Video From LIVE FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Heidi Gustafson

Last week on FEEDBACK FRIDAY we had artist and ochre translator, Heidi Gustafson. Heidi is based in the Cascade foothills of rural northern Washington. Her collaborative ochre and iron research projects include work with scientists, anthropologists, linguists, indigenous practioners, citizen foragers, healers, artists and places around the planet. Heidi’s current projects focus on ochre, iron oxides and land pigments and her cabin/studio houses the Ochre Sanctuary, a counsel of ochres and pigments from contributors world-wide. Check out Heidi’s website here. And follow her on Instagram here. Watch the video recording below! About Heidi’s work: Ochre Sanctuary is an evolving, living … Read more

Video From LIVE FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Takayuki Ishii of Awonoyoh

This week on FEEDBACK FRIDAY we had Takayuki Ishii of Awonoyoh. Takayuki Ishii is an indigo dye artisan who was born in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. He currently owns a workshop in the mountainous area of Kanagawa Prefecture, where he runs an indigo dyeing company using traditional techniques and materials. Takayuki talked about the tradition of sukumo in Japan and the Japanese textile techniques born out of the creative exploration with his indigo dyeing. Being one of the last remaining producers of indigo in Japan, he shared his process and why it is so important to preserve this expertise. Watch the … Read more

Video From LIVE FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Kathy Hattori Talks Ceriops Tagal

Last week for our live FEEDBACK FRIDAY, we had Botanical Colors President Kathy Hattori talking all things Ceriops tagal! Watch the video recording below: Shop Ceriops tagal HERE. Ceriops tagal, also known as Indian mangrove, is prized for its tannin-rich bark, which yields very dark red-brown on cellulose fibers. Mangroves are widely distributed in Southeast Asia, the Philippines, Indonesia and parts of Australia and the Pacific. They are an important tree in coastal ecosystems, and mangroves are under tremendous environmental stress from herbicide runoff to clear cutting groves for aquaculture. Strong management of mangroves to protect them but also allow … Read more

Video From LIVE FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Nienke Hoogvliet

This week on FEEDBACK FRIDAY we had Nienke Hoogvliet talking about our new favorite topic: seaweed dye. Studio Nienke Hoogvliet, is a design studio for material research, experimental and conceptual design. The studio engages in freelance projects for different companies and institutions but also continues research in self-initiated design projects. The studio is based in The Hague, The Netherlands. We are pretty obsessed with their seaweed dye research. Watch the video here. Seaweed Re-Search By Studio Nienke Hoogvliet Studio Nienke Hoogvliet website Nienke’s NEW website that is officially selling products dyed with seaweed Both Instagram feeds she is running for … Read more

Video From LIVE FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Claire Wellesley-Smith

This week on FEEDBACK FRIDAY we had artist, researcher and author based in West Yorkshire, UK, Claire Wellesley-Smith. Claire specializes in projects that use local, natural color, created from home-grown and locally foraged plants. She talked about her practice and some of her community-based projects; including an ongoing Stitch Journal now into its eighth year as well as recent work around textiles and resilience. Claire’s two books: Slow Stitch: Mindful and Contemplative Textile Art and Resilient Stitch: Wellbeing and Connection in Textile Art (published in April) Check out the Claire Wellesley-Smith website here Instagram is @cwellesleysmith Watch the video here. … Read more

Video From LIVE FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Sally Fox

This week on FEEDBACK FRIDAY we had organic cotton guru SALLY FOX. Sally Fox is a cotton breeder who breeds naturally colored varieties of cotton. She created Foxfibre®️ and founded the company Natural Cotton Colours Inc. Sally developed the first species of environmentally friendly colored cotton that could be spun into thread on a machine and has been called a “cotton pioneer” for her efforts regarding organic, colored cotton and heirloom wheat. Watch the video below: Sally has been breeding and growing organic naturally colored cottons since 1982 and has spent decades breeding naturally colored cotton. She recently noted that … Read more

Video From LIVE FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Threads of Life

This week on FEEDBACK FRIDAY we had Threads of Life Co-Founders William Ingram and Jean Howe. After the presentation, we had a virtual trunk show with Jean that was amazing and showcased all the artisans they work with. Watch the video below: About Threads of Life: Threads of Life, a Bali-based social enterprise that has worked with over 1000 traditional weavers and their families in 50 communities on 12 Indonesian islands since 1997. As co-director of the Bebali Foundation since 2002 he has led the organization’s support for sustainable use of natural dyes and other non-timber forest products by these … Read more

Video From LIVE FEEDBACK FRIDAY: The Botanical Reclamation Project

Today, June 18th, we had such a special FEEDBACK FRIDAY treat with Guelph, Ontario based artist Anita Cazzola. Anita not only played banjo and sang our FEEDBACK FRIDAY theme song with her partner Sam, we got to hear her talk about her Botanical Reclamation project. Anita just launched her project which celebrates the resiliency of wild plants through naturally dyed textiles. The project also offers the community a chance to learn about local plant life, and the natural dye process through self-guided walks, weekly scavenger hunts, project livestreams, workshops, question and answer sessions, and artist talks with the help of … Read more

Video From LIVE FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Weaving Hand

This week’s FEEDBACK FRIDAY was with Weaving Hand Founder, Cynthia Alberto. An artist, designer, and founder of the Brooklyn-based Weaving and Healing arts studio Weaving Hand, Cynthia Alberto seeks to bridge traditional and contemporary weaving techniques, drawing inspiration from ancient communities of Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Her artwork, performances, and public weaving projects honor traditional and artisanal techniques while also incorporating unconventional materials and a zero-waste philosophy. Throughout her artwork and teaching, Alberto continuously explores the many intersections between weaving and healing, as well as craft and sustainability. Watch the video here. NEXT WEEK: Join us June 18th, … Read more

Video From LIVE FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Mixed Color

This week’s FEEDBACK FRIDAY was with Mixed Color Founder Christi Johnson. Christi’s textile studio is based in the foothills of the Catskills in New York. The studio provides functional pieces that are thoughtfully made, as well as serves as a platform to teach skills in sewing, embroidery, and natural dyeing so that others may do so themselves. Her book, Mystical Stitches, explores embroidery as a tool for personal empowerment and magical embellishment. Her online workshops explore stitching, clothing, and fibers as an opportunity for creative expansion and expression. Watch the video below: Check out the Mixed Color website here. And … Read more