Quilting and Patchwork

The Lure of Mixed Media for Quilters

by Mary Emma Allen on February 27th, 2007

“I started out as a quiltmaker but now I’ve discovered mixed media,” so many quilters tell me.  This has become a trend with so many quilters as they’ve begun to explore the world beyond fabric.

Mixed media consists of adding other materials, such as fiber, wood, metal, mica, beads, buttons and paper to fabric.  These items are wall hangings, art objects, postcards, clothing, sculpture and books rather than bed quilts.

My daughter, Beth, discovered the world of mixed media and began introducing it to me.  We’ve had fun exploring this realm and stretching our creativity.  We still can make bed quilts if we need.  But I find the smaller mixed media projects ones I can take with me when traveling.

For instance, here is a piece in which Beth incorporated a brown paper bag!

The center is a green piece of fabric with painted wonder under fused to it.  That is sewed onto a bronw paper bag that has been crumpled and colored with stamp pads and gold paint.  I added two gold skeleton leaves.  I still need to attach this to the fabric background.

Beth often adds pieces of wood, buttons, beads, and other embellishments to mixed media art like this.  To see more of her work, check out her Meandering Threads blog.

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POSTED IN: General Quilting/Patchwork, Techniques