Fabric Collage Finish Line #87: Portraits

If you really want to challenge your fabric collage skills, try making a portrait. Portraits of family members or other recognizable people are especially challenging. It’s hard enough to master the features of a generic face. Getting the eyes, nose and mouth of your your darling grandchild just right ups the anxiety meter to 100.

But the results can be worth the effort, as is evident in today’s selection of Finish Line Quilts, such as Mary McKay’s double portrait of her grandson and the family dog (detail above), Grace Crocker’s portrait of her husband, and Ann Carr’s fanciful Sea Goddess portrait. I’ve worked closely with all these ladies and can honestly say they are as lovely and fun and colorful as their portrait collages—thank you for sharing your quilts and stories with us.

If you too would like to submit your own finished fabric collage quilt to display in a Finish Line post, please click on button below. Thanks!

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Mary McKay

Mary McKay of Palm Desert, California is a long-time supporter, having taken several classes with me and is a frequent user of my Fabric Collage Coaching. This quilt grew from a combination of an in-person class, online class, and coaching sessions. Mary doesn’t mention that the shadowy figures in the background are Jason’s parents, watching over the snuggly pair.

From Mary:

Who doesn’t love a puppy? My grandson is holding the family’s new puppy, Strider. Strider should probably be named Socks because he ate enough of them to need emergency surgery. If you search carefully, you may two hidden socks in his fur. I enjoyed making this quilt. Susan provided so much experience, help, encouragement, patience, both online and in the class in Santa Fe.

Grace Crocker

Grace Crocker of Chico, CA, was a student in one of my online classes about a year ago, and her name pops up in many other online offerings. She also takes great advantage as a Patreon supporter of the monthly Show and Share Zoom sessions I host, in which I give feedback on in-progress fabric collage quilts (see image below). She sometimes calls me “The Quilt Whisperer.”

From Grace:

My husband acquired the nickname, Crossfox, while working in the Yukon in the late ‘40s, due to his red beard and sun-bleached hair. He purchased this hat in Mexico in 1973 and it was his standby for 20 years, until he ran over it with the tractor! Loved the squinty eyes as he looked over Vancouver. Susan helped me, on Patreon, get them just the way I wanted them.

Ann Carr

Ann Carr from Taunton, Massachusetts, began this quilt during my last in-person Maine Quilt Retreat in October 2019. There is a definite sea-goddess theme in this portrait, with sea shells and other sea-life decorating her flowing locks.

From Ann:

I wanted to do a “goddess” quilt. I wanted to learn faces without having it look exactly like someone I know. I felt I didn’t have the skill level for that. It was loads of fun, but challenging at times.

Ann Carr

Ann Carr

Ann Carr

Ann Carr

Ann Carr

Last September, Ann attended one of my latest in-person classes, where she began a double portrait of Beauty and the Beast. Obviously, Ann is going for the fantasy element in her portraiture—check out her latest beauty-full in-progress fabric collage here.

And In this post, “The Eyes Have It,” both Grace’s portrait and Ann’s Beauty and Beast quilts are used as examples for fabric collaged eyes.

Space Available in May 2023 Live Online Class

You are invited to join me via Zoom for a 5-Day Live Online Fabric Collage Class. This class is for all levels of fabric collage proficiency, from beginner to advanced. The class runs May 29–June 2, 2023.

I have included the number of spots available for the following May-June class and will do my best to update this number in this post as it changes. If you find on the registration page that the class is sold out and would like to be placed on a waitlist, please email Tom ([email protected]). Thank you.

CLASS DESCRIPTION: Five-Day Live Online Fabric Collage Classes (Animals Only)

Price: $995 per student

Required Class Fee: $169 for the Fabric Collage Master Class—an online resource “manual” to refer to before, during, and after class—yours for life ($199 regular price; contact tom@tomallenbooks for coupon code for discount. This fee is waived if you already own the Master Class)

Hardware and Software Requirements: Computer, tablet, or other larger-screen device; reliable internet; ability to photograph and send images of collage in progress (a cellphone is recommended); Zoom meeting software (free to download)

Maximum Number of students: 12

Subject Matter: This class deals with animal subjects—furred, feathered, or scaled—pets, exotic animals, birds, insects, sea life, sea slugs, whatever type of animal appeals to you.

Included: Forty-five minute private pre-class coaching session to prepare you for Day One of class.

See links below for more information.