Fascinating Bugs and Butterflies: Pupil Material Collage Quilts 1


With the recognition of my Quilter’s Fantastical Trophy Fish Comply with-Alongside Class final February (see the work in these 4 posts: Half 1, Half 2, Half 3, and Half 4), it made sense to convey again a summertime model of this four-week introduction to cloth collage.

My Fascinating Bugs and Butterflies Comply with-Alongside drew much more contributors—virtually 100!—lots of whom had been attempting 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 had been additionally ready 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 note many cicadas but in addition some butterflies and different crawlies.

It has solely been every week because the final class completed up and the progress they’ve made and can proceed to make is superb. The coed quilts on show under, 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 due to 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 assets embody: Fantastical Fish eWorkshop, Serendipity Quilts, Spiral eWorkshop, Facial Options eWorkshop, Material Collage Grasp Class5-day Reside On-line Zoom Courses, and my patterns (together with fish and solar/moon patterns).


Nancy Anders

Butterfly (22 x 19 inches), 2024, by Nancy Anders

From Nancy Anders of Washington State:

That is my first giant collage quilt and the primary utilizing Susan’s method. I’m not a fan of bugs, however I 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 colour. I wished the piece to ask nearer inspection to see the entire fascinating 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 may be all the time extra to study. This won’t be my solely collage quilt!


Brenda Carter

“Scrappy Pete” (27 x 30 inches), 2024, by Brenda Carter

From Brenda Carter of Fort McMurray, Alberta Canada:

Since working with Susan via zooms and having the privilege to satisfy Susan at workshop and in individual, I may by no means say that I might ever be tired of 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. Now we 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 turn out to be a swallowtail butterfly. I selected this caterpillar as a result of it was an precise photograph that we took (no copyright situation right here) and I wished to solely use scraps from my stash. Nonetheless have to determine the background but…so all a piece in progress.


Elizabeth Imperato

Fascinating Bugs and Butterflies: Pupil Material Collage Quilts 1
“Pink Cicada within the Backyard” (36 x 24 inches), 2024, by 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 wished 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 finished with the Cicada I entered it in to a juried present and it gained Juror’s choose. I want now that I added extra to the background however, both manner I’m pleased with it. I’m wanting ahead to creating a butterfly and utilizing what I discovered from making the Cicada.


Kay Kuner

Kay Kuner together with her Cicada (24 x 18 inches), 2024

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 focused on Susan’s strategies of mixing materials to provide smoother actions in my appliques. I used to be additionally focused on studying learn how to present depth in my photos.

The choice of cloth was extra concerned than I believed. I started three completely 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 data I discovered in the course of 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 Prepare dinner

“The Queen” (32 x 32), 2024, by Donna Prepare dinner

From Donna Prepare dinner of North Hampton, NH:

I’ve watched all of Susan’s movies and courses and at last determined it’s time to start out making considered one of 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 ready to make use of cloth I had readily available. I solid forward and created my first collage.

After my first draft and watching further courses I noticed my quilt didn’t have the cohesion it wanted to be nice. I scrapped your entire first quilt and commenced once more with a clearer colour 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 discovered a lot from this class, however the two. most necessary issues I might say is put some cloth down and begin constructing the collage, nothing is everlasting till the final draft and something will be modified. After watching Susan apply glue I noticed I used to be utilizing manner an excessive amount of glue.


Carol Mann

“Cicadian Rhythm and Blues” (24 x 18 inches), 2024, by Carol Mann

From Carol Mann of West Orange, New Jersey:

I’ve finished many several types of collage, however that is the primary time I’ve finished it the Susan Carlson‘s manner. 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 purchased one or two extra that had prints on them. Then I added some blues (my favourite colour). Susan stored saying the background ought to be a narrative so I put my bug within the forest (I discovered the forest cloth by probability) and in a tree within the forest. I used the tulle thought as she urged, to make the starry sky, and the lace across the wing created a luminescent which I believe added to the quilt. I watched lots of her movies and was ready to make use of my interpretation of her voice. Cicadian Rhythm and Blues is just not but completed however she is on her manner.

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