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Welcome To
Weaving By Marla
Marla Dawson is a fiber artist who works out of her home studio in Ellettsville, Indiana. Over the past five decades she has been fascinated with yarn; the color, the texture and the possibilities. She has always been an avid hand knitter, but since moving to the Bloomington area in south central Indiana, she found that weaving and spinning her own yarns to be an intrinsic part of her art.
Naturals by Marla, in business since 1990, started with the concept of using natural fibers and dyes to create wearable art. Using her own handspun wools, Marla hand-dyed wools, cottons, silks and linen to create knitted and woven pieces. Although she still gets a wonderful sense of satisfaction when creating a piece from “sheep to shawl,” her emphasis on natural fibers has changed.
About 15 years ago, Marla discovered the rich colors and luxurious texture of rayon chenille and began designing scarves and shawls using this fantastic yarn. Every piece is a product of her discovery and the wonderful possibilities that this yarn offers me as a fiber artist.
All of the pieces offered to you on this site are woven by Marla and are her original designs. Some of the woven and knitted designs are repeatable, as they have been developed in several colorways that seem to appeal to a wide range of customers. At times, a particular design could be knit or woven in another color upon request. Many of these pieces are suitable for both men and women. Some pieces are one-of-a-kind and are marked as such. Marla enjoys working with individual customers to create special designs using unique yarns and colors. Often yarn samples can be sent on request.
Marla's knitting
and weaving has recently been juried into the
Indiana Artisan Program. A venture
of the Indiana Office of Tourism Development, the Indiana Office of Community
and Rural Affairs, the Indiana Arts Commission and the Indiana State Department
of Agriculture, this comprehensive program was launched in 2008 to:
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Raise awareness about the availability of locally-crafted products
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Establish a brand for Indiana-made goods
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Provide artisans, particularly those in rural areas, with access to entrepreneurial support including training and networking opportunities
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Support artisan trail and retail development
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Encourage visitation to Indiana
Marla Dawson's work can been seen and purchased at many fine art shows throughout the Midwest, as well as through this website. Her work is also for sale at several fine shops in Indiana and Kentucky .
Marla Dawson
201 Beechwood Drive
Ellettsville, IN 47429
(812) 876-9477(home) or
(812)325-4926 (cell)
Email:
mcdweave@bluemarble.net