marbling a silk scarf

When she first told me we were going to marble a silk scarf in our art class, the only thing that played out in my mind was something akin to silk screening.  When we arrived at our scheduled class time, I was a little surprised at how pretty the samples hanging in the doorway to the classroom were.

The instructor, Richard, who turned out to be a very informative, but laid back kind of guy and a Christian to boot, explained that there were three patterns to choose from.  We could choose to make the stone pattern, you can see that in the photo above.  It is the purple one on the left.  The frech swirl pattern is the one Rachel is holding in her hands.  The third option was a feather pattern. 

We had to take turns making our scarves.  Rachel went first.  She knows that I like to know what I'm getting into before I get started on anything and preferred to be second.  She is a great friend.

She chose her paint colors. 

 

 

 

Then Richard told her how to begin to apply the paint. 

This part was so interesting.  

Rachel sometimes had to drip the paint onto

the surface of the water and sometimes had to sprinkle it quickly.  

The order in which she applied each color and the speed of application were determined

by the make up of each color of paint.  

Some colors expanded very quickly and some slower and all of that chemsitry

determined the design of the finished product. 

 

 

  She had to drip/sprinkle the paint over the surface of the water in this trough.

 

 Rachel chose the feather design for her scarf. 

After applying the paint she had to drag a knife through it to create the feather design.

 

 Then Richard and Rachel laid the silk scarf down over the paint. 

I was a little anxious at this moment. 

Then Richard pulled the scarf down over one end and

voila, it was finished.

 

 

 

 

Then it was my turn.

I chose my colors.

 

 

Drip, drip, sprinkle, sprinkle.



Me learning something obviously fascinating about paint chemistry. 

Gotta love chemistry, it's everywhere.

 

 Anxious hands.

 

 

It's finished!

 

We had to take them home and rinse them,

hang them to dry and

heat set them with an iron.

 

Our personalities are distinctly displayed in our scarves.