A week ago today, I was driving back from my last in-person class of this year, held in Bar Harbor, Maine. It was a beautiful almost-autumn day with a few trees beginning to take on their red and yellow and everything in between fall colors. I started to take some deep breaths and think about relaxing into the season, but then Tom and I sat down on Monday to look at our calendars and make some plans—there are, after all, still 3 months left of the year. Relaxing per se, was not discussed, but new ideas for playing with fabric definitely was. 😉
We basically did a fabric collage brain-dump and came up with a couple new additions for spreading the love in this later part of 2026. Starting a month from now will be a new Fabric Collage Follow-Along featuring “Captivating Cats.” My guys (husband and son) long ago realized that I like: working in themes, adding descriptive adjectives to sentences, and amusing myself with alliteration. I plan to employ all three of those elements in this new 4-week class as I continue to educate and entertain you in these evening (Eastern Time) presentations where I demonstrate the collage process piece-by-piece on the subject of a seemingly simple feline face.
Starting with the facial features and the search for fabrics to bring out the unique qualities of my own furry acquaintances—such as our family’s “Cookie,” in photo above, I’ll be demonstrating how you too, can create a personalized portrait of your own “Captivating Cat.” See the particulars of this class, below.
Following the Follow-Along information are: December dates for a final 2026 5-day Live Online Class; the whys and wherefores of private coaching consultations; and my current schedule of 2027 learning opportunities in the fabulous art of Fabric Collage.
October 29, November 5, 12, 19, 2026, 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Captivating Cats Fabric Collage Follow-Along
Four consecutive Thursday evenings—Live on Zoom—Q&A included
Cost: $78 —includes all four live and recorded sessions plus a printable cat portrait pattern, emailed to registrants mid-October
REGISTER HERE
What is a Follow-Along?
These Thursday evening series are opportunities to cut-loose and play with our fabrics. I say “our” since a Follow-Along is set up for me to demonstrate how I approach a fabric collage—allowing you to follow-along on your own time with your own stash of fabrics.
The subject I’ve chosen for the October/November class is a cat portrait. It’s not uncommon to have cat subjects occur in a class, and through the years of teaching and observing all the cats I’ve “met,” I’ve realized that there are facial traits that appear nearly universal to most cats. My own cats that I’ve known and loved will be the various examples—short-haired, long-haired, solid-colored, calico-ed, striped, and fantastical—that I’ll teach from throughout the four weeks of class.
In the course of my four presentations, I cover my thoughts and ideas about subject, design, fabric selection, the cutting of my fabric palette, the placing and gluing of fabric pieces. You’re able to see the progress of the collage as I advance through the steps and technique of how I create my art.
After each week’s presentation, I’ll suggest some “homework” for participants to then follow-along for their own personalized cat portrait. By the end of the four weeks, I’ll have my Captivating Cat ready (or almost ready) to quilt, and you’ll have the class available to complete at your own pace.
Have no fear of the word, “homework.” If the timing for this class isn’t optimal for you or the time you have to dedicate to a new project, each week’s presentation is recorded and a link to view, or review, is emailed to you—yours to access that week, next month, next year, or whenever, forever.
Included in this class is a cat portrait pattern to print on your home printer and then enlarge to your desired size. However, you are always welcome to create your own cat portrait design to work from.
REGISTER HERE
With this Follow-Along, I’m essentially demonstrating my fabric collage process from the very beginning—the idea. A couple years ago I created the design above, of my sister’s cat Soot, though never taking it farther. Now, with the idea of a “Captivating Cats” Follow-Along, I’m adapting Soot’s face into a “universal” design (available by mid-October) that can be adapted for a variety of feline faces, such as my mother-in-law’s cat Suki, below left. It’s about time that these two captivating cats get their portraits done, and it’ll be fun to share the process with you.
My own Djinni, above right, may get a second portrait—I’m contemplating what fabrics would demonstrate her (sometimes challenging) personality. Her first collage detail you see here is from a group portrait, “Golden Temple of the Good Girls.” If she gets a second version or not, I think you can see how her markings would fit into a follow-along cat portrait design—just like yours could.
