Garden Gatherings Newcastle with Pam de Groot
Course Overview
We will explore the potential for using plants from our local environment to colour, mark and pattern cloth.
Using nature’s dye potential, we will create a range of colour results by altering the simple mordants used. With just a few plants we can create a myriad of prints on fabrics. We can also add colour bases to experiment with discharge printing. On the last day, we will dye a silk top in your chosen method.
Teacher Profile
From a background of Studio Ceramics I have worked now in the field of Textile Art for 16 years.
Primarily a felt maker I explore, through innovation, the many ways wool can be formed and coaxed into new and interesting forms. I am also a natural dyer and printmaker, using my home of the Blue Mountains as a constant source of inspiration and colour. Organic forms and texture are a common theme throughout my work, with the various properties of wool or dye and the colours of nature influencing each piece.
Materials List
- Materials fee $60 Includes 1m silk jersey fabric tube, mordants and dyes.
- White/cream fabric. mainly silk or wool, some cotton. Small pieces as samples of techniques, this can be woven or knit.
- Sticks or dowel x 6 or more ( about 6 to 8 inches long, 1 inch diameter)
- Resist blocks in pairs/ Clamps / rubber bands
- Strong string, warp thread is good. or hemp twine
- old towel
- plastic jug 1 litre
- Paper and pencil, camera.
- Sharp scissors
- tyvek paper, A4 size
- Metal (iron or steel) scraps ( nails, pieces etc)
- Plant material. ( we will need a lot as we are dyeing most days, include eucalypt, geraniums, cotinus, tree of heaven or sumac, maple, oak, liquid amber and anything you think may be good. )
- Flatten what you can beforehand in newspaper.
- citric acid, cream of tartar and baking powder. 125g each
- Bucket/s
- assorted containers 4 litre (like ice cream)
- Old sheet to be torn up (essential )
- packet of oven bags large
- Wax paper roll.
- apron
- Latex or rubber gloves
- pack of dust masks
- tongs
- teaspoons
Workshop Terms
While our fibre art workshops are usually held in the gallery's historically significant workshop space, the workshop venue may change according to the needs and wishes of the artist tutor. Likewise, the times of the workshops may vary depending on the type of workshop and its presentation.
Timeless Textiles Gallery will, at its own discretion, where a participant is unable to attend a fibre art workshop, an exchange or credit note will be made available or a refund of the deposit or payment in accordance with the following Workshop Refund Policy.
Major commitments must be met, and in fairness to all, the policy concerning the refund is:
Cancellations 3 months prior to workshop date - refund 80% fees paid
Cancellations 2 months prior to workshop date- refund 50% fees paid.
Cancellations 1 month prior to workshop date- no refund.
