Making Fabric and Mixed Media Postcards to Honor the Dead - Using Your Art to Forge Connections by Silver RavenWolf
- Silver RavenWolf
- Jun 14
- 19 min read
Since last year, I have been incorporating the 8 Wiccan holidays into my life as individual markers for goal completion. Eight months into the challenge, I have found the practice to be highly transformative and far from boring! Each sabbat brings its unique energy, tied to the rhythms of nature and the deeper meanings of the season. For every holiday, I choose a specific goal and align it with the essence of the celebration as well as the cycles within the land around me. This approach not only helps me stay attuned to the flow of life throughout the year but also adds a sense of sacred intention to my personal development. Each goal is the creation of a milestone that feels both meaningful and magical. Sometimes, I choose a particular goal through meditation and considered thought, and in other instances, I have just gone with the flow and allowed my muse to forge gaily ahead. This project, which involved creating fabric and mixed-media postcards to honor our beloveds, was the result of simply letting go.
What I have found most interesting in this holiday goal-associated process are the sometimes unusual connections with a particular seasonal celebration. For example, this article is the direct result of my Summer Solstice goal, and on the surface, you may not link messages from the deceased with midsummer rites.
So, of course, I decided to do a little digging. It is a Capricorn moon as I write this…go figure.
My fundamental question: How did I get from the joy of warm, fragrant, bountiful summer solstice to celebrating and communicating with the dead? Isn’t that an autumn thing? You know, death and dying of crops, Samhain, and all that. After a bit of deep diving, I came across the story of the Babylonian God Tammuz (also known as Dumuzi) and the Goddess Ishtar, linked to the Summer Solstice. Their story -- symbolizing a beautiful reflection of life’s cycles, culminates around the summer solstice. (And you thought Summerween originated with Gravity Falls! – okay, so I’m stretching it a bit).
Temmuz represents seasonal flow and the growth of the earth's energies (crops, trees, animals, etc.). He embodies the process of life in the vibrant warmth of summer and what we can accomplish if we apply our energy. His life parallels ours -- birth, rise, production on this plane, and use of its resources, and finally, passing -- which mirror the natural world, showing how the earth and all living things can thrive with gratitude and joy. His balance - Ishtar, the goddess of love, war, and fertility, mourns for Temmuz during the solstice, where he has perished at the height of the season, acknowledging his efforts and her connection to him beyond the veil. Her actions teach us how to incorporate change, even though we emotionally may not wish to engage. Together, their story reminds us of the magical link between the divine and nature, regardless of the plane of existence, as well as our profound energy bonds with one another. As the seasons shift and change, so must we.
Why This Project? Well, Because Folks Die All the Time – They Don’t Wait for Autumn, and your need to communicate is just that – a need…now. Not tomorrow. Not next month.
In the stillness of reflection, when memories awaken, and the boundary between worlds feels faint, we often look for ways to connect with those who have passed on. Sometimes, we feel the need to know that we are not alone; other times, we may seek tangible links because we are processing emotions and events in our own lives and are struggling to cope. Whether we seek connection, honor, or understanding, through the power of art, we can transform grief into beauty, communion into creativity, and love into lasting tributes. I have learned that those beyond the veil are not deaf and that many truly have an interest in helping you. In celebration of my goal this Summer Solstice - let's allow art to guide us in merging the tangible and the spiritual into something not only deeply significant but also of great value, not only for ourselves but also for friends and family.
Centering my thoughts on ancestor attunement and understanding my connection to those who have gone before, I urged my inner muse to let go and touch the divine within that soul. I am a genealogy enthusiast and have experienced firsthand how one’s ancestors can connect with you to bring you joy, information, and solace if you turn your attention to them. I wanted to translate this connection into various art forms that can suit the needs of a busy lifestyle. In one of my meditations, I saw myself creating a fabric postcard with mixed-media 3D embellishments to honor a particular ancestor. I had such success with it that I decided to share how I put my project together both physically and spiritually.
Through my involvement with Spiritism, I have learned that a connection exists; we just need to tune in. In Spiritism, belief starts the journey, practice is the path, and love is the destination. The communication/communion you seek unfolds as the result – although it doesn’t always take the form that you would expect.
Finding meaningful ways to honor the memory of the departed, such as artistic projects, can bring solace to the heart and a sense of connection to those who have passed beyond the veil. In this article, I chose fabric postcards --small yet deeply personal textile creations to celebrate the lives of loved ones who have passed. This type of project provides a tangible, creative outlet for connection, remembrance, and storytelling. It combines your artistry of physical action with the powerful energy of love.
Commemorative Art – Your First Piece -- Whom Do You Choose?
