I am available to lecture and teach throughout the country. If you have any questions which cannot be answered by one of the links below, please contact me.

Lecture and Trunk Show &
Class Descriptions
Somethin' Fishy
Fabric Images
Somethin' in the Air

Exhibitions & Publications
Materials Lists
Schedule
Contract

Teaching Overview 

Susan Carlson has been creating images with fabric since 1983. Her experimentation has led her to a fabric collage method that she has been sharing with others since 1994. Those classes have been taught throughout New England and the rest of the U.S., and internationally, including Canada and New Zealand.

Susan teaches five clases, three of which can be taught in one or more days. The other requires two or more days. The first day familiarizes the students with her technique and gets them going on the right path. Extra class days mean more students go home with finished projects. Susan has had many repeat students, who come in order to continue on a previously started project, or to start a new one under Susan's guidance. Many students have completed works on their own with only her book as a guide. It is a fun and forgiving technique that encourages students to complete their projects rather than adding to their piles of UFOs (unfinished objects).

(click on image)

Lecture and Trunk Show 

Length: Approx. 1-1/2 hours

Requirements: See contract.

$250

This is an inspirational and informative slide-show and lecture starting with Susan's first fabric experiments of more than twenty years ago, in which she began to combine fabric and art. She believes these early projects led to her fabric collage method that began in 1990. The slide lecture traces this progression of her quilts to the present day, with insights and stories for each. The step-by-step development of a piece is shown, from the original inspiration to the finished wall hanging. Susan shares techniques and hints for design, fabric selection, construction, borders, and quilting. To accompany the slide presentation, Susan displays a selection of quilts, allowing viewers to examine completed pieces and to see up-close how her techniques are applied. A question and answer period follows.

See Susan's schedule for upcoming lectures.

Cutting Loose

Susan's newest class combines aspects of her earlier classes (Somethin' Fishy and Somethin' in the Air) with her evolving techniques of fabric collage. In this class, Susan demonstrates a looser approach to the piecing and assembly of a wall quilt. The approach taken will be a painterly one. Emphasis will be placed on the collage piecing process. Patterns or templates will not be used. Instead, students will sketch their design onto a foundation fabric and proceed to fill in the design with fabrics of their choice. Susan encourages playfulness, serendipity, and a willingness to "cut loose." Due to time constraints, students need to choose simple, whimsical designs such as fish, butterflies or other bugs, lizards, suns and moons (with or without faces). Realistic portraits, however, are too intensive for this one- or two-day class. See Susan's Fabric Images class if a realistic portrait is your subject choice. Cost of class includes student's choice of pattern. Additional (optional) patterns will be available from Susan for a small fee.

Length: 12 hours (two 6-hour classes). Available as a one- or two-day class (Allow 7 hours for each class with 1 hour for lunch) See Susan's schedule for upcoming classes.

Max. class size: 20

Classroom Requirements: See contract.

Materials List

$1400 plus travel, room, and board.

Follow-Up Class

Have you taken one of Susan's classes and didn't have the time to finish the quilt? Is it sitting at home waiting for the time to work on it? Well, here you go. This class is for previous students who need more help from Susan to finish, or just to get farther along on a larger project. It also works well immediately following any of Susan's other classes.

Length: 6 hours. Available as a one- or two-day class (Allow 7 hours for each class with 1 hour for lunch) See Susan's schedule for upcoming classes.

Max. class size: 20

Classroom Requirements: See contract.

Materials List

Group Price: $700 plus travel, room, and board.

Somethin' Fishy

Create a fun and fabulous fabric fish wall-hanging using Susan's fabric collage technique as presented in her book "Free Style Quilts: A No-Rules Approach." Susan will start with a short slide show (to get in the fishy mood) with a question and answer period. Students then work at their own pace to assemble their work of art. Finished sizes will vary according to student. Average finished size is 16 by 20 inches. Cost of class includes a fish pattern of choice. Additional (optional) patterns will be available from Susan for a small fee. Students are responsible for bringing a range of fabrics and other supplies to work with (see materials list). Focus will be on assembly of fish and background options. Typically, only an overview and/or demonstration of machine quilting techniques will be provided.

Length: 12 hours (two 6-hour classes). Available as a one- or two-day class (Allow 7 hours for each class with 1 hour for lunch). See Susan's schedule for upcoming classes.

Max. class size: 20

Classroom Requirements: See contract.

Materials List

$1400 plus travel, room, and board.

Also available as a one-day class for $700.

Two-day class may be combined with "Somethin' in the Air"

Somethin' In the Air

Let your fancy take flight. Bugs and butterflies will the subject in this class based on her book "Free Style Quilts: A No-Rules Approach." Susan will start with a short slide show (to get in the buggy mood) with questions and answers. Students will then procede to assemble their own fanciful wall hanging. Finished sizes will vary according to student. Cost of class includes one butterfly or bug pattern of student's choice. Additional (optional) patterns will be available from Susan for a small fee.

Length: 12 hours (two 6-hour classes). Available as a one- or two-day class. (Allow 7 hours for each class with 1 hour for lunch.) See Susan's schedule for upcoming classes.

Max. class size: 20

Classroom Requirements: See contract.

Materials List

$1400 plus travel, room, and board.

Also available as a one-day class for $700.

Two-day class may be combined with "Somethin' Fishy"

Fabric Images: "Portraits Only" or "Anything Else Goes"

Create an image using Susan's innovative layering/collage method. Class includes a short slide show of examples pertaining to choice of class. Individual design, fabric selection, construction, borders, and quilting will be discussed Each session is a minimum of two days--three or more days are preferred. Since everyone works at their own pace with their own subject, extra days give both the student and Susan the time to encounter and solve the questions that may arise. Class sizes are also limited to give students the extra attention toward each of their unique projects.

"Portraits Only" is limited to 12 participants. You may add up to 3 students at $100 each for a total of 15.

"Anything Else Goes" is limited to 15 participants. You may add up to 3 students at $100 each for a total of 18.

Students will receive materials list with tips for fabric choices and pattern preparation (if needed) prior to class.

Length: 18 hours (three 6-hour days) Additional days may be added at $700 per day. (Allow 7 hours for each class with 1 hour for lunch) See Susan's schedule for upcoming classes.

Classroom Requirements: See contract.

Materials List

Group Price: $2,100 plus travel, room, and board.

Also available as a two-day class for $1,400. (Maximum 12 students with an addition of up to 3 students at $100 each for a total of 15.)