The idea is to use the fabric postcard format as a journal. It is a freeform challenge to produce a fiber postcard once a month that records what you have been exploring, doing, or thinking about. The format can be used to explore telling stories visually, experimenting and exploring with techniques, or involve taking up design challenges such as experiments with colour and composition.

This is not swap challenge, but a personal challenge to share with others. The postcard can be made using any textile technique so no matter what you do the challenge is open to you.

A flickr group has been started and that is where everyone can post images of their postcards. It is called 6 x 4 lives . Each month when you post the image of your fabric postcard tell us how you did it, and if the information about the technique is online let us have a link. If there are books about it tell us what they are. Let us know what your influences were, what sparked the idea, how you tackled the design challenges, why you made creative decisions, and how you finally realised the piece. If there is a story behind it let us know what it is. It does not have to be tremendously long and involved but do share what you have learnt

Flickr is free so just join the group 6 x 4 lives and at least once a month post an image of a fabric postcard you have made that month and tell us about it. I think it will be fun and interesting.

10 Responses to “6 x 4 lives”

  1. Kay Susan Says:

    Sharon, thank you for doing this. I’m quite excited about it. Now that I’ve got my old job back and will be short of time I think a small project like this will help me to keep going!

  2. Chloe Says:

    Hi Sharon - my one question - you don’t use a hoop? Or are you going to temporarily sash each block????

    My mother made this as “Windy City” in the 1970s, and still has it hanging. Must photograph.

    Linda

  3. sharonb Says:

    Chloe - yes I use a hoop I am going to put them on very fine cheesecloth/muslin - the christmas pudding variety. I did it this way because I want to see the shape of the diamond very clearly while I was piecing I did not want my eye thrown out - when I have photos I will blog it.

  4. Chloe Says:

    Ooops *grin* I commented on the wrong post - glad you knew what I meant!

  5. 8.16 Says:

    Alas, flikr.com is blocked in the United Arab Emirates so I can’t see the 6×4’s. Bother! I shall have to wait until I’m in Europe over the Summer.

  6. Edie Says:

    I didn’t realize anyone could join 6×4 Lives. I’d like to try… not sure I am committed enough to do a postcard a month, but-hey, I need to mail some out, so maybe this is the boot-in-the-behind I need!

  7. sharonb Says:

    Edie - yep all are welcome and it is not too much each month

  8. sh.nava Says:

    hi sharon,

    i’m trying to make a fabric postcard and i’d like to ask you what to put on the back of the postcard, do you use thin cardboard?

    *sorry for my english mistakes

  9. Midge Says:

    As I am pretty well a virgin in the fiberarts cyberworld, this sounds like a good way for me to start joining in these little experimental essays. Has anyone ever tried to organize a swap of fiber and thread packets? Like maybe a certain weight or amount in maybe a certain colourway or shadings or textures or to a theme? I could imagine it might be exciting to send and receive bits and bobs of others’ stashes.

  10. sharonb Says:

    Midge - there are often swaps between members of various yahoo groups and sometimes between bloggers. Its something that regularly happens and is a alot of fun.

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