Public & Private Workshops
If you would like to hire me to run a public or private workshop here are a few options. All classes are adjustable so lets talk about the possibilities!
Currently offered at New England Botanic Garden
Natural Dyeing Workshop
Half-Day Workshops (4 hours)
4 to 10 people - all materials & equipment provided
I come to you. This class requires running water, power, and a space where we can be messy.
Students will learn about natural dyes, the dyeing process, and best practices. They will work with 2 natural dyes (which combine to create 3 colors) while creating swatches in silk, linen, cotton, & wool. Additionally students will create a naturally dyed silk scarf in their choice of the available colors.
Currently offered at New England Botanic Garden
Natural Dye Workshop
Full-Day Workshops (8.5 hours with a half hour lunch break)
4 to 10 people - all materials & equipment provided
I come to you. This class requires running water, power, and a space where we can be messy.
Students will learn about natural dyes, the dyeing process, and best practices. They will work with 4 natural dyes (which combine to create 16 colors) while creating swatches in silk, linen, cotton, & wool. Additionally students will create 2 naturally dyed silk scarf in their choice of the available colors.
$1000
Natural Dyes: Focus on Mordants
Full Day Workshop (8.5 hours with a half hour lunch break)
4 to 10 people - all materials & equipment provided
I come to you. This class requires running water, power, and a space where we can be messy.
In this workshop we will focus on how the different mordants combine with dyed to create a variety of shades of our colors. We will work with 2 dyes and at least 4 mordants for each color. We will also cover how to work with dyes that are killed by heat. This class does not have a make-&-take project. Instead we will create a sample book with recipes for your future dyeing adventures.
$1000
Natural Dyes: Focus on Experimentation
Full Day Workshop (8.5 hours with a half hour lunch break)
4 to 10 people - all materials & equipment provided
I come to you. This class requires running water, power, and a space where we can be messy.
In this workshop we will focus working with new plants. What is the difference between dyes and stains? How can we find out if a plant has a dye? Will pH affect this color? We will cover hot water & cold water extractions, alcohol extraction, ammonia extraction and everything from a quick test to long running experiments. This class does not have a make-&-take project. Instead we will create a sample book with recipes for your future dyeing adventures.
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$1000
Natural Dyes: Focus on pH
Full-day workshop (8.5 hours with half an hour for lunch)
4-12 people - all materials & equipment provided
Some dyes colors can be shifted dramatically by pH. For example White Birch Bark can be shifted from yellow to pinks. In this class we will focus on 4-6 dyes that color shift with pH adjustments. We will experiment with various ways to shift pH, how to measure it, the difference between dyes and stains, and general best dyeing practices.
This class does not have a make-and-take project but will focus on building your own recipe cards and swatch books.
Currently offered at New England Botanic Garden
Embroidery Basics
Half-Day Workshop (4 hours)
4 to 12 people - all materials & equipment provided
In this workshop we will cover a variety of introductory stitches on a simple, take home, practice piece before diving into our project. Our project will be a simple, nature themed, embroidery. Guest will be taught everything from how to hoop-up their embroidery to what to what stitches to use where. While we won't finish the embroidery in class, every student will go home with a complete kit to do so including an extensive handout. The class is structured so that students who need additional help with stiches will have the time for that.
While this class is taught as an introductory course I am happy to give instructions to intermediate students as well. Mixed ability groups are welcome.
Cost will vary based on the quality of the kits,, such as a quality wooden embroidery hoop vs. scroll frames or the quality of the thread, for example cotton vs silk.
$800
Eco-Printing
Full Day Workshop (8.5 hours with a half hour lunch break)
4 to 10 people - all materials & equipment provided​
Learn eco-printing on paper and fabric in this fun and very easy workshop. Every student will make 12 cotton and silk eco-prints on fabric and a number of prints on watercolor paper. We will discuss what plants make the best prints, equipment if you are doing it at home, mordants and preparing your paper and fabrics, layout and design, harvesting responsibly, plus tips and tricks to get clean prints. Students will go home with all the prints they make in the class but there is no additional kits for this class.
$1000
SolarFast Printing with Gelli Plates
Full Day Workshop (8.5 hours with a half hour lunch break)
4 to 10 people - all materials & equipment provided​
​During this easy and fun workshop students will use the sun to develop their botanic prints. We will be using large 11x14" gelli plates to design our prints and apply the design to either watercolor paper or fabric. We will discuss and experiment how to work with the Solarfast printing medium from Jaquard, how to use it with the gelli plates, tips and trick for interesting prints, and creating interesting effects with light. Every student will have a dozen cotton scarves to play with along with plenty of watercolor paper. There are no additional kits for this class.
