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Old Market Manor, Barton Manor
Bristol, BS2 0RL

Artisan natural dye studio, using locally foraged and organically grown natural dyes, bio-regionally sourced cloth and paper and low impact traditional and contemporary printmaking techniques. Offering limited edition gifts, bespoke services and a range of workshops to help creatives transition to using non-toxic practices and connecting communities with Nature using creativity as a medium.

Journal

SPRINGTIME

botanical inks

Wow!! What a busy time!!

It's been non-stop, traveling around England delivering fun workshops this Spring!

I’ve been to a plethora of fantastic places, including several Soho Houses and the wonderful Bristol Textile Quarter. It's been a treat to work in these places and meet so many amazing people!

Electric House was the first location this Spring and I had a lovely time teaching a small group the art of bundle dyeing with rose petals, calendula and logwood.

 

At Babington House, we had a very pleasant plant identification walk around the gardens, before making some awesome Shibori T-shirts, made with fair-trade organic cotton, using local plant dyes, including onion, eucalyptus and nettle.

A week later myself, and my lovely assistant Lauren, were at Soho Works in Shoreditch to teach the same technique again, this time using lengths of organic British Silk.

The following week saw us at Bristol Textile Quarter, for the first Selvedge Magazine workshop series, "Bundle Dyeing With Local Flowers".

We had a full class, with 14 participants and made a wonderful mess of flower petals, which I had procured from The Flower Shop on Gloucester Road.

(Thanks for the waste flower and leaf donations!)

(Thanks for the waste flower and leaf donations!)

We loved being in this cool space surrounded by textile machinery and the minimal white backdrop. What a location!

I had some time out, to digest all of these wonderful experiences while walking the Exmoor coastal path, among beautiful glowing gorse flowers, then it was back on the road. Next stop Hawkwood College for their Open Day, to talk about bundle dyeing and local flowers. And then on to Soho Farmhouse, in Oxfordshire, for a new one: Hapa-zome printing with flowers and leaves!

After this we had our second Selvedge Magazine workshop, this time using Shibori with local plant dyes. I’m thrilled by what everyone made!!

Check out these beauties!!

 

It was an utter delight to then offer the first Botanical Inks Hen Party workshop for a beautiful gathering of ladies, in Bristol, in their glorious flower-filled Georgian garden on a sun-filled Saturday afternoon. A dreamy experience which will linger with me for a long time...Picking blooms from the trees and hedges, to throw into silk bundles for steaming, while enjoying a cream tea in the sun...Served by naked butlers…Hah! Such fun!

And then we were back at Shoreditch House last weekend, to teach bundle dyeing again!

Phewph!!

Its been amazing to visit all these incredible places and meet such inspiring and lovely people at every turn!

Thank you so much to all of the hosts, who welcomed us in to share these craft skills with their communities. It’s been a total delight..!!!

 :) :) :) XxxXx

Looking forward to more on our Summer Tour!!

Starting next week with our Bristol Walking Festival - Color Foraging Walk in Leigh Woods, on Tuesday 17th. Bookings here.

The next Selvedge Magazine Workshop takes place at Bristol Textile Quarter on May 26th, with Organic Indigo Vat Dyeing + Shibori. I'm so looking forward to offering you this new workshop!! Bookings here.