Workshops
It is time to share my secrets! My goal is to be teaching Workshops here in S. Oregon, to travel to teach where I’m needed, as well as to offer my own workshops in Mexico and Costa Rica. If you are interested in receiving news about workshops, please send an email to weartheforest@gmail.com to be added to the Workshop list. You will be notified when workshops are scheduled.
If you would like to see a Workshop on Botanical Printing offered where you live, I would ask that you find 10-12 other interested Workshop attendees, locate a venue, and contact me to work out the details. A venue can be your home, yard, garage, a local Community Center, or an Airbnb with appropriate space. The only requirements are a water source (a hose can be used), an electricity source, and cover from inclement weather. An outdoor space for dye pots, buckets and tables can be used, as long as there is access to a stove that may be inside. Space for 1 long table for every 2 people is necessary. I would be happy to schedule such a workshop and come to you to teach, so let’s talk!
My workshops are 2 1/2 days long minimum, 5 days maximum. I usually begin on a Friday evening with a Show and Tell of different examples, a talk about what the process of Botanical Print entails, and familiarize the participants with the natural dying terms and processes we will be using. We will discuss fabrics and the different mordanting necessary for each one.
On Saturday we will spend a full day:
- First we will go out and collect leaves, flowers (if available), and plant matter. We may walk through neighborhoods, visit a park and/or a flower farm.
- We will weigh our fabrics and mix the mordants that we will use that day.
- We will create our first piece using silk, leaves, and mordants, steam them, and open and reveal the beauty! While the silk scarves are steaming, we will prepare some dye pots and mordants so that our fabrics can be soaking in them for the next day’s use.
On Sunday we will work adding dye color, trying different-sized pieces, mirror prints, and making as many pieces as time permits.
By the end of the workshop you should have all the tools and information needed to start confidently creating clear prints on fabrics of your choice.
With a 5 day workshop, we can really go to town! I will help each participant to create the clearest most detailed prints possible on several different types of fabrics. We will learn to use different plant dyes such as Madder, Logwood, Marigold, and Cutch. We will have lots of fun. I have so much to teach!
Alternatively, I can offer private workshops in my studio in Southern Oregon. There are airbnbs nearby, and we can tailor the workshop to your needs. Contact me for more details.