It’s the Dog (and Goat and Pig) Days of Summer! We’ll begin this first post of August 2025, with Shadow (above)—a wild and perky small dog with a big personality—a family member and the newest collage subject of Stacey Starr, one of eight students in this early summer online class.
5-Day Live Online Class—June 2025
There was only one person in this group that I hadn’t worked with in a class before, so I was familiar with almost everyone and looked forward to again help bring out their creative visions. Reading the message that Grace Crocker sent Tom and I, at the beginning of the week, I think she felt the same:
Looking forward to another great week, meeting new people, seeing old friends and getting loads of help and inspiration from Susan.
Both this week’s and next week’s posts will follow the progress of these talented women in this online class—including a few fun-to-see shots of their increasingly messy yet very productive creative spaces. “Show and Share” photos from our mid-week after-class evening together are included as well.
This week we bring you the in-progress fabric collage classwork of: Grace Crocker, Stacey Starr, Barb Grant, and Mary McKay. Enjoy!
As you view this post, click on any smaller image to see it larger and to scroll through each gallery grouping.
If you’re looking to increase your fabric collage skills, I have several opportunities coming up, including another Live Online Class in November 2025. For more information, visit my teaching schedule, or you can contact Tom.
And there’s still a chance to attend my Fly On the Wall: Studio Watch Summer Series—a fanciful moon portrait, Bella Luna. If you sign up any time during the July-August series, you will receive links to any previous recordings of all four sessions. Click here for more information about my Fly On the Wall—Bella Luna learning opportunity.
Grace Crocker
Grace joined us from Chico, California—her goal for the week was to complete the first draft of her goats, Gramps and Sonny, and to figure out how to create a reflection in the window of the sod-roofed farm-stand that she and Bill visited. Grace says that animals aren’t her thing, but I beg to differ. The very first collage (of many) she made with me was her big ol’ dog, Sam—and he still may be my favorite—though these goats are pretty fantastic. You keep going, Grace!
From Grace:
Animals are not my thing, but [this animals-only class] was another opportunity to learn with Susan. “Two Billy Goats Gruff” started with a photo I took of “Gramps” on a roof while on Vancouver Island. “Sonny” was an Internet find (copyright-free).
When I needed a reflection for the window Susan suggested that I use a photo of my own Bigfoot collage. Perfect! Background fabric is from Spoonflower. It’s all done now, one month later, except the top binding. I had to order another piece from Spoonflower to get the match I wanted.
Grace Crocker Show and Share
See Grace’s “Bigfoot” collage quilt in her show-and-share gallery below.
Stacey Starr
Stacey joined us from Franklin Lakes, New Jersey—her goal for the week was to get “life into the eyes,” as well as figuring out the nose and teeth, of her little “spitfire” mini-schnauzer, Shadow. She’s definitely capturing his energy with her collage style. By the end of class, Stacey was considering a jungle-like background (see strip of fabric showing on the left side of photo below), due to his hunting forays into the underbrush behind their home! Stacey’s stories of Shadow added to the fun of seeing this portrait come together.
Stacey Starr Show and Share
Barb Grant
Barb joined us from Pacific Grove, California—her goal for the week was to get snout-to-ear covered on her pig, Edison,” in this latest collage of her plaid themed barnyard series. As Barb remarks below, plaids (and other grid-like prints), aren’t easy to work with—not my first recommendation for types of prints to work with for the rounded contours of most of my students’ chosen subjects. However, as Barb proves, “where there’s a will, there’s a way.” And I think she’ll agree with me, Barb has a strong will. 😉
From Barb:
My pig in the works is named Edison, after a super helpful male nurse I recently encountered (with his approval). I often name my work, it helps me create “their story”, and makes it easier for me to develop their personalities. Edison is a member of a plaid group of farm animals I have in mind. Why plaid? I adore plaids, so why not? Not the easiest choice of fabrics, but I enjoy the challenge.
Edison the Pig, will join Montgomery the Rooster, and Augustus J. Clark, the upcoming blue Donkey. My physician likes blue, and requested one named after him. I assured him it was not a Jackass!
Barb Grant Show and Share
See Barb’s in-progress, plaid barnyard “Montgomery the Rooster,” below.
Mary McKay
Mary joined us for only three days from Palm Desert—her goal for those days was to get the final niggly details finished on this so very colorful and adorable collage. It’s been a long journey for this portrait of little Lucy and her dog Homer. Mary took them through all three construction drafts—getting it down, fixing it up, examining every detail and editing if needed. Congratulations, Mary, you did it—they’re fantastic!
From Mary:
When you are creating a collage, and fabric and time are flying by sometimes you just want to be done. Then you look at it and realize there are issues you can’t fix without help. Enter, Susan.
The June class wasn’t full so I was able to join for two days which I extended to three so that Susan could coach me through some needed fixes. Homer and Lucy are now in line to be quilted and I am looking forward to being reunited with it and giving it to its forever home.
Mary McKay Show and Share
Next Saturday’s blog post: more amazing fabric collage art by my spectacular students in—Fabric Collage (Not) On the Road: June 2025 Live Online Class Part 2. Be sure to check it out!
Lots of great art.
I just realized that Lucy’s mom, Anne, is the smaller girl in the reflection of Mary’s sunglasses. How fun (for me) is that!
It is always incredibly inspiring to see the creative work of your students, Susan! Grace is a wonder, isn’t she?!! She is so prolific! I am fascinated by Barb’s choice to work with plaids–and I love Edison the pig. She’s got those plaid prints really working! Mary’s work is terrific. I admire her choice of a dark dog. Challenging, but her image is really progressing nicely. I look forward to seeing more from this class!
Hi Juliet! Always fun hearing from you! Yes, another lovely class -both students and their work – they always inspire me as well. 🙂