Marbled-Arts

2008-11-03T11:51:00.000-08:00

MOVING!
I am moving my blog to www.marbled-arts.com/blog What can I say it just works better for me to have my blog and website all in one place. Come and visit.
Suzi

2008-07-31T17:38:00.000-07:00

August is my unofficial Web Designer Appreciation Month. WOW, I always knew that there was a lot involved. But now that I have taken over much of the construction and updated of my web site www.marbled-arts.com I really appreciate just how much my designer knows and has done for myself and my business.

The learning curve is steep, but I am learning so much and have a great sense of accomplishment. I can't wait to get construction done and the revised site up running. I am adding more marbled fabric, Bold Over Batiks, some Yummy Jacquards, Batiks, a few of my favorite Notions, Patterns. I am also starting an email newsletter if you are interested send me and email with your name and email stating that you would like to be placed on Marbled Arts Newsletter. I promise not to fill your inbox with lots of emails.

2008-07-16T11:33:00.000-07:00

This is my newest creation. Sun printed fabric that I added some additional leaves to using variegated thread. I also found some new sparkly silver thread and silver beads to give a raindrop feel. The side panels are hand dyed fabric that I added river stones using variegated thread. I had great fun creating this vest, it has a very organic feel to it. I'm really happy with the way the thread painting turned out. It is the first time I tried the river stones effect. It did take a little while to get the hang of the river stones, but I always want to learn something new. And now I get to wear it.

2008-07-02T09:35:00.000-07:00

River Rocks in Yukon Gold is the latest featured fabric on my web site. I just keep forgetting to put it on blog page. I have been busy creating new fabric. Got slowed down a bit by an inflammation in my ankle. Have to remind myself to stay off of it. But I love this fabric. When I first started marbling I could not sell this design. No one wanted it and now it is selling like hot cakes. It has such a wonderful organic feel to it.

2008-06-07T10:26:00.000-07:00

My latest creations is two Tukaway Totes. I found this pattern and thought Quilters always need another tote. I am retraining myself to not get bags at stores, so I need a couple of totes. This one folds up into its own pocket and is easy to carry around until you need it. I'm trying to do my part to help the environment and the little things add up.

2008-06-07T10:06:00.000-07:00

For anyone that lives in the Pacific Northwest, yet another rainy day. Last Summer my Lupine had their first season. I had planted seeds the winter before and carefully tended them. This year they burst from the ground for an amazing show. Last time I had 8 blooms and this year at last count over 60. I have noticed a lot more Bumblebees, which is good, and couple Hummingbirds. I hope the will reseed and the patch will enlarge. I dream of seeing my entire Bern in native wildflowers.

2008-05-18T15:21:00.000-07:00

Yet another Fiona Bag. My friend Mary loves my fabric but does not sew. So she selected a piece of my hand marbled fabric and I made her a bag with the textured cording. The buttons are deer antlers pieces. It may look a little smunched as I put it in my scanner, the batteries on my camera have died.

2008-04-30T17:09:00.000-07:00

I just joined the local quilt guild. Around16 women and only 3 or 4 have quilted before, but the rest are eager and willing to learn. Before I joined the Sew 'n' Sews made a quilt to raffle off to raise money for the new library building. And now a couple of other community groups would like fundraising quilts as well. So we were asked to choose a color, a block and make three blocks, Brights, Country and Pastels, using white for the background. This was a real challenge for me. I generally audition colors and put together what feels right. I seldom use pastels or white unless it is a focus color. Well, I don't draw inside the lines very often either. It was great fun to get out my stash and see just how many shades of green I had.

2008-04-19T14:32:00.000-07:00

On the left is a version of Fiona's favorite bag. I used a cord maker to create the cord. I have been using a regular black cord on most of my bags, but that got a little boring. I found this cord maker and have been having a great time making fun and intresting cords with texture. Now I get to create bags to go with the cords on the right. Such fun adding texture to my world.

2008-04-19T14:22:00.000-07:00

Here is a new friend. I found this pattern and thought he was just to cute to pass up. The Toadally Awasome Toad is made using one Fat Quarter of Yukon Gold hand marbled in the rocks or stones design. He always looks like he has had a nip or two of moonshine.

2008-04-19T14:00:00.000-07:00

I'm back! The saying life happens has become a reality in my life. I am in the middle of physical therapy for my ankle. It is a real challenge. Recover is all about balance. To much and you slide backwards, not enough and you don't move forward. In order to achieve the proper balance I had to let a few things go for a time. So I am back to blogging once again.

New featured fabric (back by special request) Ugly Duckling in the Freestyle design. Look at my February 28, 2007 entry to see why.

2008-03-22T18:02:00.000-07:00

I just got overwhelmed in a big way. I have been told that my chi was out of whack. That is a nice way to say I encountered a full meltdown. I had to reorganized my life and set priorities. And it has to be pretty important right now for it to get done. All is well and I hope to be back to blogging soon.

PS. The ankle is getting better too.

2008-03-06T16:16:00.000-08:00

Everything I know I learned from My Dog.
Life is all about adapting. Miss Molly is a rescued dog. When she first arrived we thought her tail was broken because she always had it tucked between her legs. Molly came to live with us two weeks before I was involved in a auto accident that almost took my life (but that is a different story). Molly and I recovered together. She spent her first weeks in a tent formed by my borrowed recliner and the blankets I was wrapped in.

Now Molly is a happy healthy crazy dog. She takes her job of protecting me very seriously. I had ankle surgery the first part of December. Molly moved into my studio with me. I have two rolling office chairs that I use, so I can stay off my feet and elevate my ankle as much as possible and still work. Molly figured out how to get herself wedged under one of the chairs and roll me around the room. If I can't get my good foot on the floor in time, Molly runs me into the wall.

I just got clearance to be able to walk outside in my yard. When I stepped onto the grass for the first time Molly went nuts. She did the happy dog flips/end to end swaps and raced around like a crazy wild thing. She always adapts to the situation and shows great joy at my smallest progress.

2008-02-19T16:33:00.000-08:00

It's catch up time. I just spent the weekend at the Kitsap Quilters Annual Quilt Show. 325 Quilts were hung for everyones viewing pleasure. It always amazes me, such wonderful, beautiful, mind blowing creativity. I love seeing new teqniques and getting new ideas. I always find inspiration. Now if I only had more time to create quilts. I really can't complain as I have been marbling fabric like MAD! And selling it just as fast, but I have desided that struggling to keep up with the demand is a good thing.

