As this post arrives in your inbox, I will be ready to start Day 4 of my latest Live Online week-long Class. In preparation for Day 1, students have chosen a subject, made a pattern, picked out fabrics (just a few to begin with)—and made a fabric palette with them. At least that’s what I talk to them about, urge them to do, and attempt to “require.” I’ve really come to believe that having a prepared palette of cut shapes, ready to play with, is key to a smooth start on a fabric collage.
This last step in getting started is one that I’ve only come to emphasize to upcoming students in the last couple years or so. It’s more or less how I begin working on my own collages—like the Moon Portrait in photo above—the palette of fabrics I began with has decreased as I easily saw, selected, and further cut into the shapes to then pin onto the face.
A fabric palette is one of those things that until you experience having or not having one ready to go, it’s hard to accept that it’s worth the effort—but it doesn’t even take that long to do. I tell my students they just have to trust me on this one. So I guess you do as well!
Read more about how a palette is useful in this week’s Throwback Thursday—and then try it yourself on your next, or even current, collage. Let me know if you have a fabric collage epiphany. 😉
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.
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.
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.
Hello Susan
I’m Hana. Thank you for sharing and teaching your beautiful art.
I want to buy your book but the shipping to Israel is almost five times the price of the book.
Is there any way I could purchase some sort of an e- copy?
Hana, You should look at my eWorkshops: the Fabric Collage Master Class, the Sea Turtle eWorkshop, and the Spiral eWorkshop, all of which are available through my website: http://www.susancarlson.com. Look in the upper right of the page for eWorkshops. The are web-based so no need for shipping.
Once again Thursday Throwback hits home as I prepare for my retreat at Asilomar Empty Spools in March (2022). I’ve previously read your suggestions about selecting a palette. for our projects. Today’s share allows me to I see specific ways to breakdown the “boxes” of fabric (all potentially servicing various needs for my project). 1. selecting an area in my photo and reduce choices to that specific area, 2. include fabrics that cover a wide range of values (I’m reminded that color gets the applause but value does all the work!). And. 3. reduce yardage to hand sized portions that can be easily placed near the work surface…..from previous practice this idea makes great “sense” when you want to keeping moving forward and don’t want to take the time (in a class) to cut down yardage.
These hints keep me focused on the specific areas of my project and to make decisions each day as I prepare.
In short, I feel like I’m already in class….
“Thanks for sharing the gift of your experience before we arrive at the retreat.”