"A Muddy Kind of Love"

"In poems remarkable for their mastery of tone and complexity of imagination, Carolyn Dahl considers the rural American landscape, finding among its fields and wildlife opportunities for meditation on the nature of love and cruelty and the vagaries of memory, family, and mortality. These are lyric poems of high intensity — musical, intimate, and intelligent. I'll return to them with great pleasure."

—Kevin Prufer, author of "How He Loved Them"

Winner of the "Poetry of the Plains and Prairies" chapbook contest (North Dakota State University Press)

"Art Preserves What Can't Be Saved: Poems"

"A remarkable new collection of work from a poet and artist who explores not only the soul of art but also the art of the human soul. These are poems that engage the reader with their beauty and their perceptions, their light and dark, the skill of the poet."

—Jack Kristofco

First Place Winner, Press Women of Texas Contest, Chapbook Category

First Place Winner, Nat'l Federation of Press Women's Communications Contest, Chapbook Category

Honorable Mention Award, Eric Hoffer Book Awards, Chapbook Division

"The Painted Door Opened: Poetry and Art"

This "collaboration of attentions" by Carolyn and fellow poet and artist Carolyn Florek comprises three sections. The first section, Two Visions, presents poems by each on similar themes; the reader receives one poetic response to a subject, which is then supported, expanded, contrasted, or deepened by reading a second poetic version. The second section, Visual Poems, displays selected images of artworks by each, Carolyn Dahl's dyed and painted stitch-drawing fiber works and Carolyn Florek's acrylic on paper paintings. In the last section, Solo Visions, each poet goes her own way on topics that piqued their individual attentions and aesthetic sensibilities.

Natural Impressions:
Taking an Artistic Path through Nature

Carolyn demonstrates nature printing techniques using leaves, flowers, fish, butterfly wings, and other objects from nature to create prints on paper and fabric with inks, paints, and dyes. Along with how-to techniques, Carolyn offers delightful, inspiring, and thoughtful essays and poems that convey her personal interactions with nature.

Transforming Fabric:
30 Creative Ways to Paint, Dye, and Pattern Cloth

Carolyn presents her innovative techniques for dyeing, painting, and patterning fabric for gorgeous quilts, silk paintings, wearables, and other art projects. As an experienced artist and teacher, she guides the reader with step-by-step processes, answers often-asked questions, and illustrates the techniques with her own and others' beautiful artworks.