Aya Fiber Studio

🎨 Layered Beauty: Katazome Rice Paste Resist with Suzanne Connors

A five-day creative retreat exploring the traditional Japanese art of stencil dyeing

Step into the timeless world of Katazome, the elegant Japanese art of resist dyeing with hand-cut stencils and rice paste. In this immersive retreat, Suzanne Connors shares her passion for indigo and heritage surface-design techniques, guiding participants through every stage of this centuries-old process — from stencil design to layered color application.

“Kata” means stencil, and “zome” means to dye. Together, they create a methodical, deeply satisfying rhythm of process and pattern — a meditative journey where patience meets beauty.

You’ll explore multiple stages of Katazome practice, working with Japanese rice paste, natural indigo, and layered dyes to create cloth that glows with texture and story.

Retreat Flow

Day 1 – Design & Preparation
Learn the history of Katazome and begin designing your stencil. Mix and apply traditional rice paste resists and prepare fabrics for dyeing.

Days 2–4 – Layering & Dyeing
• Practice brushing techniques and resist application
• Work with multiple stencil layers for pattern depth
• Experiment with indigo and over-dye processes
• Explore color mixing and value shifts
• Build compositions that balance structure and spontaneity

Day 5 – Reveal & Reflection
Remove the resist, unveil your finished pieces, and join a reflective discussion about the process and tradition of Katazome.

Studio Environment
Create in Aya’s spacious, light-filled fiber art studio in Stuart, Florida — a space designed for thoughtful, hands-on work. Each artist enjoys ample workspace (never more than two per 4′×8′ table) with power, USB access, and full dye facilities.

Enjoy morning coffee, tea, and pastries, personalized lunch pickups from favorite local cafés, and the calm rhythm of making by the sea. During retreat weeks, the group often gathers for an optional dinner outing at a nearby waterfront restaurant.

Details
Instructor: Suzanne Connors
Dates: February 16–20, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Tuition: $740
Skill Level: All Levels
Materials Fee: Additional (details provided upon registration)
Class Size: Limited to 10 participants

Experience the quiet beauty of process — where patience, pigment, and pattern come together in layers of light and indigo blue.