Taking a sabbatical from traveling to teach in 2023 doesn’t mean I won’t be teaching fabric collage during that time. In fact, I suspect I may be busier than ever!

Below I’ve listed five upcoming fabric collage learning opportunities. I say “learning opportunities” rather than “classes,” because my Fly on the Wall: Susan Carlson Studio Watch series doesn’t really count as a class, although there is definitely a learning element to it—see photo above from Fly on the Wall October series #1.

In my Fly on the Wall presentations, I invite you each Thursday into my studio via Zoom for me to show and demonstrate as I work on my newest in-progress collage. The afternoons/evenings (depending on your time-zone) begin with a slide show to present what I’ve done during the week between sessions, continue with 30 to 45 minutes of looking over my shoulder as I work on the piece (and as I describe what I’m thinking and doing), then conclude with a questions and answer period. If you’ve wondered how I do what I do, this might be something you’d enjoy. Feel free to kick back with a cuppa or a glass of wine—consider this a form of fabric collage entertainment.

More traditional are my 5-Day Live Online Classes and I’m offering two versions of classes in March and May (with a waiting list only class in January/February). While the new listings are not yet open for registration, we’ve finalized our schedule for the first half of 2023 so you can plan ahead, should you wish to take a learning opportunity.

One of the biggest advantages of this online learning format is not having to leave your home. You have all your fabrics handy, you can walk the dog, feed the cat, have your Significant Other cook you supper (and tend to your every need throughout the course of the week?). It also eliminates the potential hassle and expense of travel.

However it is you choose to learn fabric collage, I hope you can join me in my studio in December, and into 2023!


Fly on the Wall: Susan Carlson Studio Watch 2022-2023

I have scheduled three new month-long Fly on the Wall: Susan Carlson Studio Watch series. The first, this December 2022, will continue my lace-collaged polar bear “Winfrieda.” The second Fly on the Wall series in January, may be popular with those interested in portraiture—as I create a portrait of my mom, Meta, as a shining sun. The subject of the third series in May is yet to be determined.

• Fly on the Wall—December: Winfrieda #2
December 1, 8, 15, 22, 2022
$78
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

All those who sign up for this upcoming December Fly on the Wall series will be given access to an hour-long video combining the four opening slideshow presentations from the October Winfrieda series #1 (see beginning and end photos above). This will allow those who may have missed the first series to easily catch up to where the second series will begin.

For those who previously registered for Winfrieda #1 in October, you already have access to the full recordings of those weekly sessions. Check your mailbox for an email from Zoom with the links or contact Tom ([email protected]).

Want to know more about what Winfrieda the polar bear is all about? See below, for the recorded free introductory session released prior to the October series.

• Fly on the Wall—January: Sunshine Oma
January 5, 12, 19, 26, 2023
$98
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

To begin 2023, I’ve set a goal for myself to collage a portrait of my lovely mama (a.k.a. Oma) as a radiant sun face—to have ready for her 90th birthday at the end of January.

I know that quite a few of you, my readers, are also interested in pursuing this sort of personal adaptation to both my sun and moon patterns. With that in mind, I’m thinking that some of you may be interested in “working along” with me throughout the month of January. If so, I suggest you sit back and take in my Fly on the Wall portrait as a demo to give you ideas for your own version.

Therefore, in addition to the slideshow, demo, Q&A, and full recordings of the four presentations, registrants will also receive all of the following:

• A free PDF of my Sun Portrait pattern.

• Free access to the Thursday Night in My Studio Live! recorded presentation (see preview below) that explains how to adapt my Sun Face pattern to a photo of a particular person.

• And a $20 discount for a one-on-one coaching session scheduled for January or February 2023—in case you’re interested in specialized help with your own work-along creation.

If desired, the video previewed above can also be purchased without Fly on the Wall registration through this link. If you attended my 2020 Thursday Night in My Studio Live! presentations, you may already own the recording—check your vimeo.com account.


Save the Dates: New 5-Day Live Online Classes

In the final weeks of both March and May 2023, I’ll be offering different versions of my online class. Registration for these Live Online Classes will begin in January, 2023—I’ll keep you informed. So for now, check out the descriptions below and pencil the dates into your datebook if you’re interested.

If you already know you’d like to take an online class with me, please email Tom ([email protected]) with “online class” in the subject line and he’ll add you to our “Expressions of Interest” list to receive a separate email notice when registration is open, prior to a regular blog post notice.

All online classes require ownership of my Online Fabric Collage Master Class as reference material prior to, during, and after class has ended.

For the first time ever, I will be offering a portraits-only class. Portraits of people—usually people we know and/or love—are the most difficult of fabric collage pieces because we hope to make them look like the person, of course. In order to open up more class time to focus on specific portraiture issues, I’m limiting this particular class to 8 students.

I’m also classifying it as “intermediate level” as I feel that students need to have a certain amount of familiarity with fabric collage (as I teach it)—either through previous classes with me or independent work through my book, Serendipity Quilts, or my Online Fabric Collage Master Class.

Best thing would be to email Tom ([email protected]) with “portraits only online class” in the subject line, with any questions you may have.

• Portraits Only
June 26-30, 2023
$1490
Class size: 8 max—intermediate level

This class is for those who would like to create a fabric collage portrait of a person. The smaller class size will allow me to provide extra focus on and extra assistance for this often challenging subject matter. For more information see the description of my Live Online Fabric Collage Classes.

• Animals Only
May 29-June 2, 2023
$995
Class size: 12 max—all levels

This class deals with animal subjects—furred, feathered, or scaled—pets, exotic animals, birds, sea life, sea slugs, whatever type of animal appeals to you. For more information see the description of my Live Online Fabric Collage Classes.

• All Subjects (previously posted and filled)
January 30-February 3, 2023
This class is now full, please contact Tom ([email protected]) to add your name to waiting list if you are interested.
$995
Class size: 12 max—all levels