If you ever went to summer camp, you’ll remember the feelings you experienced at the end of camp when suddenly you had to leave all the friends you made and go back to your regular life. The tears and hugs. The phone number and addresses exchanged so you could keep in touch.
Well, my two-week fabric collage class in Bar Harbor last month (the last two weeks of summer) was a little like the end of summer camp—with all the sad longings and feelings of separation. The group has been keeping touch via a group text, sharing photos and encouraging words.
This week I gave in to my feelings of nostalgia and decided I needed one more post from the class time before I could move on from the lovely experience I shared with these ladies.
Other posts from this two-week Immersion can be viewed here: Fabric Collage Dispatch: Bar Harbor Here I Come!—Fabric Collage Dispatch: Extra! Extra! A Weekend in Maine—Immersing into Fabric Collage 2025: On the Road—Bar Harbor, Maine—Part 1—Immersing into Fabric Collage: On the Road—Bar Harbor, Maine—Part 2.
Home Again
Three weeks from the end of class and my students are still going strong. Of course after two full weeks of class and being tourists, they were ready to go home. I figure we’re all the same way at the end of travel—ready to get back home and back to the lives we’ve made.
Annie of MISA had set up a text message group for the class. Communications about where to meet up for an Acadia sight gave way to updates of travel progress and home arrivals, along with photos of the pets they had been looking forward to cuddling—cats and dogs we had heard mentioned in our time together.
As I wrote in last week’s post, one of the things a two-week class gives is the time to get to know each other better and to make stronger connections. The connection of encouragement and support of each other in class has easily morphed into the sending of project photos and input, Q&A’s such as tips for where to find certain fabrics, show & shares of all sorts—even the personal joys and concerns of family and friends.
Earlier in-progress photos of the collage updates below, can be seen in the posts, Immersing into Fabric Collage 2025: On the Road—Bar Harbor, Maine—Part 1, and Immersing into Fabric Collage: On the Road—Bar Harbor, Maine—Part 2.
Picking Up at Home Where They Left Off in Class
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Marci White
Marcie was inspired to tidy her work space before setting up Acadia the goat, on her home pinning wall.
Kiyomi Carter
Kiyomi got right back to work on completing her chameleon’s tail. She shared studio photos as well and commented, “I am sending you an updated picture of Kevin the Chameleon on a larger piece of Marcia Derse fabric on my design wall, plus a starter pile of possible additional fabrics that I am considering as backgrounds/blocks to incorporate. I am going with Brenda’s suggestion to add meaningful personal touches so I will most likely make the background with blocks. I am currently accumulating novelty fabrics for inserting into the background.”
Sandi Bond
There are so many options possible when considering a background. When it comes to nestling her dog Chloe, into her leafy background, Sandi reports, “Almost there!”
Susan Repp
Susan is also at that background stage and is considering her frog’s “story” as she auditions fabrics. She comments, “Here is Froggy Too, beginning a background search. The night is good frog hunting time, but something else may yet appear. Once selected, the background will need a bug or 2, maybe some leaves, etc..”
Susan Repp
As Lucy told us, she was inspired by a theater fabric pile. “Took my granddaughter, 18, to the Seattle Opera’s, Seattle live Theatre’s thrift event… costumes, fabric, accessories, excitement! Juliet an amazing designer of everything thrifted! Way too many bargains and magical ideas!”
Later she texted us, “It’s good to use… still all on my couch to be admired… my bohemian granddaughter is wearing some of the items paired with a tee shirt to school!”
Brenda Carter
Brenda has a very painterly horse portrait in the works—her Newt. She’s making some great edits and additions that she explains here, “I am reworking the nose with more detail, focusing on under the nose/lower body area (like a watercolor portrait). That is my vision. I really like the hay effect. It is from an African Wax Print fabric, cut into strips…no fraying!!!!”
Ann Carr and Lizzie Stebbins
Maine’s Acadia National Park
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In between the two class weeks, our Sunday outing was to Acadia’s Sand Beach and Jordan Pond. I read about the famous popovers at Jordan Pond restaurant in Atlas Obscura, so enjoying mid-morning popover’s was the day’s goal for our group (including husbands that came along for the sights). More photos of both stops are in the Weekend Dispatch post from a couple weeks ago.
We returned to Acadia one afternoon after class to see Thunder Hole, below—best experienced at a high tide—which is not when we were able be there. However, the educational sign at the sight had a photo of what it could have looked like at high tide.
Nevertheless, the overall scenery is pretty darn nice and it was quite special to just out of the classroom and take another scenic drive as a group into one of our spectacular National Parks.
The goal of this day’s outing was to drive up to the summit of Cadillac Mountain. From here you can see the little cluster of a town that is Bar Harbor and the islands beyond it.
The clouds that drifted in that day made for a stunning sunset—best seen from the other side of the mountain, as we were driving down.
Join me in Bar Harbor, Maine, next year with MISA—September 14 – 18, 2026
Click here for more info and sign up
Bar Harbor Scrapbook Photo Galleries
Kate’s Clothes
I’ve shown photos of these garments that I so enjoy wearing, by Kate LaMontagne, in previous class posts. Students, Lizzie and Darlene, below, have also been turned on to the way Kate puts colors and patterns together in her clothing designs. We had fun posing with our finds. Kiyomi models one of Kate’s newly designed aprons that I picked up earlier this year.
You can see and purchase Kate’s clothes through her website. If you ever have a chance, visit her shop in-person for a luscious treat—Kamala Boutique, Edgecomb, Maine.
Bar Harbor and Maine Wildlife
Maine Eats Outside of Bar Harbor
Above: Finn’s Irish Pub—another Atlas Obscura find, close enough to Bar Harbor for dinner after a day of class (and a visit to Marden’s fabric department), yummy food and fun interior.
Below: Wild Oats Bakery and Cafe—but also soups, sandwiches, deli, and Maine gifts—in Brunswick, about 1/2 hour north of the Portland airport. One of my family’s favorite places to eat, and a spot where I was able to meet up with Barb and Irv before they flew back to California.
Barb the mermaid!!! Priceless!
AND dressed in plaid!!! 😉 (note: Barb is currently collaging a Plaid Barnyard, where all her animal portraits contain pieces of plaid fabrics)
Looks like it was a lovely time enjoyed by all who attended. I was in your class in Downsville, WI in May this year. I had the most wonderful experience with everything that week. It was a class like I’ve never experienced before. I have been to Bar Harbor on a cruise. It is a beautiful location. Maybe someday I will be lucky enough to have another class with you, Susan, and maybe finish what I started in Wisconsin. Susan, you are a fabulous teacher. I can’t tell you how much I learned and what a great time I had! Thank you so very much for being you!
Hi Lynn, so nice to hear from you! Yes, WI was another great class, and I do hope that our paths cross again. In the meantime, keep working on your pups, you made such a very good start! 🙂