noelle o designs

creativity + sewing + upcycling inspiration

craft, design, fabric, projects, sewing, tiny

post office hours

Would it be redundant to say I’m sick of arriving at the post office only to find it’s closed? This has happened to me more times than I can count on both hands. Even the website posts regular 9-5 hours, so I took matters into my own hands- literally.

This took me a few days of fairly attentive sewing- I took it with me everywhere and even had one confused tween ask me if I worked at the post office. I got a lot of, “haven’t you ever heard of a Post It note?”
Whatev- this is way more fun, and yes, I guess I am a little bit crazy.


Here is how to get fabric into a framed, more permanently enjoyable situation, so you too can seem kooky or in love or really finalize that dinner menu. First of all make sure to start with plenty of fabric, or you’ll end up being forced to glue your special project to the backing. Glue isn’t very archival- and I KNOW my grand kids are going to be fighting over this heirloom.
Line the backing up with the embroidery, when you’ve got it right where you want it, mark with a pencil a seam allowance, all the way around. I would recommend at least a 1/4 of an inch- more to be safe. You will want to cut 3 pieces: 1) the front, 2) thin batting for the middle, 3) and a piece of fabric for the back.

Trim the fabric along your lines, either with a rotary cutter or with scissors.
Line up the three pieces, right sides together.
Sew along three sides, using the seam allowance you gave yourself when cutting things out earlier. Sew to the outside of the line.

Turn the project right side out, slide the backing into the sleeve you have created. It should fit nice and tight (no sagging) if it’s loose go back and stitch a little tighter.

Sew it closed across the open edge, it doesn’t matter what it looks like if you plan on framing it, the stitching will be hidden by the frame. It only matters that it’s as tight as the other 3 sides. Stuff it into the frame and prepare to hang it up.

And there you have it, a treasured piece of craft- way better than a Post It note.

11 Comments

  1. nanayane

    April 2, 2012 at 4:41 pm

    much better than a post-it note! love it!

  2. eighttreestreet

    April 2, 2012 at 5:56 pm

    what a clever idea, thanks for sharing, love it!

    1. noelleodesigns

      April 2, 2012 at 6:09 pm

      Glad you like it! A bit silly, but what’s life without a bit of sillyness?

  3. Patch

    April 2, 2012 at 5:56 pm

    Interesting. I shall be doing some framing of fabric soon. That ALWAYS happens to me too. I must take note of the opening hours!

    1. noelleodesigns

      April 2, 2012 at 6:08 pm

      Sometimes I loathe 10 am store opening times. I wish the post office opened at 8 too, I could swing by while driving carpool.

  4. Laura Conowitch

    April 2, 2012 at 7:04 pm

    Love your heirloom! My little rural PO supposedly keeps regular hours (very similar to your’s), but it’s anybody’s guess if they will actually be open when you get there.

  5. Lisa

    April 2, 2012 at 8:37 pm

    It’s awesome Noelle! Glad you were able to finish it. I’m waiting on my “no peanuts” sign. : ) I guess I could add it to my list of projects that I’ll never get done unless my motivation comes back. But, yay – radiation is over so perhaps there will be a life for me.

  6. Amy

    April 3, 2012 at 8:40 pm

    totally fun! I like the font and simplicity of the embroidery – I am inspired!

  7. louisianahousewife

    April 4, 2012 at 5:02 pm

    This is absolutely adorable.

  8. Micha

    April 4, 2012 at 5:22 pm

    So funny! I love it…But I think you need some more pencils.

    1. noelleodesigns

      April 6, 2012 at 4:45 pm

      You can never have too many #2 pencils. 🙂

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