Artist and designer, Mary Degnan McGuire has created two fabric collections, Cold Spring Dreams and Grace, for RJR Fabrics. Her objective is to create fresh, innovative and inspired designs.
After receiving her BFA for Surface Pattern Design from Syracuse University, she spent several years as a graphic artist and computer animator before returning to the world of fabric design. As a textile designer, she is best able to combine her love of pattern, color and texture.
Mary begins her design process away from the studio. She explains, “I travel everywhere with my sketchbook and make quick studies of my observations and impressions, drawing inspiration from the world around me.” She then extracts the essence of her sketches, adding a sense of tradition and whimsy to her designs.
Mary is passionate about textile arts. In addition to creating fabric patterns, she enjoys silk painting, hand dying fabric, sewing, and quilting both traditional and art quilts.
Unlike many quilters who were raised in a quilting environment, Mary and her mother, Patricia entered the quilting world together! They traveled to numerous shows and attended various classes, among them a journey to France, where they created watercolor quilts while cruising along the Seine. Mary’s quilts have been displayed and have received awards in several shows including the juried Tactile Architecture exhibition at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, TX.
Mary lives with her husband, Mick in their turn of the century, Tarrytown, NY home. When she is not in her studio designing fabrics, she can be found sailing on the Hudson River or pastel painting, en plein air in the majestic Hudson Valley.