“The future is never certain” is a well-worn aphorism, and it’s never been more true than during this pandemic. However, sometimes we just have to move ahead with the attitude that we can make plans and expect them to come to pass.
So here I go posting my 2021 fabric collage teaching schedule. Keep your fingers crossed.
The continuing uncertainty has made me decide to bring back the Pandemic Collage Coping Free Pattern. We started this in April and was our small effort to give people something to look forward to. In three months we gave away 700 patterns. Get your free pattern by visiting the Patterns page—susancarlson.com/patterns/—and using this Coupon Code:
goawaypandemicfreepattern
Be sure to click Apply Coupon before proceeding to checkout. Those who used the previous coupon code for a free pattern can use this one for a new free pattern. And if another pattern or two catches your eye, you’re welcome to add it to your Shopping Cart. 😉 One free pattern per customer.
As far as my teaching for 2021 goes, there’s good news and bad news.
The bad news is that most of these classes are already full. Some of the classes have been scheduled for a couple years and some of them are carryover classes from those that were cancelled this year. When my classes were dropped, many of the venues simply moved as many students as possible from 2020 to the same class in 2021.
As far as I know there are still three classes with openings (links below): two with MISA in Santa Fe, NM in April—one of which is an all levels class and one of which is an advanced class—and a November class at the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts in Cedarburg, WI.
The good news is that, if you can’t get into an in-person class, I have been and am developing more ways to learn fabric collage online. Read on to find a way that works for you.
Susan Carlson Fabric Collage In-Person Teaching 2021
March 14-19, 2021: Empty Spools Session III, Pacific Grove, California (FULL)
March 19-24, 2021: Empty Spools Session IV, Pacific Grove, California (FULL)
April 12-16, 2021: MISA West in Santa Fe, Santa Fe, New Mexico (Available as of September 5, 2020)
April 19-23, 2021: MISA West in Santa Fe (Advanced Students Only), Santa Fe, New Mexico (Available as of September 5, 2020)
June 14-18, 2021: Madeline Island School of the Arts, Madeline Island, Lapointe, Wisconsin (FULL)
September 20-24, 2021: The Quilt Gallery (Session 1), Kalispell, Montana (Waitlist only)
September 27-October 1, 2021: The Quilt Gallery (Session 1), Kalispell, Montana (Waitlist only)
November 1-5, 2021: Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts, Cedarburg, Wisconsin (UPDATE 9/8/2020: Due to the pandemic, the museum’s website has not been updated. Please call the museum to be added to a waitlist.)
November 9-13, 2021: Woodland Ridge Retreat, Menomonie, Wisconsin (FULL)
Now Might Be the Time to Try Online Learning
Even if my travel wasn’t limited (actually eliminated) by the pandemic, I just can’t teach as many in-person classes as it would take to satisfy the demand. This is an enviable position for me to be in, but one that leaves many potential students unsatisfied.
I get the sense that many of my followers are holding out for getting into one of my in-person classes rather than taking advantage of the resources I’ve made available online. I understand that sentiment, and if the world hadn’t changed so much recently I’d say that was a fine—if somewhat prolonged—strategy for someone interested in learning fabric collage.
If you are eager to get started learning fabric collage, it might be time to stop waiting for an in-person class and try out one of my eWorkshops or other resources. I have created online resources for all levels of experience.
Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced
Beginners-Intermediate (but really any level is fun): If you are unsure that online learning resources such as my eWorkshops are for you, the Spiral eWorkshop is an inexpensive way to dip your toe in the water. This straight-forward and low-stress project covers all the basic techniques of fabric collage.
This step-by-step project was previously only available in the Fabric Collage Online Master Class Manual, as a warm-up exercise to the fabric collage process in general. However, in the early months of the pandemic, we decided to release it as a stand-alone eWorkshop for those who found themselves in need of a positive distraction in their upturned lives. Anyone who decides to delve further into fabric collage with the Fabric Collage Master Class (more information below), we will credit the $25 of the Spiral eWorkshop towards the purchase of the Master Class Manual.
For those who are itching to experience a week-long class, this year’s new Sea Turtle eWorkshop may be the choice for you. It’s set up in a 5-part format to simulate the 5-days of an extended class. When teaching, I open each day with a talk that highlights each new step in the fabric collage process. In this e-Workshop, each “day” opens with a video from me, leading you into the next step of creating your sea turtle. I demonstrate each step—through more than 25 detailed videos—on my own new sea turtle quilt that is being collaged along with yours. We begin with the pattern and fabric selection and end with hanging it on the wall.
