Marushka!

vintage stretched fabric prints

2009-11-12T06:47:00.000-08:00

This one is marked Tampella. A still life definitely reminiscent of Marushka style. Tampella is a fabric company from Finland that mostly produces large scale prints in the spirit of Marimekko. I think this probably is from the 1980s.

Another Tampella fabric stretched like a canvas, Markushka style. This is by artist Marjatta Seppalla.

Finally, an illegibly-signed flower printed canvas, also presumably vintage.

Two poser Marushkas

2009-11-11T05:28:00.000-08:00

I think these were specifically copies that were meant to be seen as Marushkas.

Not marked, and the style seems off. But definitely quite similar to Marushka.

Marushka-like parrot canvas

2009-11-10T05:23:00.000-08:00

A pair of parrots! It is reminiscent of Marushka, but the style is not quite the usual and it is not marked.

a week of things that are like Marushka

2009-11-09T05:19:00.000-08:00

this week, things like Marushka that are not Marushka.

first up, a silkscreened canvas marked Sweet, from Marushka co-creator Richard Sweet. Perhaps a precursor to the Marushka line, though I've also read that Sweet had a small number of later independent prints he made that were not part of the Marushka line.

A Marushka tennis print

2009-11-07T06:28:00.000-08:00

From the collection of marushka art:

Marushka canoeing

2009-11-06T06:14:00.000-08:00

Canoeing!

In a brown colorway:

And in blue:

And also in gray!

Marushka goes skiing

2009-11-05T07:08:00.000-08:00

a ski print!

a hockey Marushka

2009-11-04T07:03:00.000-08:00

Originally uploaded by F. Michael Andrew

Marushkas go sailing

2009-11-03T06:55:00.000-08:00

Sailing prints follow the nautical tendencies of Marushka:

Marushka sports and hobbies week: golf

2009-11-02T06:52:00.000-08:00

This week, Marushka prints featuring sports and hobbies.

There are a couple golf prints I have seen:

One with a clock!

Mini Golf
Originally uploaded by K. Mikey M.

From the collection of warhof on Flickr.

Marushka et cetera

2009-10-30T08:39:00.000-07:00

Among the other Marushka items that have been produced:

Marushka glasses. No pictures - I've seen them on ebay once or twice before.

A stuffed Marushka parrot:

A great Marushka apron:

Another apron, from the collection of Marushka Central:

As posted before, Marushka wrapping paper:

And a Marushka quilt featuring farm life:

Marushka totebags

2009-10-29T08:34:00.000-07:00

To take your Marushkas on the road, pick up a Marushka totebag.

I really like the print on this one:

A squirrel tote, available on Etsy:

From the collection of Marushka Central:

Marushka tea towels

2009-10-28T08:31:00.000-07:00

The Marushka fan can also outfit their kitchen with Marushka tea towels:

A towel with three geese:

A towel with three shells:

A weird one - pipes and bow ties. Definitely atypical for Marushka.

Marushka potholders

2009-10-27T08:25:00.000-07:00

Also for the kitchen, Marusha hot pads:

A set of assorted hot pads, including trees, a shell, birds, and a daffodil:

More trees, and birds, and flowers:

A set of dancing frogs from Marushka's offspring, the Michigan Rag Company:

A week of Marushka items

2009-10-26T08:19:00.000-07:00

This week, we're featuring Marushka prints in formats other than prints. These items are usually uncommon relative the prints.

Today, Marushka placements:

A set of four with a berry print, available as a Buy it Now on eBay for under $13.

A wheat print Marushka placemat:

Marushka of the day

2009-10-23T21:20:00.001-07:00

A happy farm print:

puffins fill in for the penguins

2009-08-14T08:40:00.000-07:00

I'll have to dig through my archives to see if I can find another penguin, but this might be the best I have to round out penguin Marushka week - a passel of puffins.

the penguins kick it up, Marushka style

2009-08-13T08:38:00.000-07:00

Another penguin chorus line, with a polka dot bottom border, from the collection of samzruddled on Flickr.

Penguins in their Marushka habitat

2009-08-12T08:26:00.000-07:00

From a recent ebay auction (ended at $13 or so), a posse of penguins (unframed):

And from the same seller (closing at $9), the penguins go for a swim:

Five penguins in a Marushka chorus line

2009-08-11T08:22:00.000-07:00

Day two of Marushka penguin week stars these five:

Three penguins star in a Marushka

2009-08-10T22:18:00.000-07:00

So I'm not sure if I'll run out of pictures before the week is up, but I'm thinking this week's theme will be penguins.

Penguins are an odd fit with Marushka's usual nature silhouettes of shells and sailboats, but certainly a recurrent theme.

