I’ve been considering lots in regards to the yr to return and the way I can add optimistic issues to my very own little a part of this world, in any other case the outlook is a bit overwhelming. I reconnected with pal every week or so in the past, and discovered that we each began our days in the identical method—getting up sooner than the remainder of the family in an effort to have our cuppas and reap the benefits of the quiet. I sit in my favourite chair in my studio so as to add three good issues that occurred the day before today to a journal, then I have a tendency to start out daydreaming about different stuff. Since I place myself in the course of my workspace, my ideas normally drift to the place I’m going with my artwork, and that’s a really optimistic technique to begin a brand new day.
To be sincere, I believe I’ll want greater than the yr that’s left to get to all of the concepts that I’ve just lately scribbled down. I think about most of you recognize what I imply. Good factor that “reestablish the wild blueberry patch in our area” is within the “5-year plan” class. Tom all the time appears to have a cautious look on his face once I are available from the studio saying, “I’ve obtained an concept….”
After all there’s been a number of concepts for the yr and rapid future that contain you—by way of this weblog and thru quite a lot of 2025 lessons—my method of sharing the creativity and optimistic power I attempt to work into my days, with you. This week Tom and I are persevering with to mesh our ongoing “Cloth Collage Assessment” collection with supplying you with extra details about our February Fish Comply with-Alongside, since fish are fabulous subject material for material collage.
Immediately, Gombessa (above) and Crimson Fish (beneath), will function a few the examples for the next Cloth Collage Assessment 5 of 6: Backgrounds. The six-week assessment (three weeks in 2024, three weeks in 2025) is an introduction to the material collage method—particularly chosen for individuals who extra just lately began following my weblog—but it surely’s additionally preparation for my upcoming reside Zoom Comply with-Alongs starting February sixth—see beneath for information and registration.
Beforehand we lined selecting material, making a palette for material collage, gluing, and working in sequence. This fifth assessment put up is about placing a background behind your foremost picture. Backgrounds could be very particular—a selected panorama, for instance—or it may be summary—made up of random shapes or teams of rectangles. There are actually an infinite variety of potentialities! So this put up helps you slim down your background selections by asking you to contemplate the story of your topic. Subsequent Thursday, we’ll conclude this collection with a put up about utilizing sheers to provide a remaining collage contact your picture.
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The Fantastical Fish Comply with Alongside in February, will use a fish sample (of your individual design or one which you will select from my assortment) with a 2025 concentrate on “mixing”—one in every of my most requested about expertise—the method of utilizing the colours, values, and prints in materials to merge one into one other, usually to create the phantasm of type, with highlights and shadows.
The Bugs and Butterflies Comply with Alongside in June and July (additionally your individual design or primarily based on my patterns), will concentrate on butterflies and the right way to method the flowing and colourful shapes of their fascinating wings. Be taught what to search for in your materials and the right way to work with their printed designs to create motion and type—letting the material do a lot of the give you the results you want.
Use the hyperlinks beneath to register for these four-week lessons, held every Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. jap time.
Within the meantime, particularly if you’re new to material collage, it could be useful to assessment the fundamentals by way of this present collection of posts masking the material collage method earlier than these lessons start. In following posts we’ll proceed with the subjects of: backgrounds, and sheers.
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February 6, 13, 20, 27, 2025 — 7 pm, Jap Time
Fantastical Cloth Collage Fish Zoom Comply with-Alongside
REGISTER HERE
Value: $78
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July 24, 31, August 7, 14, 2025 — 7 pm, Jap Time
Fascinating Cloth Collage Bugs and Butterflies Zoom Comply with-Alongside
REGISTER HERE
Value: $78
For those who’ve ever thought-about giving your self the reward of a 5-day week-long material collage class expertise with me—and are usually not scared off by staying cozy in your house, not touring anyplace, and retaining your material stash shut by—do we have now a particular provide for you—a $100 low cost (which provides you the chance so as to add extra material to that stash!).
January 20-24, 2025
Susan Carlson 5-Day Stay On-line Class—All Ranges, Animals Solely
Value WAS: $995
NOW: $895
REGISTER HERE
Make the most of this particular provide solely for January’s “Cozy” Stay On-line Cloth Collage Class
Additional Susan Carlson Studying Sources: Susan Carlson Quilts web site, patterns, weblog (typically), YouTube movies, Spiral eWorkshop, Patreon, and our February Fantastical Fish and Summertime’s Fascinating Bugs and Butterfly Work-Alongs
Telling the Story: Cloth Collage Backgrounds
First revealed December 10, 2016
On the finish of a 4 or 5 day class, my college students will probably be exhausted (and so will I!). Most of them may have spent the complete time engaged on the primary a part of their picture: the individual, the animal, the item, no matter it’s they’ve chosen as their topic. No matter how far they obtained on their foremost picture, or whether or not they may end it at school, I’ve to provide a chat someday throughout the week about backgrounds.
I normally wait till day three—after they’ve had an opportunity to digest a few of what I’ve launched them to. I don’t wait till too near the tip—say, day 4—as a result of typically backgrounds are integral to the primary picture—a tractor in a farmyard, a flower on a bush, a fish in a coral reef. Even when the primary picture—their grandchild, their cape buffalo, their sea turtle—is unbiased from the background, it’s going to should be addressed finally.
Questions on backgrounds are available two foremost classes:
How do I do it?
How do I select?
The primary is a technical query simply answered. The second is usually tougher and requires the scholar to entry their creativity.
Backgrounds: How do I do it?
There are no less than two methods for setting up a background.
The primary method is to easily lower away the the muse material from round the primary picture in order that it may be positioned on no matter material you might be auditioning. (See Quilt Tales: Shock Me for an instance.) The benefit of this after all, is that you just’ll have the ability to see instantly the way it seems to be. Working this manner, one might select to make use of a single piece of cloth (complete fabric) as a background (akin to I did with “Gombessa“) or one might additionally determine to assemble a background from massive, rectangular items of cloth—consider containers or frames. See the examples primarily based on my Serendipitous Sea Turtle sample beneath.
This turtle continues to be in progress, but it surely’s fairly near performed, shut sufficient so I can begin backgrounds. I’ve created it on a basis material, then as you may see within the second image, I’ve lower it away from the muse so it may be auditioned with numerous backgrounds. See beneath.
The higher left model had method too busy of a print, though as I used to be engaged on the turtle, I had it in thoughts as a possible background. Nevertheless, I did like how the orange seemed, so it gave me a colour path to discover. The higher proper model had comparable issues. The darker values of the greens have been a bit near the values within the turtle. If I wished the turtle to mix out and in of its surroundings, it wouldn’t be a nasty choice. The decrease left, whereas red-orange might present distinction, it did appear to be too darkish general. Lastly I used to be happiest with the final choice. This orange model supplied good distinction with the turtle. It’s horizontal stripes additionally distinction and due to this fact assist to focus on the verticalness of the turtle. Nevertheless, for my style it was nonetheless a bit too plain. So…
… including a central band of an identical colour however a contrasting print helps to jazz it up a bit. I believe this will probably be my remaining alternative for background. For now.
Right here’s one other instance of a method to maintain the background easy, however so as to add extra curiosity to it.
This little fish (about 12 inches lengthy) was created individually on the muse material, then lower out and positioned on a background created for it—nonetheless in the identical lower and glue collage course of. The aqua material creates a border round a lighter interior material. It’s this interior field that gives the distinction for the fish, in any other case the aqua can be too shut in worth and the fish would mix with the background. The triangles are added as ornamentation and to deliver colour and further curiosity into the in any other case empty corners.
The identical fish (my “Winged Butterfish” design accessible right here), however in numerous colours and with a totally completely different background resolution. This introduces the second method of setting up a background—to maintain collaging onto the muse. This lends itself to be extra natural and freeform, and as you see on this case, nonetheless exhibiting off the fish properly.
It’s not essential and typically not advantageous to chop the picture away from the muse material—it could be too advanced or too huge—then you definately merely proceed collaging into the background. (Bear in mind to depart the perimeters of the primary picture free—not glued—so you may slide background material beneath.) Most of my quilts are performed this manner and I discover this manner of working to be extra customizable.
Say you could have a turtle or fish made up of greens and reds in a big number of materials of many alternative values. You need the background to be made up of various shades of blue. By collaging the background across the picture you could be very specific about which worth of blue will get positioned the place. More often than not it is going to be a case of highlighting the primary picture moderately than having it mix in with the background. You’ll possible place the darkest blues in opposition to the lightest areas of the picture and vice versa.