As we did a couple years ago for owners of the Fabric Collage Master Class, we set up a private Facebook group for owners of the Sea Turtle eWorkshop. Tom monitors the groups but otherwise it is self-led—kind of like the questions, help, and encouragement offered by other students in an in-person class.
The beauty of this sort of online class is that your days of instruction don’t need to fit into the scheduled week of a regular class. Sure, you could treat and challenge yourself to take a week off (cook ahead or order take-out to eliminate having to stop for food preparation!) and immerse yourself in the process. Or set aside five weekends. Or work on it as you have time available. The eWorkshop is yours to access and review whenever you want it, forever. How long it takes to complete the project will depend on how fast you work and how many layers and details and finishing touches you want to add (it’s addictive once you get started).
Intermediate-Advanced (though this is set-up for beginners as well): The Fabric Collage Online Master Class Manual is the encyclopedia of how I do fabric collage. Recently updated and expanded, this online resource is focused on the process of fabric collage. Choose your own subject and the Master Class instructs you on the skills to complete it.
The Master Class has been available for more than 2-1/2 years and is the direction I’ve been pointing students of my in-person classes for more fabric collage learning. The format is expanded into 6 steps of instruction—including working with sheer fabrics for adding further details to a collage subject. It covers all of what I instruct in an in-person class and more. Covering all the information would take much more than a week—students need time to work on their projects after all!
As I noted prior, the Spiral eWorkshop is also included as an opening exercise in the Master Class Manual, especially good for reviewing the process, or for beginners.
As an added feature, we set up a private Facebook group, only available to owners of the Master Class. Tom monitors the group but it is an independent and self-sustaining gathering of fabric collage enthusiasts. The work being created is amazing, and the support offered to each other is a pleasure to see. I couldn’t be prouder of having had a hand in bringing together and directing these imaginative and talented people from all over the world. To see samples of their wonderful work, visit this blog post:
The Finish Line: Quilts from the First Year of the Fabric Collage Master Class Manual
New and Upcoming Online Alternatives
In an effort to provide more content for on-line learning of fabric collage, Tom and I will be spending the next few weeks to begin—and hopefully complete—work on a long-planned (pre-2020) module for the Fabric Collage Master Class Manual. It is called, tentatively, Celestial Portraits Updated.
I’ve just spent a couple months focusing on faces in my new Thursday Night in My Studio Live! presentations (more about that below), and I’ve got some fresh thoughts to add to our previous ideas for this portrait module and to the basic sun and moon face instructions already available in my book, Serendipity Quilts. The book is a good tool and jumping off point for fabric collage, but I’ve learned a lot about teaching collage in the ten years since it was originally published. I see the online eWorkshops and Master Class Manual as new publications in their own right.
This Celestial Portraits add-on module to the Master Class will be useful as a step-by-step project or a step toward learning more about creating “realistic” faces, though the focus will be “cutting loose” with touches of fancy and whimsy.
Ownership of the Fabric Collage Master Class Manual will be necessary since the Celestial Portraits module will be set up to expand on the collage technique instruction found in the Manual. There will be an additional fee of $49 to purchase the module separately.
Coming even sooner, Tom is currently setting up an easy to access Showcase of recordings of past Thursday Night in My Studio Live! presentations on fabric collage faces and so much more. These presentations demonstrate the foundational techniques and ideas for creating images in fabric collage from improvisational “let’s see what happens” to specific ” enlarge your photo and trace your design this way….”
The first four presentations dealing with faces focus on Facial Features, covering the basic structure and proportions of a face plus how to approach the main features of nose, eyes, and mouth. The second set of portrait presentations, Filling in the Gaps, will help you complete and “accessorize” the face with videos on The Neck and Hair, Child vs. Adult Faces, Creating Eyeglasses, and Smiles with Teeth.
Each presentation is available individually for $7 each on my website—scroll down to the Thursday Night section—or click here for the Showcase.
Follow Up with Independent Study
Want or need individualized help? Just starting out and need me to help you refine your design or choose fabrics? Have a work in progress and are stuck? Nearly finished but are unsure if it’s really done? I am available for Fabric Collage Coaching via Zoom.
In each 45-minute session I give feedback and instruction, including annotated illustrations, visually defining exactly what I mean. Each session is recorded and you will receive that recording to review at your leisure—no need to take copious notes for fear of forgetting something.
