Fabric artist Amelia Poole, of Brooksville, offers a one-day class in any one of her eco printing classes, learning to create beautiful fabrics using plant sources. Some examples of her lovely work were on display in the library's January fiber arts exhibit.

Amelia says, "Eco printing is a method of adding color, pattern and texture to cloth using only local plant materials. No external paints, inks or dyes are used –simply the natural compounds within the plant material. The process was developed and popularized by India Flint of South Australia.  I use plants and flowers gathered near my home in Maine to make extraordinary prints and colors on silk."

Classes:  (Please visit website for dates and further information)

Eco Printing; Explore the Art, Science and magic of Eco Printing

Here in Maine, we are surrounded by nature and wrapped in textiles.  Why not combine the two?  Eco-printed cloth is created by layering prepared silk and linen with local plants and flowers.  The cloth and leaves are bundled together, tightly bound and steamed.  This process creates a permanent transfer of pigment from the leaves to the cloth.  No external dyes, inks or paints are used in eco-printing.  All color and pattern come from the plants themselves!  Release extraordinary secrets from local plants we see every day and often take for granted.  All eco printing workshops are 1-day.

Intro to Indigo and Indigo Shibori

Indigo is a natural blue dye derived from the plant Indigofera tinctoria and related species. Indigo has been used as a colorant for nearly 5,500 years. The dye is extracted from the leaves through a lengthy process of soaking and fermentation, drying and grinding.  When the cloth or fiber is removed from the dye vat it changes, as if by magic, from yellow-green through green and turquoise to blue.  Multiple dips in the dye vat are required to create dark shades. 

Intro to Indigo (1-day):  Dye a silk scarf, and a t-shirt; bring something of your own to dye.  Learn basic of indigo dyeing techniques and experience the magic!

Indigo Shibori (1-day):  Shibori is a Japanese term for several methods of dyeing cloth with a pattern by binding, stitching, folding, and twisting.

Visit the Ecouture Textile Studio website to learn more about Amelia, the processes she uses and to see descirptions and dates of her classes. Just click the logo below.