With the recognition of my Quilter’s Fantastical Trophy Fish Observe-Alongside Class final February (see the work in these 4 posts: Half 1, Half 2, Half 3, and Half 4), it made sense to carry again a summertime model of this four-week introduction to cloth collage.
My Fascinating Bugs and Butterflies Observe-Alongside drew much more contributors—virtually 100!—a lot of whom have been making an attempt cloth collage for the primary time. Registrants got a free Cicada sample (in celebration of this summer season’s “Cicada-palooza”) which I made particularly for this class (that’s Liz Imperato’s celebratory model above). They have been additionally in a position to decide on a free bug or butterfly sample from my assortment, so on this publish (and within the posts I anticipate sooner or later) you will notice many cicadas but in addition some butterflies and different crawlies.
It has solely been per week for the reason that final class completed up and the progress they’ve made and can proceed to make is superb. The coed quilts on show beneath, are virtually all nonetheless in progress, however they’re oh a lot enjoyable to see—an ideal deal with to sit down again and savor as our summertime winds down.
A giant and buggy because of all who’ve despatched, and are persevering with to ship in, your bugs and butterflies to share with all of us—they aren’t solely smile inducing, they’re fascinating.
Studying sources embrace: Fantastical Fish eWorkshop, Serendipity Quilts, Spiral eWorkshop, Facial Options eWorkshop, Material Collage Grasp Class, 5-day Reside On-line Zoom Courses, and my patterns (together with fish and solar/moon patterns).
Nancy Anders
From Nancy Anders of Washington State:
That is my first massive collage quilt and the primary utilizing Susan’s method. I’m not a fan of bugs, however I really like watching butterflies and dragonflies within the backyard, so selecting between a Cicada and a Butterfly was straightforward. I selected to make use of Australian Aboriginal materials as a result of most of my Batiks are too mushy in coloration. I needed the piece to ask nearer inspection to see all the attention-grabbing materials I used.
This has been a joyful studying expertise. I’ve been quilting for twenty-four years, and the issues that maintain me going are the myriad of materials and patterns accessible, and the truth that there’s all the time extra to be taught. This won’t be my solely collage quilt!
Brenda Carter
From Brenda Carter of Fort McMurray, Alberta Canada:
Since working with Susan by way of zooms and having the privilege to satisfy Susan at workshop and in particular person, I might by no means say that I might ever be uninterested in this course of and/or method. Susan is so inspirational to me and I’m certain others would agree. It has been an absolute honor to part of Susan’s cloth collage world!
That is ‘Scrappy Pete’ who’s a caterpillar that my husband Cal present in tree in our again yard. We now have by no means seen a caterpillar like this earlier than (particularly in northern Alberta, Canada). We did some analysis and consider this caterpillar would change into a swallowtail butterfly. I selected this caterpillar as a result of it was an precise photograph that we took (no copyright difficulty right here) and I needed to solely use scraps from my stash. Nonetheless have to determine the background but…so all a piece in progress.
Elizabeth Imperato
From Elizabeth Imperato of Santa Barbara, California:
I felt like Pink, the day I made The Pink Cicada within the Backyard. I had a chunk of cloth that had pink and inexperienced that I needed to make use of. The material simply felt proper and it was. I used different materials that enhanced this cloth. The day I used to be accomplished with the Cicada I entered it in to a juried present and it received Juror’s decide. I want now that I added extra to the background however, both method I’m proud of it. I’m trying ahead to creating a butterfly and utilizing what I realized from making the Cicada.
Kay Kuner
From Kay Kuner of Garland, Texas:
I’m transitioning from quilt making to ‘picture-making’ with cloth to mount on canvas. I used to be involved in Susan’s strategies of mixing materials to provide smoother actions in my appliques. I used to be additionally involved in studying the right way to present depth in my photos.
The collection of cloth was extra concerned than I believed. I started three totally different bugs with distinct colours till I made a decision on those I used. The lighter tone materials labored higher for me. I additionally determined that I must look extra at blender materials and cloth with motion when working with cloth collages.
The knowledge I realized throughout the Bugs and Butterflies Material Collage internet workshop was not solely informative however was enjoyable. I hope to take part in on-line workshops with Susan sooner or later.
Donna Cook dinner
From Donna Cook dinner of North Hampton, NH:
I’ve watched all of Susan’s movies and lessons and eventually determined it’s time to begin making one in all my very own. I sadly had Achilles surgical procedure the week of the primary class so I used to be non weight bearing for six weeks and I used to be solely in a position to make use of cloth I had readily available. I cast forward and created my first collage.
After taking a look at my first draft and watching further lessons I noticed my quilt didn’t have the cohesion it wanted to be nice. I scrapped your complete first quilt and started once more with a clearer coloration palette in thoughts and The Queen was born. I’m delighted with the outcomes and have ordered some elaborations of beads and lace so as to add. I realized a lot from this class, however the two. most essential issues I might say is put some cloth down and begin constructing the collage, nothing is everlasting till the final draft and something might be modified. After watching Susan apply glue I noticed I used to be utilizing method an excessive amount of glue.
Carol Mann
From Carol Mann of West Orange, New Jersey:
I’ve accomplished many various kinds of collage, however that is the primary time I’ve accomplished it the Susan Carlson‘s method. I used to be in her bugs cloth collage class on-line. I used to be guided by what Susan mentioned and pulled out all my batiks and acquired one or two extra that had prints on them. Then I added some blues (my favourite coloration). Susan saved saying the background needs to be a narrative so I put my bug within the forest (I discovered the forest cloth by likelihood) and in a tree within the forest. I used the tulle thought as she steered, to make the starry sky, and the lace across the wing created a luminescent which I believe added to the quilt. I watched a lot of her movies and was in a position to make use of my interpretation of her voice. Cicadian Rhythm and Blues just isn’t but completed however she is on her method.
