Marlene Blessing has worked as an editorial director in western book publishing for two decades, was a contributing editor to SPA magazine, and was a senior features editor for The Seattle Weekly. Sewing, embroidery, quilting, clay sculpting, and calligraphy are a few of her favourity crafts - until, of course, she began beading. Marlene is the Editorial Director for Beadwork, Stringing, and Step by Step Beads magazines. She lives in Longmont, Colorado.