Susan Carlson Fabric Collage Dispatch: Extra! Extra! A Weekend in Maine
September 20, 2025
Susan Carlson Fabric Collage Dispatch: Extra! Extra! A Weekend in MaineSusan2025-09-20T05:22:43-04:00
Last week, we introduced this new blog format—the Dispatch—with a visit to Bar Harbor, Maine, where I was teaching a two-week Fabric Collage Intensive with MISA—Madeline Island School of the Arts. My students and I finished up the class this past week, and next Saturday I will show you the further progression in their work, such as Liz Warter’s pair of swans (above).
DISPATCH: A message or report sent in haste, like a journalist’s report from a distant location.
But today I want to highlight some of the out-of-class weekend activities we indulged in. While some worked on their quilts here-and-there over the weekend, we mostly took the opportunity to do some touristy stuff in and around nearby Acadia National Park, including a drive across Mount Desert Island to Southwest Harbor.
On Sunday afternoon my husband Tom, dropped by for an overnight visit on his way home from his own adventures—sea kayaking further east in Maine along what is called the Bold Coast (see below).
End of Week One
A successful first week of class with many decisions made on new projects, and more work to come in week two. Lizzie Stebbins with her Maine moose, above—Sandi Bond’s Chloe pup, and her new eyes, below.
Click on any small photo to view them larger and to scroll through the gallery of other fabric collage projects in the works!
Barb Grant
Becky Cobb
Lucy Lawry
Marcie White
Ann Carr
Darlene Determan
Kiyomi Carter
Liz Warters
Susan Repp
Brenda Carter
Julie Peterson
Nan Sorensen
Saturday
After a serene moonlit night, Saturday morning started slow with coffee and a light breakfast on my terrace. The nice thing about this Atlantic Oceanside venue, is that everybody has a terrace to enjoy a view of Frenchman Bay.
There’s a particular seagull that enjoys their view as well, a view of the breakfast deck, helping to clean up plates.
Southwest Harbor
By late Saturday morning, a few of us ventured to another part of Mount Dessert Island, to Southwest Harbor. The intent was to check out a local arts fair, but we ended up spending more time hanging out at a sweet outdoor café across the road from it. Good foods and drink were consumed, a few containing blueberries—blueberry lemonade, blueberry soda, blueberry crisp, blueberry bread pudding.
A highlight for Brenda and I, was meeting Marlene the Popover Queen. What a sweet person, who believes in love and magic.
Bar Harbor Lobster Pound
Our fearless MISA leader, Annie Meech Sumner (above), led our small caravan of cars up the road to Bar Harbor Lobster Pond to partake in some classic Maine fare.
It was such a fun evening that we returned for a second dinner in week two.
Sunday
Acadia National Park
Annie organized an outing for us along the Acadia Loop Road—first stop, Sand Beach. Maine has more of a rocky coast than a beachy coast—which would make this a crowded spot on a sunny and warm day.
Second stop—Jordan Pond House—which has been known for their famous popovers since 1893, and as a popular place to enjoy the scenery and “Bubble Mountains.”
We arrived before the restaurant opened to score parking spaces and less wait-time for seating on the Jordan Pond House Lawn. We were very lucky to have a weekend (and two weeks) of beautiful September days.
Waiting for the famous popovers of Acadia
Cheers to a Sunday brunch that includes warm popovers, strawberry jam, and visiting with new and old friends.
Tom, arrived Sunday afternoon, in time to join a few of us for dinner on the Bar Harbor waterfront. While I and my students were enjoying our free time in Bar Harbor and neighboring Acadia National Park this weekend, Tom was off with nine of his paddling buddies sea kayaking further east along the Maine coast.Along the Schoodic Peninsula. That’s Tom in the blue kayak near the top left.Paddling up to the massive granite slab that makes up Steel Harbor Island. Downeast Maine was known for its granite quarries in nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Granite from Maine was used in several Washington D.C. structures, including the Washington Monument.
Monday Morning
Brenda Carter has worked with both Tom and I through many online classes, though the two of them have never met in-person. She brought her MISA Tucson inspired turkey collage along for a show-and-share here in Maine, in order to introduce Tom to “Tom Turkey.”
Thanks for sharing such wonderful photos. What a wonderful time you all must have had. I really enjoy receiving your emails even though I don’t do your type of quilting. Thank you again for giving so many people such pleasure.
So many amazing women, each with a heartfelt personal story, and unlimited magical creativity….
The world disappeared for two weeks in exchange for magic, color and ❤️
Thanks for sharing such wonderful photos. What a wonderful time you all must have had. I really enjoy receiving your emails even though I don’t do your type of quilting. Thank you again for giving so many people such pleasure.
Looks like you all had a ball! So many beautiful collages!
I love seeing all these photos of the group having such a great time. Makes me want to go to Maine!
What a lovely post, Susan. It looks like a wonderful time was had by all! And, what marvelous progress the students are making on their work!
So many amazing women, each with a heartfelt personal story, and unlimited magical creativity….
The world disappeared for two weeks in exchange for magic, color and ❤️