The Fabric Collage Master Class is my attempt to lay out in detail the entire fabric collage process. The challenge was to produce an online learning resource that provides all the skills that I cover in an in-person class.
It’s an attempt, in essence, to make myself superfluous.
I’m not sure I succeeded in that (and I certainly hope I never do!), but the results speak for themselves. Month after month, I receive submissions to my Finish Line blog posts that come from the over 1400 people who have never taken an in-person class with me and have instead subscribed to the Master Class.
This month, we feature a group of friends who all took advantage of the $30 “Buddy Discount” I give to users who sign up with a friend or two—or in this case, nine. After signing up for the Fabric Collage Master Class together, they decided to try the Spiral Exercise, which is also included in the Master Class.
How inspiring it is for me to see the artwork, and read the words, from these ladies—they’ve taken the classic idea of a spiral and infused it with their individual personalities—exercises not only in color, design, and fabric collage, but in the act of staying connected with friends during trying times. Thank you to all for giving the spiral a try, and for sharing your results and your thoughts with all of us. (A spiral by Nancy Stenson in photo above.)
Antoinette Hettinga seems to have been the ring-leader of these group projects. You may have seen her quilts in this Finish Line post, or maybe this one too. I met Antoinette in Kalispell, Montana, where I was teaching for the Quilt Gallery in June 2018 and then again in June 2019, and I look forward to seeing her work come together in another class in the future.
I’m going to let Antoinette introduce this spiraling story of her Needles and Pins quilt group.
Antoinette Hettinga
Our story! Nine friends from Canada and the USA who usually spent 6 months together in a quilt group in the Palm Spring’s area of California were feeling lonely. We decided to purchase Susan Carlson’s Fabric Collage Master Class in January and now spend every Wednesday together through video. At first, we spent about 3 hours together, and now it is often up to 7 hours. Sew much fun! Challenged by Susan to work on a spiral, we began our spiral journey.
As a group of Canadian and US friends that quilt together in the Palm Springs area during the winter season, our year definitely is different also. Three of us were registered in Susan’s course in Kalispell, Montana, this past September which of course we were disappointed not to be able to attend all together.
We have been able to use different methods to stay in touch over this past season, and decided that we would sign up for this master class so that we can stay connected, have a lot of fun, and learn together.
From Antoinette:
Being a painter and quilter, I had been searching for a way to combine my two passions and came upon YouTube videos by Susan. Purchasing Serendipity Quilts and being fortunate to have taken two classes with Susan in Kalispell, Montana (2018 & 2019), my journey began and is continuing. This spiral is my 20th Fabric Art Collage Quilt that I have created since March 2018.
I had been resistant to create a spiral, but when we as a group decided to jump in together, away I went. My spiral was going to be yellow with a contrasting brown, but once I started creating the wrong spiral with the wrong color (in my mind), I pulled off all the pieces to begin again. As I looked for more fabric, I found left over Kaffe Fassett fabric from two previous projects, and the color and movement of the fabrics soon took over. There was to be no cutting the sides of the spirals away, but letting it flow! I wanted the fabric to also flow off the four sides and figured out, with the help of our group, a way to wrap the edges without cutting. I enjoyed the process, learned so much more about blending, and finished with a piece that gives me joy looking at it. Love how we found a way to be in community while being apart!
Deb Winthrop
From Deb:
For a couple of years I watched some of our most talented quilters in our Community’s Needles and Pins group, complete the most beautiful art collages I had ever seen. They encouraged me to try and to start with a Happy Village. I found the village to be judgmental and was very discouraged trying to do it on my own. Needless to say it never got finished. Then with the pandemic these talented ladies all decide to take Susan’s Master Class which was all online. With their encouragement I decide to forge ahead and take the class with them. Boy, did I make the right decision. We started working together every Wednesday from 10-1 via messenger video and before you knew it we were working almost all day every Wednesday. They expressed to me there was no right and wrong and although mine didn’t look like the others that was okay. The spiral was not judgmental and allowed me to express myself in the colors I love. I actually finished my spiral and named it Circle of Freedom.
Nancy Stenson
From Nancy:
After creating two Happy Villages using Karen Eckmeier’s method, I was interested in learning more about fabric collage. I watched several of Susan Carlson’s videos and faithfully read her blogs. I then created two fabric collages, a year apart, using Susan’s method of starting with a good quality photograph. This winter, friends and I each purchased Susan’s Online Master Class and decided to create spirals. I am part of the Wednesday online video chat group which includes Antoinette Hettinga. On Wednesdays, from my own sewing studio, I join my friends and spend a good part of the day collaging and chatting.
What a way to stave off the Covid “stir crazy” blues! I viewed this very much as a learning exercise and was therefore not afraid to tackle a techniques taught by Susan and never before used by me. I’ve only created two collages in the past and hoped the spiral would “loosen me up” and make me bolder with colour. Through this process, I learned my stash could use more batiks and more movement in pattern design. After reading Susan’s blog about using sheers, I experimented and discovered that I could indeed get those pieces of tulle and lace to stay in place on my collage. I chose to not place tulle over my entire piece and it was wonderful to have my on-line Wednesday friends to chat with while I endlessly glued edges. For the first time, I tried Susan’s method of a glue and wrap border (more gluing!) and I love how my spiral’s background flows right to the edge. Lastly, I free motion quilted my piece; another learning curve for me. Susan’s relaxed and encouraging teaching style does make one believe it can all be done. And I have a completed spiral to back that up. Confession: I will likely try a second spiral and actually draw my spiral freehand. After all, I’m learning to loosen up!