$400
Hand Spinning Yarn with a Drop Spindle
Half-day workshop (4 hours)
4-10 students, all materials will be provided
The drop-spindle is one of the oldest tools mankind every invented. In this fun workshop students will learn how to make their very own yarn. Warning, once you get the hang of it, its as addictive as knitting or crochet, and just as portable. We will be working with high quality wool in this class and students will go home with a basic drop spindle and kniddy knoddy along with enough wool to create several small skeins.
We will cover everything from spinning and plying to washing your finished yarn.
$400-1000
Weaving With Small Handlooms
Full-Day Workshop (8.5 hours with a half an hour lunch break)
4-10 students (all materials and equipment provided)
​Small, hand-held looms give weavers a great chance to experiment with color and texture in this weft-faced weaving process. This class focuses on weaving and finishing a small, textured, weft-faced, tapestry suitable for framing. We will use a mixture of colorful and textural yarns, both hand and machine spun. Unconventional materials like plastic tubing and bags will be available for the adventurous weavers.​
The cost of this class will vary based upon the class kit including keeping the hand looms and tools, the size of the loom, and the quality of the yarn and thread used.
$600-1000
Textile Painting & Embelishment
Multi Day Workshop (8.5 hours with a half hour lunch break)
4 to 10 people - all materials & equipment provided
This class combines various forms of textile painting, printing, and/or dyeing with embroidery and beading to create an singular work. This class is defined by the needs of the students and is very flexible. Lets talk about your needs.
$800
Shibori Dyeing: Folding & Pleating
Full Day Workshop (8.5 hours with a half hour lunch break)
4 to 10 people - all materials & equipment provided
​Shibori is a family of traditional Japanese dyeing techniques that includes stitched resists (Nui & Kumo, shibori), pleated & clamped resists (Itajime shibori), and a variety of other techniques. In this class students will work with the easiest type of shibori, Itajime, which involves pleating and clamping your fabric during the dyeing process to create geometric patterns. We will make a variety of pieces on silk &cotton in at least 2 colors. Students will also make a silk scarf as a make-and-take project to accompany their samples.
$ 800
Shibori Dyeing: Stitched Resists
Full Day Workshop (8.5 hours with a half hour lunch break)
4 to 10 people - all materials & equipment provided
​Shibori is a family of traditional Japanese dyeing techniques that includes stitched resists (Nui & Kumo, shibori), pleated & clamped resists (Itajime shibori), and a variety of other techniques. In this class students will work with various types of stitched resists, Nui & Kumo, to create geometric patterns and free flowing or illustrative patterns. We will make a variety of pieces on silk &cotton in at least 2 colors. Students will also make a silk scarf as a make-and-take project to accompany their samples.
$400-$600
Sashiko Inspired Stitching
4 hours
4-12 people, all materials & equipment provided
Sashiko is a traditional Japanese stitching method used for mending & decorating clothing, household goods, & gifts. The method can be very meditative and is often called show-stitching. Sashiko is more than simply a family of patterns but is also a method of holding and using a needle that is very difference from European methods. In this class students will use traditionally Japanese sashiko patterns but not the Japanese stitching technique.
Every student will receive and use a sashiko sampler with a variety of patterns, colorful threads, & everything needed to succeed. We will discuss how to analyze a pattern for sashiko stitching, where and when to use it, and how to design your own samplers.
Full-day workshops also available. Price is dependent on materials provided.
$150
Fashion & Textile Lectures
3.5 hours with a fifteen minute break
4-50 people in person or via Zoom
Various topics on fashion and textile history, techniques, and subjects, including but not limited to:
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The History of Corsets
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Fashions by Century/Decade/Movement/Place
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Cochineal Dye
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The History of Shibori
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Historic Sewing Techniques
All lectures have an extensive slide show, and if in person and appropriate, I often bring samples to handle.
$400
Needle Felted Landscapes
Half-day workshop (4 hours)
4-12 people - all materials & equipment provided (except for your smartphone)
In this class, students will join the me outside to photograph a landscape of their choice (please bring your smartphone or similar device). Once your photo is taken, we will return to the classroom to turn it into a unique needle felted landscape. We will be doing a flat needle felting rather than a 3-dimensional project. Students will leave with a small landscape painting in wool suitable for framing. Students will also receive a introductory kit and some wool to continue their needle felting journey at home.
Please be aware we will be working with sharp needles during this class. We will be working with wool in this class and there is no appropriate substitute.
