My current work focuses on using natural dyes, local and traditional, to create extraordinary color, pattern and texture on cloth. 

Eco-Prints

Eco- or botanical contact prints are created by layering prepared natural fiber cloth and paper with local plants and flowers.  The material and leaves are bundled together, tightly bound and steamed.  This process creates a permanent transfer of pigment and dye chemicals from the leaves to the cloth.  No external dyes, inks or paints are used in eco-printing.  All color and pattern come from the plants themselves!   

 Eco-printing techniques developed and popularized by India Flint of South Australia, focus on bioregionalism and the use of sustainable, organic and non toxic materials. I concentrate on using only the plants I gather around the Blue Hill Peninsula and creating extremely detailed prints.

I love this process.  It releases extraordinary secrets from local plants we see every day and often take for granted.  Eco-printing allows me to look beyond the usual green of leaves and to see their shape and architecture, and explore their chemistry. 

I print silk, wool, and linen scarves and a variety of textiles for clothing (linen, silk, hemp, organic cotton, and wool) – which I sew from original patterns. Eco-printed textiles can also be used for home decoration in the form of hangings, pillows, bed covers and art. 

1. Plant material is laid out on prepared cloth. 2. The cloth is wrapped and tightly bound. 3. The bundle is steamed and simmered. 4. Once cooled, the bundle is ready to unroll. 5. Dried, aged, washed and ironed, the eco printed cloth is complete.

1. Plant material is laid out on prepared cloth. 2. The cloth is wrapped and tightly bound. 3. The bundle is steamed and simmered. 4. Once cooled, the bundle is ready to unroll. 5. Dried, aged, washed and ironed, the eco printed cloth is complete.

Indigo Shibori

Indigo is a natural blue dye derived from the plant Indigofera tinctoria and other indigo pre-cursor bearing species. Indigo has been used as a colorant for nearly 6,200 years. The dye is extracted from the leaves through a lengthy process of soaking and fermentation, drying and grinding.  When the cloth or fiber is removed from the dye vat it changes, as if by magic, from yellow-green through green and turquoise to blue.  Multiple dips in the dye vat are required to create dark shades.  Shibori is a Japanese term for several methods of dyeing cloth with a pattern by binding, stitching, folding, twisting to prevent dye from penetrating all parts of the cloth.  

1. Cloth is stitched, gathered, bound and capped. 2. Indigo vat. 3. Indigo is a substantive dye and will dye anything. I wear gloves, the there was a hole in that pair! 4. Dyed piece waiting to be unbound. This piece was placed in the vat 16 times a…

1. Cloth is stitched, gathered, bound and capped. 2. Indigo vat. 3. Indigo is a substantive dye and will dye anything. I wear gloves, the there was a hole in that pair! 4. Dyed piece waiting to be unbound. This piece was placed in the vat 16 times and allowed to dry between each dip. 5. This is the piece from photo 1, finished. Stitching, binding and capping on silk and linen suiting.

All printing and coloring is done with natural dyes – no toxic chemicals or additives are used!  Non-toxic, local, sustainable!  

 Please visit BLOG for links to videos of eco printing and indigo shibori techniques.