Positivity. That’s something we can all use more of in this pandemic era. If we first reflect on what is going right, it helps us accept what needs to be improved.
Can you hear it? Yes, yes, it’s Mary Poppins: “A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down…”
But seriously, I’ve been doing a lot of fabric collage coaching lately and a big part of my job is to point out what’s working well in a piece. This is a confidence boost so that when the student and I get around to solving any problems we see, she knows that all is not lost.
Today’s Throwback Thursday uses examples to model giving (and receiving) feedback—such as with Faith McLeod’s portrait of her friend Bessie, and Bessie’s friend Annie, photo above. So much of successful feedback comes down to phrasing. Save your “I like ____” phrases for positive things. Never use “I don’t like ____,” it’s rarely helpful. Instead, I try to use variations on this phrase: “When I look at ____, I see _____.” It’s non-judgmental and if that’s what the student intended, we’re all set. If not, then it’s an opportunity to explain what they were hoping to do so we can talk about how to fulfill the vision they had in their head.
Meanwhile coming up on Saturday in your regular weekly post: While the COVID pandemic may seem like it has lasted five years, this blog actually has lasted five years! This Saturday in your regular post, we’ll celebrate the anniversary of the Susan Carlson Fabric Collage Blog by sharing the most popular post of each of those five years.
Thursday Night in My Studio Live! presentations resume TONIGHT (November 12, 2020). I’ll be demonstrating how to adapt my Moon Portrait pattern with drawings of individualized features of someone you know.
Register here:
Celestial Portrait Patterns: Moon, November 12, 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Celestial Portrait Patterns: Sun, November 19, 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time
These Celestial Portrait Patterns: Moon and Sun presentations, are an offshoot of the next big project I’m working on, a Module for the Fabric Collage Master Class Manual titled, appropriately enough, “Celestial Portraits”—planned release is the beginning of 2021 (which is much closer than we think!). This add-on to the Fabric Collage Master Class will walk users through the steps of creating unique Sun and Moon collage quilt projects.
Stay tuned for more information!
How to Give (and Take) Feedback on Your Fabric Collage Quilt
A reminder that we have brought back the Pandemic Collage Coping Free Pattern. 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. Offer expires November 30, 2020.
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
$29.95 plus shipping. Full color throughout. Four complete projects, start to finish, of increasing complexity. Learn fabric collage with this book.