In this post we have four more fabric collage quilts to admire. I know they will also inspire. Thank you ladies!
This week’s Finish Line quilts are examples of the many ways you can learn fabric collage. You can take an in-person class with me as Sally Schoemann did, when she started her “Sammi, My Princess” quilt (detail above), finishing it through referring to my (many) blog posts (subscribe here). Or you can use any of my other online resources. Linda Peterson, whose turtle appears below, used a variety of sources: the Fabric Collage Master Class for an overview of the fabric collage technique, the Sea Turtle eWorkshop for a step-by-step follow-along project, and the Thursday Night in My Studio Live! presentations for inspiration and nuggets of info about particular parts of creating a fabric collage.
As summer winds down, maybe you’re thinking about finally taking the plunge to make your first fabric collage quilt, or are determined to finish one you’ve started (like me with my son’s moon portrait!). If so, all those resources above are available whenever. Or perhaps you’d choose to set up a one-on-one Fabric Collage Coaching appointment or attend one of my upcoming Live Online Classes, which we’ll be announcing later in the month.
Any way you choose to start, we would be honored to welcome your finished fabric collage quilt in another of these enchanting Finish Line posts.
Submit Quilt for "Finish Line"
Linda Peterson
Linda Peterson is from Iowa, far, far away from the natural home of her subject. Nonetheless, this engaging fella (as Linda calls him) looks quite comfortable exactly where he is. Linda has used the prints in her fabrics perfectly—rounded and bubbly for his shell, elongated and “flowy” for the seaweed, and fishy company cut from fishy prints woven throughout.
I also have a few fabrics of printed fish in my stash, and when cut and arranged as Linda did here, look quite natural in a watery habitat. In a class, I’d call these “cheater fish”—but once a student corrected me to say they were “convenience fish.” Definitely a better choice of words! And speaking of which, take a closer look (click on any photos in the blog to see them larger) at this collage to see Linda’s words-to-live-by tucked here and there—they give another take to the title of the quilt.
From Linda:
The pattern is from Susan’s online Turtle class. I signed up for Susan’s Online Master Class as well as the turtle online class and several of her Thursday nights in her studio classes.
I wanted to learn this technique so I dove in feet first. It took me awhile to choose the fabric. And during the pandemic it was a little tricky to shop for fabric. Most of it came from my stash but I needed a little more (don’t we all, ha). I didn’t work on it everyday and it took me a long time but I worked on it when I could. It went through lots of drafts. The turtle took me a long time but the background was not as easy as I thought it would.
I auditioned lots of backgrounds and came up with this one. This fella is swimming with friends and coming up for air. There are more drafts of him in my future. It is hard to know when to stop. I would love your thoughts on anything I should do or not do. Thank you Susan for providing this creative outlet especially during this crazy time!
Thanks Linda—you’ve taken this project exactly where I’d hoped people would—playing with their fabric, experimenting with the technique, then moving on to learn more. I honestly don’t know that there’s anything I’d have you change, but I will say that I really like the purple you’ve used in the shadowed areas of the shell—nice unexpected splashes of color.
Delores Simpson
Delores Simpson of Big Rapids, Michigan, has been featured before in the Finish Line. The quilt she mentions of her son-in-law’s moon was featured in this post. I’ve included a photo of it below because along with her daughter’s sun, the two form a set, but please visit the link above to get the story behind the moon quilt. The sun and moon classes she writes about below, are from my Thursday Night presentations of 2020—found here in the two “Customizing a Pattern” video links.
I love the energy that is in this portrait by Delores—it leads me to imagine that her daughter has a lively and sunny personality. Below, Delores mentions that the high-contrast fabrics in this portrait were harder to blend than the monochromatic blues of the moon portrait. Yes, that would be the case, especially with the very definitive center line dividing light and shadow. But that’s what makes it dramatic, the contrast. The thing to look at, Delores, is the shading within each high-contrast area—and those four “wedges” that make up the inner circle face are all very cohesive to themselves. So, you did it, another lovely job.
From Delores:
This is my second “Celestial” quilt, following the Moon and Sun classes I wanted a companion piece of my daughter to go along with my son-in-law’s “Moon.”
I found working with a full face more challenging than a profile face. I found the bright colors harder to blend. Topping it all with a yellow tulle helped it mellow a bit.
When I thought I was finished, a small scrap of bright orange fabric fell onto one of the diamond shapes framing the sun. It looked good, so I added a few more (thanks, Susan!), and now there are little “flames” on every other triangle. Sparked it right up! Serendipity.
Sally Schoemann
I first met Sally Schoemann from Northern California at Empty Spools in 2018 in Asilomar, where soulful “Sammi” was begun. The photos immediately below were taken at the beginning and end of that class. Right away you can see how Sally’s color palette shifted after she started working on her pup’s portrait at home. Very interesting to read her creative thought processes. I do remember those cute little toe nails, and noticed how they haven’t changed—they were perfect little toes from the beginning. Beautiful job, Sally. I particularly like the leaf print that creates the curve of her ear, and the “quilt” in the background seems to place her in a warm and soft home—just right for a princess.
From Sally:
Sammi, my Princess is my first collage quilt. I want to thank you for your help that week and for your blog. As I worked over time to finish Sammi the blog helped me with many elements, including taking the photographs for this submission.
About 10 years ago, Sammi was found fending for herself out in the fields. While she may have humble origins, she has become my princess, reigning over our household and providing me with her constant companionship. Her rosy pink fur and green pedicure reflect her highness’s personality.
The photo was taken from my usual spot on the couch with Sammi perched nearby. While I was at Asilomar, I envisioned her white fur to be pink and her brown fur to be shades of teal blue. As the pictures [above] show, my vision morphed over time.
During the summer of 2018 I was let go from my job; for the first few weeks afterwards I lost myself in the creative process, letting go of the pink and blue, and letting Sammi’s true personality shine through. Last year during the pandemic I found time to decide on the collaged background, and do the free motion quilting, finally facing the edges to complete the process.
Sandi Schrader
Sandi Schrader of Burlington, Connecticut, began a German Shepherd collage (but not this one) at my June 2018 Harpswell, Maine Quilt Retreat, where she says she “fell in love with the process.” That collage grew to include a different cocker spaniel. The finished quilt, “Dancer and Scamper,” can be seen in this Finish Line post from a couple years ago. I have to wonder what the story is behind this pairing of dog breeds, and how many sweet and colorful portrait pairs we’ll get to eventually see from Sandi!
I like Sandi’s comment below, that it’s never too late to make a change on a fabric collage quilt—and I can vouch for that. Though you’ll see some overlapping quilt stitches on the back of the quilt, it’s a small price for the ability to adjust something that may be bugging you. Sandi, when I have a close-cropped image as you do, I’ve also simplified the little bit of background into one piece of fabric. I feel it helps to clarify the separation of image and background. But certainly play a little more if you want to—you could even add some Kaffee dots bubbling up from their heads. I look forward to your next pet-pair quilt. 😉
From Sandi:
This quilt is of our first Cocker Spaniel and German Shepherd pair, Molly and Smokey. I wanted to use primarily Kaffe Fassett fabrics. I vacillate between leaving it as is, or adding to the background. One of the things I love most about Susan’s work is the variety of fabrics used for both the subject(s) and the background. A great part of fabric collage is that additions can be made at any time!
Beautiful work ladies, I especially like the turtle and the in-depth detail in the background, a lot of lovely work. I hope it’s hanging on a wall somewhere it can be appreciated.
Great work all.