Beach Glass

 We love to beach comb whenever we are visiting the beach.  I've picked up shells, rocks and beach glass.   Sand Dollars were easy to find along the Corpus Christi  beach we used to visit.  Petoskey stones were abundant along the shores of Lake Michigan years ago.  But, I favor finding beach glass.   The glass is beautiful reflecting in the sun.  Its edges smooth from tumbling in the ocean for who knows how long.  Mostly being worn and frosted, no longer clear glass, it can be hard to assume what the glass was originally.  Perhaps soda or beer bottles, or glass balls from fishing nets.  The hardest color to find is red, being there aren't many glass items made using red colored glass.  I've seen jewelry made with beach glass as well as artworks, cards, mosaics and all sorts of craft items.   I've always wanted to find enough beach glass to incorporate into an art quilt.   There are many examples of sea glass, beach glass, pebble, stones in quilting using bits of fabric scrap.   But, I want to find a way to embellish an art piece with beach glass.  To do this, my thoughts of encasing the glass in a cage made of wire and attaching it to the art with heavy upholstery thread or fishing line could work.   Years ago, I made a craft heart attaching shisha mirrors to the surface with embroidery work. There will be a trial and error period.  

These are post card size art pieces I made recently.  They were made to be mailed, so adding a lot of embellishment is not ideal.   A few beads were added on the card above and when I mail it, I will put it in a small padded envelope.  

This one is my favorite using Kaffe Fassett fabrics by Free Spirit.  I added a sequin and bead for his eye.  It will also be mailed off.  

The components used in creating post cards is minimal and can be very inexpensive.  Use what you have on hand.  You could back it with card instead of using a stiff product as I did.  Pellon makes a fusible heavy weight called 72F Peltex II and is fusible on both sides.  You can go here to find out more.  HERE  They also make a variety of other products that are equally suitable.  I like the two sided fusible and stitching through the layer is easily done without sticky gummy needles.  

After the card is completed, I write on the back using a Micron Pigma permanent pens which come in an array of color choices.   Place the card in a clear sleeve.  Add US first class postage + extra postage for non-machinable handling and Mail it.   It's a surprise and utter joy when the recipient receives the art card in their mail box.  

Pack Rat

I realized one of my sewing room drawers holds countless needles.  Hand sewing needles.  I do some hand sewing, but this is ridiculous. There's another drawer with a big stash of sewing machine needles.  I found cross stitch needles...and I hate cross stitch.  It's time.  It's definitely time to do a clean out.  Every drawer I opened seemed to be brimming with "stuff".  Am I a pack rat?  That "one day, I'll need this" has never come.  It's not just needles, I've saved empty foil and plastic wrap rolls to wind bindings on and one drawer is full of paper I've made along with some I've painted and marbled.  So, it's time. 

I just finished this postcard and will mail it off soon.  I love it.  I hope the recipient will enjoy it.  Years ago I was doing a postcard series called "postcards from the edge".  They were meant to contain content of the places I've been and lived.  But also incorporating some techniques I wanted to try out on a small scale.  In the back of my mind, I want to return to this and pull out my journals to refer to.  Finding time is of course, one of the aspects.   Ideas still abound.