Video From FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Cassie Dickson

Yesterday, we welcomed coverlet weaver, flax and silkworm farmer Cassie Dickson to FEEDBACK FRIDAY. Cassie says: “A Southern Highland Craft Guild Heritage member, specializing in spinning, traditional weaving, and natural dyeing, I have called western North Carolina my home for over 30 years.  As a traditional pattern weaver, I have woven coverlets and linens for over 40 years.   I grow flax and use 18th and 19th century tools and process the fiber to weave linen cloth.  For the past 33 years, I have also raised silk worms,  processing the cocoons to silk fabric and sharing that interesting historical story.  Over the years, I have taught … Read more

Video From FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Jody Alexander

Last week on FEEDBACK FRIDAY we had mixed media artist Jody Alexander. In 2020, Jody made some life changes so that she could swim in lakes, and in 2023 she decided to make her open water swimming experiences into an art project. Aqua Lab is a work in progress that attempts to define the allure of open water swimming through the collection of data that includes water and air temperature, earth pigments surrounding the lakes, and underwater photos to capture water color. Watch the recording below. Take a class with Jody! Stitch, Patch, Dye: A Bag Making Workshop with Jody … Read more

Video From FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Hannah Regier

Last week on FEEDBACK FRIDAY we had a beautiful presentation with fiber artist/land conservationist Hannah Regier. Hannah shared her practice and the evolution of her work from functional to fine art; and showed her latest project, Landcestors which was supported by a creation grant from the Vermont Arts Council. Watch the recording below. Website Instagram Hannah’s Nonprofit conservation organization, Bull Creek Common Lands About Hannah:Hannah Regier is a fiber artist and land conservationist whose work explores the profound possibilities of natural dyes and fibers to bring people into meaningful, reciprocal, relationship with the land. Hannah grows and forages dye and … Read more

Video From FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Terroir of Color

This week on FEEDBACK FRIDAY, we talked with Cara Marie Piazza on the terroir of color. How can we create natural dye solutions based on locality and the terroir of color while maintaining the integrity of the plant? Have you ever thought about local color where YOU live? Watch the recording here. If you love FEEDBACK FRIDAY support our presentations with a donation, (and thank you)! Cara’s info: Website Instagram Cara’s Illustrative Play Time: Painting with Tea Paints, Egg Tempera and Natural Dyes workshop Cara Marie Piazza’s Amazing Ice Dye Bundle Kit! RECORDING: Ice Dyeing Workshop with Cara Marie Piazza … Read more

Video From FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Farm & Folk

Last week on FEEDBACK FRIDAY we welcomed Sara Buscaglia of Farm & Folk. Sara is an organic farmer, natural dyer and textile artist residing in the high desert of southwest Colorado. Her inspiration is found in the paradigm shifting slow processes of tending soil, seeds, and plants. Through her experience of being directly connected to food, natural color and fiber she has gained an understanding and appreciation of their true value. Her naturally dyed quilts are an embodiment of that. Watch the recording here. Shop Sara’s new book here! Support our time creating FEEDBACK FRIDAY with a donation. Farm & … Read more

Video From FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Beam Paints

Last week on FEEDBACK FRIDAY, we had Anong Beam of Beam Paints. Anong says her business is the result of a multi-generational love of pigment, paint, color, and innovation. “I was raised by my artist parents, Carl Beam and Ann Beam, and was taught from a young age how to harvest hematite pigment in the LaCloche mountain range near our home in M’Chigeeng First Nation on Manitoulin Island.” Beam Paints draws on Anong’s early education in Indigenous pigment and expands it to encompass all paint traditions. She talked about the progression of her craft, her love of color, and more. … Read more

VIDEO From FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Marta Abbott

Last week was our 100th episode of FEEDBACK FRIDAY and we welcomed Rome-based, Czech-American artist Marta Abbott. Marta uses “organic, botanical materials to extract and convey that which she finds essential to the human experience of nature and beauty. Marta does this through combing concept with intuition, elements of control with those of contained chaos, and with eyes scanning both earth and sky, seeking ways to interpret that which links the two.” Watch the recording here: Marta’s website Instagram In the Studio: Marta Abbott Shop our dye inks here! ARTIST STATEMENT Marta Alexandra Abbott is a Czech-American artist in Rome. … Read more

Feedback Friday

FEEDBACK FRIDAY Goes Live March 27th

Join us this week, March 27th, 9am Pacific,  for a live FEEDBACK FRIDAY! Let’s social distance ourselves from the realities of what’s outside our homes and talk all things natural dyes. What could be better? If you are not familiar with FEEDBACK FRIDAY, every week, we are emailed with questions from our natural dye community. Weekly, all of  your burning questions are answered by natural dyer in chief, Kathy Hattori, Founder of Botanical Colors. Both Kathy and Amy DuFault, Botanical Colors’ Sustainability and Social Media Director will be on hand to moderate and answer questions this week. Hopefully, the two … Read more