I am also finding that I am headed in a new direction with other fabrics that I sell. I currently have two fabric lines that are made by artisan overseas and made by hand. They are then paid a fair and liveable wage and the fabrics are inported to the US. It hads always been my belief that you don't give money, give them a way to make a better life themselves. The artisan can remain in their villages, support themselves and their arts lives on. So I am in the process of searching out other fabrics. Any sugggestions? They must be of high quality, cotton, suitable for quilting.

2008-01-29T16:54:00.000-08:00

There is nothing like a good bookkeeping program. When I first started Marbled Arts one of the first things I purchased, to help keep everything organized, was a bookkeeping program. The first year I had no Idea what I was doing. I called our account and he gave me some ideas and pointers. Each year I have spent a little time "tweaking" how the program organize the information for tax time. This year I just had to make a couple of "tweaks". Now I just have to run a couple of reports and the information is all right there and just needs to be entered into the right places.

All that hard work finally paid off.

2008-01-26T12:46:00.000-08:00

Yippee!!!!!!! Today I returned to hand marbling on fabric. Yes, I'm happy about that. I started small and only did ten pieces, but it really felt great. More happy marbling tomorrow.

I also updated my featured fabric for my web site. http://www.marbled-arts.com/ This time it is Storm Blue. It's a dark blue and a bit mysterious. It could be angry water from a large lake or ocean. Or dark rolling, boiling clouds on the move. A Storm is rolling in across the valley today. Snow is definitely on the way.

2008-01-13T14:12:00.000-08:00

On Crutches But Not Idle.

It has been a very long six weeks. I go to see my surgeon tomorrow and hopefully he will take my crutches away. My husband said if they wanted me to remain on crutches the he would most likely have to take me out and shoot me. I suggested large amounts of Dark Chocolate instead. But just because I have been on crutches does not mean I have been idle. I spend several hours in my studio each day hand dying fabric. I have a tall rolling chair so I am able to move around somewhat. And I have been experimenting with some new colors. I really can't wait to start marbling.

The photo above is of a quilt that has been in the works for ever. It's Queen size and I'm hand quilting, so I quilt in spurts. Having been slowed down by the whole crutch thing has given me time to quilt. And having a new quilting frame really makes it more fun. Nothing like having the right equipment for the job.

2007-12-31T10:32:00.000-08:00

A Woman is like a tea bag. You never know

how strong she is until she's in hot water.

-- Eleanor Roosevelt --

2007-12-27T12:14:00.000-08:00

WILL IT GO UP OR DOWN FROM HERE?
This morning started a little weird. When you are on crutches life is a little trickie. I decided to take a shower this morning. Just as I got out of the shower, all nice and clean. My husband set off the fire alarm in the shop and house. That sound always freaks out Miss Molly. When she is freaked out she runs to me. She arrived just as I got out of the shower. I discovered dog hair really will stick to you when you are wet. I do think that I had more dog hair on me after the shower than before.

So, I am waiting to see which way the day will go.

2007-12-24T09:34:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to One and All
Just a quick surgery update. I had the stitches taken out on the 17th. That feels so much better. Most of the swelling has gone down and those really nasty bruise colors have shown up in full force. But any time your surgeon does the happy dance when he talks about your surgery it is a really good thing. I am still on crutches, until at least Jan. 14th, my next visit with my Doctor.

I have been working on hand quilting a Queen size quilt that I started sometime ago. I am using my new Gracie Lap Quilting Frame. Normally the quilt frame part is 14" but I had them special order me an 18" frame. I really like the extra space for quilting. Don't have to move the frame as often. I LOVE it! And the quilt is finally moving along. Can't wait to get it done.

Hope you all have a wonderful Holiday Season and I wish you all the very best for the coming New Year.

2007-12-09T16:38:00.000-08:00

Taking a break from marbling -
I had my ankle surgery on Thursday. I am not ready to get up and dance the Can-Can just yet. My surgeon thought things went well. I was on huge drugs so I will have to take his word for it. We unwrapped my ankle this morning and well it looks like I got stepped on by one of the Budweiser Clydesdale's. Just all purple and puffy.

I am just really excited that that part is over and I can get on to healing. I just want to move on with my life. I have many thing I would like to do. 50 isn't old it is just getting started.

2007-11-30T14:54:00.000-08:00

You could say that I have neglected my blog. Life happens! I have been racing around trying to get all of my ducks in a row before I have surgery on my ankle and am out of commission for up to 6 weeks. Just in time for the holidays. But I have been busy hand marbling tons of fabrics. Not to worry I have lots.

Above is the newest featured fabric. I call it The Other Copper because it is the same background color as the Copper that you will find on my web site. But I hand marbled it using very different colors to create the Switchback design. Part of the fun is experimenting with different color combinations to see what happens. Some of the colors I use are opaque and they usually turn out their original color. But I also use some transparent colors and they may turn out very different when marbled over an colored background.

Surgery is on Thursday, December 6th, send good thoughts and prayers my way.

2007-11-02T14:16:00.000-07:00

I am trying to get my life shoveled out. I have been so busy traveling to quilt shows. It seamed that all I did was come home throw the dirty laundry in to the washing machine, restock, put the clean laundry back in the bag and go. On one hand it is great fun, but on the other hand, traveling can be exhausting. What a mess I came home to.

But I am already back to dying and hand marbling fabric. I have a bunch of shows lined up already for the winter and spring and I would hate to get caught short handed. I already have new colors and combinations dancing in my head. I just ordered 300 yards of PFD (prepared for dying) fabric, just to get me started.

I hope to get creating soon so you can see what I have been up to.

2007-10-24T15:53:00.000-07:00

Random Thoughts

Big Sigh! I just spent the past weekend in Spokane, WA with the Washington State Quilt Guild. 591 wonderful quilts of all sizes shapes, styles, textures and colors. My mind is still digesting everything. The response to my hand marbled fabrics was overwhelming. It is always interesting to see what colors sell and peoples reactions to particular colors.

