Photo: U.S. Postal Service
I don’t know about you, but I love to tout my sewing habit any way possible. I have an assortment of shirts, including my fav “Fabric Fondler,” and even a baseball cap that says “You Sew Girl!” But, just recently I thought about stamps–yes, I know most people don’t write letters much any more, but when you do, it’s fun to stamp the envelope in a creative way.
In 2008, the U.S. Postal Service launched a series of stamps to honor Charles and Ray Eames, a husband-wife team noted for their modern furniture designs. But the duo also designed fabric and one of the stamps in their series showcases one of their 1945 brightly colored upholstery fabrics.
Photo: U.S. Postal Service
In 2006, the U.S. Postal Service honored the quilters of Gee’s Bend, a small rural Alabama community of African-American women noted for their quilts. The stamps feature 10 quilts created between 1940 and 2001. They’re 39 cent stamps, so you’ll need to add to them before using, but they’re still available from the online postal store.
One of the first stamps to honor sewing was issued in 1952–a 3-center that shows Betsy Ross with her American flag creation.
Now, we can lobby for more sewing-related stamps, or with modern technology you can create your own on PhotoStamps. Here you can upload your own photos (within the guidelines given) and print out REAL postage stamps. So, why not photograph your sewing machine, a spool of thread with a needle, your latest project or your favorite pet stretched out on your fabric collection and print your own stamps. It’s fun (but note, there is a surcharge for the customized postage), and you can send a personalized message to the world.