I’m finally catching up on posting about this year’s online classes, the last of which ended just a week ago. A week ago is also when we began registration for a variety of online offerings that begin next month in November, and run into June of 2024. If you are interested in delving deeper into fabric collage, more information is linked below.
However, today’s post is all about my Live Online October class that was full of students that had had prior experience through my fabric collage classes. As a multi-class-student, Grace Crocker said, “The fact that I was acquainted with each participant, either from a prior class or Patreon sessions, made it feel like a class reunion. This interaction was really special.” She hit the nail on the head with that comment, just like she hit the mark with the pink wig on her smiling grandson (above)—a tribute to October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
There are more smiles below in the work and stories of last week’s students who called themselves “Susan’s Angels”—but first, a word from our sponsor…
Registration Open for Live Online Classes and Fly on the Wall: Susan Carlson Studio Watch
For more details about these fabric collage learning opportunities, visit this link.
February 26-March 1, 2024—Live Online Class: All Levels, Animals Only
June 3-7, 2024—Live Online Class: Intermediate and Advanced Levels, Open Subject Matter
November 9, 2023—7:00 p.m. Eastern Time—Fly on the Wall: Winfrieda Third Draft Wrap Up—Free Event
November 16 & 30, December 7 & 14, 2023—7:00 p.m. Eastern Time—Fly on the Wall: African Fabric Leopard
February 1, 8, 15, and 22, 2024—7:00 p.m. Eastern Time—Fly on the Wall: Quilter’s Trophy Fish
And now back to our regularly scheduled post.
October 2023 Live Online Class—the Angels and the Devils
Susan’s Angels
Those of us that are at the age where we remember watching a particular 1970’s crime drama series (though there have been a few movie remakes since then), will get the reference of “Susan’s Angels” (maybe it should have been “Susie’s Angels”?). Anyway, here’s the plot of this episode: a fabric collage artist named Susan runs an online class via Zoom with her personal assistant, Tom. Her students are three talented women, who have taken on the difficult task of creating a variety of portraits. Wielding duckbill scissors and Aileen’s Tacky Glue they thwart their adversaries as the fabric scraps pile up in their wake.
Grace Crocker
Grace is from Chico, California, and has become a regular member of our online collage drama series. So much so that she has her own spin-off post—The Fabric Collage Quilts of Grace Crocker—a full-length show-stopper of her prolific collage work, completed over the past two years.
From Grace:
I particularly enjoyed the pre class coaching sessions, this time around. Several of us participated and we were able to hear the whole story about the quilt. Since we were all experienced collagers we even got to put in our two cents worth. It was like an early start to the class.
It was Breast Cancer Awareness month and I wanted to recreate a photo that was taken 24 years ago. When this was taken I was recovering from a double mastectomy and my oldest grandson was determined to make me smile. He did!
This was not my first portrait but I have never done teeth. I watched the [Facial Features eWorkshop] video and it was really helpful. I only had to do my “dental work” three times to get what I wanted.
Show-and-Share Fabric Collage Quilts by Grace Crocker (Click on any photo to see them larger). Many other quilts by Grace can be seen in this blog post: The Fabric Collage Quilts of Grace Crocker.
When we had our show-and-share evening, Grace wanted others to see something besides a collage from her, such as the stained-glass window quilt below. After all, Grace was quilting for 30 years before discovering fabric collage!
Mary McKay
Mary McKay of Palm Desert, California, took on two assignments in this return series—accepting a new double portrait challenge while wrapping up the elusive mystery and future of Oliver the Galapagos Giant Tortoise. Read on to learn how these colorful episodes unfold.
Part One
From Mary:
Values and texture are now part of my collage vocabulary.
Mary allowed her fabric to speak beautifully as she collaged the face of her daughter, Murphy—or at least as much of it as we can see—buried in the curly fur of Strider.
The photos above demonstrate the making of a very nice dog nose—note the use of a dark green velvet that adds a cool visual texture.
Part Two
As part of Oliver the Tortoise’s final touches, a bit of nose work was done as well—contrast was added under his nose to bring out the light edge of the top of his gaping maw, against the dark of the roof of his mouth.
From Mary:
Oliver’s lovely shell does not show in the photo—just buckets of leathery, wrinkled, crinkly, aged skin. I tried oceans of fabric in every dark value and print I could find to create skin. None of them worked with the rest of him.
I decided to either quit—no harm, no foul—or crop. Susan had a lot of input. Because of cropping, Oliver will now lead his best collage life possible.
See an earlier stage of Mary’s Oliver, plus links to more of her work from another class breakout room with my Angels, Grace and Brenda, all in this post.
Show-and-Share Fabric Collage Quilts by Mary McKay (Click on any photo to see them larger)
Brenda Carter
Finishing up my trio of angels is Brenda Carter of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. Brenda has the looks of a mild-mannered quilter, but when she sets her sights on some rogue fabric, it soon surrenders to her sheers. She’s a formidable force—creative and otherwise—as she launches into this portrait of her husband, Cal.
From Brenda:
I chose a portrait of my husband Cal, and call this fabric collage “SantaCal.” I have always and still do enjoy the vintage Norman Rockwell prints/paintings especially the Santa pictures. I was suddenly diagnosed with brain cancer about 3 years ago. Everything in my life, husband, family and even my cat ‘Keenu’ (now into his 18th year) drastically changed. I was only given 2 weeks to live unless I went through 3 heavy doses of chemotherapy followed by a stem cell replacement.
I was in hospital for 6 months that was a far distance from our home. My husband Cal and Keenu had to stay all this time in a hotel. This was in very restricted covid times every way we turned. My husband supported me every single day supporting me through thick and thin. I believe my husband experienced more stress and hardship seeing me that way. I think it was harder for him then for me. I am positive Cal’s ‘military background and attitude’ had kicked in to get us through all this.
Once we survived this turmoil in our lives (including Keenu) and released from hospital, I said to Cal that it was time to let loose. Part of ‘letting loose’ included Cal growing his hair and beard and looking into the future. This portrait means a lot to me and shows love, hope, and ‘funkiness’! SantaCal is not your ordinary Santa portrait but very unique in its own special way– just like us! Every day is a journey and a blessing.
Show-and-Share Fabric Collage Quilts by Brenda Carter (Click on any photo to see them larger).
And since Halloween is just days away, I’ll end with this spooky collage quilt by Brenda, who calls herself a “Disney freak.”
May the spirits be with you.
Such beautiful work! I love seeing the work everyone produces! It is amazing to me what can be done with fabric. I am definitely a beginner quilter, but hope to one day expand into fabric collage once I have the basics down. I already have your books on a wish list ❤️. And I continue to pray for you and have added your three angels to my prayer list!
How fun! LOVE the work these ladies do. It was a bit like a reunion for me to see projects they worked on in the class I ‘attended’ earlier this year.