I also handed out a bunch of business cards to quilters that lived in rural Montana, Idaho and Washington. It made me really glad that my website takes into consideration that the entire world does not have Highspeed Internet. It is really nice to have pages that load at a reasonable rate even if you are on dial up.

It is always nice to make someones day. The Quilt Show was located at an Expo/Fairgrounds location. The Fairground Staff was amazing. The bathrooms were so clean you needed to wear sunglasses. When I stopped the gal that was working in the area where my booth was located and told her that I really appreciated all the time and energy that she had put in keep the place spotless. Well, she turned bright red, got all embarrassed but I did notice she the had a bit more spring in her step and walked a little taller. It only takes a moment to make the world brighter for someone else.

2007-10-08T15:47:00.000-07:00

WOW! What a busy time this has turned out to be. I spent last weekend at the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum's 10Th Anniversary Quilt Festival. The display in Maple hall this year was entitled "Blue Ribbon Quiltfest." All of the quilts on display had to have won an award of some type. I had seen most of the quilts and garments on display at one time or another. But it was really fun to see the other awards that the quilts had collected. Many had won national awards. Just because I have not entered any of my quilts in competitions doesn't mean others haven't. Congratulations to all of the quilt and garment creators.

I have spent the rest of the week hand marbling fabric. It seams that as fast as I can marble it, customers are calling and wanting more. It's a great place to be.

2007-09-26T15:56:00.001-07:00

Quilters are really caring people. I spent the weekend in Wenatchee, WA with the North Central Washington Quilt Guild. I had a wonderful time, well except the walking cast. At times I thought that even if I got up to walk to the restrooms that I was going to get tackled. They wanted to make sure that I stayed off my ankle so that it would get well. But some times I just had to get up because my backside really hurt.

Also it is time for a NEW Featured Fabric. this time it is FIRE. The hand dyed background is a vibrant combination of Red, Orange and Yellow. And then hand marbled in the Freestyle Design in the same combination of colors. Fire was inspired by wildfires. Have you ever encountered on up close and in person? I have. The colors are intense, almost shocking they are so bright. Yes, wildfires can destroy and kill but the also bring rebirth.

2007-09-15T13:49:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week I was happily working away in my studio. I was busily working on the top you see posted here. I had the oddest sensation, I kept hearing this other sewing machine, like an echo. It took me a little while to realize that while I was working in my studio, my husband was in the garage sewing as well. I purchased him, his very own sewing machine a number of years ago. It really was a sanity self defence move on my part. He likes to sew heavy duty fabrics for bags, wall tents and upholstery, well he was killing my machine. We found a 1949 Phaff that is just a beast, but if he can get it under the foot he can sew it.

The project I was working on it an pattern by Dana Marie design co. #1043 Manhattan Blouse. I used some of my hand marbled fabric for the cuffs, collar and covered buttons. It was easy to put together and is comfortable to wear.

And I am also happy to report that the modifications my husband made to my sewing machine so that I could still sew/quilt while wearing my air cast are working really well. Thank You Honey!

2007-09-07T15:23:00.000-07:00

Life is Just a matter of Perspective!
Here I was all excited about being able to create once again. Set Backs Happen. A little over two and a half years ago I was hit by a drunk driver. I have had a couple of injuries that are still causing me major grief. So I am getting them checked out again. After two MRI's on my ankle, I am now in a walking cast/boot for a month, then most likely surgery. It is slowing me down but, I refuse to let it stop me. My wonderful husband is in the middle of adapting my sewing machine foot peddle so that I can use my knee and still quilt/sew/create. He has also made me a waterproof bootie to put over it so I don't get soggy foot when I go outside. Perspective - as I came out of the doctors office with my new, pain in the backside walking boot and got on the elevator. I discovered that I was sharing the ride with a man with only one leg. My life didn't seam so bad after that.

2007-08-29T16:11:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the nut house. It has been insanely busy. I have been selling fabric like crazy, so I have been marbling like a crazy woman. It is so fun to create. I just marbled a new color I'm not sure what to call it just yet. The background is lime green sort of. The color reminds me of little monsters you might find on kids PJ's. It was an experiment, what do you think?

The first one is the Dragon Wing's design and the second is the Freestyle design. I may call it Little Monsters just for fun.

2007-08-18T12:22:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had one of those weeks? I'm having one going into the third week. But then I figure things can only look up from here. I am in the middle of building up my stock for the fall quilt shows. Dentist and Doctor appointments have been running my life. My dryer started making funny noises, it is over fifty years old so it has personality. But this new noise was bad and I kept having visions of a bang, puff of smoke and the entire house burning down. So I started the hunt for a new washer and dryer. I found a set I liked, but then discovered that it was going to be to deep for the closet it would live in. So the doors had to come off. Then my husband decided that if the home for the washer and dryer was going to be exposed to the public eye, then he needed to mud, take and texture it. So I am still marbling, but around the construction zone. Add Molly (the Velcro dog) to the mix and it sure makes life interesting. But then I wouldn't have it any other way.

2007-07-31T15:49:00.000-07:00

Just update my featured fabric for my web site. This time it is Yukon Gold in the Freestyle design. I spent many years in Alaska and was fortunate enough to spend time in the Yukon. I loved Dawson City and all of the excitement that still surrounds GOLD. Gold Fever is still alive and well in the Klondike. I used to dress as a Dance Hall Girl while doing my city tour of Dawson City and the Gold Fields. I found that my alter ego Marie Burnett was quite the sassy,saucy and often naughty story teller. She could get away with just about anything. You should try driving a forty foot tour bus in a bustle sometime. Like Marie, Yukon Gold has many colors and shades and never fails to please.

2007-07-29T13:17:00.000-07:00

I spent yesterday at Samish Island Arts Festival. I was not able to attend the festival last Summer and was very happy to see it has grown. They had more music, more vendors and even wine tasting. Now if I could just fine a wine without sulfites I would be really happy. I sold some of my wares( fabric, framed art, Girls Night Out Bags and other stuff) and came home with some Soy Candles. I will admit that I am a candle burner. I love Soy candles but have found they are always so expensive. My booth was next to a couple of gals that were selling soy candles and I brought some home to try out. Plus they are both moms and are trying to start a home based business just like I have. I like to support buy local if I can.

Today was clean up and play with Molly. When ever I am gone at a show she becomes Velcro Dog when I get home. And she gets so excited when the second seat goes back in the van, because then she knows that I won't be traveling without her for a while.

