We had so many great ideas and techniques in the January/February issue of Cloth Paper Scissors that we couldn’t fit them all in the issue. Here are some Online Extras for the articles “Collage Stories” by Jane Lafazio, and “Jewelry that Inspires” by Kate Richbourg. Enjoy!
Collage Stories
By Jane LaFazio
In this article, Jane shows how to create a stunning stitched collage with library registration cards as inspiration. She writes, “Years ago, when I was working as a teaching artist in a nearby elementary school, the library was clearing out books. Rather than grabbing the books, I took all the book registration cards. I love the consistent size and vintage look, and I knew I could use them for my artwork.”
The inspiration for this piece was a found library card, from a book entitled “The Colony of Rhode Island.”
Materials
• Map
• Vintage library catalog card or facsimile
• Sewing machine with free-motion capabilities
• Hand-sewing needle
• Thread, a selection
• Drawing or watercolor from your sketchbook, small
• Substrate (I used watercolor paper.)
• Ephemera (I used a tea bag and old artwork.)
• Glue stick
- Crinkle and wad-up a map, and then smooth it out.
- Place the library card on top of the map and free-motion stitch a branch motif through the library card and the map.
- Hand sew the top of the library card to the map. I used a blanket stitch.
- Cut the chosen page from your sketchbook. I had a partially finished watercolor page, and the colors went with the green in the map, so I used that.
- Audition the placement of the drawing/painting and the map on a piece of watercolor paper and machine stitch down.
- Select other components to add to the collage. I stitched a key drawing to a scrap of a wax-soaked letter.
- Once you are pleased with your composition, glue down the various components.
- Add free-motion stitching branch motif to attach the collage to the watercolor paper., using a contrasting thread color.
- Finish with a piece of washi tape.
Jewelry that Inspires
By Kate Richbourg
In this article, Kate created rolled metal beads stamped with words and images, using a torch to get the patina she was looking for. Here she explains how to use liver of sulfur for a different effect:
To darken the beads, drop the metal piece in a light solution of liver of sulfur until the desired color is achieved (see above), and then rinse in a solution of baking soda and water (about 2 tablespoons of baking soda to 1 cup of water). The liver of sulfur may be applied right over the fire patina left from the torch, or you may use fine grit sandpaper to remove a little or all of the fire patina before applying the liver of sulfur.
Using liver of sulfur: Liver of sulfur is a great solution for darkening copper and silver metals. It works best when it is hot. Working in a well-ventilated area, add a few drops of liver of sulfur in a disposable cup and fill the cup about halfway with hot tap water. The solution will be yellow in color. Use a plastic utensil and stir to mix. Wearing gloves, drop your piece in the solution until the desired color is achieved. Use tongs to move the metal piece around, if necessary, and to remove it.
To dispose the liver of sulfur solution, let the solution sit for several hours until it turns cloudy. This color change indicates that the solution has degraded and may be diluted and poured down the drain. Run water for a few minutes after disposal to flush the pipes. You can also add baking soda to the solution to neutralize it. When the baking soda stops bubbling or foaming, the solution will be neutralized.
Read the full articles now when you download the
January/February issue of Cloth Paper Scissors!
