July Artist Trading Cards Complete...

I completed the artist trading cards for Jan's Handmade Treasures swap group this month. I wanted to get them out before my surgery a week from now. The prompt for July is "Summertime", and I've been cogitating on this one since it was announced. As I usually do with anything that stumps me, I decided to sleep on it. For some reason, I always get my solutions in my sleep. This was no exception.

About two months ago, Jan came home to find that her and her husband's sweet old dog had passed away while they were at work. She came home to find she had just gone away on her bed and looked like she was sleeping. They were understandably upset, not only that their dog had passed, but there was some guilt that it happened while they were at work and she was alone. I tried to explain that perhaps that's what her pup wanted...to spare them. I also understood how they felt, as I would have felt the same. Their dog's name was Summer. 

So rather than come up with something that wouldn't resemble too closely last month's prompt: Beach, I came up with the idea to appropriately honor their dog. I found a photograph of her basking in the sun atop their picnic table in their backyard, and added touches of happy yellow to the rest of the card. Summer in happier times.

This month there were fourteen participants, so I printed out Summer's image and name on fabric, cut out sunny yellow batik, and added a daisy button. Gluing on the button was the last step after sewing all the other elements to my ground fabric. I added my signature sheet to the back, and finished by adding a label explaining the card to everyone as I slipped it into its envelope. I put them in the mailbox this morning and sent them on their way. I'm confident I'll hear from Jan when she opens hers in a couple days.

I have two pre-op appointments today, but then I'm getting back to my bluebirds. I'd really like to complete the embroidery this week. Then, I can choose fabric for the hanging. I probably won't assemble it until I'm well into my recuperation. I'm planning a little goldwork or woolwork as I heal. I've got most of the projects already chosen from the last time I thought I was going into surgery, so I'll just double check and make final decisions. I may just pull out a book to read, too. 

I'd better get ready to leave soon, so I'm going to enjoy a quiet cuppa and then get to my appointments. Thankfully, these are close to home and routine, so Handsome doesn't have to go along. I'll be taking up plenty of his free time with shuttling me to physical therapy after my surgery, so I'm glad to be able to give him a break ahead of all that. So, I'll sign off now and see you tomorrow!