Island Getaway: a journal quilt

     The beader's getaway to Martha's Vineyard was for only three days, but I was shocked how relaxed I was after such a short time, absolutely forgetting all that I had on my plate to do. Hopefully I can remember that feeling and call it forth when needed. Maybe this journal quilt should have been about all I filmed there for my little movie, or about the craft I took to share (it's failure, despite my good planning). For the journal quilt, however, I singled out that special moment where I realized I was SO relaxed. Note: Usually I sew with white thread only, and take an extra fine Sharpie of appropriate color to go over colored areas. I forgot to get out my blue Sharpies for this piece before photographing, but did remember on the postcards.

   While I had the sewing machine out today, I made and took to the Post Office three fabric postcards. I sent the postcard of the dollhouse to another Alice whom the beaders visited yesterday. We saw a myriad of doll houses Alice created over the years. I was especially taken by the Rennie Macintosh room, and returned home to get out a book of his watercolors and to look for pictures of his windows at Google Images to mail to Alice.  I mailed the Seurat fabric postcard to an ill friend who is a fabulous painter. The postcard with the basket with Toto is a thank you for a Nantucket beading tray basket.
    You remember I cut the address side, front and batting, each of the three pieces, to 4 1/2" x 6 1/2". I put the batting on the bottom and the good sides of the back and front together and stitch 1/4" all around except for a 2" opening at one end so one can turn inside out (the pillowcase method). Clip the corners, turn, iron and stitch around one more time 1/8" around. I love making these; and so far, they have all arrived via our Post Office in perfect shape!

Milestone Marking: more fabric postcards

Fabric Postcards (click to enlarge)

   Martha wrote from Amarillo that she would be 95 last Friday. She still drives her younger friends, is the same size when she married, and plays bridge with people my age. I hope she will pass on her secret. After I post this blog, I will write her a long letter, but I got off her birthday fabric postcard along with four others today.
   Martha's cake sports a 95, music and a suggestion of long life from the fortune cookie. Andreas, a teen who fell off a 30-foot cliff and only broke a leg, thank goodness, has fortune cookies that mention his magnetic personality and his long life. I cut those two from unused quilted blocks I made at workshop, but had not put into a quilt. My teen neighbor Lloyd brought over a chocolate artist's palette and brush he found in Exeter as a birthday gift, so he gets a thank-you. And belatedly I am thanking Liz for the gold thread she gave me for my needlepoint. Last, but not least, is a card for Georgia whose birthday and 50th anniversary come up this month. I LOVE milestones. More reasons to celebrate, to craft!
   Cut a piece of flannel and a front and a back fabric with rotary cutters, each 4 1/2 inches x 6 1/2 inches. Put the front and back right sides together, and the flannel below. Stitch 1/4-inch around except for 2 inches at one end where one will turn out after clipping the corners. Iron, then sew 1/8 inch all around. I use white thread and color appropriately with fine Sharpie permanent markers. I use a gel pen to address as it does not run. I have a "postcard" stamp and I adhere self-adhesive stamps, rubbing them in firmly and take to the US Post Office to be hand-cancelled. The Post Office people always smile big and the cards have always arrived, locally overnight.