“Good morning! I was looking for a class to take with my mother-in-law… in early March and didn’t know if you were offering one?! It’s her birthday and it’s been some time since both of us have dusted off our machines.”

Back in early 2019, I received the above email and thus began my first pet portrait class. 

Emails flew back and forth as we ironed out details. I talked about my teaching style. While they would work from a photo, they would be layering instead of piecing and they’d make their “pattern pieces” from the enlarged photo or freehand. Since some people feel they cannot sew without pre-printed pattern pieces, I make a point of explaining this. Sometimes a student’s feelings of “I can’t do this” are so overwhelming that while the individual may have a great vision, they just can’t make that first experimental cut into the fabric.

Leah was thrilled since she had always wanted to try fabric art and was happily discussing possible pets for her portrait. The more emails we sent back and forth, the more excited she got. “… (this) out of the box opportunity was just too great to pass up!!” She shared that her mother-in-law might be a bit hesitant as to whether or not she could do this new art form. I said something to the effect of between the two of us, she’ll be fine.

Their photos enlarged and pinned on my design wall, waiting for them when they arrived.

Pet Portrait Class Preparation

The list of supplies and tools for the day was emailed. I requested the photos they were considering as reference photos ahead of time so I could see if there was anything that might be too advanced for a first attempt.

“So as you are thinking of what photo you’d like to recreate in fabric, try to first pick one that “speaks to” you. It could capture a certain look of your pet or just have a special memory. The clearer the picture is, the easier it will be to work with… however, we can work with ones that aren’t that clear if we have other photos to reference.”

Knowing their choices prior to class day allowed me to get the photos enlarged. I pulled out class material from years ago when I was teaching Beginning and Intermediate Fabric Art Quilts at Saratoga County Adult Continuing Education, reworked some of it, and into folders it went.

Betsy and I had a number of emails discussing her reference photo possibilities. Irises, sunsets, or her Mickey. While she wasn’t confident that she could make a black cat out of fabric look anything like her Mickey, I had enough confidence for both of us, so Mickey it was. The fact that Mickey was transitioning through that end-of-life time of his life added a poignant dimension to the whole process.

“So, just something to be aware of, as you choose colors for your picture when you are here with me, go for what speaks to your heart/ soul. It’s okay to cut fabric up, put it down, and if something isn’t right, take that fabric off and cut up something else. And then something else… and then go back to the first one. I call it ‘auditioning’ the fabric.”

The day before Betsy wrote: “She (Leah) is so much fun and we have a great time when we are together. This class will be so much fun with the 3 of us!!!” It’s nice knowing one’s students are excited before we even start.

Fabric Art Creation Day

This mid-February day began (and ended) with no snow, so that was a joy. Leah was coming down south 3 hours and Betsy had to come over the mountain, which can be treacherous in winter storms. The day began with setting up their machines, followed by information about different techniques, and then the making began. Pet portraits can be made as wall hangings, mounted on canvas, or as pillows. They both chose to make theirs as wall hangings.

Similar to what is in my blog post, Making a Fabric Pet Portrait: Cooper’s Memorial Pillow, the second copy of the enlarged photo was cut out in muslin for the base. Each part (ears, jaw, face, mane) was also cut out to be the pattern for that particular area.

What always is interesting to me is to watch the approach individual students take when they begin to add color on top of that muslin base. Some approach it with abandon, quickly rummaging through their fabrics, choosing what feels right quickly and cutting away with the scissors; others lay out all the material choices around the base, move them around a number of times, step back, make some changes and even then, hesitantly make that first cut. Both styles were present in this daughter/ mother-in-law pair.

Leah worked on her horse, Moon. She had initially written to me: “I have an old man (27 years young) black (graying though) horse who I’ve owned for 22+ years and was thinking of maybe doing something of him. I didn’t know how difficult doing a BLACK animal would be though.” I had sent them photos of different completely black animals I had done and I suspect that helped move the needle. She wanted to have it be whimsical and magical as this gentle creature exudes that essence. Her material choices reflect that vision.

Note how the fabric choices portray the fanciful nature of her horse

For Mickey, I recommended that Betsy start with the head and eyes first. Often just having a complete face cut out allows students to go forward with more conviction and confidence.

We talked about how to get the shine in his coat from different black fabric, how to show the contours of his body through patterns in the material, and how taking a photo of the work helps one see what sometimes is missed with your eyes.

The first draft of Mickey pinned. Notice how the pattern in the face material adds depth to his face.

Both Leah and Betsy worked diligently through the morning. Leah and I had previously arranged to have a luncheon meal here due to the fact it would save time and it was Betsy’s birthday weekend. Leah brought soup and bread; I made salad and had some cupcakes from my daughter, Fancy Pants Cakes. The food break served them well, and then they continued their cutting and Leah began sewing her art piece.

Leah sewing her pet portrait, and Betsy practicing the machine applique stitch.

Since Betsy wasn’t sure what she wanted to do for her background, I had her practice the blanket stitch on a flower shape that I had left over from my previous classes.  

Creating the Pet Portrait Background: Six Months Later

I received an email from Betsy wondering if she could come over to work with me on the background for Mickey. She had some ideas, yet she wasn’t sure whether or not the colors worked well enough. So over the mountain she came with a basketful of material and Mickey, the fabric Mickey, that is.  

Betsy spoke of how during these months she had received compliments from friends and co-workers on her portrayal of Mickey. A number of them had encouraged her to finish it. “It’s going to be amazing!” they said.

Betsy knew she wanted her cat to be outside on grass with a soft sky in the background. She auditioned a number of grass materials. We dug into my scrap drawers and fabric bins to add to her sky options.  

