Event

Colors from Nature: Getting Started with Natural Dyes

About the Class:

Learn how to make brilliant colors from your local environment with natural dyer and plants-person DEEPA NATARAJAN of the PERMACOUTURE INSTITUTE. In this three-hour workshop you will learn the basic principles of natural dyes, mordanting, medicinal dyes, making patterns on cloth and flower printing. We'll also be taking a neighborhood walk to identify some common and unexpected dye plants. You will get to take home samples in a range of colors and fibers. No experience necessary. $20- $30 sliding scale includes all materials.

About the Instructor:

DEEPA NATARAJAN worked with plants and people at the UC BERKELEY BOTANICAL GARDEN for 5 years putting on their public education programs. During this time she cultivated her love of gardening and natural dyes. She has traveled to South India several times during that period learning from master dyers and teaching workshops on local natural dyes. She is currently working with the PERMACOUTURE INSTITUTE as the 'Seeds to Sew' Project Director to partner with local seed banks and tag seeds for their fiber & dye properties. You can read about her plant adventures on her plantspeople blog below:

About the Permacouture Institute: http://permacouture.org/
About Deepa: http://plantspeople.blogspot.com/
About the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden: http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu/