We’re coming up to our next 5-day Live Online Class, running the first week of March. We’re limiting attendance to eight students but there are still spots open. Thinking ahead to this class (pre-class coaching is coming up soon), reminded me about our Live Online Class in November. I always show off students’ work from every class I teach, usually within a couple weeks. I am chagrined to realize that those lovely students and their amazing artwork have not received their time to shine! Where did the time go?!

We are making up for that oversight today with an inspirational post that highlights the skills, time, and love that goes into the creation of our art. Love of fabric, of color and pattern, of friends and family (including our furry family members), and of the other beings that inhabit this world with us. Perhaps the sight of the following thoughtful yet playful collages—such as Nancy Semich’s “Tag” (photo above)—will inspire you to join us in one of this year’s upcoming online classes. Details are below, please contact us with any questions: [email protected]

Your support as participants in these classes means everything to me and to Tom. This is what we do, as a team, and we know that we do it well. How do we know? Because students tell us so. In a bit of a variation on our usual theme, today each of our six November students gives their testimonial on the Live Online Class. Since all but one of the attendees are multi-year veterans of the Live Online Class, most of their testimonials are from previous year’s classes.


2026 Live Online Classes

Looking for a quilt retreat-style experience while staying snug as a bug at home? By working together, Tom and I have been making the 5-Day Live Online Fabric Collage classroom experience easy to participate in and quite productive since 2021.

For more information click here: A New Year of Fabric Collage: 2026 Classes and Such.

5-Day Live Online Classes via Zoom

March 2-6, 2026
REGISTER HERE

July 13-17, 2026
REGISTER HERE

8 student limit
Price: $995

Through our online classes each student receives: Pre-Class Coaching, Daily Class Videos, One-on-One Feedback throughout the week, a Fabric Pack for Fabric Collage, Pre-Class Meet and Greet, Daily Walkthrough of Student Progress, and a Mid-Week After Class Social Hour with a Show and Share.

Membership in the Fabric Collage Master Class is a prerequisite if not already owned ($169, after a $30 student discount).


November 2025—Five-Day Live Online Class

My November 2025 Live Online Class participants: left to right—top row; Grace Crocker, me, and Frances Dack—middle row; Nancy Semich, Mary McKay, and Liz Imperato—bottom row; Cynthia Chaddick and Tom .

This post follows the progress of these talented women in this Online Class—including “Show and Share” photo galleries from our mid-week after class evening get together. Now, three months later, these collages are either much farther along or even finished as very impressive quilts—but that will be for another time, maybe a future Finish Line post.

Whenever Nancy Semich is in a class‚ online or in-person, we are all treated to daily sentiments either emailed to us or delivered to our worktables. Below are the two very appropriate sayings that began our week in November. the remaining three can be seen at the end of this post.

As you view this post, click on any smaller image to view it larger and to scroll through each gallery grouping.


Liz Imperato

After February 2024 Online Class: My favorite moment of the class was seeing the amazing work that some of the quilters made. It was very inspiring. I like the online format because I could leave and come back if and when I needed to. I enjoyed how we had a few hours in the day to work on my quilt or walk my dog, and so on. Thank you so much for your help and kindness.

Brown Owl, in-progress by Liz Imperato, 2025. Liz’s goal was to work with mostly brown fabrics to learn more about how to use the values and patterns of one color. Liz’s plan is to create a second owl with the brighter and bolder fabrics of her “regular” color palette.

Liz Imperato Show and Share


Frances L. A. Dack

After November 2025 Online Class: I admire Susan’s style of collage and as a teacher myself I rank her teaching skills at the top. She lays out the basic lesson and then lets the student guide the path through their own creative process.

I have used Susan’s online Workshops which are like having a book which is constantly updated in your own personal library. I follow her blog every week, and her Patreon Show and Share monthly, whether I have something to share or not. I have taken one in-person class and the online class this last November.

Each way of using the resources Susan creates for us is useful in different ways. I was surprised that the camaraderie in the online class was even better than in person. It was a small group and we all got to know each other pretty well. The annotations which Susan makes in the online class and in Patreon are extremely helpful because I can save them with my camera or screen shot and don’t have to rely on my memory when I might want to work on that particular area several days or weeks later.

