This was the class that wouldn’t be divided. In my Live Online Classes I have between eight and twelve students. I typically organize them by subject or other theme and divide them into two or three Zoom “breakout rooms.” This has worked great. Students can talk among themselves without interrupting other people’s feedback or they can “escape” by muting themselves while they work.
For at least a couple years now, we’ve given attendees the ability to move from one breakout room to the other so that they could hear the feedback I was giving to the other students. Students have told us they often learn unexpected and important things listening in like this. Once we gave everyone the ability to switch breakout rooms, it was pretty evenly divided by those who followed me from one breakout room to another, and those who preferred to stay in their own assigned room.
However, from day one, my October 2024 Live Online Class participants would not be separated. On Monday Tom created the usual breakout rooms and they split up, but that lasted about a half an hour before they were all in the same room with me. This continued all day—everyone shifting together from one virtual room to another. On Tuesday, Tom created an optional “Escape Room” where anyone could go if they wanted some peace and quiet. By Wednesday, Tom had given up, not bothering to create any breakout rooms at all.
Here’s the tight-knit group below—each one so very enjoyable to work with. Thank you, ladies.
In lieu of breakout rooms there still needs to be some sort of organization to the direction I “walk” around the classroom to give feedback. So Tom set up their photo albums—that I can view and annotate from—in chronological order by first name, and that will be the way I now introduce you to this most recent 5-day online class. Some had been in classes with me before, some were newer converts to fabric collage. All were so very hard working and I’m so proud of them.
Today’s Part 1 post will feature Ann Wilbur, Catherine Lane, Donna Cook (that’s her cat Stitch, with his mesmerizing eyes staring at us in the photo at the beginning of this post), and Liz Chronister. Below you will meet them and their artwork, their stories and comments, and their show-and-share selections of quilts that they talked about during our mid-week after-class get-together.
Enjoy the tour and come back next week for Part 2 of this colorful, creative, and very outgoing class.
As always, click on any smaller photo to view larger and to scroll through that particular gallery.
Ann Wilbur
Ann logged in from Nevada, Iowa, and made great progress on the portrait of her well loved Eugene, who daily reviewed his features and fur patches as she lunched and enjoyed nice weather with him during break-time.
Eugene is my 10 year old barn cat that has been through some tough times. He is a dignified old man and spends most of his time sleeping in his heated bed on the deck or tucked into his domain in the tack room. When I’m outside he follows me around and “helps” me weed and plant seedlings! He has some Instagram exposure through my daughter’s flower website so there are some local people who know and love him. He’s a character. Susan encouraged me to work on a subject that I have emotional connection with so when the going gets “messy scary” I will be motivated to push on. She was so right!
Ann Wilbur Show and Share
Catherine Lane
Catherine joined us from Loveland, Colorado, and turned a very nice photo she took of a bighorn sheep into a fantastical collage using well-placed patterns and color values found in her fabrics.
I loved taking Susan’s online class. The format allowed me to explore using her method in a way that was still so personable but without the inconvenience and expense of travel. I also really like being able to screen shot all her annotations on my fabric selections as well as actual quilt for later reflection. Plus I still had my full stash to draw from once I improved my understanding of fabric selection that works with fabric collage.
Catherine Lane Show and Share
Donna Cook
Donna employed her extensive collection of fabrics designed by Tulla Pink in this regal portrait of her royal fur-baby—lovingly created in her home studio in North Hampton, New Hampshire:
I chose to work on a fabric collage of my cat, Stitch, who I lost in July this year at 14 years old to diabetes. While the loss is still fresh in my mind I wanted to honor the devotion he unconditionally gave to me in the 10 years I was blessed to be owned by him. From the moment I went to the rescue to look at cats he chose me and continued to claim me as his person every day.
Liz Chronister
Using another interesting group of fabrics, Liz really pushed herself with these bright and bold African prints. She worked with the contoured designs beautifully and is well on her way to another fabulous fabric collage.
There really isn’t a story other than I am not comfortable doing a subject I know personally . I’m afraid I would get bogged down in the emotional aspect of trying to get a pet or person I know to look just right. I loved watching the You Tube videos of the premature hippo (Fiona) born several years ago in Cincinnati and just looked for a photo that resembled her. I love the baby hippo’s toes in the [copyright free] photograph I chose and her sleepy eyed expression.
Liz Chronister Show and Share
Thoroughly enjoyed all of these works of art! All of you did a fantastic job!
Really enjoyed looking at all of this beautiful work. Still trying to get the knack of using such beautiful colors so seamlessly!
I always love these class reviews. Way to go, ladies!