Now I get to go back into my studio and create. I can't wait. So many ideas.

2007-07-24T12:28:00.000-07:00

I think I have recovered from my weekend. I spent the weekend in a little place called Napavine, WA with the Rainy Daze Quilt Guild. It was the first time the guild had put on a quilt show. They did an excellent job of displaying the quilts. I was impressed by the variety of quilts that were hung. From very traditional quilts in very traditional fabrics to hand painted art quilts. They also had a number of portrait quilts.

I always learn something new at each show:
Many hand quilters love wool batting. My friend Jodi from Bear Paw Quilts sells wool batting from her neighbor's sheep. The really fun part is that each batting has the name of the sheep that the wool came from.

I'm also test driving a lap quilting frame. Since my auto accident the quilting frame that I have is uncomfortable to use. I find myself not hand quilting, because of the discomfort. I'll let you know how it goes.

2007-07-16T08:06:00.000-07:00

What fun we had. Molly and I just had a visit from two people and ten Alaskan Sled Dogs. Some dear friends are in the process of moving from Denali Park, Alaska to Mount Rainier, Washington. They stopped on the way and spent the weekend with us. I have a couple of acres that are fenced and everyone got along so we turned all the dogs loose and let them run. When the the day cooled off they would romp play. The photo is of Molly (black dog) and two of her new friends.

2007-07-09T16:04:00.000-07:00

This is one of the oldest known marbling designs it is refered to as Rocks or Stones. I have made a few from time to time, but they have generly not sold well. So I made a few before the last show. And Suprise! I sold almost everything I had on hand. I will create more Rocks or Stones and see how it goes. Perhaps its time has come.

Yukon Gold Rocks or Stones

2007-07-08T07:31:00.000-07:00

"Lord help me to be the person my dog thinks I am" my dad gave me a mini slow cone with that saying on it. But I keep thinking that I should that I should write a book titled "Lessons I Learned From My Dog." The biggest lesson is to be happy about the little things. My studio is at my home, many times I find myself working, working, working. I don't remember to take time for me. I try to take some time in the late afternoon to sit down and read. The summer bring me out into the yard. Yesterday I put out my lounge chair and then the phone rang. Sometime later I finally made it outside. Molly was sitting next to my chair. As I came out the door her ears came up, tail started to wag, then her whole body to wiggle. She was just so happy to see me. It's the little things.

2007-06-25T15:04:00.000-07:00

Last night I was out in the yard playing with Miss Molly (my dog). I glanced over my shoulder to see this wonderful sunset. After an afternoon and evening of thunder showers that sounded like someone was firing a canon off under my window it was really beautiful to see. I ran into the house to get my camera and when I came out the sunset was dull and lifeless. So I attempted to take photos of Molly and we played for a while. Then the sunset came back even better than before.

2007-06-21T12:41:00.000-07:00

I was recently asked to make a quilt block for a baby quilt. Now that is always a challenge for me as I don't do pastels and I don't do pink and blue for babes. So I fretted, pondered and struggled and finally realized that my friend would think I was sick or dying if I went the pink & blue pastel route. And I have no doubt she will know that it is from me because of my hand marbled fabric. And the people that gave out the directions just said it needed to be a nine by nine inch block with a 5/8" seam allowance. So there you have it.

2007-06-14T13:41:00.000-07:00

Finally! My computer is back complete with a new hard drive. And soon to have a new ISP, our current one decided not to be one any more. Well, then there was the root canal. I have been marbling like a mad woman, but I really want to create. I hope to start a new project in the next few days. And this will be my motto:

Dance as though no one is watching you,
Love as though you have never been hurt before,
Sing as though no one can hear you,
Live as though heaven is on earth.
- Souza -

2007-06-07T12:18:00.000-07:00

I just spent the weekend at in Portland, OR with the Northwest Quilter's. They had their annual show. It never fails to amaze me when I see all of the wonderful work that is being done. I do LOVE the variety expressed in the different styles, colors and textures.

I also was able to debut "the Red Planets Vest" and a few new colors. I do believe that the Blue/Green combination really hit a cord with a lot of people. It's official name is "Where the Kenai Meets the Trees". It is the current featured fabric on my web site at http://www.marbled-arts.com There is a bit 0f a story behind it. I heard a rather well known designer say "Blue and Green should never be seen, except in you washing machine". She went on to clarify only if it is your socks in the wash. Well, I just happen to live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. And blue and Green are everywhere. So I created this fabric and it reminded me so much of Alaska's beautiful Kenai River and how many of the trees come right down to the rivers edge. Not to mention quite a few sweepers that are hanging in the water. It was a huge hit and yes I'm making more.

2007-05-28T12:40:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-05-18T19:01:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-05-10T18:37:00.000-07:00

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?

2007-05-03T16:00:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-04-26T17:28:00.000-07:00

I hope the old saying that April showers bring May flowers is true. Last Fall I was at a quilt show in Stevenson, WA. I met a gentleman named Art. We got to talking about Wildflowers. I have a burm in my yard that I have always envisioned growing in native wildfires. Come to find out Art's passion in life is the propagation of native wildflowers. He sent me a small package packer wit seed. I planted them last falls and they are starting to pop out of the ground. They always fascinate me. I love the different adaptations they have so they can survive without much help from me. But you will still find me out there checking to see how they are doing.

2007-04-17T19:28:00.000-07:00

Big sigh! I now have a break from traveling. Don't get me wrong I love attending quilt shows, seeing wonderful quilts and meeting new people. But it does get tiring. And I need to take some time to shovel out the house. I have basically run in and out for the last six weeks. It needs some help. I don't need a whip and chair for the bathroom yet, but it's getting close. Then I am so excited to get into the studio and create. I have ideas for quilted pieces. New colors for hand marbled fabric. And some fabric embellishments that I want to try. I can't wait. More coming soon

2007-04-10T14:14:00.000-07:00

On the road again! I have had a very busy last couple of weeks. Two weekends ago I was in the Tri-Cities for the Tri-Cities Quilters Annual show. Karen Burns was the local featured artist. I have had the honor of meeting Karen and viewing a few of her pieces in the past couple of years. It was really fun to see a large body of her work all at one time. It was interesting to see how she has learned and grown.

