Aya Fiber Studio

The Colorful Chemistry of Plants: A Botanical Printing Immersion

Bring your favorite plant to life—literally! In this vibrant, hands-on workshop, students will focus on one cherished plant and explore the endless ways it can reveal its hidden beauty on cloth.

Start by selecting a special species to work with all week—it might be a local leaf superstar like grevillea or Brazilian peppertree, a florist’s go-to like eucalyptus, or a personal favorite brought from home like oak, walnut, maple, or sumac.

Then the magic begins.

We’ll take a deep dive into the world of mordants, tannins, and iron, experimenting with at least 10 different combinations to discover how these assists unlock stunning detail, texture, and color in botanical prints. Think of it as plant alchemy—where chemistry meets art.

Using natural fabrics from the class kit (and any personal favorites you bring), you'll create a gallery of rich, layered samples—all printed with your chosen plant. By week’s end, you’ll stitch these pieces together into a gorgeous fabric sample book—a personal reference and work of art in itself.