Fabric Collage has become my preferred art form. Thank you, Susan.

Rainbow Pangolin, in-progress by Frances Dack, 2025. Frances’s goal was to collage a first draft of a pangolin—a unique mammal of Africa—that she has named, Paisley. Frances chose to exclusively use the bold prints of African Dutch Wax batiks to honor the continent where this endangered and world’s most illegally trafficked mammal makes its home.

Frances Dack Show and Share


Grace Crocker

After January 2022 Online Class: I am a retired Human Resources manager and was responsible for developing training material. I know good instruction. Your online class was definitely a “ten out of ten!” It was obvious that you spent many hours developing the format. The “Steps” were well organized, the written material was clear and concise, and the videos were perfect. Susan’s ability to give instant feedback and direction was unbelievable. She had no time to study our photos but saw every little change we had made and gave direction and annotations, as needed. It was invaluable to have my own work critiqued and to watch as she directed the others in our room.

Austin and Ronald, in-progress by Grace Crocker, 2025. This is Grace’s 29th and counting, fabric collage—now a completed quilt with an entirely different background than above, when class ended. This portrait tells the story of Grace’s grandson Austin, and a summer beach vacation with his grandparents back in the 1992. The fabric printed photos are now displayed on the back of the quilt.

Grace Crocker Show and Share


Cynthia Chaddick

After March 2025 Online Class: [This format] allows me to get the benefit of Susan’s special talents and skills without having to leave home. It saved money from physical workshops to use in a variety of personal coaching options. And the technical platform that Tom and Susan utilize so well — is a real blessing — and helps me to continue to improve my artistic endeavors.

Dewey, in-progress by Cynthia Chaddick, 2025. Cynthia’s goal was to utilize muted colors to portray a friend’s little spunky old dog—to learn where, when, and how to use color in an intuitive way.

Cynthia Chaddick Show and Share


Mary McKay

After March 2021 Online Class: Live and Online with Susan enabled me to start and come close to finishing a project in a week. Susan’s ability to use technology, with husband Tom’s backup expertise, provides for real communication between Susan and students. I love the use of screen shots and how Susan can draw directly on student submitted project photographs to explain and suggest areas to improve.

Self Portrait, in-progress by Mary McKay, 2025. Mary had a beautiful start to this collage before class even started. Her goal in class was to “fix it up” with a second draft, concentrating on facial features, and to get started on a background.

Mary McKay Show and Share


Nancy Semich

After June 2023 Online Class: This was my first on-line class and after taking 3 of Susan’s in-person classes, I must say that I liked this format the best. I felt that I received more individual feedback and loved being able to take screenshots of the annotations that Susan made on my daily “in progress” photos. Added benefits of this on-line class were not accruing the expenses of air travel, 5 days of lodging, and so on. 

Tag, in-progress by Nancy Semich, 2025. Nancy got a great photo of Tag and buddy, Riley, as they patiently waited for their ride. Her goal for the week was to work in drafts with “one dog a day,” getting a good start on both dogs—which she certainly did.

Nancy Semich Show and Share

The end-of-the-week quotes that Nancy sent to me and her classmates will make a nice ending to this post as well—thoughts to keep in mind as we progress through the year—persevere in your art, keep at it through the tougher times (or as I say, the “messy scary” stage), and may you flourish in your creativity. Thanks again, Nancy. Take care, everyone.


2026  Five-Day Live Online Classes

For more information click here: A New Year of Fabric Collage: 2026 Classes and Such

March 2-6, 2026
REGISTER HERE

July 13-17, 2026
REGISTER HERE

8 student limit
Price: $995

Through our online classes each student receives: Pre-Class Coaching, Daily Class Videos, One-on-One Feedback throughout the week, a Fabric Pack for Fabric Collage, Pre-Class Meet and Greet, Daily Walkthrough of Student Progress, and a Mid-Week After Class Social Hour with a Show and Share.

Membership in the Fabric Collage Master Class is a prerequisite if not already owned ($169, after a $30 student discount).

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