What if you could turn a favorite photograph into a quilt that looks like a painting?
In this extraordinary workshop, award-winning textile artist Sandra Mollon teaches you how to transform an image into a realistic fused art quilt using fabric, value (light and dark contrast), and texture instead of paint. Often described as painting with fabric, this process opens the door to an entirely new way of seeing — and creating — with cloth.
No sewing machine required. Just fabric, light, and your eye for detail.
Scroll down to discover how this remarkable class works and what you’ll create.
📍 June 15-20, 2027
📍June 22-27, 2027
at 50 Acre Woods Retreat Center
fused art quilts from photographs
Meet the Instructor
Sandra Mollon
As a young woman in college, I was drawn to a biology major because I realized that I loved the natural world, ecology, and all of the interesting complexities of life itself. A walk through the woods with a knowledgeable Instructor, who could point out the names of flowers and trees, and even the moss and lichen beneath our feet changed my life. I am incredibly grateful for that experience—it drove me to always see the beauty in even the small things.
I loved art as well, starting in elementary school, but never considered myself very talented. I became interested in quilt making from the late 1980’s, when I saw my first quilt magazine. It was, and remains to me, an approachable medium in which to express myself. I felt free to experiment, free to sew by hand or machine, free to play—and of course the fabric itself! Fabric is universally loved by people, as we are wrapped in soft cloth from the moment of birth, it covers our bodies, softens our furniture, and brightens our days with color and texture.
Sandra has spent more than 30 years working with fabric. While much of that time was in classic patchwork and appliqué quilting, her more recent work in realistic raw-edge collage has become her signature style.
Sandra authored the book “Seasons of Life, Techniques and Patterns for 13 Baltimore Album Quilt Blocks” published by C&T, and is currently writing a new book on raw edge collage appliqué.
Sandra is also an award winning quilt maker. Her traditional quilt, “Seasons of Life“ won the Outstanding Large Quilt” award at Road to California in Jan. 2019, and then in its second show in April of 2019—a “Best Movable Machine” award at Spring Paducah—a purchase award into the permanent collection at the National Quilt Museum in Paducah KY.
Moving on to her more recent work, she has won awards, including “Best Wall” at Pacific International in 2021 and 2022, Mid Atlantic Quilt Fest in 2023, and Greenville SC in 2022, The Stevie Graves Director’s Choice Award in 2024 at Road to California, and a Best of Show award at Yosemite Renaissance 39 in 2024 to name a few,
Her work has been published in the book, “500 Traditional Quilts” by Lark Publications and in American Quilter magazine, and she has had exhibitions of her work in galleries in California, and recently at the Visions Museum of Textile Art in San Diego CA.
Biography
About the Class
In Fused Art Quilts from Photographs, Sandra Mollon guides you step-by-step through her signature process for transforming a photograph into a realistic fabric art quilt.
You’ll begin with a photo of your choice (or one of Sandra’s patterns) and learn how to enlarge it, trace it, and break the image down into light and dark value changes. From there, you’ll select batik fabrics that match those values and carefully cut, layer, and fuse them into place to recreate depth, detail, and dimension.
This is a hands-on, highly engaging workshop where you’ll work at your own pace while Sandra demonstrates each stage of the process. You’ll gain a new way of seeing images — not just as pictures, but as shapes, shadows, and textures that can be translated into cloth.
No sewing machine is needed during class. The focus is entirely on design, fabric selection, tracing, cutting, and fusing. Quilting and finishing are completed later at home once your fused top is finished.
By the end of the workshop, you’ll have a fused quilt top well underway and the confidence and knowledge to continue creating photo-inspired art quilts on your own.
Level: All levels welcome
You'll be in charge of choosing a photo that complements your skill level.
