Techniques

Every part of my process is done by hand. I complete all the work myself, although my second grader occasionally helps me collect flowers.

I use a variety of small-batch natural dye techniques, including scouring and mordanting to prepare the fabric to accept the dyes, homemade dye baths, and eco printing. To make a dye bath, I take the raw materials, such as leaves or flowers, and gently simmer in water until the color has been extracted from the plants. Eco printing is the technique of imprinting natural materials directly onto the fabric. Flower pounding, bundling, and using carrier blankets are some of my favorite types of eco printing techniques.

Once I’m happy with the surface design, I steam the fabric to set the colors and prints, and then rinse, wash, and dry. Putting everything together involves standard quilting techniques on my home sewing machine, such as mitering and binding. I stitch all beadwork and attach embellishments by hand.