I live in Maine, and the distinct pleasure of being able to drive to a location I’m teaching at such as Bar Harbor, was enhanced when I could also stop at three of the thirteen Maine locations of Marden’s department store on the three hour drive north. Marden’s is that sort of old-timey store where you can find just about anything—including towering shelves of bolts and rolls of fabrics—you never know what you’ll find, but it’s always priced to go. Their catchy jingle is, “I should have bought it, when I saw it, at Marden’s!”
My friend and student Darlene, offered her strikingly aqua “Pebbles” (below left), to drive both of us to class with fabric rest stops along the way. However, there was a lot of fabric to get immersed in (and overwhelmed by), and Marden’s stop #3 (20 minutes outside of Bar Harbor) was postponed. A class field trip was then planned for three days later once students had an idea of what sorts of colors and patterns could be useful for their fabric collages-in-progress. At the end of that class day, we staggered our arrival times at the fabric department, keeping in mind not to overwhelm the cutting table employees with the fabric treats we knew we’d find.
That evening we (well, I was definitely the final culprit) closed down Marden’s. When my friend and student Sylvie and I, quickly walked out the door with new fabric stash additions, the lone car in the lot was Sylvie’s (below right). Amazingly, the woman who was helping us kept her humor throughout. I think she was impressed by my lovely students, and the enthusiasm they exhibited toward the art they were creating, and the fabric medium they were working with.
Thankfully (because I seem to have self-control issues), I don’t need to go fabric shopping very often. For instance, the last time I walked into a Marden’s was 2022 when MISA—Madeline Island School of the Arts—first opened their Bar Harbor campus—other MISA locations are Tucson, Santa Fe, and Madeline Island in Wisconsin.
This year, the beautiful Maine location and comfortable seasonal temperatures (only one day with a few showers) combined to create a great week together. Needs and arrangements were taken care of by our energetic, fearless, and ever-smiling MISA team-member, Annie Sumner (photo below, upper right). Click on photos to enlarge.
The combination of students also seemed to be a great mix—the class really seemed to click. They were so helpful and supportive to each other, it made it such a pleasure to work with them on their own unique visions.
Now, please meet the first six of the talented women in this class, below.
You can click on any of the smaller photo galleries to enlarge and then scroll through to view.
Pat Radish
Cookie DeKeyzer
Ann Carr
Ann Carr’s Show and Share Fabric Collage Artwork
Darlene Determan
Lizzie Stebbins
Lizzie Stebbins Show and Share Fabric Collage Artwork
Carla Benton
Sunrise and Morning Walks at Nearby College of the Atlantic
Dead Wood Is Good by Bobby Haskell
Andy Goldsworthy’s Road Line Installation
Hello Friends–What beautifully rendered images–and those oh-so-splendid leopard spots! Each collage is so wonderfully colorful and unique. I enjoyed the description of your Marden’s shopping sprees–oh, to have those quaint department stores that carry fabric again! And, the Show and Share was an exceptional addition and truly spoke to each student’s signature style.
What a spectacular week! Color surrounded everyone inside and outside. There are some great tales/tails in that group.