NOT On the Road: May 2023 Live Online Fabric Collage Class—Part 2: Progress Not Perfection

When I began teaching fabric collage more than three decades ago, I never could have imagined teaching any way other than in person. Whether I was traveling to a venue such as Empty Spools in California or cooking up my own retreats here in Maine, the in person model was the only one I knew or could imagine working. I mean how could you replicate actually picking up a piece of fabric and running your scissors through it?

But that was before the internet (in the olden days) and before a pandemic (also in the olden days) forced us all online. I had the first inkling that something like my Live Online Classes might be possible shortly before the shutdown of 2020, when I took a video meeting with a representative from a little company called Zoom. Imagine that company having a sales force idle enough to take a call from a small business like mine! Wouldn’t happen today. At the time, we still couldn’t figure out how teaching fabric collage online might be done. We thanked the Zoom representative and said we’d get back to them.

But then during lockdown we did a series of things that all added up to make what seemed the impossible possible. We hosted 28 weeks of hour-long (Zoom) presentations, Thursday Night in My Studio Live!, which got both me and my audience used to using the technology. Tom and I learned which microphones and cameras and lighting work best. Then I learned how to use the Zoom annotation technology during my added one-on-one online coaching. For those who don’t know, coaching works like this: My students send in photos and I use the annotation tools to mark up their image, the fabrics, and progress photos. We record the session so students can review it at any later date.

That combination of technology and unexpected online experiences led to nine Live Online Classes Tom and I have so far hosted since 2021. I can’t imagine going back to teaching only in person ever again. Sure, in many ways online is easier for me (and often for students)—no travel stress or costs—but more importantly it’s effective. There have been certain situations where I would say the online teaching has been a better solution than in person.

So I am grateful that we figured out this solution to teaching fabric collage. It has enabled me to continue to reach people, such as my May 2023 class participants, at times when it would have been difficult to schedule time away from home. And, I’m reaching people that for their own reasons, would not be able to take one of my in-person classes at all.

If you are interested in exploring fabric collage in a concentrated five day virtual workshop as well, check out my upcoming All Levels class (with a maximum of only 10 students) to be held near the end of September. Click here for details.

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In today’s post we continue covering the May 2023 class with a visit to the second of the three breakout rooms named “Progress Not Perfection.” Previously we visited the “Diggers,” and next week we’ll be welcomed into the “Animal House.”

The foxy collage above was created by Liz Chronister, one of the Progress Not Perfection ladies. Liz has kept working on the fox since class ended and the progress you see above was recently submitted for feedback on our monthly Patreon Show-and-Share Zoom meeting.

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Progress Not Perfection

Of the ten students in this May class, six of them were first-time students of mine. Of those six, three of them had subjects of the canine/feline variety, so that’s how I decided on the breakout room divisions. This way, when I talked about what exactly a fur-surrounded nose looked like, they all could listen in.

These ladies named their group “Progress Not Perfection.” I liked the way their name was a reminder for all of us, including myself, that our goal is to move forward in an understanding of the process of fabric collage, not to achieve perfection. Perfection, if there even is such a thing, is not going to be reached in the first week a new technique or art form is attempted. That’s going to take more time. But hopefully by the end of the week, we all have made progress—and we’ve had some fun, too.

At the end of every class we host, we ask for feedback from the students, much of which helps us hone our online teaching format. We also love to share their comments with you—at least all the good stuff! Liz Chronister gave us the following comments about the breakout rooms and online class experience in general:

I loved the breakout rooms!  I was paired with two nice women and we have continued to stay in touch a bit and offer each other encouragement.  I’m sending some fabric to one of them that I think she’ll be able to use in her collage of her dog.  I liked that we got individual time with Susan and also time to hear feedback she gave to other students.  I loved that I could be home and have my fabric at hand and be able to let the dogs out, etc.  It was perfect honestly.

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Rebecca Robbins

Joined us from Towson, Maryland.

There are moments when I arrive back in a breakout room to see and address the progress that’s been made and I am absolutely tickled by what I see. Such was the case with the butterfly wings that Rebecca was inspired to use for her cat Holmes’ whiskery puffs of cheek—and the medallions that added to the roundness—and the Kaffe Fasset cabbage leaf bridge of his nose—and the checkerboard eyelashes. Those things show me that Rebecca is really looking at her fabrics and finding the areas of pattern that help her create Holmes’ portrait.

The original sketch that Rebecca drew of Holmes (lower left above) showed his muzzle a bit too elongated. A nice drawing for sure, but not quite “Holmes.” This is where the pre-class coaching is so handy—I could catch that before class began and Rebecca had a few days to re-draw. The edited drawing is unmistakably Holmes.

Below, Rebecca began with his eyes, using the soft variegation of a perfect cat-eye batik to begin the process on day one. And look at that cute little nose!

 

Questions to and answers from Rebecca:

What was your favorite moment of class?
I loved every second.
Did you achieve the goals you set for yourself in this class?
I believe so. I had no specific goal other than to learn.

At the end of day five, Rebecca and I talked about her next steps and about a background for Holmes. In the screenshot below, I got just a little carried away with the fun of annotation, suggesting a rainbow of color that gives contrast to his yellow and purple (complementary) color theme.