I was at the Camano Island Quilters Quilt Show this past weekend. Lois Nay was the featured quilter. She said that she had made over 200 quilts. Wow, I guess I still have room for more. She loves bright colors, not you average Grandmother.

I will be off again. and then I am very excited to get back into the studio and create. I have some ideas for new colors. And some new pieces. I have come to the realization that I started as a seamstress that became a quilter and I really love combining the two to create wearable art pieces.

2007-04-04T10:23:00.000-07:00

Big Sigh! It has been a very busy week. I just updated the featured fabric for my web site. this time it is Sunshine Yellow in the Nonpareil design. I started doing this design this winter, it is an ancient pattern and is one of the building blocks for creating other designs. I currently create seven designs, three are ancient designs and four are of my own creation. As I sell much of my fabric to quilters I have really tried to create patterns that are usable in a variety of situations. The Nonpareil design has been a huge hit.

2007-03-24T15:41:00.000-07:00

Yikkes!!! I have been running around like a crazy person. I spent last weekend at the Quilters Anonymous Annual Show. And they loved my fabric and other stuff I had for sale. I have been marbling and ordering like mad, because I have more shows coming up. But I did Get this butterfly this far before I departed. I'm not sure if it is DONE. I keep having the urge to add beads, but just haven't had time to think about it. I do really like the way the body came out. I uses some black marbled fabric and then machine stitched with a variegated thread brown/black/light brown/dark blue. I really like the effect. The Butterfly may be one of those works in progress pieces.

2007-03-10T13:06:00.000-08:00

March Madness
Here in the Pacific Northwest we a bracing ourselves for a Big Blow. We will get lots of rain and in many areas flooding. I'm in great shape, up high and no chance of mudslides. If the power goes out, we crank up the generator. The neighbors know when they here it that they can come and get water.

But this morning I was working on a project that just went bad. The more I tried to fix it, the bigger mess it became. I finally said forget this and took my dog Miss Molly out for a walk in the woods. It really reminded me that it is the little things in life that make me happy. Molly is always so excited and happy to go for a walk. And it is just a simple little thing.

2007-02-28T15:41:00.000-08:00

It has been snowing, so I have been working in my studio. The latest creation is my version of Dancing Tree by Caryl Bryer Fallert. As always I took the pattern and made it my own. It is a very simple silhouette of a tree. I started by taking a piece of my hand marbled fabric (Ugly Duckling in the Freestyle design) I did some free motion stitching on it to bring out some of the lines. Followed by cutting out the tree silhouette/border and attaching that on top. then it was fun and experimenting with free motion stitching. Is it finished? I have no idea. My brain has a habit of coming up with things while I'm asleep.

My husband call this on the "Haunted Tree" and I call it "Sunrise on Venus"

2007-02-21T09:45:00.000-08:00

You could say I really had one of those days yesterday. I wanted to get some photos posted of my latest project. I got it all set up for photos an then discovered the battery was dead. So I went outside to play with the dog and it started rain sideways. And then it just went downhill from there.

But today is a new day and the sun is out. And here is my latest project. I combined hand marbled fabric with some bleach discharge, hand dyed fabric and some freehand machine stitching. I used 4 Fat Quarters of hand marbled fabric in Chocolate Brown. I chose it after doing the bleach discharge, because you never know just what you will get until it's done. I used ferns from my yard and stitched a vein with a shiny Gold thread, on them to bring them out a bit. It needed a little punch so I found the Orange/Yellow hand dyed fabric in my stash. And then outlined it all with black. I'm really happy with the overall effect and even better it is comfortable to wear. And now hopefully now I am out of my brown phase.

2007-02-14T08:33:00.000-08:00

Gosh, I sure have neglected my blog. But then life happens on occasion and runs right over the top of you. I needed to make a fabric delivery to the La Conner Quilt Museum last week. A delivery it always a wonderful excuse to see the quilts currently exhibited. I am always inspired. But I really face the problem of far to many ideas and just not enough time. I'm lobbying for a 26 hour day so that I would have 2 hours solely to create.

But back to the Museum. The 3rd floor exhibit was a Portrait Quilt Challenge. Because I travel around with my marbled fabrics I have the opportunity to view a lot of shows and see other quilters work. Several of the quilts really reminded me of a number of people I have met. And the fun part was I have met some of the quilters. It was very interesting to view what they had included in their pieces.

2007-01-31T12:33:00.000-08:00

WOW! Just received the batiks I ordered for my business. I thought I would share a sampling with you. Might I say that they are even better in person. They are produced totally by hand using traditional methods. The artisans start by using a very high quality cotton fabric. I also love the fact that the artisan that make them are paid a fair and live able wage. Batik is a skill that has been handed down for generations. It also gives the young people of the villages an opportunity to stay and work in their village for a fair and live able wage, rather than being forced to move to the city.

I can't wait for everyone to see them. And I can't wait to use them. These batiks will be perfect for quilting. I have some larger pieces (2.5 yards) that will be wonderful for clothing. I envision stitching on them, beading adding them to pieces. So many ideas and so little time.

2007-01-27T13:30:00.000-08:00

So I'm running a little behind, but I'm sure you can all relate. I have been busy creating hand marbled fabric. Experimenting with some new colors. I am also in the middle of creating a wearable garment from a new pattern. I had to add 3" in length to the sleeves and the body. It features bleach discharged fabric, hand dyed fabric and my hand marbled fabrics. And it is just really starting to take shape. Currently it looks like an explosion took place in my studio. But I am having so much fun creating it. I will post a photo of the jacket when it is finished and I have come up with a name for it.

I also finally was able to change the Featured Fabric on my web site. It is now Ugly Duckling in the Freestyle pattern. I got just a little carried away with making this one. It's personality changes so much depending on the hand dyed background mix.

2007-01-18T15:58:00.000-08:00

I have just been reading an article in the magazine Cloth Paper Scissors entitled For Love or Money? The question was posed "Would you rather sell a piece of art that you were not completely happy with for a grand sum, or make a piece that you thought was the perfect expression of their artistry, and never receive any reward except personal satisfaction?"

