After immigrating to Canada from Germany in 2003 I discovered the fascination of quilting, first as a traditional craft, increasingly as a means for artistic expression. I taught myself how to use a sewing machine and  learned techniques mostly from books. I wanted to learn more about design and fabric manipulation so I took a London City and Guilds level 2 course in Patchwork and Design. This enabled me to move toward free-form and abstrac art in fabric to express my own ideas. The fiber pieces I create are mostly abstract and colorful textile collages. I enjoy working with hand-dyed fabrics which are further altered by using a variety of surface techniques. The various textures, the interplay of colours, the build-up of layers and the addition of stitch are important design components in my work. My inspiration comes from a multitude of sources like nature, architecture, history, music, geometry, language. Having lived on three different continents (Europa, Australia, now North America) certainly has shaped my perception and sense of place and belonging. I like to develop ideas through the process of making samples and testing different techniques to achieve the desired effects. For the past twelve years I have worked on developing, showing and marketing my art, as well as promoting textile arts, curating exhibitions and teaching workshops. Regina Marzlin www.reginamarzlin.com