Saturday, March 31, 2025 | 10A - 2P | One-day workshop | $110

Many pigment-rich plants can also support our health as food and medicine, and this class explores both kinds of magic that these amazing beings have to offer. We will dye wool yarn and cotton fabric with a few different herbs that are readily available in the wild as well as the co-op bulk aisle. While the pots are simmering, we'll enjoy some tea made from the very same herbs we're dyeing with, and Emma will offer an introductory overview of herbalism and the medicinal actions of a variety of dye plants. This class will cover the preliminary steps to prepare fiber for dyeing so that you can be successful in your future natural dye endeavors. We'll also talk about how to identify certain medicinal herbs in the wild and tips for growing them at home if you are interested.

If you have fiber or fabric of your own that you would like to bring to dye, please contact Emma ahead of time at emmapercy@proton.me so we can go over pre-dye instructions and make sure it's ready to go for class!

Supplies: $30 supply fee payable to Teaching Artist on the day of the workshop.

Teaching Artist: Emma Percy

Sunday, June 1, 2025 | 1P-4P | One-day workshop | $100

Create a handmade herbarium book, in which to preserve plant specimens, make botanical illustrations, and record your observations of nature. Collecting botanical specimens in books was a popular 18th and 19th century pastime, and making a personal herbarium is a valuable and enjoyable way to learn about the plants in your local environment and create a beautiful, unique collection for reference.

We will be using the Secret Belgian stitch, a versatile non-adhesive bookbinding style that includes a hard cover and spine yet allows the book to lie open flat. In addition to constructing and binding the book, we will discuss methods for pressing and preserving plants before they are stored, ethics around harvesting from the wild, and tools for botanical identification.

Supplies: $40 materials fee payable to the Teaching Artist on the day of the workshop.

Teaching Artist: Emma Percy

Saturday, June 21, 2025 | 10A - 12:30P | One-day workshop | $100

Learn how to make beautiful handmade paper out of plant fibers, recycled scrap paper, and flowers! We will go through the traditional western-style hand papermaking process step-by-step: understanding different types of fiber, how to source and process fibers, making pulp, forming sheets, adding decorative inclusions, and pressing and drying the sheets. Everyone will make several pieces of paper to use for their own art and craft projects, for writing letters, or simply to appreciate as art in its own right. You'll also learn strategies for making paper at home in a relatively small space without the need for much specialized equipment. Please wear clothing and shoes that you don’t mind getting wet!

Supplies: $30 materials fee payable to the Teaching Artist on the day of the workshop.

Teaching Artist: Emma Percy