In this workshop, we will use eco-printing to create a variety of beautiful, naturally printed pieces. We will print on silk, wool, and cotton. Eco-printing uses the natural pigments in the leaves and flowers of plants to dye and print on our prepared fabrics. This is a many-layered process, and we will work step by step to create unique pieces. We will cover techniques, plants that print well, and how to continue experimenting once you get home. Each participant will take home their own handmade eco-printed cotton market bag, organic cotton tea towel, wool wall hanging/table runner, silk and wool scarf and more as time allows. All pieces will be scoured and mordanted (if necessary) prior to the workshop. Let’s have some fun with plants!

Mary and Nancy Burns are part of Hazel Eyes Textiles located in northern Wisconsin. They create natural dyed and eco-printed apparel and homeware. In addition to textile collaborations, the sisters have teamed up to teach eco-printing and other textile classes. Mary is an award-winning fiber artist and master weaver. Her work has been exhibited internationally. Mary’s latest exhibit Women and Water: Woven Portraits from Around the World, features women who work with and for water across the globe. The exhibit is composed of 29 woven portraits of 39 women from over 20 countries, plus the Arctic and Antarctic. Mary’s Ancestral Women Exhibit features woven portraits of an elder from each of Wisconsin’s 12 Native tribes along with 12 complementary weavings. She weaves custom-designed jacquard weavings and wall pieces in addition to felting, natural dyeing and eco-printing.