This fun class teaches students to use living plants as an artistic tool.  Students will learn how to print on fabric using plant matter, including how to pick the most successful plants, tips and techniques for the best print, and how to be considerate and have a conservation mind-set when picking.  We will experiment with light on dark and vice versa, with layering prints and with ‘ghost’ prints.

Work with freezer paper and learn the fine art of creating stencils. We will learn how to create a crisp image with these stencils and fabric paint. Students will experiment with positive and negative stencils, layering images and reversing images and then they will use these experiments to help create their own unique compositions. With freezer paper, you can create incredibly complex images impossible to get with applique or free-hand painting, but you can also keep it bold and simple. Either way it’s lots of fun!

In Te Reo Māori, Aotearoa translates to New Zealand, land of the long white cloud.  In this project-based class, participants will learn a clever positive/negative technique of fusible applique, and with New Zealand themed applique patterns, will create a beautiful placemat, wall-hanging, or a funky tote bag.

Dip your toe into the world of sheers by trying this one-day class. Experiment with a layer of luscious and translucent hand-dyed silk organza to see how it can alter the mood of your composition.  Learn tricks and tips for dealing with this lovely, but light and filmy, fabric. Students will use the tutors pre-designed applique patterns of plants and birds to design their own compositions in a mix and match manner.  

Create your own dreamy woodland scene using botanical prints and coloured sheers to layer up delicious colour.  This class plays with the exciting medium of fabric paint and the luxurious medium of silk organza. 

This two-day class is a combination of Florabunda! and Translucent Colour with some extra fun added.

Attendees will spend the first day using fabric paint to make plant prints on their background fabrics and then hand-colouring pieces of silk organza to use in the foreground.  The second day will see students designing their own woodland vista.  The principals and elements of design will be discussed throughout this process.  

This course will give students the foundations of fabric dyeing.  Learn the process of low-water immersion dyeing using fibre-reactive dyes.  Produce beautiful textured colours, with each piece of fabric being completely unique.  The workshop will incorporate dye safety, mixing colours, tints and tones, two-colour graduations and basic shibori-type patterning. In the second day we will continue to learn techniques and also have a play with thickened dye and mark making.

A one or two day wall hanging class.

One-day option: Choose your favourite tree pattern and learn fusible applique to create the trunk. Then you get to play with luscious hand-dyed silk organza to create the tree foliage, learning how to successfully handle and fuse sheers, and how to create beautiful depth in the leaves. You will learn 60-degree triangle piecing and practice your colourwash skills to make the side or top and bottom pieced panels.

Two-day option: First we paint! Colour your own cotton fabric in a delicious colourwash to use in your tree and triangle panels, then paint silk organza to use for the tree foliage. Then we continue as for the one-day option.