I usually develop a close connection to my fabric collage quilts. Over time they develop personalities and histories that increase my fondness for them.
The subject of today’s TWO Throwback Thursday posts came with an immediate and built-in attachment: my son Sam.
I made my first quilt of Sam based on a picture of him pretending to be a dinosaur taken when he was three years old: “Samuelsaurus Rex.” The second quilt was made a decade later when he was thirteen. The photo I used to base Sam’s second collage portrait on reminded me of John Lennon and the 1960’s, which then led me think of Andy Warhol’s pop art pieces, which inspired the four-color way portrait entitled “Peace, Love, Tie-Dye, Save the Whales.”
Now another decade has passed, and I have started my third portrait of Sam, which you will see in-progress in this week’s regular Saturday post. While waiting for that post, you can revisit the two previous quilts by using the links below. You may have seen the beginnings of his 23-year old portrait quilt in a more recent blog post, “How to Jump Start Creativity—From a Fabric Collage Point of View.”
Before I let you go, here’s a reminder that Thursday Night in My Studio Live! returns a week from today, on June 18. This series of four weekly live presentations will focus on backgrounds. Scroll down for more information and for links to the registration page.
New Thursday Night Series Beginning June 18—Focus on Backgrounds
The next series of four live Thursday Night in My Studio Live! presentations runs June 18 through July 9, beginning at 7 pm Eastern US Time. Registration is now open for any of the live presentations by using the links below. Limit of 100 attendees per session.
I’ll use the same format as previous sessions with a slide show, live demo, and question and answer period. Each presentation is recorded and registered attendees will receive a link to access that recording at no extra charge the next day (Friday). Each recording will also be available to purchase on-demand on that Saturday.
Backgrounds will be the focus of this next series—as requested by many Thursday Night attendees. Backgrounds can be surprisingly troublesome, and for many is where their fabric collage quilt bogs down. So if you want some background on backgrounds, register for the presentation(s) of your choice. Click on the links below to register.
Registration links can also be found on the front page of my website: www.susancarlson.com. You may register at any time for as many Live! presentations as you’d like, however you do need to register for each one individually (we haven’t figured out how to package them as a group yet).
To view these sessions you will need the 5.0 or better version of the Zoom app. So update your software by visiting zoom.com. (Download “Zoom Client for Meetings”.)
Thursday Night in My Studio Live!
Third Series from June 18 — July 9, 2020
7:00 p.m. Eastern U.S. time
Each Thursday for 4 weeks
100 Attendee Limit (per night)
$7 Registration Fee
How discovering the story of your subject inspires your background.
June 25—Straight-Edge Collage Background
Using larger rectangular pieces to more easily create a background for your subject.
July 2—Blended Collage Background
Bringing the collage into the background with irregular pieces of fabric which blend one into another.
Using tulle and other shiny fabrics to jazz up your background.
Susan Carlson Fabric Collage: Spiral eWorkshop
Wondering if fabric collage is for you? This eWorkshop is intended for beginners in fabric collage. The spiral project is simple, low stress, but still teaches the basic techniques of fabric collage. It also serves as a handy refresher course for those with more experience.
Susan Carlson Fabric Collage: Sea Turtle eWorkshop
Learn fabric collage with Susan Carlson. Each step is clearly written, illustrated with photos, and demonstrated with video. Learn with a Sea Turtle then launch into any fabric collage project you wish.
Fabric Collage Master Class
For instructions on the entire fabric collage process, you can purchase the Susan Carlson Fabric Collage Online Master Class Manual. Using video, photos, and text I take you from soup to nuts, beginning to end in creating your own fabric collage masterpiece.
Serendipity Quilts for Sale
My book on fabric collage, Serendipity Quilts, is back in stock! The price is $29.95 plus shipping. For a signed copy click the button below. Note: If you want a inscribed copy (as in “To Jane”) I have to be home to do it, so you may want to check my teaching schedule. Otherwise your order may be delayed.