For centuries, humans have turned to art as a means of processing grief and commemorating the dead. Compact and easily accessible fabric and mixed-media postcards offer an intimate way to channel emotions and memories into something beautiful and enduring. With today’s marvels in technology and the accessibility of a vast array of varied materials, we can create stunning projects to honor the deceased, and while we do it? Forge and strengthen our innate ability to commune with the dead and become strong within the energy of our family lineage.
Fabric/mixed media postcards designed to honor our genetic heritage or our bonds with close friends are more than just decorative items; they are vessels for emotion, history, and intention. They can be a touchstone that gathers power with continued use or a key to unlock the portal of the mind’s journey. By using textiles—an inherently tactile and personal medium—the postcard can evoke a sense of closeness and warmth often associated with the loved ones being honored. Each postcard becomes a canvas for creativity, a repository of cherished memories, and a bridge between the past and the present.
Your small works of art can also be shared with family members or displayed as part of a larger collection, ensuring that the stories they tell are passed down through generations. The act of creating each postcard is both deeply personal and universally resonant, making the art a meaningful tribute to lives lived and loved. Each postcard can become an integral part of a large altar or memorial display within the home or apartment. Because postcards are primarily flat, you can use a variety of ways for viewing, from a bulletin board to something more dimensional, such as stacked boxes or clothespins on chicken wire.
Do you have to stick with family? Not at all. You may wish to honor a treasured friend or celebrate the contributions of a historical figure.
Journaling
Writing down your thoughts during the process of this project can become a vitally important element of your creation and ultimate learning experience. If you have focused on a particular person, messages will come through, sometimes blatantly, other times obscured or hidden in events or general conversations with others. If just a general card, many ancestors may contribute to your overall experience. Be sure to write your thoughts and feelings down. When you finish, copy your most important thoughts or revelations on a 3x5 card to keep with your beautiful creation. If you use a frame, you can tuck this information on the back or inside.
During the creative process, those who have crossed beyond the veil that are not part of your project will become aware of your work and try to contact you through songs, poetry, events, and chance meetings. One very determined spirit sent a medium to visit me and then literally swept the woman off her feet to get her attention. That determined soul always was one to do it big and do it right! If you're unsure about how to proceed with this communication, you can follow my lead. I state aloud that I acknowledge their effort of communication. I thank them for their attention. I may verbally remember them fondly. I send them love and blessings. Sometimes, I will speak about them that day to someone to keep that love energy alive. I have never had a disturbing encounter. However, I only work in love and light, and it is all I will allow. Remember, you are always in total control of your experience. Art is an impassioned process – an amazing ship that you steer upon the currents of creative energy. You will always be the captain.
As an important aside, if you are making a petition to a particular relative, don’t be surprised if a different one comes forward to help you. Just like us, sometimes the one we call is busy. But they never let us down. They send someone capable.
When I was super active in my genealogy research (you would laugh at me, I go in waves of productivity with my family tree, which is probably a good thing because the down times give space for additional information to accumulate and find its way to me) I found that creativity and good fortune in other areas of my life increased. It was as if my connection to the ancestors of this house-body strengthened my current position on this plane. I learned to cherish my accomplishments in ancestral connection and research – truly an exciting part of my life's journey. As I searched, I realized that the activity itself was forging strong connections for me. I also learned that working with family lines, not my own, was fruitful; as long as I had an honest desire to assist those in need, the spirits truly wanted to help. I discovered that art, whether it is an end result or merely a step forward on a new family line, forges strong bonds of communication, honor, and love. It is not a chasm that cannot be crossed. Your art is the glittering bridge.
Materials and Tools
There are a variety of materials that you can use in constructing your postcard, and a search of the internet will give you a plethora of examples. Most begin with some type of sturdy base, whether it be heavyweight interfacing, thick cardstock, layers of cloth fused together, or cardboard from a recent Amazon order. I used Pellon's Peltex Ultra Firm Heavyweight Fusible Interfacing as the base for the projects featured in this article. The weight yields a nice, firm product, and it accommodates both stitching and glue processes. Crafting fabric postcards requires a selection of basic materials and tools, many of which can be adapted to suit your style and personal connection to the deceased. Here is a short list that can serve as a guideline, but whatever you use is entirely your choice.
Base fabric: Cotton, linen, or any sturdy material that serves as the foundation for the postcard. I use Pellon #71 Peltex Ultrafirm Fusible Stabilizer
Scraps of meaningful textiles: Consider using fabric from the loved one’s clothing, such as a favorite shirt or scarf, to add a personal touch. If you don’t have any clothing (for example, from great Aunt Lottie) but you know she adored roses – concentrate on finding items that match the preferences of the deceased.
