Most quilts are rectangles (or squares—anyway, the corners are right angles). But most of our fabric collage quilt main images are not rectangles. They may be round or roundish things such as faces, which create what we professional fabric collage artists refer to as “funny empty corners that need to be dealt with.”
Even if you find the perfect colored and/or patterned fabric to use as a background, when you place your image on that fabric you may think to yourself, “Those corners look kind of empty.”
Fear not! This week’s TBT gives you inspiration and ideas for what to do with your background corners, or other empty “negative spaces.”
And for more inspiration on backgrounds, don’t forget that the current Thursday Night in My Studio Live! series is all about backgrounds. The third session, which is about irregular-edged collaged backgrounds is now available as a view-on-demand recording. See the links below for more information.
New Thursday Night Series—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
Now available on-demand for $7
June 25—Straight-Edge Collage Background
Using larger rectangular pieces to more easily create a background for your subject.
Now available on-demand for $7
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.
I love collage. Would like to see all classes offered
Right now there are no in-person classes for this year. My online offerings are through my website: susancarlson.com.