Postcard Tutorial

Have you ever tasted a Jersey tomato? They are one of the best I have ever tasted, they are legendary!
I had some emails that wanted me to do a tutorial on my post card. I decided to do something different because I don't want to make the same thing over again.

To make it easy and fun, spend some time getting ready. Pick out fabrics and fuse some fusible web to the backs of pieces 5 x 5 or larger. It helps the creative part flow.

After you fuse it take the paper off. I really like Wonder Under, but use what you like. Save that paper you can use it to keep fusible off the ironing board.

We want the post card to be stiff so use heavy interfacing like Timtex, which is pretty rigid. You can find it at a store like Joanne's. There is also some that has a fusible side that works well too. Cut the interfacing to about 5 x 7 . The post card we are making will be 4 x 6. Cut a piece of fused fabric and fuse it to the interfacing. I am using a hand dyed purple.

Next start cutting your shapes....I didn't trace or draw anything. It makes it exciting to see what you get! This is where the prefusing comes in handy. You can just keep cutting until you get what you like without having to stop and fuse fabrics.

The crown is put under the tomato.

For the star I cut a circle and then cut it into a star shape. It is not perfect but I think it makes it look more realistic.

A curvey stem and some leaves.....

Some sunglasses.....

Add some machine quilting......nothing special to do, treat it just like a regular quilt. I did use my free motion foot and outlined the background and the tomato parts. I would choose a light colored thread in the bobbin so it does not show through too much.

Turn it over, trim your threads and fuse another piece of fabric to the back. Trim it down to the 4 x 6 size and you are almost done.....If your threads show through, use 2 pieces of fabric layered on top of each other.

Use a walking foot and stitch a satin type stitch along the edge or you can also try a button hole stitch. I set the stitch length to 1 and the width to 3 on my Bernina. If you want it a little thicker go over the edges twice.

This is another one I made all trimmed up and ready to finish off the edges. This is another fun project that kids would enjoy as well.
Now send this off to some one who would love to get a little work of art!

Kelly