John Marshall Archives - Botanical Colors

Video From LIVE FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Natalie Stopka

This week’s FEEDBACK FRIDAY was with natural dye artist and educator Natalie Stopka. Watch the video recording here: From Natalie (chat box questions answered and more!) >Clothlet Resources: The Materials and Techniques of Medieval Painting by Daniel V. Thompson, 1956. An Anonymous 14th Century Treatise De Arte Illuminandi, The Technique of Manuscript Illumination translated by Daniel Varney Thompson, Jr, and George Heard Hamilton, 1933. (full text online) Looking back over my notes, I did pre-mordant my linen clothlets before applying the stain. Because of the weak attraction between linen and alum, it acts primarily to stabilize the botanical colorant rather than bind it to … Read more

Video From LIVE FEEDBACK FRIDAY: With Katazome & Tsutsugaki Artist John Marshall

This week, we’ve got video from our live FEEDBACK FRIDAY featuring katazome (stencil dyeing) and tsutsugaki (cone drawing) artist John Marshall. John Marshall is an American fiber artist specializing in natural dyes and the traditional Japanese techniques of katazome (stencil dyeing) and tsutsugaki (cone drawing). He is internationally noted for his use of color and line to create truly unique one-of-a-kind art-to-wear, turning traditionally inspired aesthetics into contemporary treasures for daily life. As a teacher he is recognized for his ability to adapt traditional recipes and methods to suit local climates, resources, and temperaments – and for his ability to … Read more

FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Indigo Vat pH, Painting & Reusing Mordant Baths

This week on FEEDBACK FRIDAY: The science of pH and your indigo vat, painting with indigo flowers and reusing that mordant bath

FEEDBACK FRIDAY: This Week in Natural Dye Questions

This week: Info to make a dried indigo leaf vat and wait, can you use indigo for hair and soaps??

FEEDBACK FRIDAY: This Week in Natural Dye Questions

Each week, we are emailed with questions from our natural dye community asking simple and complex questions that we thought might be worth sharing. Here are a handful from this week answered by natural dyer in chief, Kathy Hattori, Founder of Botanical Colors: I would like to be able to make variegated yarn from a finished skein (as opposed to spinning my yarn from various colored fibers, which is what I do now). I’ve done most of my dyeing on wool that I spin and then weave, but would like to dye cotton and hemp fabric. I am not able … Read more

NEW CLASS: Joan Morris: 2 Vats, 5 Days, 10 Ways

Internationally acclaimed textile artist Joan Morris visited Seattle last year for a 4-day shibori workshop that sold out to rave reviews. We are thrilled to welcome her back this August 8-12 for a FIVE day class in Arashi shibori using organic and fresh indigo dye vats. Arashi shibori, also known as pole-wrapped shibori, creates strong linear marks and incredible texture on cloth. Joan will teach us 10 different arashi techniques, enough to launch a serious inquiry into this delectable stripe. Then we will immerse our wrapped poles in natural indigo vats that students will build and tend over the course … Read more