In Case You Missed It: For me and I’m sure for many of you 2025 is passing quickly. Before you know it, we’ll be flipping the calendar to February when my next four-week follow along class will be starting! If you haven’t registered (see below), now’s a great time to reserve your spot.

The fishy subject for next month’s Follow Along will focus on demos and tips for “blending” various fabrics within a subject—in this case a goldfish—such as “Goldie” (above)—one of my pattern samples. A nice and round fish will work well to give plenty of space for manipulating light and dark color values within the collage, though I’ve already planned that this next goldfish of mine will not be gold! I’ll be presenting my own Fantastical Fish Class preparations in next Saturday’s blog post.

These easy-going, cut-loose Zoom classes take place over four consecutive Thursday nights. Follow-along as I lead you through the creation of a Fantastical Fish in February and a Fascinating Bug or Butterfly in the summer—my two 2024 Follow-Along subjects are pictured above. Check out the class info below and check your 2025 calendars to see if you can join us. By the way, Thursday night presentations are always recorded, and video links are sent to all registrants to watch and refer to whenever desired.

These fabric collage projects are designed and paced to get you started on your work of art. I pick subject matter that, as Tom says, are gateway drugs into the fabric collage process—versatile and low-stress designs to emphasize the playfulness of this technique.

Each presentation begins with a slide show to get you going or to catch you up with the previous week’s progress on the collage I’m working on, and then continue with a live demonstration. There will be opportunities to ask questions throughout the session. I encourage folks to watch, listen, and ask questions during our time together. Then I give “homework” for those who wish to continue working on their own project.

Included in each four-week Follow-Along Class:

• Four live presentations of demonstration and instruction
• Question and answer periods
• Free fish, bug, or butterfly pattern to choose and work from (depending on which class you sign up for)
• Recordings of all sessions—yours to keep to refer to at any time
• Materials list to get you going right away

February 6, 13, 20, 27, 2025 — 7 pm, Eastern Time

Fantastical Fabric Collage Fish Zoom Follow-Along

(This class has ended)

For More Information: Fantastical Fish Fabric Collage—February Results! Part 1 (includes links to Parts 2 through 4)

If you’re looking for a fresh and creative start to the New Year, here’s a step-by-step way to play with the fabric collage technique. This Thursday Night series scheduled for February will be a break in routine to just play with fabric using a subject I’ve been fond of for decades—fish—they come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, which means anything goes. If you’ve been wanting to “cut loose and let go,” here’s your chance. Each week I’ll be giving a live demo with Q&A as I take you from beginning to end of a fantastical fish collage—using your own prized fabric stash.

In between the Thursday sessions, you can apply the steps covered to your own fishy fabric creation. As a registrant you will receive a code for a free fish pattern from my online shop to follow along as you play with your own fabric stash—but you are welcome of course to use your own fish design, or just “go with the flow” of your fabric.

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July 24, 31, August 7, 14, 2025 — 7 pm, Eastern Time

Fascinating Fabric Collage Bugs and Butterflies Zoom Follow-Along

REGISTER HERE
Price: $78

For More Information: Fascinating Fabric Collage Bugs and Butterflies Zoom Follow-Along—Has Begun! and Fascinating Bugs and Butterflies Follow-Along Results: Student Fabric Collage Results 3! (with links to Parts 1 and 2)

I will be taking a “cut loose” approach in my presentations—same as with the fish class—this time creating a collage light, airy, and enjoyable as butterflies and bugs are themselves. At the end of each session, I finish with “homework” that can be worked on here and there within the coming week.

As with all our Thursday Night sessions, a recording link will be emailed the next evening to all registrants to review or watch later if you cannot join us live.

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Five Day Week-Long Classes in 2025

Both online and in-person classes are great ways of learning that we now have access to—each good for their own reasons and I find it an interesting balance that I enjoy teaching classes both ways.

Use this link for more information on any of these classes

Live Online Classes

ALL 2025 LIVE ONLINE CLASSES ON SALE

For those wishing to attend classes online, Tom and I strive to make the Live Online Fabric Collage experience special and different in its own way. Through our online classes each student receives: Pre-Class Coaching, Daily Class Videos, A Curated Fabric Pack for Fabric Collage, Pre-Class Meet and Greet, Mid-Week After Class Social Hour and Show and Share, Daily Walkthrough of Student Progress

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June 23-27, 2025
Live Online Class—All Levels, Animals Only
REGISTER HERE
Maximum Class Size: 12
Price: $995 $895

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November 17-21, 2025
Live Online Class—Intermediate-Advanced
Maximum Class Size: 8
Price: $1,495 $1,295

To Register: This class is for experienced students at the intermediate or advanced level. Please submit your request to register to Tom (tom@tomallenbooks.com) and he will send you the link to register or ask for further information. Thank you.

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In Person Classes

March 31-April 4, 2025
Fabric Collage Images with MISA in Santa Fe, New Mexico
All Levels
Class is full, please click here to be added to wait list
For my 2022 Santa Fe Class blog post write-ups—Part 1 here and Part 2 here

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May 28-June 1, 2025
Woodland Ridge Retreat in Downsville, Wisconsin
Combination Intermediate/Advanced and All-Levels Class
Class is full, please click here to be added to wait list

Click here for my Woodland Ridge Retreat blog post write-ups (take your pick!)

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September 8-19, 2025—All Levels
Fabric Collage Immersion with MISA—a 10-Day Class in Bar Harbor, Maine
Class is full, please click here to be added to wait list
For my 2024 Bar Harbor Class blog post write-ups—Part 1 here and Part 2 here

My Two-Week Immersion classes will follow a format of five work days, two days off, then another 5 work days. Out-of-class activities will be planned according to the locations, but will likely include field trips to local attractions—and fabric oriented locations. In Bar Harbor that will include the fabric department at the legendary Maine Marden’s discount store (click here for a classic Marden’s ad).

The popularity of this two week format (ten work days) has inspired me to schedule another Immersion at the end of April 2026, at Woodland Ridge Retreat in Downsville, WI. See below for more information.

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October 19-24, 2025
Susan Carlson Fabric Collage Travels to Italy: Under the Tuscan Sun (celestial portrait class)
Tuscany, Italy: Serendipitous Fabric Collage with Susan Carlson
All-Levels
CLASS FULL—CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
Click here for my 2025 Tuscan Sun blog post!

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April 21-25 and April 28-May 2, 2026
Fabric Collage Immersion at Woodland Ridge Retreat—a 10-Day Class in Downsville, Wisconsin
All-Levels Class
Please click here for sign-up information

My Two-Week Intensive classes will follow a format of five work days, two days off, then another 5 work days. Out-of-class activities will be planned according to the locations, but will likely include field trips to local attractions—and fabric oriented locations. In Wisconsin, Chris (the owner of Woodland Ridge Retreat and Dye Candy Fabrics) and I have already discussed locations to visit over the open weekend including: Cultural Cloth: https://www.culturalcloth.com/, SR Harris: https://srharrisfabric.com/, and for a special dinner out, Owamni: https://owamni.com/.

Click here for my Woodland Ridge Retreat blog post write-ups (take your pick!)