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Kelley Neumann

Joined us from Denver, Colorado.

Kelley is one of those students who is an artist with a background in another medium—it’s not uncommon for a painter to be attracted to a class of mine—but Kelley is a potter. In a way, I can relate to how one might hand-build a relief in pottery with how I’d cut and place layers of fabric. I don’t know how Kelley works with clay and teaches pottery, but I wonder if she’d agree.

In our questionnaire, Kelley replied:

I know almost nothing about fabrics. I do and teach pottery, and grew up in an artist’s home. I have only been to online classes about technical issues, but I think you did a great job! I liked the way you organized it with two meetings with each student, and allowing each person to decide if they wanted to watch [as you met with others in the class].

 

I’m working on a photo of my good friend Tish! She’s my puppy and spends 100% of her time taking care of me.

Again, just like with Rebecca’s cat, pre-class coaching and the annotations I could make, helped to tighten up the drawing of Titian that Kelley worked with.

I liked when you got to see the overlay that Susan would impose on a photo with her suggestions. Very helpful!

I love the yellow fabrics that Kelley is adding to her white and cream colored pup. Already, Titian is looking so very happy, and (at least to me), yellows help bring out a sunny disposition of a good friend.

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Liz Chronister

Joined us from Columbia, Missouri.

When asked about her subject, Liz said:

I initially chose the fox because I didn’t want an animal that I had an emotional attachment to for fear I would get caught up trying to make it perfect.  However, as time went on I realized that “Lowell” meant much more to me than just a typical stock photo.

 

My goal was to get out of my comfort zone and do something I normally wouldn’t have the guts to try.  I also wanted a project like I had never done before that would allow me to be totally immersed in the process and this certainly did that.  I have an incredible amount to learn and I’m loving it!

Liz used the prints in her fabrics in the “perfect” way—as furry contours, as contrast with each other, and as blenders to connect one value or color with another.

I meant to add that I loved being able to print off or take pictures of the suggestions Susan gave in our individual meetings. Was so helpful and much easier than trying to interpret my notes. I think for the fall class I’ll try actually taping the feedback sessions. Great teaching method!!

Prior to class, Liz played with fabric collage in the pieces you see below—canine royalty and a crescent moon portrait based on my pattern, found on my website and in my book, Serendipity Quilts. I believe that these sorts of projects are a great way to get more comfortable with collage—to train your eyes, hands, and brain to see the possibilities in your fabrics.

In addition to the class questionnaire, Liz sent Tom and I the letter below. We debated whether to even ask if we could publish it—it’s very personal to her, and to me. But as Tom saw it, it’s exactly why we do what we do in spreading the knowledge, joy, personal potential, and often the therapy of fabric collage. Liz is happy for us to share this with you—I know that there are those of you out there who know exactly what she means. I know I do. Thank you, Liz.

First off, thank you so much for the time and effort you both put in to making this online class so informative and enjoyable. I was completely exhausted by the end of the day but loved every minute of it. Thank you!

Now for the reason I’m writing. My Mom died a year ago and that loss at times has seemed unbearable. I knew the day would eventually come, after all I’m 64 and understand that losing ones parents is expected. However I was in no way prepared for the level of grief I felt in the coming months. It was during the pandemic, I was recently retired and so many of my friends were still working, etc etc. The days were long. Then one night I had a dream. In the dream I saw my Mom at a place in Missouri where we always had our family reunions. It’s a beautiful spring fed river… in fact I’m sure Heaven must look something like it. Anyway, all of our family was with my Mom in the dream and they were having a great time laughing and visiting. Everyone was young. I was up in a tall tree and was looking on watching this and feeling so happy knowing that Mom was okay and having a great time. Then she turned and looked right where I was, pointed to me and said, “I am having a wonderful time, everything is great here, I’m so happy. Now you go out and live your life”. What a sense of relief and letting go!!!

I have never consider myself artistic, although I have always admired artists and other creatives. After that dream I remembered seeing your work online and loving your style and what you do with color. Taking a class in your type of collage would have never been something I would have remotely considered prior to that dream. But I took a leap and signed up and got out of my comfort zone and allowed myself to live a bit and enjoy life again. And it worked!

This past week [of class] I’ve found myself waking up at all hours of the night, thinking about color and blending and the shapes of things that I was using to work on my fox. Last night I woke up and thought about background. I decided that in back of him it will be dark greens of a forest, maybe looking like rain. But he is a bit in the sun. He represents my journey through grief. He even has a name now, Lowell (my Mom’s name was Lowena).

Anyway, I wanted to tell you this as your class truly helped me in ways that likely weren’t apparent. I know that you are dealing with your own loss of your dear Mom and I hope that knowing how much you helped me brings you a bit of comfort.

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Please join us next week as we continue through May’s online classroom to visit the last of the three breakout rooms with more in-progress fabric collage projects.

Don’t forget our September online class for all levels. There is also an October class for advanced students, but only one spot out of eight in that class is still remaining as of yesterday evening, July 21, 2023. Click here for details of both classes.