Zdravo!

I’m Darcy Ellarby, a multi-modal artist living in rural Slovenia.


I have never met a craft that didn’t speak directly to my soul!


My relationship with making began early: sewing doll clothes by hand as a child, earning pocket money with alterations in college, and later designing and sewing my own wedding dress. Like many creatives, I’ve moved through distinct phases—quilting, lace-making, scrapbooking—each one teaching me something new.

Fiber, however, has always been my anchor. I started as a knitter, then followed curiosity wherever it led: to spinning my own yarn, to working with raw fleeces, and to learning the hands-on processes of scouring, combing, and carding wool. Eventually, I found my way to natural dyes, drawn to the intimacy of knowing that every choice—material, process, color—was mine. I love that my hands and intentions are present in every piece I make.

sheep in the field adjoining Darcy's home in Slovenia

My Journey, from Crafter to Artist

In 2017, my life shifted abruptly when I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Though not life-threatening, the illness and its treatment cost me nearly 18 months of energy, clarity, and creative capacity. During that time, even beloved crafts felt out of reach. One of my sisters, understanding how deeply creativity sustains me, sent a small kit to learn a drawing practice called Zentangle.

That gift changed everything.

Zentangle met me exactly where I was. It taught me how to work gently, one step at a time, and how to let go of perfectionism in favor of presence and acceptance. I became a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT) in 2020, but more importantly, I began to recognize myself as an artist—not simply someone who makes things. That realization opened the door to printmaking, mixed-media collage, and bookbinding.

Alongside running a demanding retail sporting goods business with my husband, I built a teaching practice rooted in this philosophy. I’ve taught privately, in groups, in corporate settings, and through large retreats—both in person and online—including a global event with 350 participants across four time zones.

In 2025, my husband and I sold our business and chose a different rhythm for our lives. After spending my entire life in Minnesota, my husband and I let go of nearly everything we owned and moved to the Slovenian countryside.

Now, with time and space restored, I spend my days making art, teaching art, and paying close attention to the world around me. Surface & Field is an expression of that attention—a place where creativity is grounded in process, patience, and the natural landscape