Art Lessons 2018: Story Scrolls with Libby Williamson

Using a variety of materials and techniques in a project can be a challenge, but when they meld together beautifully, you can’t help but be on top of the world. In the August Art Lesson from Cloth Paper Scissors, Libby Williamson brings together several techniques that work so well, you’ll come back to them again and again.

Libby made an amazing Story Scroll, wrapped on a vintage wooden spool. I chose to make one panel, using just a few of Libby’s techniques . . . Just enough to whet your appetite!

One of Libby’s techniques involves using alcohol-based markers and alcohol to create colorful flowers and leaves on muslin. After cutting several pieces of white muslin, I drew lines and swirls with Prismacolor® Premier markers, and dripped alcohol onto the marks per Libby’s instructions.

I have to admit, I was a bit tentative with my mark marking to start, which meant the results were not what I expected. But after another try, I got the hang of it, and I love the way the colors spread while still remaining bright. Actually they continued to spread until the muslin was dry!

Lesson learned: Make the marks bolder for vibrant results.
Lesson learned: Make the marks bolder for vibrant results.

After letting the muslin dry, I pinned the squares to felt, and got ready to do some free-motion stitching. As you can see from this sample, I need more practice.

Art Lessons 2018: Story Scrolls with Libby Williamson
Free-motion stitching is very forgiving. The first pass may not be just right, but after some additional passes, it looks great. (See below.)

But how cool do they look, especially once they’re trimmed! Free-motion stitching really brought dimension and life to these flowers and leaves.

Mixing art techniques is a great way to add texture and interest to any project.
Mixing art techniques is a great way to add texture and interest to any project.

Libby also used paint chips and seed packets on her scroll. I decided to try stitching on paint chips, and it was easier than I thought it would be. After backing the cards with felt (I didn’t have any luck without it), I was off and running. And the results are pretty impressive.

Paint chips and free-motion stitching—a match made in heaven.
Paint chips and free-motion stitching—a match made in heaven.

Libby also included lettering in her Story Scroll, both printed on inkjet sheets and free-motion stitched, so I decided to give it a try. (You know how I love lettering.) Once again, I backed some fabric with felt, pinned it in place, and just started sewing. I thought about writing the words on the fabric first, using a water-soluble marker, but I decided it might be easier without having to follow a line. It was. I just pretended I was writing . . .

Mixing art techniques results in a rich, interesting piece. There is so much to look at!
Mixing art techniques results in a rich, interesting piece. There is so much to look at!

To finish, I frayed the edges of another piece of muslin and did more free-motion stitching to attach the mixed-media components, adding veins in the leaves, more lines and swirls in the flowers, and outlining the piece with the text.

Art Lessons 2018: Story Scrolls with Libby Williamson

 

Story Scrolls are a great way to tell a story. Whether it’s a fairy tale, like Libby’s in August’s Art Lesson, or something dear to your heart, such as a special trip, mixing art techniques makes for an elaborately textured work that you’ll cherish. Don’t miss this Art Lesson.

Mixing art techniques is not only fun, it adds so much to the stories you want to tell.

Art Lessons 2018: Story Scrolls with Libby Williamson
Art Lessons 2018: Story Scrolls with Libby Williamson

Create more mixed-media art with Art Lessons!

Categories

Blog, Fabric Art, Mixed-Media Techniques

About Tammy Jones

I'm the online editor of Interweave Jewelry and Cloth Paper Scissors. I love making metal and metal clay jewelry, enameling, mixed media, and collecting and creating with found objects. I also enjoy knitting, paper crafts like card making and scrapbooking, cooking, traveling, beachcombing, and snow!

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