September 2023
Botanical contact printing (eco printing)
$30 + $10 materials fee In this two hour workshop, you will learn how to make a “dirty pot”, how to prepare fabric for botanical contact printing, and tips for printing on paper. We will supply a 22” by 22” cotton bandanna on which you will design your own botanical print using locally sourced and dried plant materials. Please note the prints need to cook in the dirty pot for 2+ hours, so you will need to come back in…
Find out more »Indigo vat
$30 + $20 material fee In this two-hour session you are invited to bring your own t-shirt (or equivalent) and we will supply a 22” by 22” cotton bandana for you to dip in our indigo vat. We will discuss the history of indigo, how it is prepared for use, and how to set up and maintain the dye vat. Class space is limited. Registration is required for each workshop. Ready to join the class? Please click this link to…
Find out more »Monoprinting with plants
$30 + $10 materials fee Using a mixture of traditional and experimental printmaking techniques, you will learn how to easily create richly varied colour prints on handmade paper using oil-based inks and a variety of locally sourced plants along with paper and fabric scraps. No experience is necessary and you will create at least two beautiful prints to take home. Class space is limited. Registration is required for each workshop. Ready to join the class? Please click this link to…
Find out more »Flower pounding
$30 + $5 materials fee Using locally foraged plant material in this two-hour workshop, we will explore extracting pigment from both flowers and leaves into test fabrics and finally into pre-mordanted cotton. We will have hammers on hand but if you have one, please bring it along. Class space is limited. Registration is required for each workshop. Ready to join the class? Please click this link to go to asil.ca and register: TAKE ME TO ASIL.CA!
Find out more »Mending
$30 + $5 materials fee Join us and learn some basic sewing skills so that you can easily and confidently mend small tears and holes in your fave clothes- no need to get rid of them! You will be introduced to invisible and decorative mending methods and we’ll even teach you how to sew on a button. Bring along a piece of your own clothes or we will provide cloth for you to practice on. All materials provided. Class space…
Find out more »Concertina collage book making
$30 + $10 materials fee In this class you will learn how to easily construct a simple and elegant concertina book structure with a hard cover. We will provide a beautiful variety of handmade papers as well as paper and cloth scraps that have been printed and stained with plants and other natural pigments, and you will create your own one of a kind pocket sized artist book or sketchbook. Class space is limited. Registration is required for each workshop.…
Find out more »Introduction to hand quilting
$30 + $10 materials fee We will explore the fundamentals of quilt making and discuss what makes a quilt a quilt. You will learn basic hand piecing, hand quilting, and hand binding and leave with the knowledge to complete your very own tiny quilt. A selection of fabrics as well as batting, needles, and thread will be provided for class work. No previous quilting experience is necessary although a basic knowledge of hand sewing will help you get started. Class…
Find out more »Weed walk
$15 Join us in a walk along the Detroit River waterfront where we will explore the diverse plant life flourishing right here in our own backyard. The walk will depart Artspeak promptly at noon and we’ll head directly to the waterfront. Wear comfortable shoes and feel free to bring sketch materials and/or your camera. This event is rain or shine, so please come prepared for the weather. Class space is limited. Registration is required for each workshop. Ready to join…
Find out more »Cordage
$20 Using locally foraged plant material such as bindweed, rhubarb, corn husk, and tiger lily, we will show you how to prepare and twist plant fibres into rope and string. * This in a one-hour workshop. Class space is limited. Registration is required for each workshop. Ready to join the class? Please click this link to go to asil.ca and register: TAKE ME TO ASIL.CA!
Find out more »Mordant painting and plant based dye dips
$40 + $15 materials fee This *three hour workshop will provide an opportunity to explore: we will have several dye vats set up, including marigold, walnut, avocado, and onion skin. Two 22"x22" cotton bandannas will be provided for dyeing, and you can buy additional bandannas for $5 from us or bring a t-shirt (or equivalent) from home to dye. You will experiment with painting and drawing with mordants and dye modifiers to create richly varied shades from a single dye.…
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