By Iris Nevins
Great News! The marbling trade secret suit has finally been dropped for lack of evidence, as it should have been long ago. Lorraine Schoeller Matern and I would like to thank all of you who wrote letters to be forwarded to the Sussex County prosecutors office stating that marbling is a public domain process, and not owned by any individual or company. We received about 35 letters and they were a great help in the case. It is hoped, now that things are settled, the full story can eventually be written for a marbling journal.
There seems to be a new "super" carrageenan making the rounds. Many marblers are reporting that their new batches of size are way too thick. I just tried my new batch and found this to be true. The answer, of course, is to add more water, or use less of the powder. I have also found that it keeps a bit longer.
There is a marblers gathering scheduled for August 11-13 in Baltimore. Speakers will include Diane Maurer, Betty Wagner, Iris Nevins, Jake Benson, Deborah Evetts, Jennifer Phillipoff, Linda Hohneke, Marilyn Ritzenthaler, Carl Weis, Dedree Drees and Marie Palowada. For further information, contact: Beth Napier, 3rd Marblers Gathering, 9613 C Harford Rd., Suite 230, Baltimore, MD 21234.