Class Description: This two hour eco printing workshop will give you all of the knowledge you need to create beautiful plant prints with your local flora. Participants will learn how to create long-lasting ecoprints on fabric with flowers and leaves on any natural fiber (cotton, hemp, linen, silk, paper, etc). The entire printing process will be covered from the fundamental pretreatment process to caring for your naturally dyed fabric. No natural dye experience necessary, this in-depth workshop is perfect for beginners or seasoned dyers. All skill levels are welcomed!
Participants will leave the workshop with a one of a kind, wearable eco printed, organic cotton bandana and instructions on how to recreate the process at home.
Materials Needed: Pen and paper for notes
Ages 14+ and all creative skill levels welcome!
Meet your Instructor: I’m Jamie - Natural dye enthusiast and educator, artist, mom of two littles, lover of growing plants (and plants in general). I was born in Austin and currently live here with my sweet family and 2 cats.
When I think about my beginning with plant dyes, I travel back through time to my childhood. Although I wasn’t dyeing fiber with plants as a child – it all feels very connected. I grew up in a tiny trailer home in the countryside on the outskirts of a small town. I didn’t have cable television or many toys but my home was surrounded by nature and that’s where I found solace. I was the happiest outdoors. I felt a strong connection to nature like I think many of us do as children. My mom is an incredible gardener and always kept a big, beautiful garden. I can remember sitting in her garden smashing flowers in water and painting rocks. Little did I know that I would be professionally smashing flowers in water 25 years later.
My official introduction to natural dyes came many years later when my (now) husband was studying anthropology in college. I was flipping through one of his text books and came upon a section about the use of natural dyes in indigenous cultures. At the time, I had been using synthetic dyes to create tie dye pieces for friends and family. I became fascinated with the idea of using natural materials as dye and began researching and experimenting with food waste and local plants. I fell in love with the concept and process and never looked back.