One thing I really love about living in an artistic community is learning about other artist's creative processes.  A friend of mine, Marian Ju-Scozzare, is the owner and creative force behind Marianated Yarns.  Although her background is in computer programming, she now owns her own business of hand dyeing yarn in small batches and the yarn she creates is so vibrant with the most beautiful, saturated colors featuring fantastic names like "Hell Hath No Fury" and "Pixie Stix."  Although she dyes all the yarn herself, she often gets naming assistance from her sister-in-law and husband.  Sometimes they comes up with the name first and then Marian custom creates the dye for it.  The process of hand dyeing is labor intensive, often requiring as many as three soakings in the dye bath and multiple twists or tying of the hot yarn when it comes out; the result is what she calls "random control of color."  Once it is dry, she uses the machine shown above to smooth it out and wrap it into skeins.  She will be participating in the 21st Annual Sheep and Fiber Festival this weekend, September 12 & 13 at the Hunterdon County Fair Grounds.  In addition to her amazing yarn, the festival features other vendors, sheep shearing, wool spinning, and lots of animals!  If you get a chance to go, stop by and see Marian's beautiful yarn.  Like many of her customers, you may decide getting "Marianated" is the only way to go!