To start the week, a penguin print in brown from the collection of Warhof on Flickr.

Marushka in the sun

2009-08-07T08:38:00.000-07:00

To end a week of summery Marushkas, a great modern Marushka sun print.

Marushka of the beach

2009-08-06T08:37:00.000-07:00

A Marushka beach scene...

Sand dollar Marushka

2009-08-05T08:35:00.000-07:00

A great summery sand dollar Marushka on display, from the Flickr collection of Back Garage.

Sunflower Marushka

2009-08-04T08:31:00.000-07:00

Following the theme of summery Marushkas, a sunflower:

Silkscreens from Dinah Coops

2009-08-03T22:36:00.000-07:00

Another post on Marushka-like screenprints...

Check out this print by Dinah Coops, a sea fan napkin print. The image is silkscreened on linen.

And a mate from Marushka!

Dinah's collection has a number of other neat silkscreens as well, most with a more modern style. Here's another, a wallhanging:

Marushka of the day

2009-08-03T08:30:00.000-07:00

Here's a great summery Marushka:

Big Squeeze Press

2009-08-02T21:03:00.000-07:00

Here's an Etsy find that caught my eye - the silkscreen prints of Big Squeeze Press.

The medium is much like Marushka, but the style seems like a modern take on the Marushka nature themes, perhaps Marushka visits Anthropologie. Very neat!

Marushka-like canvases at Target

2009-08-02T20:53:00.000-07:00

While at Target, I've noticed they've been offering different versions of botanical prints on stretched canvases - very Marushka like.

You can pick up this set of silk canvases for just under $70 here.

Harwood Steiger

2009-06-28T16:16:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-30T22:39:00.001-07:00

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

2009-05-30T22:29:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-16T21:22:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-16T21:14:00.001-07:00

wildflowers, on brown background.

advertising for Marushkas for sale at Pat's Place

2009-01-31T22:29:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-31T22:28:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-29T21:49:00.000-08:00

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?

2008-11-29T17:55:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-19T17:22:00.000-08:00

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:

My favorite Marushka

2008-11-08T20:46:00.001-08:00

Hello to any new visitors arriving from Apartment Therapy!

I have not yet posted pictures of my very favorite Marushka. This one:

I have seen it in black ink and brown ink as well. I love the detail on the houses against the monolithic style trees.

It appears popular among others as well, and has had the highest closing prices on Marushkas that I have seen on ebay.

Marushka - lighthouses

2008-10-30T20:43:00.000-07:00

shades of Marushka - pinks and purple

2008-10-12T11:28:00.000-07:00

only a very few examples of Marushka in the hues of pink and purple...

a lighthouse in a striking combination of pink, red, and gray:

pink and red tulips:

a row of pink and purple tulips:

a baby pink dragon (bizarre):

a contemplative pink pig:

a pink elephant, via bennr:

shades of Marushka - the color blue

2008-10-04T23:16:00.000-07:00

given the popularity of beach and aquatic themes in the Marushka library, there are plenty of great examples of Marushkas in blue...

ships...

shells...

the seashore...

from WJEN Radio Station:

plus some other non-beach blues...

shades of Marushka - green

2008-09-05T19:51:00.000-07:00

next color of Marushkas to feature - green!

most of the green designs I have seen feature a very vibrant bright green - I love this shade. and unlike yellow, a wider array of Marushkas in green to feature.

some butterflies...

some plants...

a sand dollar...

a turtle...

some penguins on a green background...

white Queen Anne's lace on green...

and green Queen Anne's lace on tan...

a leafy plant...

and a dragon...

some grass...

start of roll: urbana
Originally uploaded by jmerrick

shades of Marushka: yellow

2008-09-03T22:11:00.000-07:00

following earlier posts on Marushkas in red and orange, a highlight of some Marushkas in yellow hues. not many examples for this color though...

some lilies...

another sort of yellow flower...

a pig on the farm...

some more Marushkas with flowers in yellow...

Marushka-ville
Originally uploaded by K. Mikey M.

today's Marushka(s) brought to you by the color orange

2008-08-31T21:52:00.000-07:00

a shell on orange background...

exotic flowers in orange...

orange grasses (not sure if this is authentic Marushka - looks a little off to me)

orange leaves and a vine (note the different version of the logo - an early version? a fake? don't know for sure)

sailboat with orange sail...

marushka
Originally uploaded by blempgorf

Marushkas on the wall

2008-08-29T22:16:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture of some lovely Marushkas on display, as seen in Phillip Maisel's home tour on Apartment Therapy.

colors of Marushka: Marushkas with red flowers

2008-08-29T21:23:00.000-07:00

Here are some Marushkas, all in red.

some poppies...

some irises...

a geranium...

some tulips in the window...

and some poinsettias...

