There is no finer fabric that evokes such buttery softness, warmth and luxury as silk. Upon seeing how the dyes blend and move on silk, like no other medium, I was hooked on the process. Through numerous classes, workshops and experimentation, being part of Silk Painters International, I have had a successful silk business since 2006. This includes creative production, marketing and sales at shows, galleries, and art centers. I have joined the Etsy team in 2017... a late bloomer with this form of marketing technology.

Silk discovered me in 2001, when vacationing in Estes Park, Colorado where I took my first silk painting class. Since then, I've attended silk workshops in Mendocino, CA; Capitola, CA; Aptos, CA; Port Angeles, WA; Santa Fe, NM; Washington Island, WI; Ocean City, MD; and Gatlinburg, TN. I have been a happy member of SILK PAINTERS INTERNATIONAL, http://www.silkpainters.org/ since 2006. Presently, I am in two galleries: Art on the Plaza in Mason City, IA and the Clear Lake Art Center in Clear Lake, IA. I sell at city markets, street festivals, Studio Tours and will sell at a huge show in Des Moines, IA and Iowa City, IA.

I have been a happy member of SILK PAINTERS INTERNATIONAL, http://www.silkpainters.org/ since 2006. I started teaching silk painting at the Silk Painters International Conference 2018 in Tennessee. At that time I gave instruction in my 5 layer wax process. It is so much fun to teach to adult learners. Dharma Trading accepted me as their artist of the month in February, 2018 newsletter.

I love neutrals, the warmer the better. In my previous life, I was a high school special education teacher with a modest salary. To me the purchase of a silk scarf was a luxury. With that in mind, I incorporate many colors into one scarf to work with different outfits. Purchasing a silk scarf is an investment to enhance your wardrobe. A scarf with an abstract design works with numerous outfits without looking repetitious. My scarves can be worn casually with jeans, business/professional attire and formal affairs.

A silk lesson: For my silks, I use high quality 100% charmeuse silk satin scarves (it costs twice as much as habotai, China Silk). Silk satin is fluid, dense and yummy, and less likely to wrinkle than lighter weight silk. Silk is measured by momme. Much like t-shirt material, it has a thinner to thicker quality. Rather than habotai, crepe de chine or chiffon, I use 12 momme silk satin charmeuse, more silk so the dyes are better absorbed for a richer color and a luxurious feel. Silk satin charmeuse has a softly muted crepe on one side and the classic shiny shimmery satin on the top.

Silk lesson continued: My dyes are Sennelier/Tinfix from France. They have 100 years of experience formulating the best quality dye available. The dyes are rich and have a depth of color like no other...highly concentrated, and therefore vivid and intense. They require a steaming process to permanently set. After rinsing my scarves are permanently dyed.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS: Hand wash in warm water with hand soap or shampoo, rinse, add a touch of Downy or hair conditioner, rinse and let dry on a hanger. I use an iron (with a medium to high setting) with a light mist of Magic Sizing for a little more body. At home I hang my own scarves on hangers. When traveling I roll them on to each other in a tube-like fashion....never a wrinkle.

As far as duplicating my scarves, I can recreate the colors, but not the exact copy. I made 22 purple scarves for my daughter's wedding (centerpieces), all varied shades of purple. I made another set of bridesmaids wraps (gifts) for another wedding...those were abstracts florals, mostly in teal and jade with a pop of orange. Please contact me for more information.