Stitch Alchemy: Combining Fabric and Paper for Mixed-Media Art

Combine two hot trends for a mixed media sensation! Stitch Alchemy teaches techniques for integrating paper and cloth to create quilted mixed media art. Blend the versatility of paper with the dimensional qualities of cloth for paper-cloth which can be easily transformed into collaged quilts using a variety of embellishment techniques from painting to stitching, needlefelting to beading.

Paper-cloth is appealing to many artists because it's inexpensive, and requires less space, equipment, and skill than dyeing fabrics for quilt making. Yet the end results provide layers of complexity and textural appeal. Paper-cloth can also be used to make a wide variety of mixed media projects including art quilts, art dolls, jewelry, artist books, and more.

You will learn step-by-step techniques for making basic paper-cloth, adding color and interest to the foundation with inks, stains, paints, and glazes, how to texturize, printmaking techniques, effects, and more. Ten projects range from bookmarks, paper beads, a journal cover, an inspiration deck, pocket book, and more. A multi-contributor photo gallery will inspire.

If you are interested in altered art, found and recycled art, needle felting and nontraditional elements you will be drawn to Stitch Alchemy, the first book to cross mediums and show how to blend the versatility of paper with the dimensional qualities of cloth.

Chapter 1: Foundation -- An introduction to paper-cloth Understand the phenomenon of paper-cloth and learn how to make the foundation.

• Making Basic Paper-cloth
• Materials : plain muslin, craft glue, water, recycled print material, tissue paper, foam brush, plastic container, freezer paper
• Basic Instructions: using glues, tissues and papers, drying

Chapter 2: Serendipity-- Let go and discover the joy of creating paper-cloth

• Colorful Potions: adding color to your paper-cloth
• Materials and Basic Instructions for coloring paper-cloth: inks and stains, paints and glazes, metallics, chalks and markers, removing color
• Casting Chance: easy techniques to infuse your paper-cloth with life
• Materials and Basic Instructions for adding further design interest: serendipity squares, basic stamping, texturizing, masks and resists, printmaking techniques, effects,
• Potent Partnering: mixing materials and techniques
• Materials and Basic Instruction for tailoring, adding baubles and more

Chapter 3: Flights of Fancy -- 10 Paper-cloth projects

• Festive Los Muertos Greetings
• Good Fortune Birds
• Crazy Quilted Bookmarks
• Paper Beads
• Sweet Rag Spine Journal Cover
• Voodoo Love Dolls
• Journal Me Pouch
• Colorful Candy Strip Pillow
• Bountiful Inspiration Deck
• Paper Muses Pocket Book
• Paper Quilts

Kelli Perkins is a librarian and a mixed-media artist. Her work has been featured in Cloth Paper Scissors, she is a frequent guest on Quilting Arts TV on public television, and she has taught at the International Quilt Festival. She lives in Holland, Michigan.