Easy Eco-printing

Dates : n/a (sat - sun)

Location: Elphin near Ullapool

Course Places : n/a

Price : n/a

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eco printingmedium

In all areas of life in the 21st century, great energy is going into finding ways of enjoying the bounty provided by our planet whilst at the same time looking after it for the future. In the world of textiles, one new way of working in harmony with the natural world is by Eco-printing - a method by which the natural colours and forms of plants are transferred onto fabric – and it is attracting the interest of novices and textile artists alike.

Pioneered by Australian artist India Flint, it is a really eco-friendly way of making beautifully subtle textile designs in a sustainable and thoughtful way, using whatever plants you have in your garden and whatever bits and bobs of old hardware, utensils and cloth are to be found in the garden shed and at the back of forgotten cupboards. This is a low-tech process, building on ancient knowledge from the processes of making natural dyes, but with the added thrill of creating atmospheric printed images at the same time. And no two cloths will ever be the same, given the endless variations of recipes to be employed.

This introductory course will allow you to by-pass the years of apprenticeship I have put into learning this complex process, so that you will produce great results from the very start.  In the course of the weekend, you will learn which are the most reliable plants for using and you will make your own prints onto cotton, linen, silk, wool and paper using the plants to be found in my one acre garden. As individuals and as a group, we will record and compare our results as we try different combinations and you will take home these recipes, along with your other finished printed surfaces, as a treasured reference, so that you can carry on developing the technique in your own time.  The weekend culminates in the revelation of a large, eco-printed silk scarf, covered in your own design and ready to wear straight away, followed by the quick and easy construction of a cushion cover, also made using your own printed cloth!

This is a relaxing and social process,and we end the first day by gathering around the bonfire, watching our parcels of cloth bubbling away inside giant pots, just letting time and trouble drift away. So, put your busy life aside and join me for some easy eco-printing.

All materials, refreshments and cooked vegetarian lunches are included in the price.

 

Maps & directions to Jan's Studio : Open Studio Page   

 

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Jan's studio is in Elphin, overlooking the magnificent mountains of Suilven, Canisp, Cul Mor and Cul Beag. This remote location means that accommodation is a little more difficult to find, but the experience of visiting this area makes the search well worthwhile. Many course participants opt to stay in Ullapool, which is 20 minutes drive away. It is a most picturesque fishing village, with a good range of accommodation to suit all budgets. There are many restaurants and takeaways and shops, as well as some evening entertainment, should you have any energy left at the end of that day's workshop. And students often group together and car share for their daily trip up the road, past Stac Pollaidh, to the studio. Please look at the Accommodation links page to find out more.

To read about an innovative community partnership approach to preserving and improving this landscape for the benefit of all, have a look at Coigach and Assynt Living Landscapes. To find out about the fascinating geology of this area go to North West Highland Geopark.

Email : info@jankilpatrick.co.uk    Tel : 01854 666279,   Postal Address : Jan Kilpatrick, Cul Mor, Elphin, By Lairg, Sutherland, IV274HH.  

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