Susan Carlson Fabric Collage Finish Line #126: Sensational Uses of Color

This week I’ve been preparing to head off for my final in-person week-long class of the year in Bar Harbor, Maine (be sure to check out next year’s offerings at the end of this post). I’m already familiar many of the students, having worked with them multiple times—such as Lizzie Stebbins—her adorable blue bear, photo above, was begun in last year’s Bar Harbor class.I had a chance to meet the rest of the class online last week for a pre-class Zoom session, and I ‘m very much looking forward to working with all those lovely women next week. The weeks are just flying by, aren’t they?

The Finish Line quilts coming up in his post all depict creatures we easily recognize, and regardless of the spectacular colors they’re wearing, they still look “realistic”—realism seems to be in the eye of the beholder. May you be impressed and inspired with the following feathered and furred critters of farm, coast, and forest, and please do leave a comment for the artists of these quilts.

Click here to scroll through the Finish Line category to see what else may catch your eye.

If you’ve got a finished fabric collage quilt and story that you too would like to share, please consider sending in photos and descriptions for future Finish Line posts—and as always, thank you!

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Learning resources for my fabric collage technique include: this blog (in general), website, patterns, Fantastical Fish eWorkshop, Serendipity Quilts book, Week-long Classes, and the Fabric Collage Online Master Class.

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

Kathy Reece

From Kathy Reece of Fruita, Colorado:

My Art quilting group challenges us to make an art quilt using the theme of “fence”. Due to the high price of eggs, I had to securely enclose my beautiful exotic, prize-winning chickens in their coop. Fabric collage technique, on a background and thread painting to enhance their exotic coats. The fence part of quilt has three layers of batting producing an appearance of a strong fence securing the coup. I was awarded first by our judge.

“The Price of Eggs” detail, by Kathy Reece

Linda Draft

To see more of Linda’s inspiring quilts, click here.

From Linda Draft of Kenosha, WI:

On a trip to Iceland we were on a boat that went by Heimaey island which had a massive puffin colony. The sound the puffins made was like they were laughing which matched their comical appearance and made me fall in love with them, and so this quilt was born.

Linda Draft

Lizzie Stebbins

To see more of Lizzie’s lovely artwork, click here.

from Lizzie Stebbins of Rockland, Maine and the Fabulous Florida Keys:

I learned fabric collage from Susan, first with her book and then in person, anticipating a fifth (I think) in-person class in Bar Harbor next month. I began this quilt as my second project towards the end of our two week in-person class in Bar Harbor last fall. It is from a New Jersey Fish and Wildlife photograph. I started with his eyes, and was amazed at how quickly he came together (under his watchful gaze!) He won Viewer’s Choice at our annual quilt show in Key Largo this year.