Tuesday 16 September 2014

... and a Fourth Textile ATC Swap

We've previously loved taking part in Very Berry Handmade's Artist Trading Card (ATC) swaps (here, here and here). So were delighted when Ali arranged a fourth swap and couldn't wait to take part!

ATC stands for Artist’s Trading Card, and it’s basically the creative, unique and arty version of a business card. There are guidelines about the size/ format of each card and this time the theme was 'getting away from it all'. Ali allocates everyone a swap partner and it's all secret so is a lovely surprise when yours arrives in the post!
Sian
My swap partner, Hilda said that she "loves greens and browns, but doesn't like pink". This was a great match and definitely suited my style! The theme of this swap conjured up images of white beaches, blue seas and palm trees swaying in the breeze.... Now I just needed to try and create that in fabric!
I started with the background by sewing strips of cream and blue fabric. The sea looked a bit 'flat' so I top stitched on some thin bits of ribbon.
The most fiddly part was trying to get the proportions and layout of the palm tree right! In the end I fixed it on with bondaweb and finished with some free motion machine embroidery.
My ATC was from Jackie of Jackie's Crafts. The detail is amazing and it really captures the feel of wind blowing through your hair. I love it!!
Simi
My ATC was going to Louise who simply stated "I love happy colours and whimsy" Perfect!!
Like Sian (and many others doing the swap!) my immediate thoughts for Getting Away From it All went to being on a beach. I had done an art piece on an index card for the Daisy Yellow 2014 Index-Card-A-Day Challenge using the prompt 'Beach Umbrella' and wanted to do something similar.
I also wanted to do more of the fabric scrap weaving technique that we had done so picked bluey/green and sandy beach colours from my scraps. 
I was going to make an Umbrella (I realised that three would totally cover up the detail of the strips!) from more scraps, but found a crochet flower embellishment. It was quite similar in colour to the sand so I dyed it with tea, and added some handmade cord strips as the spokes. I finished off with a zigzag border but kept it a bit scrappy to match the effect of the scrappy strips (and because I'm still trying to learn how to do that bit neater!!!
And here is the ATC I received! Its from Katrina and titled "Off We Go". The amount of detail is quite spectacular - it must have taken forever - and I love it!
You can check out everyone's ATC's here at The Very Berry Handmade flickr group


15 comments:

  1. Your ATCs are all lovely. I haven't received mine yet, although I keep anxiously watching for the postman!

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  2. Gorgeous ATCs it's been great fun doing another swap. Sian I am so happy you liked your ATC.
    Jackie x

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    1. Thanks Jackie. I love the ATC that you made for me and we can't wait until the next swap! x

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  3. I have heard about ATC's but never really understood what they are about. You're are just so pretty! They must have taken ages xx

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    1. Thanks Jen! They don't take too long once you get started. But it can be a bit more fiddly doing things on a smaller scale! x

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  4. I too, wasn't sure what ATC's were and funnily enough asked my daughter, only today, what they were all about!! These are just wonderful. How do I go about taking part in the next one?

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    1. Thank you! The swap we took part in was organised by the lovely Ali at VeryBerryHandmade (http://veryberryhandmade.co.uk/2014/07/25/its-that-atc-time-again/). Keep an eye on Ali's website for when she announces the next swap and you can sign up then. We'll definitely be doing another one too! x

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    2. Thank you, I'll do just that :)

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  5. Lovely to see your ATCs - I thoroughly enjoyed the swap and will treasure mine.

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    1. We love the ATC that you made. Isn't it lovely to have something that someone has created especially for you! x

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  6. Wow! Lots of amazing work on a small scale!

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  7. I was the lucky recipient of the bottom one and love it

    Thanks again Sian x Hilda

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