Inchie, Twinchie, Rinchie, Rolo, ATC, Moo... Oh My!

If you missed December's meeting we were tossing around doing an inchie challenge for January.  Many of us didn't know what they were.  Didn't know our Twinchie from Rinchie!  So Carroll Lee Stolz offered to clear things up.

INCHIE, TWINCHIE, RINCHIE, ROLO, ATC, OR MOO?

Are you familiar with any of these? How about ACEO or Artist Postcards? They are new obsessions for quilters around the world. You may have heard of an Artist Postcard. Maybe you’ve made some, or received some from someone who thinks you are very special. 
 

Have you been surfing Pinterest, EBay or Etsy and wondered what the heck are “Inchies” anyway? Or, you may know what an Inchie is and wonder, “WHY”??? These are small artworks, and they’re not just for painters, paper crafters or woodworkers. Many are being made by those of us who love fabric and thread, too. That means us!

Let me demystify:

INCHIE: It’s a 1” x 1” piece of artwork. First popular with paper crafters, it is becoming popular with fiber artists and quilters as well. As long as it’s an inch squared, you can use any media you like to make it, paper, fabric, wood, metal… the list goes on! A favorite seems to be the collaged Inchie, with a combination of words and images making up the artwork. For quilted Inchies, imagine attaching them together with thread or yarn to display as a piece of fiber art. Trading and collecting these is a fun hobby and doesn’t take much time or materials. It lends favor to using those itty-bitty pieces of “something good for something” we have in a box or baggie somewhere in our sewing rooms—you know; tiny beautiful fabric scraps, ribbon, yarn, lace, selvages, etc. (If you have these, you know who you are!)

TWINCHIE: These are 2" x 2" squares. Like an Inchie, but twice as big! Twinchies are perfect if Inchies are a wee bit too small for you! Other than the larger size, they are exactly like “Inchies”.

RINCHIE: These are 1” circular artwork. The great thing about Rinchies is that they fit into the underside of a bottle cap, so you can turn them into any number of decorative things! If you have a bottle cap, making a template is easy. Once affixed inside the bottle cap, it becomes a tiny framed artwork. Rinchies are cute, collectible, tradeable, sweet little pieces of textural delight.


ROLO: This is artwork produced by altering a Rolodex® card. Typically, the Rolodex card size is 3” x 5”. The cards may be made for the rectangle box-style, or the round Rolodex. For those who have used, or remember what a Rolodex IS, know the cards are sold in office supply stores. One style had two little cut-out notches at the bottom to accommodate a pair of grabbing bars in the base of a special roll-able desktop box. Another style is rectangle, without the cut-outs, and are designed for the rectangle card box. The rectangle cards (without the cut-outs) are transformed into art, what is called a “ROLO”. What a fun, artistic way to keep up your mental artistic dexterity.

ATC: Artist Trading Cards are strictly sized at 2-1/2” x 3-1/2”. That is the size of playing cards (Canasta, anyone?), and baseball trading cards. This precise size is necessary in order to trade them (and that’s really the whole point) so they will fit into the sleeve of a baseball card protector. These protectors always have the same size pocket, but do come in various styles; pages for a 3-ring binder, or individual sleeves, and other choices for display.

ATC’s are self-made works or small series, signed and dated on the reverse by the artist, exchanged and collected by the people who participate in a collaborative performance. Some collections, and individual cards have been shown in art galleries around the world. But, don’t let that scare you. Anybody can make, collect and trade ATC’s.

There are many groups that trade ATC’s. For instance, there are on-line trading groups, magazines, art groups, as well as art and quilt guilds. Friendship groups are a great place for a quilter to start trading. Usually a group’s coordinator will set the parameters of a specific trade challenge. Other than the strict requisite 2.5”x 3.5” size, and requiring a bit of information on the back, anything goes.

As an example, Quilting Arts Magazine (June/July 2017 issue) called for ATC’s, with a subject called “Cup-O-Comfort”. The challenge rules were decided by the magazine editors, and they allowed plenty of time for design, creation and entry. Look for a gallery of results in the December, 2017 issue. (Post Script: Since I originally wrote this article, my first ever ATC was published in the December issue of Quilting Arts Magazine, page 58).

ARTIST POSTCARDS: Did you know you can actually mail an artist postcard? Did you know you can mail a coconut through the USPS if the address and postage is applied to it. It’s true. I have mailed many coconuts from Hawaii to the U.S. mainland!

The Artist Postcards are hand-made works which are mail-able, but with special handling. USPS price to mail a 4” x 6” postcard is currently 34₵. However, Artist Postcards require special handling and will cost more than the average postcard. When mailing them, it is necessary to take them to the clerk at the Post Office desk rather than dropping into a mail slot. Don’t you agree it would be fabulous to send an Artist Postcard to someone special? 

*(Postcards with 3-dimensional elements and embellishments need to be sealed in a clear envelope. For purchasing information, see note below.)

MOO: To be specific, “Moo” is the name of an online company (Moo.com) which produces luxury business cards. Their product is a 1-1/8" x 2-3/4" rectangle. Designed and printed to contain a photo of artwork or other objects on one side and written info on the other, these are now made and traded in the same way as ATC's and Inchies. Many professional artists cut up Moos and collage them into a works of art. Although these cards are no longer necessarily printed JUST by Moo, any brand of these types of cards can be cut and collaged yourself! Moo is a company AND a trading card.

Not much about the Moo really applies to the quilter or fiber artist, except that you might want a superior business card and collect and trade them, too. After all, if you wish to sell your work, you might need fabulous business cards. I asked the question, “Why did a business card company choose the name ‘Moo’”?? The company says, it’s a strong, hearty word, easy to say, easy to remember and it makes a great URL. I agree. 

ACEO: These, also, would appeal most to the professional amongst us. You may run into this acronym in the art world. It is, “Art Cards, Editions And Originals”. This style of making small art is usually reserved for the professional in the art business, and for artists who need their own, unique “business cards” to promote the sale of their work. They are sometimes used as small “gifts” to potential patrons, or as their business card. But you don’t need to be a professional artist to collect these. ACEO cards are sold, collected and traded like baseball and hockey cards. I only mention them here because they might appeal to fiber and quilt artists who sell their work.

Making small art gives you the advantage of making something quick, using scraps and left over items, plus allowing you to practice and explore surface design, painting, inking, stamping, embroidery, hand and machine stitching, collage and designing skills. These small pieces take up very little space on your wall or in a collector’s box or catalog. Creating smalls offer the opportunity to test the waters outside your comfort level. It’s always enriching to try something new and different. They are thrilling to receive from another artist, and are wonderful conversation starters in any gathering of quilters or quilt artists.

Wouldn’t it be fun to be a part of a “small art trading” group? It could be a great activity for quilt guilds, friendship groups, or individuals who want to join an on-line trading group. Look for the calls in art magazines or on-line groups. Think of what a wonderful exhibit an assemblage of these would make in the DQG quilt show next year! Jump in… the fun is waiting!

*Crystal Clear, Self-Sealing Bags, 4-1/8” x 6-1/8” are made by ©Darice, Inc., www.darice.com (Wholesale). Retail purchase can be made at www.amazon.com and www.consumercrafts.com A 50-piece unit costs approximately $2.50 (+ p/h).

When mailing your Artist Postcard in the Crystal Clear bag, the bag should not be sealed until the postmaster has applied postage to the postcard.