Interfacing or batting: To provide that quilted look and give the project a little depth or loft (depending on how you look at it).
Thread and needles: For both machine and hand stitching, depending on the level of detail desired. Some individuals use a wide variety of embroidery materials, which amps up both the tactile result and the energy you expend on the work.
Adhesives: Fabric glue or fusible webbing for attaching smaller pieces. I have included a selection at the end of this article. I use a silicone Appli-Fuse Mat when working with heat-bonding glues – it saves my ironing mat from getting sticky.
Decorative elements: Buttons, beads, lace, charms, unusual objects, or ribbons to enhance the design. Handcrafted papers or pre-printed pieces can be added.
Marking tools: Fabric pens or chalk for sketching designs if you feel you need to do this. I don’t use them, but some artists swear by them.
Acrylic Paints – can really make a design pop – you don’t need to use a lot – and dry brushing works great on fabric to help define different elements.
Acetate sheets used in paper art and resin projects make an excellent pocket for holding a photo and can be easily stitched. I use
A pair of jewelry pliers: These are great for pulling a needle through the thick layers or those layers that were fused with a heavy stabilizer. The tool comes in handy, particularly near the completion of your project when you are adding those last few embellishments.
I love adding 3-D embellishments to my ancestral post cards. This piece will include a mini bottle filled with herbs chosen to honor the dead, a handpainted wooden skull finished with a resin gloss, selected beads, and a mylar pocket to place a photo or petition.
Steps to Create Your Postcard
I believe the process is a deeply personal journey, offering endless possibilities for customization and personalization. Here is a guide to get you started:
Meditation and Planning
Begin by reflecting on the person or group of folks you wish to honor. What colors, patterns, or symbols remind you of them? Did they have a favorite flower, hobby, or phrase? Jot down these ideas to guide your design. Relax, listen to music, take a walk in nature, or sit quietly outdoors and let your connection strengthen in peace. Look through photographs, videos, or other works of art. Talk to the person.
Yes, you heard me right. TALK to the person…aloud. Say what is in your heart. If this is someone you don’t know well, then by all means introduce yourself! Talk about your life. Ask about theirs. “What would you most like to share with me?” I always have a glass of clear water (as an offering and a symbol of flow) and table salt (for protection and to ward off unwanted energies) with me when I speak to my departed friends. When I was working on my husband’s genealogy (which was so interesting), I met many amazing people through their history. I felt like they were my relatives, and I formed strong relationships with them. I remember those folks even now, several years since I closed the files, and can still feel their energy.
And I remember them with a smile.
Sometimes, I take an empty embroidery hoop made of wood and use it as a magick circle. I place the hoop on my crafting table, bless it, place the person’s name, a general surname, or picture in the center, and then “call” the universe to bring whatever is needed to the project.
Your compilation process can take days, if you like, to collect the items you will use, and don’t be surprised if you change direction during the project. Your dreams during this time become more vivid, or you might find yourself taking unusual detours. In your dreams, if you can’t hear them talking, some believe it is because you have not been listening in your daily life – that you have been shutting out the signs and signals they have been trying to send. If you are honoring a specific person, the connection will naturally become stronger, and their desires will begin to influence the project. If this is a general postcard project, don’t be surprised if several of your ancestors, friends, or family members vie for your attention. Remember, you don’t need a magick wand to smack you on the head for you to become a medium – you are one already. You have to tune in. Art can help you do that naturally.
Size
I cut my base fabric to the standard size of a postcard, typically 4x6 inches. If you plan to mail the card, there are regulations on size and thickness in the US. “To qualify as a postcard for First-Class Mail at the lower postcard rate, a mailpiece must be between 3.5" x 5" and 6" x 9". It must be at least 0.007" thick and no more than 0.016" thick. Postcards must also be rectangular with parallel sides and square corners, or finished corners not exceeding a radius of 0.125". You can only use embellishments if you plan to send your work in an envelope. If you choose to frame, the end product should adhere to standard sizes of 4x6 or 5x7 unless you plan to create your own frame.
Many mixed-media artists working with fabric add a layer of interfacing or batting between two pieces of cloth to give the piece a nice structure. I use Pellon’s Warm and Natural for most of my projects, from quilts to bags to table runners, etc. I love the way it works within the project.
Special Note: I always cut my front piece 1.5 inches larger than my proposed finished size. This allows me to fold my design over the base neatly. I mention this now because there is nothing worse than celebrating a near-finished project and realizing that you cut it too short.