The 2 turtles beneath each have collaged backgrounds. The primary won’t look collaged, however there are darker and lighter areas of various materials. I prevented inserting the lightest worth materials near the turtle, which could have prompted it to mix in. (Plus, I wished to work in my child turtle material with out being so apparent about it!) For the second, I knew I wished some nighttime “sky” material to set off my brilliant “rainbow” turtle. The moon, star, and “spiral galaxy” (in my thoughts anyway) batiks I discovered in my stash match the invoice completely. The large ol’ flowers have been a little bit of a why not? afterthought. They have been initially leftovers from the leaves I lower to go across the shell, but when I simply fake they’re “planets,” they now match the theme as effectively.
Collaged backgrounds from a number of materials are actually my favourite method of working. It encourages extra creativity and serendipity. Fairly than merely constructing a field or body to place the picture in, the chance arises to do one thing actually distinctive.
Which brings up one other subject: How do you determine what the background ought to seem like?
Backgrounds: How do I select?
Okay, so when some college students end their foremost picture they’re simply able to be performed. The best background is simply high-quality with them, being little greater than a body. And that’s okay. A chunk of complete fabric or a easy field development and so they’re completed.
Different college students, nevertheless, attempt for one thing extra formidable and that’s when it might grow to be overwhelming.
For those who aren’t utilizing a complete fabric or boxy background, the alternatives grow to be infinite. And the infinite is horrifying. The best way to defeat the infinite is with the actual. What’s the specific story of this picture?
When a pupil at school is struggling along with her background, I ask questions in an effort to draw out the story behind the piece: What’s the topic? The place is the topic? What’s it doing? Why did you select this topic? What’s essential in regards to the topic?
The solutions to those questions nearly all the time lead us to our backgrounds. For instance, let’s have a look at a number of of my quilts.
Gombessa
Let’s begin with a simple one. “Gombessa” includes a life-size coelacanth on a whole-cloth background. It is a huge quilt. The fish is life-size, about six ft lengthy. Doing a whole-cloth background is uncommon for me—I normally want one thing extra visually wealthy and complicated. However if you study the story of the quilt, by asking the questions above, you’ll perceive why it’s so acceptable.
- What’s the topic? A coelacanth, often known as the dino fish because it was thought to have gone extinct 65 million years in the past, across the identical time because the dinosaurs.
- The place is the topic? It lives in two locations within the Indian Ocean: off the coast of Madagascar and within the waters off Indonesia.
- What’s it doing? Don’t know. Hanging out?
- Why did you select this topic? Due to its distinctive story: it was rediscovered in a South African fish market in 1938.
- What’s essential in regards to the topic? I’m fascinated by its story.
Probably the most pertinent reply on this case turned out to be the place the fish was from. Because it has been present in solely two populations—off the jap coast of Africa and the coast of Indonesia—I attempted to discover a technique to characterize that in material. After I learn that the fish was many shades of blue with white spots I instantly considered Indonesian batiks, so I made the fish with plenty of these materials.
On the time I used to be contemplating what I’d do for the background, I occurred to go to our yearly Maine quilt present. I used to be considering of one thing in golds, since that colour would complement the blues. At a selected sales space have been plenty of worldwide materials, and the universe stepped in. The sales space proprietor had one piece that was sufficiently big and within the colours I used to be in search of. The clincher, nevertheless, is that the material was a hand-painted piece from Africa.
So, between the fish itself and the background, the materials I used place the fish in its two habitats. Good.
Redfish
Right here’s one other fish. This one is purely from my creativeness (there’s a species of fish by that title, although it doesn’t seem like this). As I’ve mentioned earlier than: a head, some fins, and a tail and also you’ve obtained your self a fish. I might have used whole-cloth for the background as I did with Gombessa, however as soon as I requested myself the questions, I got here up with a distinct resolution.
- What’s the topic? A made-up fish.
- The place is the topic? Within the ocean.
- What’s it doing? Swimming.
- Why did you select this topic? As a result of I wished to play with colour.
- What’s essential in regards to the topic? Nothing specifically.
