I’ve been in a somewhat contemplative mood lately, looking at time—how much of it we have on a day to day basis and in our lives in general, and how we spend it. However, that may be all too much (and irrelevant) for a fabric collage blog post. But a big part of how I spend my time is teaching fabric collage classes and the accompanying travel.
In addition to looking back on 2019, Tom and I have been looking at and finalizing my teaching time for 2020 and a bit beyond. The updated schedule for 2020 is now on my website and also in a specially scheduled post immediately following this post—probably in your email already if you’re a subscriber to my blog or in your feed if you follow me at “Susan Carlson Artist” on Facebook.
That post will be all about looking forward to 2020—this post is all about looking back on 2019. There were 12 full (plus 2 short) weeks of classes at 11 locations ranging from halfway across the world, to 1/2 mile down the road. At a quick estimate, I taught 223 ladies and can honestly say I enjoyed every one of them (at least as far as I can remember). I do get attached to my students and enjoy seeing their creative transitions from beginning to end of a class. I decided to open this post with a photo (above) from my first class of 2019—the very well organized scrap fabrics of Lynn Welsch—ready and waiting to be collaged. This level of organization is beyond me (here’s what I do), but perfectly inspiring none the less.
And now let me present each of those 2019 classes beginning nearly a year ago in mid-January and ending a little over a month ago in mid-November. Each grouping begins with date, location and a link to the teaching venue and “On the Road Teaching” blog post written for it. It’s fun for me to look back and to see a year filled with my goal of sharing the love of fabric collage.
For the sake of consolidation, I’ve chosen three photos to represent each location (for the arm-chair travelers) and have included the Student Work In-Progress Slideshow for each class. This gives you a bite-sized version of my 2019 teaching—with plenty of amazing collage work to inspire you at the beginning of this new year. If you want to see or read more, click on the links.
A special thank you to all my lovely students for sharing a bit of yourselves with me. I’m constantly inspired by your focus and creativity. Some of you have finished these works (congratulations!) and already submitted the finished quilts (thanks!) for my Finish Line posts. As always, click on the button below to send in finished fabric collage quilts for future posts.
Submit Quilt for "Finish Line"
Happy New Year wishes to all my readers. May you move forward into 2020 with peace and grace and a bit of fabric collage.
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January 14 – 18, 2019: Tanque Verde Ranch, Tucson, Arizona
MISA (Madeline Island School of the Arts) West
Cacti and more cacti abound here. The desert was in winter mode—a.k.a. early fall temperatures for this “Mainer”—so the cacti weren’t in bloom, but the rattlesnakes were in hibernation. A big plus for morning walks, and a nice break from January snow and ice back home.
Student Work In-Progress Slideshow from MISA West:
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April 11 – 14, 2019: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
AQC (Australasian Quilt Convention)
Getting to Melbourne from the States is an 18 hour flight after a day’s travel across country for me. This trip I brought along my husband Tom and spent time before and after the convention exploring a mere fraction of Victoria, Australia. If you’d like to see some beautiful sights, there’s a bunch of travel photos in this post to check out. Before we left for home, Tom and I were treated to a couple days with my Australian teacher friend Gloria Loughman, and her husband Tony. Our thoughts have recently been returning to places we visited and people we met as we hear reports of the terrible bush fires Australia has been experiencing the last few months. To my Australian friends, please be safe.
Student Work In-Progress Slideshow from AQC:
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April 28 – May 8, 2019: Asilomar State Park, Pacific Grove, California
Empty Spools Seminars—first week
A mere 10 days after returning from Australia, I was traveling back across the country to California and saying hi to Gloria again—our annual treks to teach and meet at Asilomar. The beauty of the state park is certainly a draw, but so are the many instructors and attendees, a yearly reunion of familiar faces at this large quilting venue.
Student Work In-Progress Slideshow from Empty Spools first week:
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Empty Spools Seminars—second week
Situated across the dunes from Monterey Bay and the Pacific Ocean, Asilomar State Park is a lovely place for early morning walks with friends before classes and weekly activities begin. In the few hours between one session ending and another beginning, two other teaching buddies—Katie Pasquini Masopust and Sue Benner—and I were able catch up at lunch. Short but sweet.
Student Work In-Progress Slideshow from Empty Spools second week:
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June 5 – 16, 2019: Kalispell, Montana
In the year since I taught at this other annual venue of mine, the Quilt Gallery moved lock, stock, and barrel to a new building just a few miles down the road in the little town of Kalispell. Same Big Sky country, different morning walks. One of the two days between classes, store owner Marianne Buller drove me around to see some sights including the beautifully colored Kootenai Falls.
Student Work In-Progress Slideshow from the Quilt Gallery first week:
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My second day off between classes, I was treated to more sight-seeing by former Quilt Gallery owner Joan Hodgeboom. When possible, she takes me into Glacier National Park, as far as the park service allows visitors due to snow and avalanche danger. This year, the high passes were just opening during my visit in June. Joan and I were fine keeping to the lower elevations and one of my favorite vistas of Lake McDonald.
Student Work In-Progress Slideshow from the Quilt Gallery second week:
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June 24 – 28, 2019: Harpswell, Maine
Maine Quilting Retreat at the Harpswell Inn
Our road ends at a boat launch into Casco Bay, and at the top of the hill sits the Harpswell Inn. From there you’re treated to one of the most photographed and painted vistas along the Maine coast. The Inn also makes for a pretty good spot to host my Maine retreats—I enjoy being a tour guide in my home state.
Student Work In-Progress Slideshow from the Harpswell Inn:
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September 5 – 19: lectures and teaching at three quilt guilds near Seattle, Washington
Block Party Quilters in Sammamish, WA : (first half of post)
This past year, Tom traveled with me not once, but twice. The Pacific Northwest originally interested him due to the excellent kayaking opportunities. Instead it was spending a little time in the mountains and Seattle that appealed to us, and the best use of the time we had available. First stop was Snoqualmie Falls and learning of the area’s connection to the 1990’s tv show “Twin Peaks.” During my teaching days Tom ventured off on his own, conquering Mt Si one day.
Student Work In-Progress Slideshow from Block Party Quilters:
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Quilters Anonymous in Shoreline, WA : (second half of post)
The three different locations of these Washington guilds left a few days and part days open in between classes and lectures. Tom and I took an overnight jaunt into downtown Seattle during one of these opportunities, taking in as many sights as we could including Chihuli Garden and Glass, Pike Place Market, and an old growth forest nestled in the city limits. This would be another post to check out if you’d like to arm-chair travel a little longer. Grab another cuppa and enjoy.
Student Work In-Progress Slideshow from Quilters Anonymous:
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Sunbonnet Sue Quilt Club in Sequim, WA
Taking a ferry across Puget Sound and driving to the Olympic Peninsula, signaled the end of Tom’s visit to the Pacific Northwest, as I stayed behind to teach the final class in Washington. But before Tom headed back to Seattle and home, we took a few hikes in the cloud-shrouded mountains of Olympic National Park and the fog-bound coastline. We weren’t able to see all those mountain tops we heard tell about, but we were treated to witnessing the reunion of a mother sea otter searching for a wayward cub along the shore.
Student Work In-Progress Slideshow from Sunbonnet Sue Quilt Club:
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September 30 – October 4, 2019: Harpswell, Maine
Maine Quilting Retreat at the Harpswell Inn
The beginning of October (and leaf-peeping season in our part of the country) ushered in my second Harpswell retreat of the year. The weather cooperated with pretty views from Lookout Point and my mom contributed to table decorations with her stuffed fabric pumpkins. My folks live next door to us and my mom has been a sewer all her life. This summer and fall she became a bit possessed creating fabric pumpkins (over 100 of them!) from repurposed materials—old sweaters, throws, and upholstery fabrics for the outside of the gourds; cut-offs from these and other materials for the insides. Decorating my classroom with “Oma’s Pumpkins” for my two Maine retreats this fall became her goal. And she achieved it.
Student Work In-Progress Slideshow from the Harpswell Inn:
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October 21 – 25, 2019: Portland, Maine
Maine Advanced Quilting Retreat at the Hyatt Old Port
In hindsight, I realized I hadn’t taken any photos out and about in Portland during my second Maine retreat this fall. A very unusual occurrence. However, I do have scenic shots to share from our classroom—the inspirational quotes that appeared at everyone’s table each morning (and my own personal dragon), all compliments of student Nancy Semich; a re-stocked harvest of Oma’s Pumpkins; and a veritable fabric store stash of fabrics, brought along from Canada by student Laurie Levesque.
Student Work In-Progress Slideshow from Portland, Maine:
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November 4 – 9, 2019: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Winding up my year of teaching took me for the third time to AQT and their retreat on the shores of Lake Tahoe. This multi-teacher venue gives me another opportunity to re-connect with both teachers and past students. Here I got to see Katie Pasquini Masopust and Sue Benner again—this time for a few days rather than a couple hours. Below are lake views through the day—morning walks with friends, a side trip onto a dock on the way to lunch, and sunset at the end of a class day.
Student Work In-Progress Slideshow from AQT:
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November 12 – 16, 2019: Downsville, Wisconsin
I flew straight from Tahoe to Wisconsin and Woodland Ridge where I’ve taught for a few years running. It’s a quiet and peaceful location to end my year of travel and teaching. There were a few familiar faces and a few new ones. It was darn cold outside, but this retreat center is self contained and we stayed warm and cozy. If you need a break from the busyness of the classroom, the woods are always there, even if viewing them from the inside of the windows.
Student Work In-Progress Slideshow from Woodland Ridge:
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A fond farewell to 2019—and a hello to the adventures awaiting in 2020.
Wow wow wow. Thank you so much for sharing.
Susan,
What a spectacular year it was! As much as I enjoy your student’s work, I find myself engrossed in your photos of each class locale. You are so skilled at capturing the essence of each location through your photography! I especially admire your openness to experiencing what each area has to offer.
There is so much value in a bit of introspection; my year was highlighted by the time spent with three very best, creative “soul” friends (plus you!) who inspired and encouraged me at Asilomar. I wish you the very best as you work toward some creative balance and finding more personal studio time. Hopefully, each of us can find our creative path in this bright, shiny New Year!
What a wonderful journal of your adventures in 2019! I have not taken your class, and with macular degeneration factored in, I probably will just put it on a wish list. However, I continue to watch your blog and admire the results of your talents. Thank you for sharing all that you have done!
Just Gobsmacked 😶, what an amazing array of work. So much talent that you have brought out in these fabric artists. We are so lucky to have you to help those of us that aspire to create using fabric as our medium. Every time I see a post I learn something new. Thank you for all that you so generously share.
Wow!!! Thank you for sharing! Inspiration overload! Definitely makes me want to get working on my project so one day I too can send something into the finish line. I am so grateful for all the knowledge you share, and the talent of your lucky students! You have taught them well! Cheers to piecing it together in 2020!
Happy New Year Susan,
I cannot decide which is better: Your quilting or your photography!
In looking at your 2020 schedule (following email), I did not see anything is Harpswell.
Will you no longer be teaching in Maine? 🙁
I so enjoyed the time lapse photos of each project. It’s fun to watch how they grow and change. Thank you for sharing the year in review, I need to get out more!! I, too, am looking forward to what the new year has in store for us.