Marushka, how does your garden grow?

2008-08-28T21:25:00.000-07:00

Western Michigan, home of Marushka, has not just nice Lake Michigan shoreline, but also plenty of farmland.

what grows in Marushka land?

carrots.

radishes.

watermelon.

strawberries.

more evidence that cats love Marushka

2008-08-18T19:39:00.001-07:00

green
Originally uploaded by bennr

Marushka of the day

2008-08-18T19:37:00.001-07:00

Marushka of the day

2008-08-08T17:19:00.001-07:00

Marushka Birds
Originally uploaded by hihlo studio

These Marushkas from Hihlo studio look great against the green wall.

Marushka triptychs

2008-08-08T17:12:00.001-07:00

Sometimes one Marushka just isn't enough. some silkscreen prints just need more room...thus the Marushka triptych.

The ones I have seen have all had the same arrangement - one large center panel and two smaller panels flanking on each side.

and I have only seen nature scenes in triptych form - never the wackier prints like pigs or balloons.

Amenity Home with some Marushka style

2008-08-08T16:45:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since Amenity Home introduced its botanical linen wall panels. But they definitely deserve mention on a blog about Marushka.

They are having a sale on some of the stretched linen panels on their site right now - with some for only $30. I may need to buy one for myself!

Marushka designers: cat people?

2008-07-12T06:18:00.000-07:00

Marushka prints feature great diversity - rocking horses, dancing penguins, clowns. Even so, it's safe to say that Marushka prints are strong in certain genres - there are many aquatic and beach themes (to help furnish your vacation home) and also a lot of nature-inspired views of flowers and trees.

Another interesting pattern of note is the relative balance of cat Marushkas to dog Marushkas. I haven't seen a dog Marushka, but certainly there are a number of cats:

Are cats better subjects for silkscreens or were the designers cat people?

Maybe cats are more discriminating art consumers.

Uploaded by *minotaur*

Marushka of the day

2008-05-16T22:27:00.001-07:00

Marushka of the day

2008-04-24T22:10:00.000-07:00

I often like the simple monochrome silhouettes the best, but the vibrant colors on this one are quite appealing.

Marushka with clock?

2008-04-17T20:19:00.001-07:00

Mini Golf
Originally uploaded by K. Mikey M.

Textile art on Etsy

2008-04-03T17:55:00.000-07:00

I ran across these on Etsy - very much in the spirit of Marushka...

From Etsy seller UmberDove:

I love the mix of silkscreen and embroidery - a striking color palette as well.

Marushka of the day

2008-04-03T17:45:00.001-07:00

A fake!

2008-04-01T18:30:00.000-07:00

Marushka inspired imitators - here's one imposter:

some tidbits of Marushka trivia

2008-03-30T21:34:00.000-07:00

Founded in 1970 by Richard Sweet and Victor and Mary Krawczyk.
Based in Grand Haven, Michigan
Initial projects included silkscreened office partitions
In Marushka’s heyday in the early 1980s, they had five retail outlets owned by the company, including locations in Michigan and Florida
In the late 1980s, creator Richard Sweet apparently developed a silkscreen line of framed prints varnished (so they could be wiped clean) (will have to look for these)
Even during Marushka’s prime, prints were all hand-screened

handcrafted totes from Marushka prints

2008-03-29T22:11:00.000-07:00

One can find examples of Marushka glasses, towels, and aprons on eBay. I personally like the prints the best, but for those who don't, here's an interesting repurposing of Marushka prints in a more functional form - as tote bags.

The seller can be found on Etsy at this location. Blackboard Art's shop is based out of Grand Rapids, Michigan - near the Marushka motherland in Grand Haven (presumably the availability of Marushkas is high there).

The "sold items" section also shows some neat examples - I really like this one!

Marushka Central

2008-03-29T21:42:00.000-07:00

when I first became interested in Marushkas, I was surprised to see how little information was available about the prints online. the most informative information I came across via Google was in the comments someone posted to another Marushka fan's blog.

today though I ran across a great photo archive of Marushka - Marushka Central! The site has great photos of Marushka prints, as well as a section of Marushka imposters.

The site also fills in on some of Marushka's history:

they started making these linen silk-screens in 1971. they stopped making them in 1988, and had begun making new designs in 2000 but alas, have been discontinued again!!

I had heard that Marushka was named after the wife of the creator, as Marushka is Polish for Mary. But according to Marushka Central,

as for the name marüshka, it came from the suggestion of a polish butcher and was agreed on for the "artist's" name as an endearment for a little girl.

