This Week in My Studio: Making a Few Steps Forward

You know the saying, “Two steps forward, one step back?” Tom and I were both feeling that this past week—but he had it a lot worse with computer stuff. He’d advance forward with finally getting in contact with tech support about misfiring “plug-ins” for the blog, then get transferred from person to person, having to regress as he explained the current problem again, and again. I’m so thankful that Tom handles that part of this business of art. It leaves me to tackle the creative stuff.

My week was happily spent in my studio making a few steps forward, and one little step back which will involve reopening a paint can—no tech support needed—to cover up the experimental surface treatment on my new table top, above.

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This post continues a new series: This Week in My Studio. As the title implies, in these posts I’ll be showing what I’ve been up to recently in my work space. This might mean a close look at a quilt I’m working on, or it may mean following along as I reorganize my fabrics, or even featuring all the different places my cat Djinni has claimed as her sleeping spots.

I hope in any case, that what I share can help you in one way or another—by giving you some new ideas or a fresh way of looking at things, or just to entertain you for a small part of your week. You may even find the theme of a post familiar or comforting as you say to yourself, “See, even Susan has too many boxes of stuff sitting around!” Let me know what you think and share your own experiences in the comments below. Have any topic requests? Include them in the comments section as well.

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I left you a week ago with floor space cleared (photo lower left) for a table that I needed to get out of a storage container and thought it may work in my studio (photo lower right). Djinni approved.

The table consists of a sturdy oak frame and legs—that I rescued from a neighbor’s burn pile a few years ago—with a stray cut of plywood placed on top. The leg risers (don’t they make the legs look like bell-bottom pants?) came from one of our sheds and were the exact size for the lift needed to roll existing storage pieces underneath. That was a big step forward.

The plywood would have done well with a good sanding, but who has time or inclination for that? Three coats of a lovely purple paint/with primer (bought for doorways that have yet to be painted) made that deep grain splinter-free in the end. Look at that great swooping grain pattern in photo, below left. And here’s where my step back happened. But if I hadn’t tried, I’d still be wondering if it was a good idea to “antique” the top with a golden yellow paint (from my studio window frames) to highlight the grain, photo below right.

As you can see below, I decided it was a worthy try but with all the pattern and color already in my studio, I actually appreciated the simplicity of the plain purple, and called it quits. I’ll have it repainted in a day or so.

The photo above, also shows freshened up shelves of folded fabric, a definite step forward from two weeks ago, photo below.

“Before” photos, above and below.

So, this week in my studio ends with a tidied and inviting area to enjoy (“after” photo below)—a perfect space to fold and put away the stacks of fabrics that are just off camera—some of the next steps on my list.

I’ve heard back from a few folks that they’ve been enjoying my new “studio” posts—it’s been fun sharing what I’m up to. However, next week in my studio, I’ll be otherwise occupied with our next online class—no rearranging of furniture. So, Tom and I have a proposal for you:

If you’d like to share thoughts, ideas, photos of your own studios or workspace, please consider sending them to us for a “This Week from Your Studio” post. Tom will collect and compile submissions into a new post(s) in the near future. Send emails to Tom: tom@tomallenbooks.com, with “My studio” in the subject line. Thanks! I look forward to hearing about and seeing your spaces!

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Susan Carlson 2025 and 2026 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

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.

In Person Classes

I’m pleased to note that my Two-Week Intensive class (ten work days) with MISA in Bar Harbor, Maine (near Acadia National Park) this September 2025, has filled and now is accepting folks to the wait list. The popularity of this format has inspired me to schedule another Intensive at the end of April 2026, at Woodland Ridge Retreat in Downsville, WI. This class opened for registration this past week.

Both of these 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 Bar Harbor that will include the fabric department at the legendary Maine Marden’s discount store (click here for a classic Marden’s ad).

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/.