And Now, More of My Upcoming Fabric Collage Learning Opportunities in 2026 and 2027
December 7-11, 2026
5-Day Live Online Fabric Collage Class
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 the cost is $169, after a $30 student discount. We now offer a trial run if needed for the purpose of attending the class.
For more information, check out this Live Online Class 2026 preview and 2025 review post from earlier this year. Please contact us with any questions: [email protected]
Cost: $995
Class size limited to 8
REGISTER HERE
Join me and your classmates (maximum eight) on Zoom for a week-long class. This is the last Live Online Class of 2026—let’s make it a good one.
Using Zoom’s annotation features, I draw directly on in-progress photos of your collage project and fabrics. Students then often take screenshots of the annotations as reminders of the instructions I have given. Students also learn by listening in on the coaching I give to the other attendees.
Prior to the beginning of class, Tom and I provide included Pre-Class Coaching to make sure you have information needed for you to be comfortable with the online venue (that’s Tom’s part) and have more information and the time you may need for a well-prepared start to class (that’s my part). A couple weeks before class we’ll ask you to send Tom images of your subject, a line tracing if you’ve done one, and a collection of fabrics you’re considering using. We’ll discuss your ideas and questions in this Zoom meeting so that by Day 1 of class, you feel ready to hit the ground running.
Ongoing throughout 2026-2027
Fabric Collage Coaching
Fabric Collage Coaching can be an addition to a class—both in-person or online—or as an option to take the equivalent of a class, at a time or length that is more customized to your needs. Typically, a private session fits within an hour and is recorded to be used later as a review for getting started on, continuing with, or finishing your fabric collage artwork.
From wherever you are in the world, I can give guidance on a collage with annotation tools I draw and demonstrate with on screen. Students are encouraged to take photos of the annotated screen for an easy reference as they get back to work. A recording of each session is also emailed to the student as a reminder of points covered and as a step-by-step guide to follow—whenever it’s needed, it’s yours to keep.
Cost $129/hour
FOR MORE INFO AND TO REQUEST A COACHING SESSION
Below is a sampling of progress photos from student, Grace Crocker’s most recent family album collage quilt—featuring two of her daughters thoroughly enjoying a bowl of cake icing—based on a photo taken 60 years ago—and created on her own using coaching sessions for feed-back.
Grace is continually working on one collage or another (this double portrait was either her #34 or #35 collage quilt in five years—I’ve lost count!). Since I’m not continually offering a class one place or another, Grace finds these coaching sessions work best for her to get my input whenever it’s needed—as Grace replied after one session,
Just reviewing the coaching tape, again. INVALUABLE!
Click on any smaller photos to view them larger and to scroll through galleries.
Another longtime online student, Mary McKay, usually has one collage or another in the works and contacts me when she has finished working on the points discussed in the coaching session and video. In the time available, we can cover a lot of areas and issues. Mary asks the questions—such as, “how do you make a scrunched up hat?” and my replies and suggestions are captured on the recording.
In the photos, below left, Mary and I worked together online to determine the enlargement percentage for each of the three photos—to piece together a cohesive image of face and hands of her young friend, Abby. At the end of that design process, Mary made a final 110% enlargement of hands and body to match the proportions of Abby’s face, already in-progress. Now she’s on a roll getting started on shirt and fingers.
April 18-23, 2027
Strada Toscana—Serendipitous Fabric Collage with Susan Carlson
A week of fabric collage and cultural experiences in the Tuscany Region of Italy. See posts from last year’s adventure!
FOR MORE INFORMATION
September 21-25, 2027
September 2027: Woodland Ridge Retreat—Fabric Images
A week of fabric collage in this cozy retreat in Downsville, Wisconsin—a favorite venue for years—peaceful surroundings, excellent workspace, and delectable food. Take a peek at past Woodland Ridge Retreat posts.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
October 25 – November 5, 2027
Fabric Collage Immersion—A 10-Day Workshop In Pacific Grove, California—with MISA
Maximum 15 students
Fabric Collage at Asilomar State Park on the beautiful Monterey Peninsula with MISA—Madeline Island School of the Arts