So, right here the reply to query quantity 4 is the essential one. If I wished to play with colour, then the background wanted to be quite a lot of materials as effectively. However because the fish was just one colour, pink, I made a decision the background needs to be one colour, aqua. In looking by way of my lower scraps for aquas, many have been strips of cloth, or had straight edges. So I positioned many as horizontal stripes to provide a way of water present flowing previous the fish, satisfying query numbers two and three within the course of—swimming within the ocean.
Crocodylus Smylus
When it was time to consider it, I noticed Stevie the saltwater crocodile on a background of rectangular items of cloth. However as soon as I had completed the primary picture and began enjoying round, auditioning materials right here and there round her, it turned complicated with no focus. This was a case of being overwhelmed by the infinite. I simply had too many selections and wanted to discover a technique to slim them down.
So let’s have a look at the questions once more.
- What’s the topic? A saltwater crocodile.
- The place is the topic? Australia.
- What’s it doing? Strolling on the seashore.
- Why did you select this topic? Due to their superior dimension (20 ft common in actual life!).
- What’s essential in regards to the topic? Their superior dimension!
After I examine salties browsing—that’s proper, browsing—on waves within the ocean, I knew I wished to put her on a seashore. On this case, the second and third questions have been those that actually helped me outline the background—strolling from underbrush and throughout the seashore to the ocean. It turned a extra straight-forward activity of suggesting bushes and grasses behind her, sand beneath her, and water forward of her. I nonetheless stored my rectangular shapes, however the reply to the place she was and what she was doing outlined the position and colour of these material rectangles.
Years in the past I taught in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada, nearing the Arctic Circle. Donna McDonald was my guild contact and earlier than I left she gifted me some items of cloth she had Shibouri dyed. I lastly discovered the proper place for them, within the background of “Crocodylus Smylus.”
Dixie Dingo Dreaming
I’ve talked in regards to the background of this quilt fairly extensively in a earlier Quilts Story, so I gained’t repeat it phrase for phrase right here, however let’s apply the questions above to this quilt.
- What’s the topic? My canine Pippin.
- The place is the topic? She’s sitting within the solar by a sliding glass door.
- What’s it doing? She’s snoozing, sitting in a posture that was specific to her.
- Why did you select this topic? As a result of she’s particular to me.
- What’s essential in regards to the topic? She’s a part of our household.
The solutions to those questions led to me a really specific resolution to the background. On one degree it’s fairly apparent: I created the impression of a doorway with two straight edges, a vertical and a horizontal. Then I created a stylized solar that’s shining by way of the doorway. In essence, I positioned her the place she was once I took the image—just a bit extra fanciful than in actual life.
But it surely’s the solutions to the final query that makes this background specific: May I in some way present how she was a member of our household? The answer was to do it symbolically. As I’m going into in some depth in my Quilt Story put up, I borrowed from and tailored Australian Aboriginal symbolism to perform my purpose. The middle of the solar represents a campfire (or our house). The grey U-shaped symbols across the fireplace characterize the 4 of us in our house: the three individuals and one fur-person. The pink wavy strains characterize our paths by way of life. And so forth. (Learn Quilt Tales: “Dixie Dingo Dreaming” for an entire clarification.) In the long run, this quilt of Pippin consists of our complete household—three people, two fur-people, and one feather-person—at that second in time.
Final Ideas on Backgrounds
Use the background to accent your foremost picture. Ensure that the background provides to and doesn’t distract from or overwhelm your topic.
A technique a background can distract is by making an excessive amount of of it. It’s not unusual for my college students to heart their picture on a big whole-cloth piece of cloth the place it might look a bit misplaced.
I are likely to crop fairly near the topic. Typically, as within the little fish with the field and border above, the picture truly breaks into the border. It’s extra fascinating to be a giant fish in small pond than vice versa. Until there’s cause for extra unfavourable area within the background, I’d crop fairly shut.
Backgrounds could be easy, simply colourful squares or stunning material to border the work, or they are often as advanced as you’d like. I encourage you to have your background inform a narrative. Take into consideration the questions I ask my college students. These solutions might maintain the important thing to unlocking the story your quilt is attempting to inform.
Bonus Video
Luana Rubin of equilter.com interviewed me in regards to the my Specimens present whereas on the Worldwide Quilt Competition in Houston this final November. Thanks, Luana.