What You’ll Accomplish:
Select and prepare a photograph to use as the foundation for your art quilt
Learn how to trace and break an image into workable shapes and value changes
Choose and audition batik fabrics to match light, dark, and texture from your photo
Cut, layer, and fuse fabrics into place to begin building a realistic quilt top
Leave with a fused art quilt will underway and the confidence to complete it at home
Skills You’ll Learn:
How to “read” a photograph by identifying light, shadow, and value changes
Techniques for tracing and translating an image into a fabric pattern
Confident fabric selection based on value rather than color alone
Raw-edge fused collage methods using Misty Fuse for clean, precise results
Ways to enhance realism with fabric placement and textile media
Photo Library
Materials & Supplies
Provided by Instructor:
Expert step-by-step instruction and demonstrations throughout the workshop
Access to Sandra’s patterns (optional for those not using their own photo). A link for purchase options will be sent after registration
Classroom use of textile media, including color pencils, ink, Fabrico markers, and oil pastels
Guidance on fabric selection, value placement, and fusing techniques
Ongoing individual feedback as you build your fused quilt top
Provided by 50 Acre Woods:
Spacious, well-lit workspace with adjustable table lighting
Comfortable seating and tables at ideal working height
Filtered drinking water, snacks, and beverages throughout the day
Hot, home-cooked meals and relaxing lodging each evening
A welcoming, creative environment designed specifically for makers
What to Bring:
Photograph to work from (or plan to use one of Sandra’s patterns) enlarged to your desired finished size
A traced pattern of your image on freezer paper (strongly recommended to complete before class)
Background fabric the size of your enlargement, with extra around the edges for trimming
A wide variety of batik fabrics (approximately 30–40 pieces in small cuts) that match the colors and values in your photo
Misty Fuse fusible web (4–5 yards recommended)
Freezer paper large enough to trace your entire image (tape pieces together if needed)
Travel-size iron and ironing mat
Pencil with eraser
Scissors for cutting paper and fabric
Slice ceramic craft knife (highly recommended)
Silicone Goddess Sheet or parchment paper for fusing
Light box (if tracing is not completed before class)
Portable task light (optional, but helpful)
Preparation Instructions
Choose your Photograph:
Select a photograph you would truly enjoy turning into a quilt. Choose an image with clear detail and good resolution, and consider starting with a simpler subject if this is your first time using this process.
Enlarge your Photograph:
Enlarge to the size you want your finished quilt to be. Larger images are often easier to work from than small ones. You may print this as a poster, blueprint-style enlargement, or tiled sheets taped together.
Trace your enlarged image:
Trace onto freezer paper before arriving at the workshop. Carefully trace every shape and value change you see. Completing this step ahead of time allows you to spend your class time on fabric selection, cutting, and fusing rather than tracing.
Dates: June 15 - 20, 2027 OR June 22 - 27, 2027
Time: Arrive anytime after 3:00 PM on your retreat start date (June 15 or June 22, 2027 - Tuesday). Orientation will begin after dinner at approximately 6 PM.
Instruction will begin at 9:00 AM on the first full day of your retreat (June 16 or June 23, 2027 - Wednesday)
Check-out is anytime in the morning on the last day of your retreat (June 20 or June 27, 2027 - Sunday)
Location: 50 Acre Woods, 3419 Jarman Hollow Road, Palmyra, TN 37142
Cost: Approx. $1499 per person. This includes lodging, 3 meals/day, sewing amenities, taxes, and all the fun you can bring!
Deposit ($500 non-refundable) due upon registration.
Installment ($500) due November 1, 2026
Final payment (remainder of balance) due February 1, 2027
Refund Policy for This Event
This refund policy supersedes all other published policies.
The deposit is non-refundable. All other payments are:
100% refundable up to 180 days prior to the event
50% refundable from 179 to 120 days prior to the event
No refunds are available within 120 days of the event.
Skill Level: All Levels
Class Details
Testimonials
“Before this class, I never thought I could create anything that looked like art. Sandra’s method completely changed how I see fabric and photographs.”
— Denise M., Asheville, NC
“This was one of the most fascinating quilting experiences I’ve ever had. It felt more like painting than sewing, and the results were incredible.”
— Karen T., Boise, ID
“I loved that there was no sewing machine involved — just focus, fabric, and creativity. I left feeling inspired and confident to finish my piece at home.”
— Melissa R., Madison, WI
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