Power of Plants: Botanical Eco Printing

Step into the world of creating with natural colors, shapes, and textures from plants! Join us to learn various techniques focused on sustainable methods for printing, painting, dyeing and more with natural materials, and creative ways to work with pigments for a variety of projects and ideas. During this five day workshop, students will learn the basics of eco printing and natural dyeing with locally foraged plants and food waste onto different types of fabric and paper, as well as beginner sewing and book arts techniques to create folded and stitched books, patches, and more. Students will first learn how to properly prepare different fabrics to mordant; a crucial step to ensure consistent lightfast and washfast colors. Exploring the vast realm of possibilities within this technique, students will print onto cotton, linen, and silk fabrics as well as watercolor paper to understand the scope of creative potential when using varied materials. A collection of materials to print, stitch, and dye with will be provided, and participants are also encouraged to bring fiber items from home to transform in the studio.

This class offers a combination of outdoor foraging, printmaking, bookmaking and fiber processes, thereby offering a realm of possibilities that allow for full exploration with each mode of making. These processes reveal exciting opportunities for layering and cross-pollination. While tuning into our surroundings at Sanborn Mills farm, we will allow time, space, and support to create memories of the season and place as individuals and a collective. These meditative techniques yield unique, one-of-a-kind results, and provide opportunities to let go while collaborating with nature. All levels of experience are welcome!

Skills and Techniques:

• Sustainable & mindful foraging techniques

• Suggestions for proper plant identification & safety

• Basics of mordanting (fabric pretreatment)

• A basic understanding of the following processes using a variety of materials: eco printing, natural dyeing, ink making, book making, hand sewing, machine
• Bundling and fabric preparation techniques that yield different printed results

• How to care for your printed fabrics

• Resources for continued making & learning on your own

Materials Fee: $100 paid directly to the instructor.

Special Tools or Equipment to bring: Apron & rubber gloves (optional to keep clothes & hands clean, Sketchbook or phone for note-taking (optional; full recipes & instructions will be provided digitally and in print), Foraged plants (Optional but very helpful; many will be provided – A full list of suggested plants will be provided prior to the workshop, Any special sewing supplies or materials that you’d like to bring, at least three garments/fabric pieces from home to mordant & print/dye onto.

Workshop and Cancellation Policies

Please be sure to read our 2026 policies before you register for a workshop. https://www.sanbornmills.org/workshop-policies/ 

Housing for this workshop is limited. Please email karen@sanbornmills.org for more information