Marooshka

2008-03-28T14:38:00.000-07:00

While the heyday of Marushka is now decades past, you can still buy silkscreen prints under the Marushka name, though now spelled "Marooshka." the prints are similar in spirit to the originals, but interestingly they are easy to distinguish from the vintage prints even with similar themes of shells and plant silhouettes. The colors are a bit more modern and some of the designs are updated from the original style.

It's not clear why Marooshka has a new spelling - though I've heard it might be due to trademark issues they are trying to resolve. From what I can tell, Marooshka prints are affiliated with the Michigan Rag Company, a silkscreen company that was a spin-off of the original Marushka.
Buy Marooshkas here.

Marushka print of tree

2008-03-28T14:26:00.001-07:00

Sheepshead Designs

2008-03-26T16:37:00.001-07:00

A while back, I ran across some modern silkscreen prints that very much evoke the spirit of Marushka. Philip Sachs, a self-taught printer and designer, sells beautiful silkscreen prints at Sheepshead Designs. The site features both prints on t-shirts and stretched linen canvases.

I personally love the botanicals, though the bird prints and skyline linen prints are also lovely:

You can see more of the great designs (and make purchases) at this site or at the Etsy site.

Marushka print - tulips in the window

2008-03-25T21:33:00.000-07:00

From the Grand Rapids Press

2008-03-25T21:22:00.000-07:00

Last November, Richard Sweet, one of the creators of Marushka, passed away.

From the Grand Rapids Press:

Richard L. Sweet, the former Grand Haven Area Public Schools art instructor who went on to become a leading producer of silk screen graphic art, died last Thursday at the age of 68.

Sweet quit his teaching position in 1971 to found Marushka, a Grand Haven-based producer of affordable silk screen graphic prints that came stretched, framed and ready to be hung on the wall. The prints retailed for about $24 and were popular in condominiums and college dorms.

At its height, Marushka was known throughout the United States and its prints were distributed in several foreign countries, including Australia. The prints were so popular that Marushka attracted its share of imitators. In the mid-1980s, Grand Haven was home to four other firms offering wholesale silk screened prints.

"Rather than being silicon valley, Grand Haven was silk screen valley of the United States," recalled Randy Smith, former Marushka co-owner and now owner of The Michigan Rag Co.

"We figure we produced 1.68 million Marushkas."

After the market for Marushka prints began to dry up in the late 1980s, Sweet and Smith, started The Michigan Rag Co., which produces an extensive line of silk screen clothing and apparel. Sweet sold his share of the business to Smith about three years ago.

Although the last Marushka was produced in 1989, Michigan Rag Co. continues to screen a limited number of the Marushka prints. Smith said Marushka prints are collectible among college students and often can be found auctioned on eBay.

"It was a gutsy thing he did -- quitting his job to start a business," Smith said. "He was quite a guy."

Sweet was born in Lansing and received degrees in fine arts and graphics from Michigan State University. Sweet and his wife, Mary, both worked at Grand Haven Area Public Schools -- he as an art teacher and her as a librarian.

Sweet said many of his friends questioned his decision to quit the school system to start a silk screening business called Marushka, a Polish form for the name Mary."

"A lot of people said I was crazy to give up a permanent sure thing," he said in 1982. "But I don't feel guilty at all. I love what I'm doing."

Marushka originally operated in the former Grand Haven Board of Education administration building at 734 Park, and a building on West Spring Lake Road. In 1984, Sweet announced plans for a new headquarters and retail center in the former Vandervelde's Furniture building in downtown Grand Haven.

As the business grew, Marushka had more than 3,000 distributors and four factory outlet stores in Spring Lake, Muskegon, Rockford and Lansing.

Sweet credited his success to the affordability of Marushka prints.

"Silk screening makes art affordable to everyone," he said of the success of Marushka. "We can offer the same design and quality and make it affordable."

Marushka print of ships in silhouette

2008-03-25T21:20:00.001-07:00

About Marushka

2008-03-25T21:11:00.000-07:00

From the description packed in with Marushka prints:

MARUSHKA

Hand printed in Grand Haven, MI.

These stretched fabric art prints are ready to hang on any wall in your home, office, or cottage. Balanced on two nails, this decor can be attractively hung in a few minutes.

MARUSHKA brings art designed and selected by Richard Sweet to the public through the medium of silkscreen. Our designer prints are all hand-screened in the MARUSHKA studies located in Grand Haven, Michigan.

The designs are offered in a variety of colors suited to the wide range of consumer tastes.

Richard Sweet was born in Lansing, MI, and received degrees in fine arts and graphics from Michigan State University. After ten years as an art instructor, he started MARUSHKA in 1972 to provide a quality decorator item to the public at affordable prices.