The question really made me think of the saying "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". I have learned that just because I am not happy with a piece (art quilt, wearable or marbled fabric) doesn't mean someone else will not Love it. It never fails to surprise me when a piece of marbled fabric I'm not happy with is the one I find people fighting over. I love creating and consider it a huge bonus that others will pay money for my creations. And I'm not sure that any given piece will ever be that 'perfect expression of my artistry". I hope to always be learning, growing and creating. My goal is to learn something new with each creation and if it needs to be tweaked somewhere in the future, so be it.

Have fun creating!

2007-01-12T15:33:00.000-08:00

Here we are in our winter Wonderland. We hit a low of 7 degrees F last night. Those kind of temperatures are really unusual for our area. This is one of my dwarf apple trees in my back yard with all the snow. The sun is shining and with the snow you have to wear shades it's so bright. Just something beautiful I thought I would share with you.

2007-01-07T14:01:00.000-08:00

Last night I finished a jacket based on a sweatshirt. It occurred to me that not everyone knows how to sew garments. A great way is to start with one of the many patterns that take a sweatshirt apart. You have all the pieces and you get to create, quilt, embellish till your heart is happy, then put it back together. I have found two patterns that offer several ideas and inspiration. This is my version. Photos are a closeup of the fabric on the back. Then the back and front of the garment. And no it isn't that stiff, I have a tube on the inside to hold out the arms.

It really became an experiment in machine quilting. I played with different styles and shapes. One thing I discovered is that I do much better with organic shapes as opposed to geometric shapes. All in all the sweatshirt was fun to create and I cant wait to wear it. Jeans and a t-shirt and it feels like wearing a bit hug.

2007-01-01T12:34:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year
Here we are at the start of the new year. I am looking forward to a year of creating new fabric, quilts and art projects. I will be experimenting with a new color combination this afternoon. It is always so fun to see just what comes out. I have been busily hand marbling Fat Halves. I think I have finally gotten most of the kinks worked out of the process. I'm now creating more usable pieces than not. Yippee! The FH is much more usable for Wearable Art pieces. And yes I already have several in mind. Now I just need the time. I'll keep you posted on the progress.

2006-12-24T09:33:00.000-08:00

Seasons Greetings to all. I wish for you this year joy, peace, health and happiness. May we be kind to one another without looking for something in return. May we all be thankful for all the little things we have. May we not always want more and more and more. May our world leaders act in the best interest of all the peoples of the world. Let our world leaders act in the best interest of the planet, not their own pockets. Let there be peace on earth!

2006-12-21T12:14:00.000-08:00

Why are there Quilting patterns?
I was having a discussion with some of my Artsy friends yesterday. And this is some of the thoughts that came out of that discussion. First let me say that none of them are quilters, but they are all creative people. I will not try and create the conversation word for word because there was a lot of gift wrap, tape and ribbon involved. I'm still not quite sure why Carmen tried to tape my arm to that box. But perhaps that will help you grasp the nutty mood we were in.

We are all the type of people that have creative and artistic ideas bursting out of our heads. And we are all very thankful for that gift. So at first glance, who needs a pattern? As we talked we came to the conclusion that not everyone is confident enough in their creative abilities to just jump into designing their own project. Pattern are guide lines to get started and spur on creative ideas.

As a teacher part of our responsibility is not to teach our students to copy or imitate our work, but to help them gain confidence in their ability to create. To inspire them to break the mold and color outside the lines. So how can I do my part to inspiring someone to break their mold? I originally made samples using my hand marbled fabrics to inspire quilters and fiber artists. Then I found some folks demanding the patterns I had used and they got upset when I told them I didn't use patterns. Next I found myself selling patterns at my booth at quilt shows. I soon discovered myself going a little nuts using patterns. It took a little adjustment but now I find myself using the pattern as inspiration for quilts, wall hangings and wearable art. I draw, embellish, stitch, paint, cut, modify and create outside the lines and hopefully inspire others to do the same. Think of a pattern as a skeleton and you get to add the flesh, hair, eye color and personality. No two people are alike so no two quilts should be alike. Step outside the line a little at first. Then go a little farther the next time. I love to hear quilters say that they changed this part around and added something to make it their own. And I really love to hear them say that this is the first piece that they created without a pattern.

2006-12-16T13:28:00.000-08:00

In my post of November 30, 2006 I wrote of the marbling color I call Yukon Gold. I changed one of the blue colors and I like it. Little changes like that can make a huge difference and it never fails to amaze me. I love how some combinations look nice, but the right combination will let you know because it will POP! You know what I mean. Here is Yukon Gold in the my Freestyle design. You may have wondered how I come up with my color names. It starts with the background color, this one is a gold and reminds me of gold nuggets. Did you know that you can identify which creek gold nuggets are found in by the size, shape, color and texture of the nugget?

2006-12-09T14:12:00.000-08:00

I always forget just how busy the Holiday Season can get. Mike & I finally finished the Christmas letter this morning. Every year I ask him if he wants to add anything. Well after twelve years he said yes. So it took a little longer, but it was worth it.

I also washed and ironed the new turquoise color for my web site. Just after I had updated the site with new colors and designs. I had added some fabrics that come from the manufacture in a solid color, I then hand marbled on them to give them their unique design. Well the manufacture discontinued the fabric I was using so this one is a little lighter shade. Mike insists I'm the only one that can tell the difference. So here it is in the Switchback, Get-Gel and Freestyle designs.

2006-12-01T15:55:00.000-08:00

I just discovered web rings. What a wonderful way to share ideas, learn more about quilting, art quilting, embelishing and meet new people all at the same time. Wow! I can't wait to see more.

2006-11-30T17:03:00.000-08:00

Today was a productive multi-task day. The morning started with marbling Yukon Gold. It is one of my original colors and I love seeing how it has evolved. You could say the light bulb came on and I changed the blue. Amazing what a different tone of blue will do, it just made the colors POP! I will put some up after they cure and have their bath.

Next I moved on to dying fabric. My husband Mike dubbed it "now that's purple." A rich deep dark purple, that is currently in the dryer.

Then I was off to alum some Fat Half (22" x 36") pieces. I have found them very useful when I am making Wearable Art pieces like the Green Coat that is currently displayed on my website at: http://marbled-arts.com/gallery23.htm The front and back center panels both use Fat Halves of evergreen hand marbled fabric.