For this article's projects, I decided to think outside the norm and glued the postcards to the outside of the frame, giving me more space for my 3-dimensional designs. I can still remove the back of the frame and tuck petitions, magickal powders, or sigils inside...and no one sees the magick I have done.
Personal Textiles
If you have access to clothing or other textiles that belonged to a specific loved one, consider integrating them into your design. These pieces bring an unparalleled emotional resonance to the finished postcard. The objects can also help you process any hidden emotions and help you clear your aura of any negative feelings of guilt or regret.
The Design
When working with fabric, usually, the card is made of the base (like the Peltex we talked about earlier), a front piece (the collection of fabrics and ephemera), the batting (added between the front piece and the base to give the project dimension), and a back piece – this can be cardstock or muslin that hides the stitching on the base piece. The front, batting, and base are often sandwiched at some point during the process – whatever works for you and the materials you are layering. The back piece is added near the end of the project.
Some folks like to sketch out their design on a separate piece of paper or even on the front piece – not me. I like to free-form it. I unbottle the muse and go with the flow. The only planning I do usually focuses on color combinations. Some folks like to sketch a design onto the fabric lightly using a fabric pen or chalk. This could include motifs, images, or text that hold special meaning. Experiment with the placement and layering of fabrics and embellishments.
Magickal Correspondences
Many practitioners like to add herbs and sigils with a history of facilitating communication with the deceased. Such objects can include herbal powders or dried herbs in vials or cloth packets, ashes from incantations or charms, small items collected from nature, gemstones, personal concerns of the deceased, and divinatory tools such as a special tarot card or rune symbol. These items can be displayed or hidden. When I use a frame for my projects, some of my choices are privately secured between the finished card and the frame backing, as I mentioned earlier – that way, no one sees the magickal items.
Hyssop
Lavender
Copal Resin crushed
Frankincense crushed
Myrrh crushed
Grave Dirt (from the grave of the beloved or a family plot)
Marigold Petals
Rosemary
Patchouli
Vervain
Dandelion Root
Mugwort
Rose
Crushed Eggshells (symbolizing purity of the communication and birth of your connection)
Embellish, Stitch, and Assemble
Use embroidery, appliqué, or quilting techniques to bring your design to life. Add decorative elements such as beads, buttons, ribbons, or lace to enhance the postcard’s visual appeal. If you’re incorporating text, hand-stitch or use fabric pens to add names, dates, or meaningful quotes. You can also print from your computer onto fabric paper. What if you hate sewing? Glue baby, glue! You can choose from a variety of adhesives. Here are a few I use:
Heat n’ Bond Iron On Products – Light and Ultra Hold
Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky Glue (Fast Dry)
E6000 Glue (Slow Dry)
Dritz Stitch Witchery Fusible Bonding– great for securing corners or tiny fabric areas
Aleene’s Fray Check – perfect to stop fabric edges from fraying.
The best thing about these projects is that there are no rules. Okay, well…maybe one. Your work needs to stay together – falling apart isn’t an option.
The beauty of fabric and mixed-media postcards lies in their adaptability. Further personalize your creation with some of these ideas:
Photographic Transfers: Use fabric transfer paper to print and attach a cherished photograph. For this type of iron-on transfer, you'll use specialized heat transfer paper. There are two main types: light transfer paper for light-colored fabrics and dark transfer paper for dark-colored fabrics. These papers are designed to be printed with an inkjet printer and then ironed onto fabric, creating a permanent design.
Inclusion of Text: Stitch, paint, collage, or stamp (and emboss if you like) meaningful words, poems, or lyrics.
Create your own resin or wooden charms to add to the uniqueness of your design. Affix to the card with metal jump rings and heavy thread.
Use handcrafted paper or other objects that you fashioned yourself with favored astrological timing.
Cricut designs incorporating vinyl products – hot or cold applications can render amazing finished pieces and cut down the creation time. Cricut’s design collection amasses work from artists around the world who are willing to share their work – a perfect avenue for this type of project and an excellent resource if you plan to make these cards as a group.
Assemble and Finish
Once the design is complete, finish your layers by adding the back with either sewing or gluing. Some artists use satin or zigzag machine stitches to finish the edges, but mine always looks sloppy if I do it that way, even if I follow the three-pass suggestion. I sigh, drop my head, and experience defeat. It's just not my forte. Instead, at the beginning of my project, I cut my front piece an inch and a half larger so I can neatly fold over the corners in the finishing stage. For the projects featured in this article, I affixed muslin to the back using a heat bond product but felt and a hot glue gun can also be used as alternatives. This makes a much thicker card, but it looks lovely, particularly if you are giving it as a gift.
