Marilyn fell in love with paper when living in Japan many years ago.  When she retired from teaching, she began experimenting with making paper in the studio she sets up in her back yard each summer. Several years ago she discovered botanical printing and has added that to interests she pursues in her outside studio. She has taught paper making to her calligraphy guild, Pacific Scribes, The Nature Printing Society, and the Sonoma Mycological Association where the paper fiber is mainly fungi. She also enjoys sharing paper making with friends and small groups while working in her back yard.

Several years ago she was fortunate to be able to tour Japanese paper making villages with Hakoni Paper, a paper importer based in Southern California. She was delighted to find the traditional Japanese life still existing in the small rural villages.