After that I worked on the Sweatshirt Jacket that is under construction. I wanted something fun to wear with jeans. I'm using some navy hand marbled fabrics and mixing it with a variety of navy fabrics that I have in my stash. It has become a experiment in meandering stitches. Each project that I make will ultimately end up in my booth at quilt and art shows. But I also want each project to be a learning experience.

Now Blogging and then create dinner. Humm, what should it be tonight?

2006-11-26T16:03:00.000-08:00

Greeting from the snowy Pacific Northwest. The Weather people said last night that we would get between 1 to 3 inches of snow over night, they neglected to mention that it would continue to snow all day long. We now have a foot. I know that in many parts of the world that isn't much. But here in the PNW, with no signs of stopping, that is considered a lot of snow.

Marbling tip for today. Marbling Books - there are many books written on marbling, you will find a large number are about marbling on paper. Some will be about marbling on paper with a little bit about marbling on fabric. My favorite book for beginners when it comes to marbling on fabric is: Creative Marbling on Fabric, a guide to making one-of-a-king fabrics by Judy Simmons. It's all about marbling on fabric. Judy takes out threw the basics. What you need and where to get it. Followed by how to marbled on fabric with a wide variety of marbling designs. A very helpful section what to do when things go weird. And then some ideas on what to do with your hand marbled fabric.

2006-11-23T15:16:00.000-08:00

Here is another tip to help make marbling fun and easy.

How to make rakes with corrugated cardboard, glue and toothpicks. These are rakes that I made for a marbling class that I taught. My students use a 8" x 10" tray. I made the rakes 1/2" smaller than the tray. One is 7 1/2" in length and the other is 9 1/2" in length.

Cut the corrugated cardboard so that you see the wavy side on the length you want for your rake. Figure out how far apart you want your toothpicks. You can mark the cardboard. Put the glue in those holes and insert the toothpicks. Stand them up with the toothpicks pointing up and let them dry for 24 hours.

I have three rakes for each length. The First is spaced one hole apart, the second two holes apart and the third four holes apart. That gives you enough rakes to create a large variety of designs. Experiment and have fun.

2006-11-16T11:37:00.000-08:00

My new featured fabric for November/December is Poinsettia Red. Just in time for Christmas. This is a Orange based Red that always reminds me of the Pionsettia plant that I get every year from my father inlaw. That is how I know that Christmas is just around the corner and it adds a festive air to our home.

You can view it as well on my web page http://www.marbled-arts.com

2006-11-14T13:20:00.000-08:00

Helpful Hints the things that help make marbling easier and more fun. First is mixing the marbling base and alum solution. My arm almost dropped off the first time I tried mixing everything by hand. Then I found two very helpful tools. First is a power drill. (My husband never dreamed that he would be sharing his power tools with me, but he has adjusted nicely.) The second is a paint mixer that fits in a power drill. You can get them at most hardware stores. You have just turned your power drill into a big hand mixer.

I normally mix 4 gallons of marbling base and 8 gallons of Alum solution at a time, so these two tools together make life so much easier. You may want to try it out in just plain water until you figure out the right speed. I shot water all over the place the first time. Now I don't dread the mixing of the solutions and I get a much better mix.

2006-11-07T14:04:00.000-08:00

I have gotten several questions about "How to marble on fabric?" But rather than duplicate directions that are easily found else where. The best set of directions that I have found for beginners is located at:
http://www.prochemical.com/directions/Marbling.htm
They also sell a marbling kit that is easy for beginners. You can give it a try without a huge investment. Pro Chem's kit doesn't require a lot of mixing and prep of the paints. Yes, you still have to mix every thing else.

I think many people are intimidated by the thought of marbling because it is not an easy afternoon project. Sorry but it does require planning and prep. I'm totally addicted to the entire marbling process so I believe that it is worth ever minute.

So what I thought I would do is give you easy tips and hints on things I have learned that could make your first marbling experience more fun. So stay tuned.

2006-10-31T10:37:00.000-08:00

Happy Halloween
I just returned from the West sound Quilters 2006 Quilt Show. The theme this year was Anchored In Tradition A Salute to the Sea Services (Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines) Bremerton, WA is a town that is closely tied to the sea and the armed forces, the guild wanted to acknowledge those that are and have served in the Sea Services.

One of the highlight was the Robert Howe Quilt. The quilt was completed in 1945 by Aldora Howe mother of Robert Howe. Robert was an member of the Coast Guard during WWII, his ship US FS200 had been comissioned and was sent to the Pacific Theater. Aldora started making a quilt for Robert. She asked for the names, serial numbers and state of each crew member. The quilt is embroidered with that information as well as the state bird and flower for each crewmans home state. Also included are the Coast Guards insignia, the ship mascot and a drawing of the ship all surrounded by a red, white and blue border.

It is truly a piece of American history that is cherished and remembered. It will eventually be given to the Coast Guard Museum.

2006-10-23T12:34:00.000-07:00

Hand marbling fabric is one of my greatest joys in life. Creating wonderful things out of my fabric is another. I am one of those fortunate people that has many ideas exploding out of my head. Soon after I started marketing my fabrics I discovered that not everyone is ready to design their own quilts. So I started searching for patterns to help encourage, inspire and show off my hand marbled fabrics. I thought I would share with you my version of Moon Explosion by Patricia Bravo (yes, I do have the pattern for sale). I like this pattern because it can be constructed by beginners to advanced quilters. It is a great way to use up scraps and it can easily be customized. Cut out the pieces, play with the pieces until you like the arrangement, attach them and sew them in place. I found it turning into an experiment in thread painting. I just tried different threads and had fun with the stitching, style and technique. You will soon discover that I do not color inside the lines and my version is a perfect example of that.

2006-10-18T14:15:00.000-07:00

Just returned from Washington State Quilters Show in Spokane, WA. The show is very well put together and well run. It was located in the new Spokane Convention Center, the staff was very helpful and the bathrooms were always clean.

Now to the Quilts. Such a wonderful variety of styles and techniques from art quilts to traditional. I was really inpressed with the number of large turned needle applique quilts. I have not learn turned needle applique just yet. But these quilts are true works of art. One was so intricate and layered, I was glad to see that the maker had put on it's information card that it had taken her 3 1/2 years to make. It was beautiful and worth every minute of effort she put into it.

