Spring Break Camp : Cascarones!

Oil and Cotton spent Spring Break making beautiful natural dyed eggs with Natural Dye expert Sarah Westrup. Students learned about the Mexican American tradition of confetti filled cascarones. Empty egg shells were dipped in plant based dye solutions made from hibiscus flower, red cabbage, and red onion skins.

Students learned about value and color mixing with natural dyes in order to achieve our favorite colors. We then filled the eggs with confetti and draped them with tissue paper before the eggs were smashed in celebration for Easter. Visit our website to learn more about our upcoming Summer Art and Music Camps. We would love to share a day of fun, learning, and creativity with you!

Natural Dyeing with Sarah Westurp

Last weekend, Oil and Cotton hosted an awesome class lead by instructor Sarah Westrup. Students spent a relaxing afternoon learning how to extract beautiful dye colors from natural materials such as black bean, black berries, hibiscus flowers, rosemary, red onion skins, turmeric, and avocado pits. Everybody took home a leather bound specimen booklet filled with luscious silk ribbon swatches and information on how to dye at home.  This class was sold out, but we have another workshop scheduled for April. Register now to secure a seat in the amazing class!

February 16 Natural Dyes with Sarah Westrup

???Have you been dying to learn the art of natural dyes???

In this introductory class you will experiment with dying silk and cotton in a range of natural dye baths using material such as; black beans, hibiscus flowers, avocado pits, and more.  Unlike synthetic dyes, natural dyes are a living thing. The colors produced are very complex and harmonize together. Each color holds hints of other colors within it. This produces vibrations in the natural dye color that synthetic dyes could never have. There is so much wonder in the fact that every naturally dyed piece of cloth is unique. Come experience the spontaneity and beauty of the colors produced with natural dyes with instructor Sarah Westrup. 

Participant will create a dye notebook, leave with swatches and dye recipes to take home to use as a reference for future natural dyeing adventures.
Natural Dyeing with Sarah Westrup - $65
Saturday, February 16,12:30pm-4:30pm

Indigo, Indigoing, Indigone...

This weekend we hosted our first Shibori dying workshop. Our teacher, Lizzy Wetzel prepared an Indigo dye vat and introduced students to the rich history of the plant and dying techniques.

Students used stitching and binding techniques to create a dye resist that resulted in complex patterns of a rich blue and white. Look for additional fiber arts workshops this spring and summer.

SHIBORI DYING - Fiber Arts Series and BRUNCH!

Shibori dying technique with Lizzy Wetzel - This Sunday, February 13, 11-2pm
If you missed our Capricorn Tie Dye party, here is your opportunity to learn the ancient tradition of Shibori dying. Shibori is a Japanese term for several methods of dyeing cloth with a pattern by binding, stitching, folding, twisting, compressing it, or capping. Some of these methods are known in the West as tie-dye. Students will dye a silk scarf with intricate or simple patterns using a dark beautiful blue dye. A light brunch and mimosas will be provided. Please Register online here.
Look for additional offerings in our Spring fiber arts series, COMING SOON!

 We enjoyed sharing brunch, mimosas and crocheting with a talented bunch and super teacher before the snow hit.