What If You Feel Your Finished Design Is A Failure?
Sometimes, our creations come out looking like the bottom of the sewer drain. Just happens. We sit there. Moan. Sometimes, we hastily toss it in the trash, embarrassed that we could have produced such a thing, and in other instances, we hold on to it. Tuck it in a corner where no one looks because we spent so much time on it, and we feel those hours were a total waste. Momentary anger may surge. If we discard the piece, perhaps we believe we are wasting our time. I challenge you to change your perception of artistic “failure.” What if…all actions seek to adjust the outcome to vibrate only with love energy?
In my experience, and when talking to others who have had communication with their deceased loved ones – this statement remains the same: “There was this unbelievable feeling of love blended with peace, joy, and serenity that blanketed me. And I knew. Knew. That the person’s spirit was not only real but communicating with me. Love truly transcends space and time. It is more than a chemical reaction in the house-body.”
Failures are necessary and are as crucial as our concept of success. We cannot have one without the other. What if…As we know, energy follows the least path of resistance; perhaps, in some cases, failure will get us there faster than success. What if, to create something marvelous, we must walk through that less-than-perfect portal? With these projects, our proposed result is the expression of our love – for our roots, for our family, for our friends. Ultimately, through our perceived successes or failures, what we produce will be as it should be.
Our work may reflect where we feel we are and can be truly divinatory. If you think your project is muddy – what was your communication like with the deceased? Are your feelings cloudy, misty, not clear, somewhat obscured? What is going on right now in your life? Do you feel stuck, blind, depressed? Are you holding on too tightly to something that has become an obstacle rather than a doorway? Was this project an attempt to clear your head? To make sense of something? To find meaning? To rise above pain? Perhaps you first had to map the gloom before you grasped the light? Maybe you are refusing to let something go. Often, our ugliest artistic creations are actually the most engaging to the observer because the piece carries such dramatic and hidden power. Attuned individuals will be drawn to that creation, vibing with the distinct matrix, sensing that your creation is a vital link in the unfoldment of your purpose. They see the web. In this instance, the observer quietly celebrates your journey.
Display and Use
Decide how you wish to use the postcard. It could be framed, added to a memory book, or shared with family members in commemoration of your loved one. You may choose to use it as a focus for divination, magick, ritual, or meditation. Place your cards on a flat surface or an altar or shrine dedicated to your family and friends. Give it as a gift – there is nothing more unique or special than one of these energy-filled cards!
The Healing Power of Your Creation
Engaging in the creative process of making fabric and mixed-media postcards to honor your friends and family can be profoundly healing. It allows one to navigate grief tangibly, offering a sense of purpose and peace, as well as a way to continually interact and celebrate the deceased while also acknowledging that you are the direct result of those who came before. The act of crafting can become a meditative journey, where each stitch and embellishment serves as an acknowledgment of love and memory. Celebrating them celebrates you.
For many, these postcards symbolize not just tributes but also tools of connection, enabling conversations and shared stories among friends and family. The postcards serve as a bridge, helping to keep the spirit of the departed alive in the hearts of those who cherish them – pulsing as a trunk line of communication to those beyond the veil.
The postcards make a great Samhain project, where everyone in the family or coven sits down together and creates a postcard to symbolize their loved ones. The cards can be displayed on the altar as part of the Samhain ceremony. If you feel the project is too complicated for one sitting, everyone can begin together by doing a group meditation, blessing the supplies, and discussing their vision for their card. Later, at home, they can work on their project, bringing the finished card to the ceremony.
Fabric postcards enable us to channel our emotions into something tangible and enduring, celebrating the essence of those who have transcended this plane of existence. Whether displayed, shared, or kept close, these tiny works of art honor the dead in a way that words alone often cannot. Through creativity and textiles, fabric postcards become a testament to the enduring power of art and love— Hail the Traveler.
Products Used – Here are links to shop on Amazon for products that I used to make the postcards shown in this article.
Pellon #71 Peltex Ultrafirm Fusible or Pellon Fuse n’ Shape – I originally bought this item off the bolt at a fabric store. I was hoping to give you a link for a smaller amount, but it wasn’t available at the writing of this article. I have given you an inexpensive, second option or you can visit your fabric store and purchase from there.
Sakura Micron Fine Line Pen Permanent - 08 Oliso TG1600 Pro Plus 1800 Watt SmartIron with Auto Lift - for Clothes, Sewing, Quilting and Crafting Ironing | Diamond Ceramic-Flow Soleplate Steam Iron. This is my favorite iron of all time. I know it is expensive, but it is definitely worth it.
Author is an Amazon Associate and earns a commission from purchased products on that site.
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