Harwood Steiger

While surfing the internet, I ran across an interesting artist whose style reminds me of Marushka: Harwood Steiger.

Steiger silkscreened designs on fabric, often using monochrome color schemes and nature inspiration much like Marushka. While Marushka prints often evoke the Michigan landscape as well as beach themes, Steiger's work often highlights aspects of southwestern wildlife and plant life.



Originally from New York City, Harwood Steiger moved to Arizona in the mid-1950s. Prior to the move, he was involved in painting and wallpaper design. He painted a WPA-era mural in Alabama, as well as a range of mostly landscape paintings.

Steiger opened his first silkscreening studio in 1956 in Tubac, Arizona, expanding the business several times. He printed fabrics through at least the 1970s in Arizona.







Steiger's prints were used in clothing like skirts and shirts, in fabric yardage, and in table linens.


You can find examples of Steiger's work for sale here, as well as on ebay and Etsy.

Marushka of the day

From the collection of marushka art:


DSC_0183
Originally uploaded by marushka art

I normally don't love the shell Marushkas, but the colors on this are just fantastic.

rad ebay auction

Here's a rad find from e-bay - Marushka wrapping paper! I had no idea Marushka made wrapping paper, though it certainly fits with the Marushka model.

A panda print in two colors, and a rabbit print:


No bids yet - ends on Thursday. Bid here.

shades of Marushka - black

I like black and white Marushkas for their simplicity. They tend to feel a bit more modern and have a unique graphic quality.

A scallop shell:


Some Marushka trees:


Sand dollars and shells:


A sailboat at sea:


Three sea shells:

Marushka of the day

wildflowers, on brown background.

advertising for Marushkas for sale at Pat's Place

Here are some newspaper advertisement for Pat's Place, retailer of Marushkas in the 1980s.

So Marushkas can "change your environment without hard labor or major expense"!


Marushkas for the new bride?


Marushkas for mom? (with an image of a nice spice jar Marushka on the side)


Marushkas for your sweetheart?


and a nice array of images of Marushkas:

Pat's Place, Marushka retailer in the 1980s

From the Marysville Globe in Washington, December 1982:

If you're looking for some unique and colorful prints to hang in your home or office, you'll want to check with Pat Hazel at Pat's Place. Hazel specializes in the complete Marushka line of hand screened fabric prints and other accessories. She remarked her store was the only one she knew of that has a complete line. "If it's not in stock, it's on order," Hazel said. Hazel began selling the prints at her Marysville store, located at 1309 State Ave., Nov. 15. She used to work for the state in Michigan. After her husband retired, they moved to the Pacific Northwest. She had never been in retail before and thought she never would. But she loves the Marushka line and enjoys working with the prints and meeting people, so she decided to open her own store...Standard sizes begin at 8x10 and run up to 24x36 and are priced between $9-25. The textile graphics run from 24x48 to 48x60 and can be purchased for $35 up to $60. Marushka also features trapunto, which are stuffed prints ranging from $18-50. Pat's Place also carries the Marushka line of mugs, aprons, and potholders. She plans to carry glassware in the near future and will carry a new line expected out after the first of the year featuring sewn products made out of prints. Also available are remnants of irregular prints which are unframed.

trapunto Marushkas

Trapunto is a technique used in quilting to create a raised or 3D shape. Basically, it involves sewing a second layer of fabric behind the first design, and then stitching through both layers and around the shape of an object. The underneath fabric is cut open, the space is stuffed with batting, and the hole is sewn closed, leaving a three dimensional raised shape visible from the front. Here's another discussion of how it is done.

Anyway, there are indeed trapunto examples of Marushkas.

Here's a frog example of a puffy Marushka:


A stuffed Marushka duck:

Marushka today: Dog people?

Earlier, I have speculated about whether the makers of Marushka were cat people, given that more cats than dogs have been memorialized in Marushka prints.

As it turns out, today's Marushka seems to be governed by dog people.

Case in point:

1. You can buy one of two dog print in the new generation Marooshka line:




(though I should note that you can also find a cat print in three colorways in the new collection.)

2. The headquarters of Michigan Rag recently made the news for Cabo, the resident chihuahua at the storefront (article here).



Michigan Rag Company started in 1985, an clothing line that grew out of the original Marushka business. The company phased out Marushka prints in 1988 or so, but has gone back to releasing some new lines in the past few years (more about the new prints here). The Michigan Rag Company continues to screenprint clothing items - you can see some of the prints on the company's website. And they maintain a storefront on Washington Street in Grand Haven, Michigan. The photo above is of current owner Randy Smith (son of Marushka co-creator Pixie Gifford), with shop dog/mascot Cabo, who has been at the shop to greet customers and entertain employees for the past three years. So perhaps more dog prints for Marushka?

fall Marushkas

now that it is fall, I thought I should feature some Marushka trees. most of the examples are bare branched, well suited for a season of falling leaves.

Marushka Canvas Print
Originally uploaded by A Whistling Train

A path in the woods:


A simple view of trees:


A row of trees in shades of brown:


Trees and a setting sun - a vintage feel here:


One of my favorites - birch trees with their reflection in water:

Marushka
Originally uploaded by Buhnuh

A grove of trees:


One grand tree:


A Marushka with green leaves:


And some leaves for fall: