The Fabric Collage Finish Line: Online Submissions 10

This week I offer you another installment of the Fabric Collage Finish Line. These quilts were sent in by those who have learned fabric collage using everything from my book “Serendipity Quilts” to the Fabric Collage Master Class Manual to in-person classes.

We all have our things to do that soothe us. Some people cook. Some people exercise. My husband kayaks. And I make fabric collage quilts (but I like to put together interesting recipes too). While there is, of course, a learning curve that could be stressful to some, once the basics of fabric collage are learned it can be a meditative and healing pastime.

Looking at quilts that get submitted for the Finish Line makes me happy. All these quilts are interesting and beautiful to look at, but also reading that—to a lesser or greater degree—I helped bring them into existence, gives me much satisfaction. So thank you to those that brighten my days in return.

All but two of the quilts in this post are by ladies who I saw again or met for the first time last year. Because of the current cancellation of all of my in-person classes this year, seeing their quilts now and hearing their voices in what they wrote, warmed me even more.

I hope during these troubled times that you find an equally satisfying endeavor to share with others.

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Sandra Tavel

Sandra Tavel of Oyonnax, France is a user of the Fabric Collage: Sea Turtle eWorkshop and a member of the private Facebook group for those users. She said she enjoyed the Sea Turtle eWorkshop so much she decided to sign up for the Fabric Collage Master Class as well. How cool is it that I can be “teaching” in France while sheltering at home in Maine. You’re a good student Sandra, lovely gradation of values and curved form on this sea-going fellow.

From Sandra:

My colour scheme is quite subdued, as I have mainly blending colours in my stash. I started with the idea of a realistic background, dark, moving up to light, suggesting the turtle swimming upwards, but on the Facebook forum I found the answer that liberated me, and continued with the idea of a fantasy turtle (which didn’t tie me down so much) so I separated the dark squares and this gave me the final result. I did get a little sticky in the process, but thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

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Tammy Simo

Tammy Simo of Winter Haven, Florida made this quilt after using my book “Serendipity Quilts.” These first two quilts in this post are a great example of the versatility of fabric collage. Totally different fabric selections and both work so well—serenity versus excitement—the power of color, value, and pattern to affect our senses. The lighter values on this fellow’s neck bring his chest visually forward, making him seem just a bit boastful of his lovely plumage—which is very nicely accented with Tammy’s use of strings of dots as details.

From Tammy:

This rooster has a lot of spunk and some Kaffe Fasset in him. I really had fun making him, I learned a lot from Susan Carlson.

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Kaye Burns

Kaye Burns of Northern California has, as she notes below, attended quite a few of my classes over the years. At this point, it is quite obvious she doesn’t need my help anymore, but I do enjoy experiencing her creative energy. The “pet” portraits in this post are just what I’d expect from Kaye—large and lovingly created images capturing the character and personalities of the animals that surround her. It’s nice to read the stories of these two guys.

Since it takes awhile to include all the links to Kaye’s past Finish Line quilts, here’s the link to the latest post that featured her work, with all the previous post links included in that write-up.

From Kaye:

I started Chucky’s portrait last summer but put it aside to work on other things for a while. Now I have finally been able to get back to it and finish it. I love Susan’s process and have been to many of her classes, but I did this one on my own at home.

 

Chucky came to us as a bottle baby, and I initially named him Charlie because his breed is Charolais. Later on, as he got bigger, I renamed him Chucky, as befitting his more adult status. I tried to make the background look like an old barn, with the gaps in between the planks. Susan is such a great teacher supporter who makes this artful journey so fun! Thank you Susan!

 

From Kaye:

This is a portrait of another bottle baby. We actually found him while out horseback riding. He had been left behind when a local rancher had gathered his cattle from a public lands permit area. He was only about a week old and we knew he would die if we left him behind. So he followed us back to the horse trailer and we tossed him into the tack room of the trailer, stopped in at the local farm supply store for some milk powder, and started calling around to find his owner. But by the time we caught up with the guy, the mother cow would not have been willing or able to support her calf, so we bought the calf from the owner.

This quilt was started at home last summer and like Chucky’s portrait, put aside for other projects. Although I’m happy with the steer, I wish I had brought this project to a class with Susan, because I’m not all that happy with how the trough and other background elements came out. Oh, well, lessons learned! Thank you Susan for all you do to help us out!

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Lauren Calaby

I totally remember Lauren Calaby of Sammamish, WA. The ladies in her guild’s class were very relaxed and welcoming, possibly in part through Lauren’s influence. Lauren was my contact for the guild—very personable and helpful, and when I met her, instantly inviting with an easy going nature, organized, and having her ladies well informed. She took care of all of us with cheerfulness and smiles. Thanks for all your time and effort Lauren, and I enjoyed your company at the dinners as well.

