Friday, January 27, 2012

Postcards Week 4 - China

24 day Silk Road & Classic China Tour for Maddie this week.
Maddie, the fabric designer, is in 7th heaven. China has always fascinated her and through good fortune, from an old friend she once worked with, is able to go on this trip with all expenses paid. She cried and she laughed. While she tells Ruth about some of her travel plans, she doesn't tell her of some of the dangers she'll be in. Traveling through the desert, some travel, the tour guides say, are better on bicycle rather than walking. "When was the last time I rode a bicycle?", she wonders. Of course the camel ride should be most interesting. Her husband is concerned but knows it would be useless to talk her out of this. On his own, he has contacted the tour guides and received every detail of the 24 day tour. He's told Maddie that "if he doesn't hear from her at every stop, he's sending in the military". Although she thinks it so sweet to worry about her, deep down she's a bit nervous herself. Making sure she has enough thyroid medication and pain medication included in her bag of essentials.

The silk piece that Maddie is sending Ruth is from a piece of silk my sister sent to our Mom from her tour in the military. It was made in a factory in Hong Kong, Standard H.K. It is a beautiful red that is very shiny but doesn't show up very well. There is also some red embroidery (stems and leaves) that don't show up very well either. Actually I'm not sure if it is embroidered or if it is actually woven. It really is beautiful.



I drew the map from one I found on google.com images. (Image was posted from this website. I wanted it simple and something that Maddie would have wanted to copy for her friend. She's made another one to fit in her journal and she'll be able to record her adventures on the map as her journey progresses.


Her postcard reads: Ruth, you'll think I'm crazy but I could not help myself. Camels & cars. In Xi'an Terracotta Warriors & Horses, Bell Tower, Drum Tower and the Xi'an Ancient City Wall. We are even going to see ancient camel footprints. Hope you like this piece of silk for your collection. Forgive my stitching. Bumpy bus ride & primitive tools. PRAY FOR ME! Maddie
Saw "Raise the Red Lantern", 1991 Directed by Yimou Zhang, on the flight over. WOW!

23 comments:

Alexandriaweb said...

That is beautiful :)

Janet said...

Fabulous postcard, Cynthia. I love your stitching and the use of textiles. Perfect.

Janet xx

lorig said...

A tour of China how interesting and potentially dangerous. Love how you incorporated fabric and stitching on your card.

San @ Made in Hem said...

Love your fabric card! ♥
And the map finishes of the trip excellent! You've done so well this week! :)

APG Jamie said...

loving it, sharing the silk & nice map'age <3

Jen said...

Beautiful silk and so wonderfully incorporated into a postcard.
Jen x

Lulabelle said...

I love your beautiful material, wonderful idea for your postcard!

cindyw said...

Love your postscard.

Gina said...

Great idea to use the piece of silk *strokes silky card*, and your map on the reverse is so cool :D XXX

Margaret said...

I love the silk and the stiching on the reverse side, just gorgeous! M

Darcy Marshall said...

ooo gorgeous fabric, looks very strokable. Great idea to draw the map too.

Halle said...

Interesting choice...it's gorgeous! Love what you did with that back of the postcard as well. Such a forgotten part of the card.

Tammy Freiborg said...

Gorgeous silk! And fabulous map. Wishing Maddie a safe trip.

Valerie-Jael said...

Love the wonderful silk, and the fab map you have made! Hugs, Valerie

Alison xx said...

Amazing card, this material is beautiful. I love your map too !!A xx

Cazro said...

Wonderful silk, I love your silk trail drawing too. great ideas. Caz

mags21 said...

a great postcard. beautiful silk, great colour...a good idea...

manomij said...

Oh wow Cynthia the card is fantastic and the story very captivating. I hope she is not going to be in pain and suffer!

teri said...

You're really bringing all of this to life in an incredible way.

Å olanje na domu-Waldorf said...

Oh, wait! You have two blogs! :)I commented on the wrong one apparently. :) Here I go again. Love the postcard and the red stitches. :) And the idea with the map is amazing.

Elizabeth said...

so, so cool. love it.

Esther said...

Cool map..and what a beautiful piece of fabric..Lovely..Esther xx

serendipity said...

Gorgeous silk, and a great card
Jan