Here is my newest creation. My husband has been calling it "Red Planets". It started out as an experiment in using muslin as the batting. Well that FAILED! I did not like the way the machine stitching came out using the muslin, it only seamed to bunch and wad the fabric. The muslin just did not have enough body and weight to support all of the machine stitching. I scraped the whole thing and started over in a totally different color. I really like how the red thread looks on the black fabric. I wanted a hint of stitching on the black so that the marbled fabric would stand out.

How did I learn to marbled on fabric? About ten year ago I found a book called "Creative Marbling on Fabric" by Judy Simmons. It is now out of print but still out there try EBay and Amazon. I think it is the best book for beginners and it is primarily about marbling on fabric. Most other marbling books are about marbling on paper with a little fabric thrown in. I then started experimenting. I fell in love with the whole marbling process and the fabric that I can use my fabric in my quilts and wearables.

The newest design that I have found is an old one called Waved Icarus. Shown above in Orange.

The sun is out and it makes it really hard to work inside. I have been marbling for the past few weeks. I have been happily replenishing my stock. Yes, I do have some quilt shows coming up this Summer. I have been experimenting with new designs. And in the process found an old one. It's called the Waved Icarus. I can't wait for them to cure so I can show everyone. That is one frustration with marbling you have to wait for it to cure, wash and iron before you can show it off.

I plan to try some new dye combinations in the next few days. I can't wait. I purchased Dyes & Paints A Hands-On Guide to Coloring Fabric by Elin Noble. It's a little spendy but has tons of excellent information in it. I'll be experimenting with a couple of new methods and new colors.

Just a little note about gas prices. A Canadian study just announced today that Yes consumers are being gouged at the pumps. After Hurricane Katrina the Big Oil Companies discovered that consumers would pay big bucks for gas. So they are going to keep raising the prices until we quit buying so much. I only go to town twice a month. I'm doing my, part are you?

Marbling is such a great and grand joy when everything goes right. Today was a wonderful day. I marbled 12 Fat Halves (22" x 36" pieces of fabric). Six are Chocolate Brown and Six are Copper. And I think they all came out perfect. For those of you that have marbled fabric, you know that the bigger the piece of fabric the harder it gets to produce a beautiful print without flaws. The fabric must be gently lowered onto the marbling base in one smooth, gentle motion. If you pause even slightly you get an white streak. Or if you get an air bubble you get a bald spot. With larger pieces of fabric the spoilage rate is higher. So to get 12 beautiful pieces, that makes it a truly wonderful day.

This is a photo of my little darlings hanging and dripping dry in my studio.