We are going to celebrate the Dog Days of Summer with a few Finish Line fabric collage quilts—including the finished version of the in-progress happy canine by Kathy Harvey, in the photo above. Certainly enjoy these quilts for their beauty, but please take the time to read about each one and learn about the challenges their creators faced. The three artists featured here today are sharing more than their art, they’re sharing their experience.
There’s often a lesson to be learned or a tip to be gleaned from the students’ stories. Take your time, maybe sit back with an iced cuppa, take in and appreciate what these ladies have done. There may be something that you can apply to your next project. And if you would like to share your own finished fabric collage quilt, please click on button below. Thanks!
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Enjoy, and a thank you for sharing to Linda, Cheri, and Kathy! Happy Summertime everyone.
Linda Draft
I met Linda Draft of Kenosha, WI, where she began this colorful specimen in a class at Woodland Ridge Retreat, Downsville, WI, September 2022. You can see that this is not a large collage—all the more impressive with all the intricate detail Linda was able to include on this great memory quilt. You can see from Linda’s pre-class drawing below, that she never intended this bird to be it’s natural colors—but still there’s no doubt in our minds that this is a bald eagle—I love that.
Remember that in this post and all others, you can click on the smaller photos to see them larger. You may want to look closer at how Linda created the spray of water as the fish is dragged out of the water. Very effective.
From Linda:
I read Serendipity Quilts several years ago and then in 2021 I had an individual zoom session with Susan that made all the difference in my first attempt at Collage Quilting. Starting in January of 2022, I studied all her videos, pictures and text through the Master Class Manual and had the honor of attending a class last September at Woodland Ridge Retreat. Susan’s ability to teach what she’s learned through her own fabric journey is amazing and made all the difference in my work. So grateful for her sharing her expertise so willingly.
The inspiration for this quilt was a photo by Richard Bagdasarian who graciously gave me permission to use his work in December of 2021. I began preparing to create Scout, drawing the muslin tracing, experimenting with the colors I wanted to use, gathering fabric and deciding on the background.
Unbeknownst to me, the quilt would take on greater meaning when in May of 2022, we traveled to Alaska and my sisters-in-laws went on an excursion. While on the speedboat headed to an island, they were offered the opportunity to throw a frozen fish into the water. They did, and an eagle came swooping out of the trees and picked it up right in front of them, just like in Richard’s photo. So the quilt is a memory of the great times we had.
I am so happy with the final result, but that wouldn’t have happened if Susan hadn’t lended her expertise daily during the September class. I can tell you I became an expert at ungluing! (A skill that made the final result meet my expectations.). It was also her artistic ability redesigning Scout’s head that made him an eagle with an eye that’s realistic and worthy of a majestic eagle.
Cheri Artz
You can see more lovely and fanciful work by Cheri Artz of Taylors, SC, and how it has progressed over the years, in these three past Finish Line posts, dating back to December 2020: Fabric Collage Finish Line #86, Fabric Collage Finish Line No. 74, and Fabric Collage Finish Line: Online Submissions 17.
What strikes me as I look at this newest collage of Cheri’s is the sweetness she has given to Jeffree. She chose softly colored, but still interestingly patterned, floral prints for his body—which seem to say he had a sweet personality. And then there are those deep and soulful eyes. But also note how well she interpreted his legs. We understand they are (maybe) draped over the edge of a couch or bed, though she didn’t include any furniture. She drew and interpreted what she saw very well—including the narrowing of his far leg, which was (probably) pushing into the softness of the surface. That alone gives Jeffree some subtle yet nice visual “weight,” though I think I see the addition of a little bit of a black tulle shadow cast by his legs and body? Nice final touch.
From Cheri:
I have been following Susan’s blogs, her Thursday Nights in My Studio Live, and the Patreon Show & Share. These are all quite helpful, but especially the Show & Share. I have another commitment most 2nd Tuesdays of the month which makes it hard to join in live, so I really appreciate being able to watch them later. Thank you!!
Jeffree was my sister-in-law’s dog. He died just about the time I was getting started on this quilt. I wasn’t sure I’d get it done in time for Christmas, but it came together quickly at the end. My husband and kids say, “Yep. It looks just like Jeffree.” This was my 4th fabric collage quilt, so some things about the process have gotten easier, but each one has its own challenges. Thank you, Susan and Tom, for all you do to help us with our projects!
Kathy Harvey
See more of Kathy’s work in these posts: On the Road Teaching: Fabric Collage Week #2 in Santa Fe, NM—May 2022, and On the Road: Madeline Island, WI—September 2018.
As Kathy Harvey of Centertown, Missouri, says below, the portrait of her husband (above) began with the portrait of her son (below) in a class four years earlier. Below right, is Kathy with the beginnings of “Dennis and Milo,” which you can see she collaged separately to join later in the process. This is a great example of the benefit of tight cropping of your subject matter. Kathy’s original photo included much more of her husband and their dog. By including only their heads in the collage portrait, she could enlarge her drawings enough to work comfortably with all those little fabric pieces, and still end up with a finished quilt that isn’t overwhelming in size.
From Kathy:
I started this picture of my husband and his dog in a class with Susan last May in Santa Fe thru the Madeline Island School of the Arts. This was my third class with Susan. I had previously attended a class at Empty Spools and one actually at Madeline Island. I own both books and have seen many of her blog posts.
I had done a picture of our son in 2018 and my husband started begging for one of him, so I finally relented and this is it. He thinks his dog looks great but that he himself doesn’t really look like that… flowers on his forehead and green and orange skin! After auditioning numerous backgrounds, I ended up with this piece of hand dyed fabric which is so far from where I thought I’d be. The dog was challenging since she is basically all one color, that made me realize how important the photographs were and next time I will take better pictures!
Definitely take a closer look at some of these photos as well—especially to see how Kathy used the prints in her fabrics for the facial contours of both man and his best friend. At one point, Dennis was a bit of a porcupine.
If you are interested in exploring fabric collage in a concentrated five day virtual workshop, there is space available in my upcoming Online Fabric Collage—All Levels class (with a maximum of only 10 students) to be held near the end of September 2023. 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, August 4, 2023. Click here for details of both classes.