Watching Betsy cut out the strips for the sky brought a smile to my face as there were no patterns for the layers of the atmosphere, just freehand cutting. She was doing what six months ago seemed impossible and doing it well. Most importantly she felt good about her progress. 

Mickey in the grass at sunset.

A Finished Pet Portrait: Mickey at Home

Almost a year from when we had the class, I received the photos below.  Mickey was finished and had his place of remembrance and honor in Betsy’s new house.

Musings on Fabric Art

I know how challenging it can be for people new to art quilts and fabric collage to overcome the mindset gremlins. I have been there.  

There was a time in my art and business journey when I had convinced myself:

I couldn’t put colors (fabric) together correctly.

Without any formal art training, my work would never be good enough. 

I wouldn’t learn to create pets that look real enough.

I couldn’t paint eyes or noses.

I couldn’t do Instagram, create a monthly newsletter, or write a blog.  

What I found out over time:

I can combine colors together well when I listen to the fabric speaking to me.

I can view fabric with different eyes, seeing shapes within patterns and colors.

My skill set improved through practice and the many portraits I created.

Practice works. 

I enjoy writing/sharing my art journey, observations, and techniques with others.

A joyFULL art piece is as valuable as one that is technically correct

When you create from the heart, it all falls into place.

These days when there is something new for my business, my phrase is “ I haven’t learned how to do that YET.”  And when those “You Won’t Ever Be Able to Do That, Martha” gremlins come marching up to my door, I invite them in, acknowledge the fear and doubt that surrounds them, and send them on their way gently with a “Oh but I will. I will learn it over time. You don’t need to protect me from failure. It won’t be perfect at first and I will keep improving the more I do something.” 

I can hear the Pinterest gremlins in the distance. I am armed with my “I haven’t learned Pinterest, YET” shield.

The Farm

You often hear me mention “the farm” on my Instagram or Facebook accounts or in these posts. The farm is Evening Song Farm, an organic vegetable CSA, owned by Kara and Ryan Fitzbeauchamp, my daughter-in-law and son. It is located in Shrewsbury, Vermont and is in its second location; the fields were completely washed away during Hurricane Irene in 2011.

Kara and Ryan have inspired me in so many ways over the years. Their initial business plan blew my socks off. I remember thinking “These two are only one year out of college and wow, this is what they envision for their business/ lives.” 

One influence, in particular, came from their business postcard.  It was a photograph of different varieties of carrots heaped high at their  market.  I looked at this and said 1) I need to put pictures of my work on a business postcard, and 2) I want to create those bunches of delicious carrots in fabric.

While this isn’t the original inspiration, here are bunches of carrots washed and ready for CSA members.

The First Evening Song Carrots

When I went to create my first Evening Song Carrots piece, I pulled out all my yellows and oranges and even some purples from the fabric totes. The piece was to be on a 16×20 inch canvas. Once I free cut some carrots, I quickly realized that there was no way bunches and bunches of carrots would fit on this size. Each carrot deserved to stand out, not look like a smush of orange.

Because these were farm carrots, the carrot greens had to be part of the artwork. After ironing on a two-sided adhesive onto the fabric, I drew squiggly fronds and cut them out. Next was to carefully arrange the bunch while considering color and carrot shape. I ironed down the greens and sewed the individual carrots, making it a point to add root hairs at tips. The tops were then free motion quilted to prevent them flopping around if the adhesive became loose in the future. 

Evening Song carrots grew into other designs such as Carrots Dining

I have created eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, and corn so far, with peas and broccoli cut out waiting to be sewn.

Not the inspirational photo, but just a reminder about how many colors an eggplant has on its skin

And the peppers… there are so many varieties of peppers grown at Evening Song Farm. There are habanero and serrano and poblano and jalapeno and rainbow and carmen and…

And Then Came the Farm Animals

It was an easy transition from pet portraits to farm animal portraits. Bella and Zia grace the farm with their presence and serve a critical role in the health of the farm ecosystem. Over the years there have also been chickens, pigs, and Mr. Nelson and LMNO (both goats).

Zia with her baby, and Bella in the background with one of hers

Bella has been my featured farm lady as Zia tends to hide when I’m looking to take a photo. The first goat portrait I did, I did just for the joy of it, not really thinking it would sell. I wanted to make it extra whimsical so I added knobby tan yarn for hay.  My explanation to viewers was that whenever I walk by her, Bella lets me know she wants some hay and isn’t happy when she  doesn’t get it.

Little did I know that finding a unique gift for someone who adores goats is not that easy. My goat art has gone to a piano teacher who “LOOOOVES her goat more than she loves piano” as an end of year thank you, a best friend’s birthday present, as well as for a child’s farm nursery.     

Two different variations of Bella. Note her flakes of hay to keep her quiet and well-fed

And there are other animals I have made.  Shiloh is in the living room of her owner. Piggie now patiently awaits dinner at the house of the grandchild of a customer.  My chickens…  well they are still wondering when someone will take them home to roost.

Interesting facts: Shiloh’s top part of the barn door is 3D. Piggy won a 2nd place ribbon at an art show.

What’s Next?

I’ll continue my (mostly) weekly farm visits and instead of weeding, my Grandma B task is to play with  my younger two grandchildren.Together we are making memories for us all.  

There’s another pig on my design wall.  I’m definitely open to ideas for new farm animals and veggies. The farm is adding a pick-your-own flower option for their CSA members so I anticipate that I will be adding some new  flower art to my upcoming collection, Flower Power.  

Let me leave you with this picture of the tomatoes growing in the high tunnel … rows and rows, reaching up at least 15 feet high.

All photos of animals and vegetables are by Adam Ford of Adam Ford Photography.  He is an amazing photographer who captures the essence of the farm through all the seasons. There are so many that would just make wonderful gifts for anyone who loves vegetables, gardening, farm animals, or just plain nature in all her glory.