Molly Thompson is the creative soul behind Pretty Flours. She makes individually printed textiles and paper goods using linocut block stamps, mostly of botanicals, in her attic studio in Portland, Maine.
While she has a lifelong history of creativity, Molly came into her craft career more recently, after 35 years as an early childhood educator, and raising her own three children. “I work with my wonderful staff of 3 part-time employees from a studio in my attic where the walls are unpainted and the floor creaks and the windows jiggle when the wind blows. It’s far from beautiful but is most certainly my happy place. I look out at the tree tops and watch the seasons change and the neighbors walk their children and their dogs.”
Each Pretty Flours linen is unique: Molly’s process begins with carving a drawing onto a rubber surface, which is mounted on wood to create a stamp. The stamp is brushed with hand-mixed paint, over and over again, to create uniquely textured and colored impressions on the fabric. The process is repeated for each linen, resulting in unique, one of a kind color and values on each individual item. The fabrics are made of natural fibers, and the paints food safe. They are heat-set to withstand rigorous use & repeated washing. Read more about Pretty Flours online: www.prettyflours.com
We are pleased to welcome Molly Thompson as a new Center for Maine Craft vendor in 2018! Her tea towels, wrapping papers and greeting cards can be found in our retail store in West Gardiner, and online in the Center’s Etsy Shop.