I made this painting for my dad's milestone birthday this year. It's not completely original--if you visit Ryan Conners' Etsy, you'll see where the cats came from. But I changed the road trip vehicle to be my dad's very own VW Vanagon, his main past time of the last few years. I'll post a progression of the making of the painting at some point soon.
These vinyl pouches are a recent project of Amanda Jean, who runs the Crazy Mom Quilts blog. (There's a link to her wonderful inspiring blog on the right.) She made these, so I thought I would too. They're harder than they look! She's creating a tutorial, which I think is great in case you'd like to make them and need some guidance. (I definitely had to put my quilting skills to use!) I'm really glad to have something to organize my felt scraps and Christmas fabric in. She calls them "Work in Progress" bags.
- I get to make small works of art.
- I get to share them with you to use for any purpose.
- I get to do art in community with you, whether that community is in person or virtual.
- It capitalizes on my event planning and coordination skills, which I think is fun.
Here's the details:
1. After I hear from everyone who wants to participate and I give you the signal, you'll have 8 weeks to make ten (10) greeting cards, most often somewhat identical in design (although this is not required). These cards can be any shape or size, blank on the inside, themed wherever your whimsy takes you. Every medium is welcome: fabric, stamping, painting, beads, collage, photography, papercraft.... Most important is that whatever you make fits into an envelope that can be mailed either domestically or abroad. THEME: Last year we tried a theme and it led to the best card swap yet! This year's theme can be either "bird" or "birthday." No need to be literal about this--be creative! What images, thoughts, words, or inspiration do these words invoke for you? Please interpret as loosely as you need to. (And if you're totally uninspired, just throw the theme out the window and do what you want!)
2. On the given postmark deadline, you'll send all the cards you make to me with enough envelopes for each card and a couple of dollars (international folks exempt from having to send me money).
3. Once I receive everyone's cards, I'll divvy them up so that every person receives ten cards from other swap participants. Using the couple bucks, I'll send them back to you.
4. You'll receive a set of handmade greeting cards to use over the next year in the mail for just the cost it took to make yours and ship them to and from me.
Here are the dates you need to know:
· RSVP to participate in the card swap by next Saturday, February 21, by clicking HERE.
· Start thinking about/making your design as soon as you can. You'll be surprised how quickly that deadline will be here.
· I'll host a Work Party at my studio in Fort Collins, CO on a Saturday afternoon in early April--anyone who participates in the swap is welcome to join us.
· Monday, April 13 is the postmark date for getting those cards, enough corresponding envelopes, and cash in the mail to me. (If you're local, you obviously don't have to bother with the sending business--we'll just rendezvous!)
· I'll send out a reminder about 4 weeks through.
· Around May 1 is when I will hopefully send your cards back to you. This is a fuzzy deadline, as the nature of having an international card swap greatly affects postal travel.
Please DO forward this invitation to any of your crafty or arty friends and have them RSVP directly to me if they'd like to participate. Anyone is welcome (even if card-making is not your main means of artistic expression!). My only request is that everyone who signs up follows through to make/swap their cards.
For inspiring close-up images from last year, click here.