I give “homework” and goals to reach, with the opportunity to send a follow-up email with photos as part of the session cost. This way you can check-in with me to see if you’re on track with my suggestions.
We added this coaching opportunity in early summer and the initial response has been very positive, with students returning for additional sessions. Students are working at their own pace and as they have time available. Having a goal that I set for them is helping them to focus on completing their project.
These Fabric Collage Coaching Sessions are priced at $100 each. Until December 31, I am offering an introductory special of $20 off your first session. Figuring in the cost (or inability) of travel, food and lodging, plus the cost of a class itself, independent study may be a viable option for you. It’s not saying that the in-person experience of a class, the energy of other students, great locations, and the fact I can pick up your fabric and literally show you what I mean, isn’t worth it. But this individualized instruction is now an option.
Follow Along with Thursday Night in My Studio Live! Presentations
Watchers of my series of live presentations have been treating these focused demonstrations as mini-workshops, creating their own Improvisational Faces and portrait moons, among other exercises. While I hadn’t intended to refer to them as classes, viewers are doing just that. There’s lots to learn and having the ability to ask questions through text right then and there is a big plus for many.
Starting October 1, we begin a new series of four weekly presentations called “Is It Drafty in Here? Fabric Collage Drafts,” in which I will take sample fabric collage quilts through the stages—or drafts—leading to a completed quilt. Working in drafts is a method I find that keeps me from getting bogged down after the initial glow of excitement of a new project fades. By breaking down the project into drafts, it makes the work manageable. Follow along with me as we work through the stages: First Draft: Getting It Down, Second Draft: Fixing It Up, Third Draft: Detail Draft, and Final Draft: Finishing.
Sign up for these presentations is available now though my website: www.susancarlson.com for $7 each (scroll down to the Thursday Night section). You can purchase all four of the evening series, or pick and choose which presentations you would like to attend, as they are sold individually.
Attend Monthly Zoom Shares while Supporting the Blog
Maybe you are already a Patreon subscriber—if so, Thank You, very much! Starting this month, subscribers will be invited to a monthly Zoom Show-and-Share Meeting. If you are a subscriber at the $20/month level you will have the opportunity to share a finished fabric collage quilt, or you can ask for feedback on an in-progress work. All attendees are invited to ask me any questions they so desire—though sticking to the subject of fabric collage is encouraged.
This month’s introductory Zoom meeting on Tuesday, September 22 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time, will be open to ALL Patreon supporters ($20 subscribers will be invited to submit work to share). Join Patreon before September 21 to attend this introductory meeting. Beginning in October, attendance to the monthly meetings will be limited to $5, $10, and $20 monthly supporters.
Click the link below to explore other incentives for being a Susan Carlson Patreon Supporter.
I am so glad you have a teaching schedule for 2021 and my fingers are crossed-for both of us. I love your in person classes and hope to see you. On the other hand, the one on one coaching sessions are invaluable. There is much more “face time” with Susan in a coaching session via Zoom than in a hands on class. On Zoom, you have her all to yourself!
Once I become settled (moving in a couple of weeks) I am looking forward to having time to work on fabric collage. And your on-line offerings sound wonderful for me once I am set up.
Thanks Susan for all that you share with us! It is greatly appreciated.
Of course, a week-long in-person class is a bucket list dream come true (Oct. 2017 in Portland for me), and I wish everyone could get this. Susan’s “Thursday Nights in My Studio Live” are excellent and I’m loving them. Thanks, Susan and Tom, for the untold hours of work you put in to make this online learning available to us!
The link for the November class on the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts in Cedarburg, Wisconsin does not seem to work. Your link works, but the link on their site does not work. Any suggestions?
Another person brought this to our attention. I have contacted the Museum about this issue but don’t expect a fix until after Labor Day of course. You may call and leave a message if you are interested in the class.
Do you have a book on collage quilts? I would like to try the technique.
Of course Sarah. I also have online offerings. Book: https://susancarlson.com/product/serendipity-quilts/. Fabric Collage Master Class: https://susancarlson.com/about-the-fabric-collage-online-master-class/.
Hi Susan.
A friend of mine and I may be in the Kalispell area toward the end of May this year! Do you happen to have any classes at that time? Thanks so much.
Cathy Lang
Cathy, Sorry I won’t be in Kalispell either this year or next.
Hi Susan,
Where do you live? I thought you lived in Kalispell. Where and when is your next class? Thanks.