Dye Dribbles and Splotches

On a Monday, the paper towels protecting the table were pristine. By Thursday, a continuous visitation of students had inadvertently left their marks. Grabbing the bottles with rubber-gloved hands, they squirted the thickened dye into smaller containers then carried it off to be painted, stenciled, monoprinted or simply poured onto the waiting fabric. This is life at the Quilt Surface Design Symposium. I lurk about the edges, peering over shoulders, trying not to get in the way as creativity flowers. Some of the completed fabrics were so beautiful that they elicited thoughts of thievery. Instead, I have formulated a plan for the next time; come with soda-soaked fabric to take the place of those paper towels.