Susan Else "quilt" in TCQC 09-19-10

This is the second appearance of this Susan Else quilt which I first posted 03-28-10. I have recently hung it again and am so enchanted with it I thought I would share more pictures showing details of Susan's fascinating construction techniques.

"Coyote Fence" Susan Else 2001 25.5" X 22"

Although Susan made this nine years ago, I only purchased it last spring when she had an exhibit at Back Porch Fabrics in Pacific Grove, CA. I am so fortunate that nobody wanted it as much as I did. Some will debate if this is actually a quilt. I think it is, it has all the required aspects of a quilt - at least three layers, made of fabric, sewn together with stitching. True, it doesn't have a binding and one would not want to sleep under it, but it looks terrific on the wall.

Like many suburban areas in the Southwest, we have coyotes in our neighborhood. Several years ago my neighbor and I went together to have a wrought iron 'coyote' fence put up along the back of our properties. We would have settled for chain link, but the planning commission wouldn't allow it. If we lived in Arizona or New Mexico we might have a fence that is built of native timber (juniper, aspen, etc.) fitted closely together and would look similar to this.

Susan has used multicolored rat-tail to 'stitch' the cross bars on.

Her technique of layering fabrics to create texture has always interested me.

These colors and fabric textures create the supporting 'native rock' wall for the fence.

On the back she has used plastic tubing to support the top of the fence stakes and provide a way to hang the piece.

The supporting wall is stretched over rigid foam (I think) with the fence stakes stitched to the fabric.

Here is the plastic tubing with short pieces of dark grey fabric wrapped and stitched around it to provide a way to stitch the fence stakes at the top. I have tied a length of fishing leader around the tubing to hang the piece on the wall.

Susan has developed many innovative ways to construct her wonderful 3-D people and structures and she teaches classes to share her knowledge with others. Someday I hope to take a class with her, I understand she is a great teacher.


I have explained many times the problems involved with added items to the TCQC that cannot be rolled and must be boxed to protect fragile elements. And then I buy something that is not necessarily fragile, but obviously cannot be rolled. However, I have a large flat archival box that is, fortunately, just large enough to hold this quilt along with several others that require special storage.