Upcoming Workshops
Bundle Dyed Napkins
One-day Intensive
Textile Arts Center, Brooklyn
Saturday December 15, 2018
11:00 - 5:00
Make a gift that is as unique & beautiful as it is eco-friendly! In this six hour workshop, students will learn the basics of extracting color from plants for accessible and sustainable naturally-dyed cloth napkins. We'll explore the Bundle Dyeing technique of directly imprinting fabric with the petals, leaves, and roots of dye plants to create beautiful patterns. Students will walk away with a set of bundle dyed napkins. Gifts for the season and skills for a lifetime!
Fabric Marbling
One-day Intensive
Textile Arts Center, Manhattan
Sunday December 16, 2018
11:00 - 5:00
Once one of our younger students described marbling as "magic fighting magic". That's pretty much how we feel about this magical technique. In this class, students will learn the fundamentals of marbling, including how to select fabrics and prepare a marbling vat to create permanent prints. After getting familiar with traditional patterns, students can develop their own palette and style to create a suite of patterns.
Natural Dyeing 101
Weekend Intensive
Textile Arts Center, Brooklyn
January 12 - 13, 2019
11:00 - 5:00
This two day intensive introduces students to the world of beautiful, accessible, and sustainable botanical dyes. Students learn the basics of selecting and preparing fibers, extracting color from a variety of plant materials, and fixing natural dyes to fabric. We’ll discuss the history of natural dye use, and explore some contemporary applications of pattern. Students will leave with the substantial beginnings of a swatch library documenting a range of fibers, dyes, mordants, and modifiers. Bring along any materials you'd like to experiment with!
Large Format Marbling
One-day Intensive
Textile Arts Center, Brooklyn
Sunday January 27, 2019
11:00 - 5:00
In this one day intensive, students will learn the basics of marbling on fabric, including how to prepare a marbling vat and the best pigments to use for permanent prints. We’ll discuss the history behind European marbling traditions, then get colorful creating marbled monoprints. Small studies will be expanded upon in our large 4x4’ marbling vat, where students will have the opportunity to print yardage with their unique patterns! Materials will be provided by TAC, but students may bring 1 yard of additional natural fiber fabric if they wish.
Fabric Marbling
After Workshop
Textile Arts Center, Manhattan
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
6:30 - 9:30
Once one of our younger students described marbling as "magic fighting magic". That's pretty much how we feel about this magical technique. In this workshop you'll learn the basics of marbling on fabric, including how to set-up a marbling bath and the best inks to use.
Book Arts 101
Weekend Intensive
Textile Arts Center, Brooklyn
February 9 - 10, 2019
11:00 - 5:00
This course introduces students to bookbinding as a fluid and expressive art form that dovetails with fiber arts. Students learn the fundamental vocabulary and tools of bookbinding as we create five different book structures. Each book model will explore the opportunities to connect fiber and book arts with techniques including embroidery, needle weaving, natural dyeing, and resist dyeing.
Paper Marbling: Color Play
Snow Farm
Williamsburg, Massachusetts
May 11 - 12, 2019
room and board available
Marbling is a delighting blend of monotype printing, repeat pattern development, and color play. In addition to the fundamentals of paper marbling, this course will focus on color theory, the properties of various paints, and how to create unique color stories. Discussions on the history of European marbling will accompany explorations of traditional techniques, combed patterns, and troubleshooting. Students will develop their own palette and style to create a suite of designs to take home. Room and board available.
Natural Dyeing for Book and Paper Artists
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
August 4 - 10, 2019
room and board available
This workshop introduces students to sustainable sources of color as they extract and fix natural dyes to paper, fabric and thread. You will discover the historical and material sympathy between natural dyes and traditional bookbinding fibers and pay special attention to the use of mordants for lasting color. After applying color and pattern to book materials, participants will move to the bindery to create structures featuring the dyed elements. Students will depart with thorough knowledge of the best practices of natural dyeing, the beginnings of a swatch library, and handmade books incorporating myriad botanical hues. Open to all skill levels.
Registration for all Textile Arts Center classes can be found here.
Contact Natalie for information about private lessons for individuals or small groups.