this 2nd cupcake atc turned out better than my first one.  The background is painted interfacing, the bottom of the cupcake is gold foil from a package of tea, I fused a piece of white organza over some cotton batten for the icing & then added my beads & stitches. I think I'm on a roll & will make one more for my eldest daughter.

Mushroomy Cupcake

My 1st cupcake artist trading card is now done. The back fabric is from a small swatch that I had dyed at our dying day class 2 weeks ago. The pink icing is also from a piece of felt that I had dyed. Have to finish the other one to send to my swap partner asap. 

Cupcakes

Kind of bogged down with my scissor case stitching the last couple of days so I took a hard left to work on a couple of artist trading cards.  The July theme on the Stitchin' Fingers ATC group is cupcakes.

Not quite finished this one as I want to add a few more silver long beads to look like sprinkles. This one looks more mushroomy but really, it's supposed to be a cupcake.

Kimono Artist Trading Card

For our June artist trading card swap on the stitchin' fingers site, we had an Asian theme.  I chose to make a kimono with 3 layers of organza that I fused together & then stitched across.  I added gold beads on the collar & what is supposed to be a fan on the bottom right.  It was mailed today to my swap partner in Gujarat, India.  Hope she likes it & I'm looking forward to seeing what my atc will be.

Redbird ATC

A closer view of the neat atc I received from Kim.  I like the beads, french knots & stripes she used for the bird & especially the little red tail feather.  Not sure what was used for the nest but it's soft & lumpy & gives a nice raised effect.

Redbird Artist Trading Card

Received Royal Mail from England today! The theme for our monthly atc swap in May on stitchin' fingers was something to do with birds, nests or feathers.  Kim combined all three & stitched up this neat atc. A rotating Canadian postal strike began yesterday so I'm glad that my bird found its way to me in time. The postcard that Kim sent as well is of wedding dress from 1898 worn by Maud Sambourne at her wedding to Leonard Messel.  Thanks Kim!

Pink Bird atc

The theme for the May atc swap on stitchin fingers was anything to do with birds, nests, feathers or eggs.  I fused a piece of green organza onto a scrap piece of drapery material with a soldering iron & also made a bunch of leaves.  I couched down a piece of wool for the branch & stitched the leaves & some beads along it. I also fused a couple pieces of pink organza together for the bird & made the designs on it just with simple straight stitches.  I did some free motion sewing with metallic thread along the top. It's quite shiny green in colour but this photo makes it look rather dull & muddy.

Sunshine & Flowers ATC

Received this cheery artist trading card from Michele as part of the April atc swap on the stitchin' fingers website.  Silk & cotton threads were used & sunny buttons & beads.  Definitely needed something sunny & cheerful as we had more snow today.  Thanks Michele!!  Receiving your delightful card & atc in the mail absolutely made my day!!

Live Laugh Love ATC

My latest artist trading card that is going to Anette in the Netherlands.  I used acrylic paint on some interfacing, machine stitched the words, used the soldering iron for the edges & holes & then stitched the flowers & added some beads.

ATC collection

I know I posted each of these artist trading cards individually but I had to take a collective photo as well because they are all so neat.  I obviously really enjoyed the EAC artist trading card exchange & am already looking forward to next years swap.  It's neat having someone's piece of stitched art & knowing that they have a piece of yours. 

Creative ATC

And this was my last neat trade from the EAC artist trading card enchange.  The background material is flecked with gold paint & overlayed with bits of thread & organza.  The gold stream in the middle has a plasticy feel to it with beads sewn on top.  Thank you Phyllis!  I'll be asking you how you made it at the next stitchery guild meeting. :)

Tangled Threads ATC

It's been a long time since I've seen a piece of huck embroidery & now I have a small sample to add to my atc collection.  I received this atc as part of the EAC ATC exchange from Stewart & on the back he named it "Tangled Threads".  Thanks Stewart!

Girly Girly atc

Again the picture doesn't really do this atc justice.  I received this one from Linda but there was no address on the back so I don't know which province she is from.  She did note on the back that this was her first attempt at hand dying lace.  It's very nice.  Thank you so much Linda!

My Old Pillow artist trading card

This neat leaf artist trading card I received from Joanne from B.C. which she titled "My Old Pillow 1".  What a great way to use up an old pillow that might have been worn & falling apart.  Love it, thanks Joanne!  :)

Butterfly atc

I was the fortunate recipient of this lovely atc stitched by Mary-Wyn from Ontario.  The picture doesn't show any of the blending filament which gives it such a lot of sparkle.  Thank you very much Mary-Wyn!