Now for Something a little Different in the Mailbox: Loteria Fabricards!

Loteria Fabricard (front)
card and photo by Nita Lou Bryant

Just last month I visited San Antonio, Texas and, while browsing the shops at La Villita, I found myself drawn to the bright colors and images found on Loteria cards. At the time, I didn't even know what I wanted to use these images for but they instantly sprang to mind when a friend asked me to design a set of Fabricards for her.


This is what it takes to make a fabric greeting card, or Fabricard:

Someone's special event on the horizon.

A scanner, a printer, a fabric transfer.

An iron.

Some fabric, some thread, and a sewing machine.

Scissors and pinking shears.

A folded piece of card stock, a stamp pad, a rubber stamp, an envelope.

Determination combined with a fair amount of whimsy.

Time.

For this set, I chose fabrics in bold prints and hues to stand up to the vivid  Loteria images. To me, the illustrations are more mysterious sans the names and playing-card numbers, so I trimmed those off. The set I made for my friend comes pre-stamped with greetings such as happy birthday, get well soon, and congratulations but I think these designs would also work well as blank cards--leaving the sentiments up to the sender. For example, I chose a simple "Hi, there" for the card featuring la mano (see photo, below), but I'm sure you can imagine any number of other possible messages, depending upon the occasion.

Loteria Fabricard (front)
card and photo by Nita Lou Bryant

Below are a couple more examples, just to get to get you thinking:

Loteria Fabricard (front)
card and photo by Nita Lou Bryant

Loteria Fabricard (inside greeting)
card and photo by Nita Lou Bryant

Loteria Fabricard (front)
card and photo by Nita Lou Bryant

Loteria Fabricard (inside greeting)
card and photo by Nita Lou Bryant

Loteria Fabricard and Envelope
card and photo by Nita Lou Bryant

Okay, you're ready to go forth to make Fabricards of your own!

Unless, of course, you don't happen to have a scanner, a printer, a fabric transfer, an iron, some fabric, some thread,  a sewing machine, scissors and pinking shears, a folded piece of card stock, a stamp pad, a rubber stamp, an envelope, determination combined with a fair amount of whimsy, and time. In which case, feel free to ask me to design a set of cards for you. My rates are reasonable and mailing envelopes are included at no extra charge.

Ooh, it's a Fabricard! by Nita Lou Bryant for Sedbi Design
logo and photo by Nita Lou Bryant

Frayed Edges Heart Pillow & Matching Sachet

close-up #1 of Frayed Edges Heart Pillow applique
pillow and photo by Nita Lou Bryant

for L.B.R.

I only have one niece, a fact I often point out when we're together. "How's my only niece?" I ask, and she gives me that special niece smile. She is the daughter of my husband's only sister, and we only see each other once or twice a year because we live in Texas and they live in Tennessee.  If only we lived closer to one another, I always think... It's a lot of  only. I always try to think of something special to send her for Christmas and for her birthday, which is in February.

This year I made her a frayed edges heart pillow and matching sachet (see photo, below).

Frayed Edges Heart Pillow applique
pillow, sachet and photo by Nita Lou Bryant

close-up #2 of Frayed Edges Heart Pillow applique
pillow and photo by Nita Lou Bryant

As you can see from the photo above, I didn't use a  template to cut out the three heart-shaped pieces I appliqued onto the dotted background--I opted for something more freestyle. Because I wanted to sew this subliminal message for my niece right onto her pillow:

Our hearts end up criss-crossed every which way by the experiences life stitches onto them. They get torn and then mended time and again, maybe ending up a little frayed around the edges--but each time they grow stronger while still remaining beautiful, each in its own unique way. 

close-up #1 of trim on Frayed Edges Heart Pillow
pillow and photo by Nita Lou Bryant

close-up #2 of trim on Frayed Edges Heart Pillow
pillow and photo by Nita Lou Bryant

close-up of heart sachet
photo by Nita Lou Bryant

The sachet is my own custom blend of extra organic lavender flowers from France, red rose petals and buds from Pakistan, and organic orris root from Oregon (as a preservative). I like to imagine my niece tucking this soft little pillow behind her back or under her head, breathing in the sweet smell of rose-scented dreams and the soothing scent of lavender, and feeling extremely special--and very much loved.

After all, she is my only niece.

Sedbi Design Studio logo
photo by Nita Lou Bryant