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Cards 1

Cards 2 

Cards 3 

I sent a couple of birthday gifts away this week, and included some rather old-school cards I made. These were inspired by my great-aunt Joyce who used to send us birthday cards when we were children that she'd made herself. She is a fantastic embroiderer, and the notecards would feature an inset embroidery on linen with her fancy handwriting inside. 

Actually, she sent my siblings and I many lovely gifts over the years, including needlebooks, a chatelaine for me because I liked crafts, and once, a journal with a hand-embroidered cover that I remember writing some very angsty poetry in. She also embroidered (in long-stitch) a portrait of my youngest sister jumping on the trampoline when she was about four. It was brilliant.

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15 responses to “great-aunt inspired note-cards”

  1. Sawyerca Avatar

    Great post. My mom used to make the same cards for us.

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  2. Alby Mangroves Avatar

    WOW! I would love to see your sister jumping on a trampoline, as embroidered by Great-Aunt Joyce! My grandmother was a stitch genius, and I still have some handkerchiefs that she decorated with elaborate embroidery. She loved crocheting too and I have a set of crocheted placemats she made. Lovely cards Mel:)

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  3. Jennie Avatar

    Great Aunt Joyce sounds like a very clever lady!
    I love these cards – what a very clever idea!
    (little framed works of art)

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  4. Jill Wignall Avatar

    These look lovely. I love the way you have cut out the ovals rather than using the pre-cut cards. The trampoline embroidery sounds brilliant!

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  5. louana Avatar

    How lovely to recieve a card stitched for your birthday, your aunt sounds like a very talented lady. I love your versions too!

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  6. Stephanie Avatar

    A chatelaine! How cool! Your great-aunt reminds me of my maternal grand-mother. She taught me to embroider, and used to get me gifts that inspired, as well as making my sister and I hand-smocked dresses every Christmas (in addition to giving us more conventional gifts, such as the Michael Jackson BAD cassette, Christmas ’87!) She passed away when I was 12. I miss her…

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  7. Jo Avatar

    What lovely memories. The trampoline embroidery sounds delightful!

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  8. Holly C. Avatar

    Oh, what wonderful cards. 🙂 If I would receive a card like that-I would definitely frame it or take out the embroidery and put it in a tiny hoop!

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  9. Karen at sew and sow life Avatar

    handmade is such a lovely way to celebrate!

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  10. Julia Avatar

    A chatelaine – how fantastic! I wish I had one. It would be so useful to help with all the multi-tasking that goes with motherhood. Your embroidery is lovely as usual. I wish I was related to someone who would send me hand embroidered cards.

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  11. Lovely World Avatar

    Little embroideries of new growth – pretty. By the way, I really like the photos you posted on the previous post. I can just feel the damp cold and Spring trying to fight it off. X Maribeth

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  12. Marina Avatar

    Wonderful story about your great aunt. I love the cards and the new website look!

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  13. Desiree Fawn Avatar

    Great idea! So lovely ❤

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  14. B Avatar

    such lovely memories and beautiful yellow and gold primroses in ur bouquet

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  15. Mama Ora Avatar

    I love the cards! What a suprise for the recipient to treasure and keep for a lifetime. So pretty and natural. I find when I take the time to create something really special and small, like you have, I feel so good inside. Thank you for the inspiration and reminder! Today I was feeling a bit drained when I woke up and seeing these reinvigorated my creative spirit. Gonna get outside today with my little boys and look in the forest for flowers! your site is so lovely.
    B’Shalom,
    Ora

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