Susan Carlson Fabric Collage Finish Line #120: The Dogs of Winter

As tired of winter as the humans in our household are, I think our dogs might be even more ready for spring. After sniffing the same clumps of snow for the past couple of months, they must be ready for the scents freed up by a good spring thaw. I’m sure they will relish some bare ground to roll on and some fresh grass under their feet.

While we wait impatiently for spring, please appreciate these fabric collage canines. Interestingly to me, three out of the four quilts featured in today’s Finish Line were made as gifts or were commissioned—the exception being Joanne Hannon Shaw’s “Our Happy Camper,” above. Despite not necessarily having a personal connection to these other pooches, all the artists captured the devoted and loving personalities of each dog in such a soulful way.

Please enjoy the wonderful and inspiring images and stories that are shared below—thank you ladies, for contributing your work—it’s beautiful! We’ve included links to other fabric collage works these accomplished artists have created.

A reminder that we are still running low on our inventory of Finish Line quilts. Please consider sending in photos and description of your finished fabulous fabric collage quilt to share with our supportive and discerning readers.

Ready to share your fabulous collage creations? Click on button below—thank you to all!

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Click on any of the smaller gallery photos in this post to view them larger and to scroll through the photo gallery.

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Jenny Satterthwait

To see more of Jenny’s artwork, visit these posts: Finish Line: More Quilts from Online Submissions, Finish Line: Online Submissions 9, Finish Line: Online Submissions 10, Fabric Collage Finish Line 79, and Fabric Collage: Sun Portraits—First Drafts, Wow! What an amazing collection, Jenny!

From Jenny Satterthwait of Eagle, Idaho:

Ze Ze’s family wanted a quilt portrait of him because he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in August of 2022. He had 6 months to a year to live. I am so happy to say that he is still with us and gives his family a great deal of joy and love. His eyes are very unique and so I did them first so that he could help me finish the rest of him. I think he did a great job helping!

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Julie Valentine

To see more of Julie’s artwork, visit these posts: On the Road: Cactus or Pin Cushion? Fabric Collage Returns to Cowboy Country, Pt. 2 and On the Road: Fabric Collage in Bar Harbor, Maine, September 2024—Part 2—Getting Messy and Scary. Julie has a great eye for the use of patterned fabrics in her pup portraits—see two more examples of this perfect way of creating details in the Bar Harbor, Maine class post.

From Julie Valentine of Garden City, KS:

I just finished Nelson the Great! I made this quilt for my daughter who lost Nelson last fall. I started the quilt in Tucson with a lot of help from Susan and all the great ladies at the class. I absolutely loved the class!  The enthusiasm and energy created by everyone there was incredible.

He is my first collage quilt, but he won’t be my last! I loved the whole process, except for maybe his nose. Thanks for all your help Susan.

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Joanne Hannon Shaw

To see more of Joanne’s artwork, visit these posts: The Finish Line: The Fabric Collage Quilts of Joanne Hannon Shaw, Creating Fur in Fabric Collage, and Creating Feathers in Fabric Collage. What a treat to see Joanne’s fantastic use of color in all her animal portraits.

From Joanne Hannon Shaw of Toronto, Ontario, Canada:

I began many years back learning Susan’s collage methods from her Harpswell retreat days! Years of wonderful memories inspired by her Tickled Pink Rhino published on the cover of a quilt magazine.

This quilt was a labour of love from the beginning as a gift to my husband. It depicts our cherished pet, Ollie, at doggie camp where he spent his time when we travelled. Started [October, 2019] just before our two year Covid shutdown and I put it away to focus on other projects while navigating our new reality. Resurrected in 2023 in order to finish and show this quilt at the Birmingham, England Quilt Show in August 2024. We recently lost our Ollie at 14 years and the quilt is a loving reminder of our best friend that now has pride of place on a wall of my husbands office.

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Sally Simmons

What a tribute to the intensity of energy and attention found in working dogs—and what gorgeous eyes—I’m gobsmacked! Good on ya, Sally.

From Sally Simmons of Albany, Western Australia:

Winston is a farm dog living near the tiny, remote rural community of Jerramungup on the far south coast of Western Australia. His master is a young local farmer. His Grandmother commissioned me to do Winston’s portrait and try to catch the essence of this beautiful working dog. The background fabric was in my stash for a few years waiting for the right project. Winston works with both sheep and cattle.

 

The Huntaway dog was developed in New Zealand during the 19th century, at a time when sheep farming was booming. Farmers needed a dog that could handle the country’s vast, rugged terrain — something more vocal and forceful than the silent-working Herding Dog.

 

Early Huntaways were bred by crossing several working breeds, most notably the Border Collie, Old English Sheepdog, and possibly some hound breeds like the Bloodhound. The goal was simple: create a dog with the stamina to work all day, the instinct to herd, and the voice to drive sheep forward using powerful barking.”