Reading the account of Lauren’s trials and tribulations with this seemingly tranquil fish had me laughing out loud. Two things I’d like to add: 1) I think George is fantastic. Lauren was very focused in class and diligently took him through his “messy-scary stage.” All her efforts have paid off with a specimen who invites one to look again and again at all the details she included. 2) Normally you do not have to fear for the well-being of your sewing machine needles. Though many layers of fabric bits and pieces is expected in fabric collage, with corresponding “smears” of glue, the added thickness of four layers of batting is not usual. I commend your perseverance, Lauren.

From Lauren:

A few years ago, a nearby guild lined up Susan to teach 2 years later, and offered to share travel expenses with other area guilds. I jumped at the chance as education chair for my guild, Block Party Quilters. The time came this past September 2019, and we finally had our Susan Carlson class!

While I knew my guild members were super excited, it was a style that I knew I’d have trouble with”¦both because it’s a bit more improvisational than my norm and because I simply do not own the right fabric for this kind of collage!! All I had was a bunch of dull fabrics, not even in my favorite colors, but at least they had florals and organic patterns, and mostly all purchased specifically for this class at another quilter’s garage sale. Day of class came”¦massive traffic jam getting to class, a big problem since I was the facilitator, had the unlock codes for the room as well as all of the shared equipment. Happily, our guild has GREAT team members, I was able give directions by phone to unlock the classroom and get everyone situated so Susan could start the workshop.

 

Despite the fabulous help from BPQ guild members, I clearly was not starting this class with my A game on. By mid-day, I had concluded this really was not my thing and seriously considered going home, had I not been the facilitator. Fortunately, Susan saved me with some well-placed suggestions. I made enough progress both mentally and with the actual project that after class that day, and a delightful dinner with Susan, I spent another few hours at home happily cutting tiny pieces, layering, cutting and layering more, gluing, ungluing, cutting more, etc.

 

Day 2 was marvelous. Much more headway. Went home with more of the fish done. And after another wonderful dinner with Susan and her husband Tom, did even more work on my project until the wee hours that night.

 

The project has consumed me until I finally declared it done. And I love my fish George.

Considering that I didn’t really think this type of fabric collage was ”˜my thing’, I’ve been fully engaged over a ton of hours making what seems like 8,000 revisions, both enjoying the process and the completed project. Finished the fish first, with layer of teal tulle covering it and 1 layer of batting behind; detail quilted it. Revisions included cutting out the quilted fish to put on a solid background, only to decide I really wanted a strip background so had to get the fish back onto the cutaway foundation after stripping it. Added another layer of batting behind fish and background. Changed my mind and put a different color tulle on the background than on the fish, quilted some bubbles and waves, only to decide I really didn’t like the fuchsia tulle on the background and cut most of it away (left some for texture). Next decided I needed more fuchsia in the background so unquilted, unglued, reglued, requilted, including with tulle that had to be cut away again. Then quilted the remainder of the background. Decided on a corded satin ribbon with cool iridescent ribbon for my binding; got 2/3 of the way through that when I realized I should have measured and checked how much satin ribbon I had. Unsewed that. Started again with plain ribbon on the binding and the iridescent ribbon around sides and top. Thought I was done. Thought some more. Painted some shimmers onto the eye. Overdid it. Thought again. Made two more eyes; auditioned them. Decided on new eye, layered with batting, cloth, shimmering tulle, cloth, more cloth, more tulle; quilted right on top”¦many layers now..broke 2 needles quilting it on (4 layers of batting, 4 layers of tulle, and many layers of glue and cloth for the eye). DONE!!!!

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Jennifer Breeze

Jennifer Breeze of Jamberoo, NSW, Australia took my class at the Australasian Quilt Convention (AQC) in Melbourne in April 2019. Jennie also generously contributed to a blog post of “Lightbulb Moments.” I’m so thankful that my amazing trip to Australia happened last year and not this year, when it would have been cancelled. It was my second time as a tutor at AQC (so much more special sounding that just being a teacher), and it’s quite the experience—especially the Gala Dinner. You would not feel out of place in a flowing gown, though it could be dangerous to wear once the dancing started. I have found Australia and the people I’ve met there to be exceptional in so many ways, including the students I’ve had the pleasure to tutor. They’re so very attentive, and yet leave class twice a day for a cuppa tea.

