Thursday, July 13, 2006

Artist Trading Cards


My Tuesday night group has decided to do an ATC swap for Christmas. For those that don’t know ATC stands for Artist Trading Cards. They are small quilts the size of playing cards. We will make one for each person and they are to reflect your style as a quiltmaker. The drawing above is my initial idea. I want to use fabric as the background and wool for appliqués as I work in wool a lot and believe this would be a good way to show my style on this small work. I have never worked in such a small scale before, so I am definitely intimidated by it. I usually work on large blocks with large appliqués. I have never done this before and have no ideas on how to finish them off. I can’t imagine binding something so small. Any ideas would be appreciated!

13 comments:

sewprimitive karen said...

How many do you have to make??

Darcie said...

How fun! I've never done ATCs either...but love them just the same. I have no advice...except for just have fun and let your inner muse guide you, Laura!!!

It's a very good opportunity to try something new...something experimental...anything!

quiltpixie said...

The ATC's that I've seen are finished along the edge like a Fiber Art Postcard (FAP)-- generally satin stitched; Often stiffened with something like Fast2Fuse; and the appliques are done using steam-a-seam.... Hope that helps. The first small one I did was very intimidating, but after that they're a fast creative project. Will you make a series for your ATCs (all similar) are are you thinking quite distinctive ones (one from another)?

Unknown said...

Hey there Laura, I think you are genius, however, since I'm a potter and not a quilter = No suggestions from me.

By the way, I had to delete my last post of the wedding pics as everything was messing up on my page. My 'About Me & Recent posts' vanished from the side and went to the bottom of the page, weird. I did not intentionally delete your comment as I lost everything. I'm still trying to get more wedding pics posted but for now this blogspot is not allowing the such. Thank you for your wonderful comment and my apologies.

Judy said...

I think the sketch is great! I've seen pictures her and ther and I think most are either satin stitched or seam locked on the edge...like serged.

Can't wait to hear how you get along with making them!

Jennifer said...

Love the sketch for your ATCs so far! To finish them, maybe do a buttonhole stitch by hand around them ... pearl cotton or embroidery floss would look pretty. Can't wait to see the finished ones!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like fun - but what if, like me, you don't have a style LOL. I'd spend all my time designing something and never get it finished! Your sketch looks very sweet. Some of the ones I've seen just do zigzag round the edge in a variegated thread, or blanket stitch by machine or hand?

Juliann in WA said...

this is such a cool idea - I have seen quilted postcards and a lot of them are just stitched around the edge - can't wait to see your work in progress

Susan said...

No advice here, either, except I think the edge stitching would be fine. I am imagining these about half the size of the postcards, and those are tiny enough! I love your design. It would be great in ribbon embroidery. =)

Lily Mulholland said...

Laura that sounds like fun! Maybe 'bind' it with a thin ribbon?

Quilts And Pieces said...

I"m totally jealous! When I first saw the picture I was going to say you could make that quilt for me! Hmmmm. I am so upset I don't live closer to do the Tues night thing! I love your idea! I would just sew the back on and turn it right side out and then top-stitch around the edge to hold it down flat. It is really the size of a playing card - that is SMALL. You are so lucky to have that great group of quilters!

tami said...

I think I would probably just fuse it to a background and then do topstitching or buttonhole stitching all around. I can't wait to see the finished project.

Paula, the quilter said...

You can also couch down some fiber/yarn/floss or braid or lace along the edge. You get the idea.