Carol Namehas
From Carol:
The Susan Carlson Fabric Collage Master Class has been a great experience for me as our Needles and Pins Class got put on hold with the pandemic. Taking the class has kept me going. Our Canadian friends from Needles and Pins put together a messenger chat every Wednesday that I am so happy to be a part of that allows us to share our projects with each other and ask for advice which has encouraged me to try new and challenging things. I love Susan Carlson’s techniques and have applied them to my projects. The “Spiral” was so much fun and seeing everyone’s different interpretations was great! After being an event florist for many years, I have found a new way to create still using flowers.
Teresa Walsh
From Teresa:
“Spiralicious” came together quite quickly for me. I went through my stash looking for two colours I seemed to have the most of, which dictated the purples and greens. I gave myself the extra challenge of allowing no new fabric purchases, which taught me to use tulle and other embellishments to help with transitions. It also taught me to have more fun with the project, as, instead of worrying that I was running out of greens, I used that to start playing with butterflies and a bumblebee, which, of course, then led to ladybugs. What’s not to love about ladybugs? I may even have to start secreting one or two ladybugs in future fabric collage projects!
It is wonderful being “untogether” with my favourite group of sewists via video messenger during this process and beyond. We have lots of laughs and chatter, making our time spent online with one another very precious during the pandemic.
Dianne Ward
From Dianne:
Using only fabrics from my stash, I didn’t really follow the colour suggestions, but was most interested to learn the assembly technique. I used dishcloth yarn for highlights on the gold fabrics and feel that the black tulle was not a great choice as it dulled the colours. The background fabric is dark blue metallic and I quilted in circles. Once I got over my need to be orderly, I began to enjoy the process and went on to do another project.
Kashmir Dhillon
From Kashmir:
In all honesty, I wasn’t overly excited about working on the spiral but wanted to participate in the group project. I must confess though that after watching the Masterclass videos, I turned to Susan’s book [Serendipity Quilts] and read the section on the spiral and was quite inspired by what the symbol represents in various cultures: “New life; new beginnings; passage of time or seasons; a journey that changes directions as one progresses; positive energy.” Over the past year, I have experienced many major changes in my own life’s journey from retiring; selling our home and moving away from a community that we lived in for over 30 years. A much anticipated move that has been challenged by the pandemic with not being able to get involved with clubs and activities in order to meet people and become part of a new community. I also recently lost my mother very suddenly and unexpectedly. So, the opportunity to “cut loose” with the spiral exercise was timely. With the friendship and support of wonderful ladies, I had fun completing the project (another confession though – it took a lot longer than 2 days lol!) I too challenged myself to use what I had on hand and learned a lot that I hope to carry on into further projects. Thank you Susan for sharing your wonderful talent.
Judy Seeley
From Judy:
I have been inspired by watching all my creative fabric artists friends use the “Susan Carlson” technique to create their wonderful spirals. I first saw this technique being used by Antoinette, Nancy and Kashmir while spending the winter of 2019-20 at our shared community in California. I had recently attended a fabric collage workshop using a different technique. As I was working on my landscapes, I became intrigued by this technique the others were using. When Covid hit and we all headed home, we still hoped that we would be able to get together for a “fabric collage retreat” in Kamloops, B.C. in the late summer. But that was not to be, so Antoinette and the others started our virtual quilting days. Your online workbook came out and I embraced the opportunity to purchase it as it was a great opportunity to stay connected and also learn a new technique. But I found that my enthusiasm to be included in this project was quickly taken over by my hesitancy to work alone. So even though I did not create a spiral, I kept in touch with the group and enjoyed watching their pieces take shape. Antoinette has encouraged me to use your workbook saying that I will be able to apply your artistic approach to fabric collage in my current works.
I LOVED this post! What a wonderful testament to the Masterclass and friendship and wonderful spiral art created during the pandemic. Each of the spirals is entirely unique–love reading the back stories! And, as true artists, each makes perfect sense and I loved the landscape artist, marching to her own drummer–just perfect! Thank you so much for sharing!
I hate to be a copycat, but, I LOVED this post! Antoinette should get a big gold star for the most fantastic spiral I have ever seen. I must admit I am envious of this group of artists who have such a camaraderie that they are like sisters. Hope they know how lucky they are!
I loved seeing all my Needle and Pins quilt friends spirals! I only wish I could have joined in the fun, but alas I was still teaching. It was fun to pop into the messenger chat on Wednesday and see their progress. Now that I am retiring I’ll be joining you all online and hope to see Antoinette, Kashmir and a few of the other ladies in Kalispell for Susan’s class this summer!
Awesome job, Pins and Needles friends!