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Copyright 2002 - 2010 Tracy L. Chapman & Sew Thankful Inc., all rights reserved.

Tracy Sews - Heart-2-Heart Postcards

Heart-2-Heart Fiber Art Postcard Project is a wonderful project sponsored by Karey Bresenhan, Director of IQF.  The idea is to recognize, honor, cheer and thank wounded US Soldiers for their service and sacrifice. 

I committed to sending at least 3 postcards.  The receive by deadline is February 7, 2007 and I've got my 3 done, but I'm going to try to do one more. I figure if I send them Priority Mail on February 1st they should arrive in Texas (just one state over) in plenty of time.

There is no "entry" cost involved and everyone is invited to participate in this project.  If you are interested in participating, please read all the details by clicking here.

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True Blue Hearts is my final Heart-2-Heart postcard.  I used Heavyweight fast2fuse and a variety of techniques on this card, including: Hand embroidery with El Molino Rayon (the thick running stitches in blues & white), beaded embroidery with Finca perle 12, machine quilting with variegated Finca perle 16 in the top, and zigzag edging by machine using variegated Finca perle 16 in the top and bobbin.

NOW it's finished...and it has a twin (not identical though).  It felt really good to use up almost all of my tiny yoyos that I made so long ago.  I used the Heavyweight fast2fuse for the middle layer and a muslin or light tone on tone for the postcard back.

On the light background postcard, I fastened the yoyos together using red Finca Perle Cotton (size 8) using a primitive stitching method; then I secured all to the white on ivory fabric.  I finished the edges using a gorgeous medium blue El Molino rayon thread.

On the dark background postcard, I fastened the yoyos together using the medium blue El Molino rayon thread (same one used for edge finish on the light background card).  I used white El Molino to finish the edges on this card.

Hint for making small yoyos - A yogurt lid makes a great size template for little yoyos! 

While these aren't "super" arty, they definitely have a comforting feel to them.  I hope the recipients enjoy them.

I used a Miracle Chalk chubby crayon to freehand draw my "floating heart/feathers". I have a fat pencil/crayon sharpener (just a little cheapo plastic one I got from a discount store when purchasing the boys school supplies) which worked GREAT to give me a nice, sharp point.  Not much pressure is needed and the line lasted as long as I needed it.  A quick blast of steam removed anything leftover.

I hand bead quilted the design with silver lined crystal seed beads and Finca Perle Cotton.  I used two layers of flannel for the "batting layer" which I "Misty Fuse" basted to my top fabric before hand bead quilting the design.  I loved the Misty Fuse! 
It made no noticeable change to the hand of the fabric and needle-ability. Since I hand bead quilted the design I definitely had a sense of the fabric. I love the look of the bead quilting and the sparkle when the light hits it "just right".  I used a light tone on tone for my postcard back.

The edges are hand finished in a blanket stitch with luxurious white El Molino Rayon Thread.