The guild also provided a wonderful slection of demostrations to help inspire. Machine quilting, what to do with left overs and helpful tips when making wearables, and many more. All in all a great show and lots of fun. One of the great side effects of being a vendor at a variety of quilt shows is getting to see all of the wonderful quilts and meet intresting and inspiring people.

2006-10-08T16:18:00.000-07:00

The Image the Photo inspired.
Bright Yellow was inspired by all of the beautiful Birch and Aspen trees I would see evey Fall along the Kenai River. The entire hillside would be covered in gold in some areas. The colors would be so bright it hurt your eyes and took your breath away. And as soon as I saw them once again I knew that the Birch and Aspen trees in all of their Fall glory had inspired this fabric.

2006-10-08T15:49:00.000-07:00

Inspiration and the image.
My friend Jay Stott took some wonderful photos while we were in Alaska. So I thought I would put up the photo of the inspiration and the fabric it inspired. Thank You Jay for permission to use your photo. Not all inspiration is a big AH! moment. It just might be something that you see every Fall, but you don't really see until you are far away. It's hidden there in your mind.

2006-10-03T10:15:00.000-07:00

I just returned from Alaska. Arrived yesterday morning after flying all night. I went up to help Alaska Wildland Adventures celebrate their 30th Anniversary. It was a quick trip, but so much fun. We hiked, consumed wonderful food, caught up with old friends and did what Lizzards do.

But the thing that really made the lightbulb go off in my head was the fall colors. When I arrive with my marbled fabric at various shows, I always get asked how I come up with my colors. Well, now I realize how much Alaska and the natural enviroment have influenced the colors I have created. Bright yelow is the birch and aspen trees in their glorious fall colors. Emotion red is the bear berry and fireweed in their fall colors. As I looked around me the list just kept growing.

It was fun to again see the excitement that nature can inspire. A bunch of us were sittting around the campfire chatting and telling stories when one of the fishguides comes up and say "there's a brown bear in Juneau Creek". The camp fire was empty in 30 seconds or less as we all skipped down to the river to see the bear. I'm not sure who was more excited the little children (ages 1 1/2 to 3) or the big kids (ages 30 to 70). I have seen tons of bears but I am always happy to see one more.

2006-09-27T13:38:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,
Just thought I would let you know that I'm taking the week off and will be back on Monday. Even I need a little time off. Marbling has been going really well. And you my loyal fans have been buying my beautiful luscious hand marbled fabrics. Thank You so much, without you I wouldn't be able to create the fabrics I do. I need a little inspiration. I'll be back before you know it. Hopefully with some new inspirations and ideas.

2006-09-25T15:52:00.000-07:00

I just spent the weekend at the La Conner Quilt Museum 9th Anniversary Quilt Show. WOW! Such inspiring work. You may have missed the wonderful pieces on display in Miller Hall. But the displays at the museum are still up and it is a MUST SEE NOW!

Get in what ever you drive and get yourself there. The second floor features Sandra Leichner, Kathy McNeil and Cassandra Williams. I had seen their works in various publications but to see them in person took my breath away. I cannot even begin to describe just how amazing their work is. GO SEE IT NOW!

The third floor Features Judy Farrow. Not only will you be able to view her wonderful quilts, but she has her design process in story board form. She breaks it down step by step, so you can see how she creates her works. GO NOW!

2006-09-19T08:51:00.000-07:00

Just returned form Stevenson, WA, while there I attended the Columbia River Gorge Quilt Show. It is a small show, but they are known for having great teachers and classes for the weekend. Quilters come from all over the Pacific Northwest to attend the show. The quality of the workmanship of the quilts was out standing. I was impressed by the number of quilts that were hand quilted. It's nice to see that hand quilting is not becoming a thing of the past. One quilt featured a white background with hand quilting in black thread. Beautiful!

I am always fiddling with how my booth is set up. I finally found a combination I liked, so I took photos. Now I am thinking of adding another table, because I have been creating new colors. I do believe the setup will always be growing and changing. Currently it takes me about two hour to setup and an hour plus to take down.

2006-09-13T08:36:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I was reminded just how special it is to be passionate about something. My nephew Ken came up to work on the 1950 Chev Truck he and my husband Mike are restoring. Ken LOVES engines and nothing makes him happier than working on them. I also ended up with a couple of the neighbor boys with their heads under the hood. If you remember Field of Dreams, "If you build it, they will come." In the case of engines, if you start it they will come. They worked and tinkered for hours, with huge smiles on their faces. It just really brought joy to my days.

2006-09-06T18:16:00.000-07:00

What is the Ugly Duckling?
It started out as an experiment in color mixing. I mixed Lemon Yellow and Purple/Grape colors together while dying fabric. Just dump them in and don't mix them up. You get sploches of Lemon Yellow, sploches of this Grape/Purple color and sploches of the mix that I'm not even sure what to call it. Nasty color but, when you marble on it in the right colors WOW! What can I say it's a huge hit. So here it is.

2006-09-05T18:14:00.000-07:00

Crazy Busy Week.
I am trying to get as much fabric created as possible before my next Quilt Show. As it takes about two weeks from start to finish to hand dye and then hand marble fabric, I have to plan ahead. I have some Ugly Duckling and Chocolate Lily ready to be ironed. Orange, Copper, Bright Yellow and a variety of Fat Half colors curing. And several colors dyed and waiting to be marbled. Not to forget the solid black fabric that is always a hit when marbled. I also hope to have a new wearable top finished. It just has to cool down enough to be able to wear them. I find that I am a full time member of the Not Enough Time In A Day Club. I have all of these ideas but just not enough hour in the day. Crazy but fun, the good king of crazy.

2006-08-31T08:18:00.000-07:00

Spent the last two days marbling fat halves 22" x 36" pieces of cotton fabric. I do alot of fat quarters 18" x 22" inch pieces and rarely have any with flaws in them. But the fat halves are another story. Much harder to get them right, but I really like the larger size for making garments.

Today I will marble Red. That color I call Emotion Red. People just have an emotional reaction to that color. I'm happy to say I am able to keep up with the demand for it.

It is great fun trying to anticipate just what color will be the big seller at next quilt show I'm at. Keeps me on my toes. My last show I sold out of six different colors. Orange, Bright Yellow, Emotion Red, Red Red, Ugly Duck (turns into beautiful swan when marbled) and Black.

Happy Marbling