Cicadas, butterflies and June bugs, oh my! Maine in September means the daily temperatures aren’t reaching quite as high, the nights cool off a bit more, and the tourist level has slowed down. But, the crickets are still chirping, the dragonflies are still flying, I have one more monarch butterfly that needs to emerge from its chrysalis, and the collage bug submissions from students in my Fascinating Bugs and Butterflies Follow-Along continue to flow into our email box. Life is good.
Actually, you could say that “life is groovy,” according to the bug that Grace Crocker submitted (detail above). Her daughter Bonnie’s bug (following Grace’s below), is self-described as “wonky.” All the bugs in this third installment of submissions are amazingly bedecked in colors and patterns that include: regal lace robes, lunar-lit wings, and pattern-filled parts. They have evolved from simple line-drawings to multi-colored dimensional creatures that are truly… fascinating.
Another thank you to all those who have sent in photos of their work and the entertaining stories to go with them. Sharing the love of fabric collage has been a great way to wind down the summer season. If you haven’t already, please do check out the other two Fascinating Bugs and Butterflies Follow-Along Results posts here: Part 1, Part 2.
It’s hard to believe, but it’s been less than a month since this Thursday Night class series ended—so much progress has been made on these collages already. Most are still in progress, but some are getting finished already. If you took the class, keep sending in your submissions—send us updates as well—there will be time to get more buggy posts out before the snow flies. If you missed the class but have been inspired by the bug and butterfly collages you’ve been seeing, send your work in too—and share the love.
Peace Out—and Keep on Collaging.
Learning resources include: Fantastical Fish eWorkshop, Serendipity Quilts, Spiral eWorkshop, Facial Features eWorkshop, Fabric Collage Master Class, 5-day Live Online Zoom Classes, and my patterns (including fish and sun/moon patterns).
Grace Crocker
From Grace Crocker of Chico, CA:
I was not interested in doing an insect but thoroughly enjoy these sessions with Susan. At my daughter’s suggestion I decided on this “ bug.” Fun to do and it was interesting how many positive comments came from others who had once owned a “bug.” Adding hippie signage and a tye-dyed background was my final route to the era.
Bonnie Crocker
From Bonnie Crocker of Chico, California:
Meet Wonky Bob. I found him while browsing a public-domain website. Jaundiced and drawn with a slightly misshapen form. I knew instantly that Bob was the bug for me. My first attempts at collage were awkward and like Bob, a wee bit wonky. Learning the vital role color value plays was an epiphany. Experiencing how forgiving Susan’s technique is, was another. I had planned for Bob to be a ‘steampunk’ bug. As I worked, that wasn’t happening, so I let him develop more organically. I’m quite pleased with the results. Susan’s “Fascinating Bugs and Butterflies” class was informative, inspiring, and a ton of fun. I highly recommend her classes to everyone.
Kathleen Howard
From Kathleen Howard of Santa Cruz County, California:
I had seen Susan and her amazing collaged quilts in Houston when she was a featured artist. Her ability to paint with little pieces of fabric went straight to my heart. In 2019 I bought myself a birthday present, her Master Class Manual. The pandemic hit, and a small, silver lining emerged…the ability to take weekly online classes from Susan. From those moment on, I was hooked on fabric collage.
A few years ago I took a photo of a June Bug hanging on the quarter-inch wire enclosing my chicken coop. Below the chickens were gazing upward, curious and probably wondering if he would fall inside. (He because, around here, most female June Bugs stay safe inside their sand burrows and the males do more flying around searching for a mate.) I had many thoughts about this June Bug, starting and then removing several versions. When I realized that he might be an endangered Mount Hermon June Bug, a native of Santa Cruz County, I thought I should make him more regal, with robes reflecting his beautiful, royal coloring. And besides, bugs are often beautiful. But I was stuck. So I took the opportunity of the “Bugs and Butterflies” class to become inspired and work on my June Bug. It is not finished, still full of pins and some of the drawing fabric still attached, but I am happy with his progress so far. I was inspired by Susan’s Polar Bear to use lace. I purchased and dyed lace close to his natural colors. I had to build a fabric base in the right colors to lay the lace upon, so that the white of the drawing fabric would not show. I sublimated photographs of my chickens onto sheer curtain fabric to try to give the impression of them on the ground below. Third draft ahead…
Dawn Anderson
From Dawn Andersen of Grafton, NY:
I started this in Susan’s Fascinating Bugs and Butterflies online workshop. I think one of the best parts of the class was listening to Susan as she worked through selecting each fabric. One of the best lessons for me was “trying” to accept that it didn’t have to be perfect the first time around. I sell online and everything I make has to be perfect so this has been a challenge for me. I think I’m getting there though…
Sue Weidenthal
From Sue Weidenthal of Alabama:
It’s a “skill – in– progress”! After watching various YouTube videos, and trying some different collage techniques at home, I took Susan Carlson’s class in Tucson! I have just watched all the videos from the “bugs and butterflies” class and am attempting this Creepy Crawley (eww). I had to have her Serendipity book rebound as it was falling apart from constant use! Additionally, the Master Class, a prerequisite of the collage class in Tucson, has been a godsend. I read and watch, and then reread and rewatch, and get more out of the direction each time.
This insect came from Susan’s online class. She kept saying “go bigger”, and so I did. Eek!
I had decided to do the body orange, which I realized would touch on red and yellow. The farther I got into the body, the more it evolved! I don’t see the heavy orange I had envisioned! I am stopping here, will glue it down, and then will move onto the wings. I intend for them to be blue, with touches of purple and even some green… And I’m anxious to see what actually occurs when I start getting pieces up there!
Regarding my “a-ha” moments:
There are so many! First and foremost, I need to learn to commit to a pallet. I struggle with limitations because there are so many beautiful pieces of fabric, and I’m having a hard time seeing how they might blend once they’re actually on my canvas. I am doing better, but I have a long way to go! I guess the important part is that I finally realize the importance of committing to this step.
Neil Jackman
From Neil Jackman of Maclean, NSW, Australia:
I had done a couple of collage quilts then found out about the “Fly on the wall” sessions which I totally enjoyed and gained a lot of information. I had always thought that I really needed to start using colours and patterns from different fabrics and when I found out that Susan was doing Bugs and Butterflies, I decided this would be the ideal opportunity to try this.
It was great being able to use the same pattern as we were watching on the zoom meetings and after seeing what Susan did, it was then great fun to try this out on my own version. It was a challenge to use different fabrics that I normally wouldn’t use but decided to go with a selection of Australian indigenous fabrics and I am happy with how it is turning out. I also thought the wings might have looked a bit heavy so decided to try using some lace as in the right-hand wing which certainly helps. Now to finish the wings, put some interest into the background and then the final touches.
Our next Thursday Night offering begins next week with:
Fly on the Wall: Susan Carlson Studio Watch—African Wax-Print Fabric Collage Leopard—Part 2
September 12 & 19, October 10 & 17, 2024—7:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Each session will last roughly 1-1/2 hours.
All sessions will be recorded for viewing later if you cannot attend one or more.
Price: $78
USE THIS LINK TO REGISTER
For more information click here.
Be a “Fly on the Wall” as I continue to work on my African wax-print fabric collage leopard, now named T’swana. I began this fabric portrait last November, in a previous Fly on the Wall: Studio Watch series. Within those four weeks, I finished the first draft of her facial features, as you see above—and below, in a short overview of the the first four sessions.
I love the FIsh, birds, frog and ladybug EYES!! So creative!