If there's anything I love it's a good equipment hack. I devised this one to help with a problem I was having when drying scarves. The weight of the water draining from the scarves pulled them down on the rack's narrow rods, created stretched areas in the silk. 

A quick trip to Home Depot for some pipe insulation, and I created a new and improved drying rack. The large, softly padded rods don't abuse the silk as it dries. Problem solved!

Before and After:

In the Spring of 2014 I became totally entranced with the art of marbling, and began to learn all I could about it through the internet and books. It wasn't long before I was hopelessly hooked!

Now most of my tiny apartment has been taken over by marbling equipment and supplies. The furniture, floor, curtains and even the cat are splashed with paint. I'll probably never be able to have company again.

Marbling's endless fascination for me is the opportunity it provides to explore color. There are countless shades to try, innumerable combinations to create! 

Another of its draws is its unpredictability: you never really know how a print will turn out until it's done, and it's always exciting to lift a piece off the marbling bath and see the results.

Another thing I love about marbling is that it requires constant learning. First and foremost, of course, comes technique. So many factors come into play in marbling, and there are endless tips and tweaks to explore. No two marblers do things quite the same way, and I've learned a great deal from the generous input of my fellow marblers. Endless experimentation is also part of the process.

I also study color theory, learning how colors interact so I can use and combine them to greatest effect. I'm very fond of colors that are not readily available from the commercial paint lines, so I've taught myself to mix and blend to get the ones I want.

And last but not least, I've been brushing up my limited carpentry skills as I build my own tools, trays and display fixtures. Proficiency with hammer and nails is a definite plus when it comes to marbling!