This course is a gentle introduction to natural dyeing and eco-printing practises, for cotton and paper.
The focus is on making do with what we have. Simple methods and simple materials. Finding joy in the process and in unexpected results.
I created this course during the first major lockdown of the Coronavirus pandemic. It was offered as a way to slow down, to connect with plants and with fellow artists/makers in isolation. Creativity and nature have grounding powers, especially in uncertain and changing times. Click here to see some of my student’s creations.
The ‘live’ course has finished, but you can still enroll and work through it at your own pace. You will have ongoing access to all the lessons and videos for many years. So if you want to come back to it later, no worries!
Purchases can be made with most major credit or debit cards using either Paypal or Stripe. Visa, Mastercard, American Express and the Discover Network are supported by both Paypal and Stripe. China UnionPay and JCB are only supported by Stripe. If you are unable to use Paypal or Stripe in your country, please contact me to discuss alternative payment methods.
There are beginner options for both ebooks and ecourses, while my ecourses also offer some advanced options. Some of the information crosses over both, but there is also unique information in both. So it really comes down to your personal preference. Perhaps you prefer learning through videos or through reading. Or perhaps you will enjoy supplementing the learning from one with the other.
At the top of the page, click ‘Log in’ and then ‘My courses’. Click on the course you want to begin, then choose any lesson to get started. To track your progress through each course, click the ‘complete’ button at the bottom of each lesson as you go.
After purchasing, you can download the ebook from my website straight away. You will also be emailed a download link. If you have trouble downloading on a phone, please try again on a tablet or desktop computer.
You can also find your ebook purchases in your profile dashboard after you log in – click the ‘ebook’ tab. If you ever lose your pdf, come here to re-download it.
The main processes or techniques are taught through video lessons. There are also written notes and photographs to supplement your learning. You can ask questions on each lesson and there is also email support if you need it.
It’s not secret that eucalyptus leaves are my favourite. But all of my ecourses also cover a range of other leaves from around the world, including maple, rose and blackberry. In the Intro to Cotton module, I also guide you in how to choose and test additional plants that might have eco-printing potential.
The content of the Intro to Cotton Living Colour module overlaps with this ebook and my workshops, although there is some new content too. All the other modules cover new techniques that I haven’t shared elsewhere. For example – different mordants and binders, dye blankets and iron blankets, additional ways to fold bundles, and methods of combining eco-printing and shibori techniques on both wool and cotton.
The Iso Dye Club has some overlap with my Plant Poetry ebook, but there is plenty of new content in there too.
If you want to learn how to eco-print on cotton, Gum Leaf Alchemy is definitely the one to start with. Although it focuses on eucalyptus leaves, it also gives step by step instructions for the entire process. The Leaf Guide has been written as a follow up guide which delves into each of the 25 leaves, but assumes this prior knowledge of the process.
Leaf and Colour is perfect if you want to combine eco-printing and natural dyeing techniques, or to use soy milk binder. And if you are looking to work with paper rather than fabric, check out Plant Poetry.
Besides the Spanish version of Gum Leaf Alchemy, I don’t have any other translations available yet, sorry! If you would like to use Google Translate, after purchase I can send you a special text document for this purpose.
Most of the plants covered are not Australian natives and I have intentionally chosen plants from different regions of the world. That said, there is a focus on those that grow in temperate climates.
Most of the method covered in Gum Leaf Alchemy also works on wool or silk. The main difference is that cotton needs mordanting while animal fibres don’t. You can still use a mordant on animal fibres if you want darker colours but go easy as too much iron mordant can damage them. Silk and wool also need longer cooking times than cotton, of about 2 hours. Finally, fresh leaves are often better for wool and silk, whereas I often soak my leaves when dyeing on cotton. If you are interested in eco-printing on wool, check out my ‘Wool and Shibori’ ecourse.
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