As Jennie says below, she came with some very nice fabrics to work with for this all black, with a little greying on her face, dog. Monochromatic animals can be tough, and a good variety of patterned and similar-yet-different valued fabrics can make quite a difference in success. Miss Maxie is a great example of how you can use color—such as blue, aqua, and purple—and still see a black dog. I don’t remember Jennie having trouble with the collage in class, and she got quite far along by the end. A lovely finish Jennie, who wouldn’t want to throw a ball for this cutie? Cheers!

From Jennie:

This is a portrait of our Cavoodle, Miss Maxie. She is 12 yrs old and loves having her ball thrown. I chanced upon some wonderful black fabrics and also used Kaffe Fasset fabrics too. As the light was coming from her right side I decided to put in some shadows…choosing the background was the hardest as I didn’t want to lose her in anything too bold or bright.

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Jenny Satterthwait

Jenny Satterthwait of Eagle, Idaho took 2 classes from me last year, the first at the Quilt Gallery in Kalispell, Montana, and the second at Art Quilt Tahoe in Nevada. The two quilts begun in those classes are featured here and here in Finish Line posts. Her pup Jessie, is the first project she’s done on her own. Jenny wrote that she could have done the eyes better, but I think she caught a sweet soulfulness in Jessie’s eyes that I wouldn’t recommend changing at all. The flower prints that Jenny chose to use and the hearts in her quilting, all underscore the connection she felt to this pretty girl.

From Jenny:

We raised 3 boys and have had 4 dogs (who raised who is up for debate). Jessie was the only girl in the bunch and we had a special bond. It was only right that she should be my first project outside of taking a class. I had just finished a 30 x 40 Cape Buffalo where I spent hours and hours gluing so I decided to use tulle for this one. It went much faster, but I do like the look of just using glue better. And I am sure her nose and eyes would have gone better with Susan’s input!

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Karen Johnston

The class that the afore-mentioned Jenny  Satterthwait attended at Art Quilt Tahoe last November 2019, is also the class that the final two students in this post attended. It was fun to see all three quilts submitted around the same time.

Karen Johnston of Fallbrook, California says she has read both my books and watched many of my instructional videos through the blog, but that things never really clicked with her until she took the class with me. From my end, it’s satisfying to actually see those moments where things do “click” for my students. I didn’t immediately associate Karen with this quilt, it’s quite different than the reptilian-like creature she began in class, but both animals have wings! Karen did have a great start in class and I’m happy to see and read that her collage experience is carrying over into multiple projects.

From Karen:

I needed to do some homework before taking Susan’s class at Art Quilt Tahoe, and I needed to make a challenge quilt relating to a teacher from the Road to California Quilt show. I had a hummingbird pattern that I bought in a class from David Taylor and used it as the base for Mr. Calypte and used Susan’s collage technique to design both the hummingbird and the flower border. I’m especially pleased with the poinsettia ‘feathers’. After working with Susan at Tahoe, I added more detail to the bird, and then built the garden with flowers, butterflies, 3 dozen bees and 3 fairies. I’m please to say that my quilt ”˜Fairies in the Garden with Mr. Calypte’ is hanging right now in the “Honoring Road to California” special exhibit at the Road To California Quilt Show. It was thrilling to walk by and see people taking photos of my quilt! It’s my first completed quilt using Susan’s technique, but not my last! I’ve been making several small challenge pieces and I’m using collage on nearly every one of them. (I’ll get back to working on the dragon that I started in Tahoe after the next challenge quilt that I’m working on is finished.)

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Anita Liberman-Lampear

I’ve had the chance to see Anita Liberman-Lampear of Ann Arbor, Michigan for three years at Art Quilt Tahoe—twice when she was in a class: 2016 and 2019—and once to say hi in between. Anita got much of this quilt collaged in last year’s November class. Anita’s first quilt of “I Love Lucy” stomping grapes and the second of her granddaughter (completed between classes), can be seen in the above Finish Line links.

The memory of Anita working on this celestial quilt makes me smile, mostly because she was all smiles making it. This collage is the result of thoughts and planning that Anita describes below, but she truly let the fabrics speak to her and absolutely “Cut Loose and Let Go” (as my book urges one to do). If I were to think of a good example of someone having a good time and playing with their fabric, it would be Anita with this quilt. It was a pleasure.

From Anita:

I had wanted to do a sun/moon design as a gift for my daughter who loves the sun/moon art. She has some beaded and painted pieces on her wall. I had just finished a Day of the Dead/Sugar Skull quilt for her and had some of the fabric left over from that. Those all inspired my design. I used Sue’s sun and moon drawings and made them into one design by enlarging the moon, inserting the sun, then reducing the overall copy to a usable size. Then I decided to just go wild with color and not worry about being serious but instead had a lot of fun with it. And I did have fun doing this one. It is my third fabric collage piece that I have created since taking classes with Sue (my second at AQT).