Botanical Alchemy: A Dye Workshop From Garden to Fabric

In this workshop, you'll explore an alchemical process that transforms seasonal plants into beautiful, naturally dyed textiles. This time of year offers an abundance of vibrant leaves, and botanicals—making it the ideal time to discover the rich colours and unique impressions readily available in our backyards. Working with locally foraged and seasonal plants from the Nikkei Centre garden, you'll learn how to extract pigments and create striking botanical prints onto a 24" square cotton bandana. As natural pigments are transferred onto the fabric, each petal, leaf, and botanical element leaves behind a unique impression, creating a wearable textile that reflects the beauty of the season. While your botanical bundles steam, you'll explore additional ways of capturing the beauty of seasonal plants through botanical mark-making and printing techniques. Inspired by Japanese traditions such as Hapazome (hammering pigment onto cloth), you'll experiment with fresh flowers and leaves to create unique impressions and small mementoes. This immersive workshop blends artistry, experimentation, and joyful discovery, encouraging you to slow down, observe the natural world, and embrace the unexpected beauty of botanical dyeing. You'll leave with a one-of-a-kind hand-printed textile and a deeper appreciation for the colours that surround us every day. All materials included About the Instructor Naomi Yamamoto of Flight Path Designs Naomi Yamamoto earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts with distinction from the Fibre Program at the Alberta College of Art and Design. As the founder of Flight Path Designs, she specializes in designing graphic leather goods and textiles. Inspired by the intersection of history and design, Naomi infuses her creations with a unique blend of tradition and innovation. Her upbringing, steeped in exposure to Japanese craft traditions, continues to shape her artistic vision. With years of experience leading dyeing workshops for groups and corporate teams, Naomi is dedicated to sharing her expertise. She is excited to collaborate with the Nikkei Centre, offering her knowledge and passion for natural textiles to the community.