MOST OF THIS WORKSHOP IN ON ZOOM LIVE AND IT WILL BE RECORDED AND SHARED FOR REPLAY. THE CATCH UP SESSIONS ONLY FOR A FEW DAYS BUT THE LEARNING BITS WILL BE SHARE FOR 1 YEAR. THEY ARE FOR THE USE OF THE PARTICIPANT ONLY NOT FOR SHARING AROUND. PLEASE REMEMBER ANY SELF EMPLOYED ARTIST NEEDS YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT.
FROM SEEDS TO BLUE – REGISTER HERE TO GROW JAPANESE INDIGO AND WOAD WITH ME
A course about growing JI and Woad in your own growing space and learn to both extract and use the colours
£120.00
PLEASE NOTE WITH EVERY BOOKINGS FROM MAINLAND UK YOU WILL RECEIVE A PACKET OF JAPANESE INDIGO SEEDS AND SOME WOAD SEEDS.
A FTER BOOKING YOUR SPACE YOU WILL NEED TO EMAIL ME YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS ON bettysbeautifullife@gmail.com You will be able to order more seeds from my seed suppliers based in the UK if you wish to grow more plants, I am not in position to supply you with additional seeds.
I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DESPATCH OVERSEAS BUT I CAN GIVE GUIDANCE FOR SEEDS ORDER.
I AM BASED IN SCOTLAND AND I WILL FOLLOW THE GROWING SEASON THERE. IT IS VERY SUITED TO NORTH OF ENGLAND OR WALES CLIMATE. YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN ME IF YOU ARE LOCATED ELSEWHERE BUT IT IS POSSIBLE OUR SEASONS OF GROWTH DONT COINCIDE EXACTLY.
I F YOU LIVE OVERSEAS AFTER YOU HAVE BOOKED YOU CAN EMAIL ME FOR INFORMATION ABOUT SOURCING SEEDS, I WILL ENDEAVOUR TO HELP TOWARDS SOURCING JAPANESE INDIGO SEEDS. WOAD IS NOT AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE NOR ITS GROWTH ALLOWED BUT I WILL DO MY BEST TO HELP.
FROM APRIL TIL THE END OF JUNE WE WILL HAVE MONTHLY ZOOM CATCH UP ABOUT OUR GROWING. END OF JULY AND END OF AUGUST WE WILL HAVE TWO ONLINE EVENTS/WORKSHOPS ABOUT GETTING AND USING BLUE FROM OUR PLANTS.
ALL THROUGH THE EVENT WE WILL BE ABLE TO EXCHANGE ON A FACEBOOK PAGE. THIS IS OPTIONAL BUT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GIVE PERSONAL ADVISE BY EMAIL/MESSAGING. ALL THE GROWING ADVICE WILL BE DONE IN THE ZOOM SESSIONS OR IN THE FB PAGE. YOU ARE VERY WELCOME TO JOIN THE GROUP AND PASS ON FB EXCHANGES BUT THERE WILL BE NO ALTERNATIVE OFFERED.
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Elisabeth is a natural dye artist, based in Glasgow, Scotland. She grows and teaches how to dye with Indigo and Woad. She opened “The Indigo plot” a natural dye garden in the grounds of the Glasgow Botanical garden in 2021. From there she runs a sustainable dye program, educating the public to make the connection between plant and colour.
I n 2021 she launched her program of “home growers” for wannabe dyers at home, sending them seeds for the blue dye and liaising with them during the growth season to help them trouble shooting. For that she uses regular zoom sessions. For those interested to go the extra mile she shares extractions and direct fresh leaves techniques via instructions and video material. All material is available for one further season.
To take part you will need some ground space or large planter pots, access to water. If you don’t have a garden you can grow in tubs. In time a list of what you need will be sent out. There will be regular contacts from April onwards.
W e will use zoom online live to connect, Elisabeth will set up meetings during which catch up and share experience. She regularly will send notes and questionnaires.
E lisabeth will share information prior to planting and share web based write related to her own dye garden on the project fb page and via blog posts. You will be encouraged to join the FB group and post your own progress.
When the crop is ready you will be invited to learn how to use fresh leaves indigo to create colour on your fibre and how to extract an Indigo vat via a zoom online live session.
You will receive guidance to grow, harvest your plants by written instructions and live recorded zoom catch up and you will be given instructions about using Fresh leaves Japanese/ Woad Indigo to create colour. (iced and salt methods)
We will make a Woad vat direct from pigment, We will extract pigment for making some watercolour, We will extrat Indigo pigment for making paste. We will learn to vat this and also keep it. We will learn to vat the iced extraction and other methods.
PLEASE NOTE THAT I WILL HELP YOU GROW AND BOTH EXTRACT AND USE COLOUR BUT THE RESULT REALLY IS EQUAL TO THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT YOU PUT INTO IT… THERE IS NOTHING MYSTICAL OR MAGIC IN GROWING INDIGO IT TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT AND DEDICATION … YOUR PLANT IS THE MASTER AND WHEN IT IS READY YOU HAVE TO BE AVAILABLE. BE READY TO HAVE A WATERING SYSTEM IN PLACE FOR THE SUMMER IF YOU WANT TO HAVE SUCCESS. ANY PAST FAILURES ARE USUALLY LINKED TO LACK OF COMITMENT FOR WHATEVER REASON.
During the session I will be sharing opportunities to other vats making like Fructose, Ferrous and Hydro… In 2025 I will introduce a fermentation vat from a recipe i am studying when visiting South East Asia.I will be sharing vat making from dry leaves Japanese Indigo.
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE ARE GROWING TO LEARN AND EXPERIMENT. YOU WILL NOT HAVE ENOUGH COLOUR TO SET UP A FACTORY DYEING PLACE… Your plants will help you creating samples of dyed fabric.
Y ou dont need any perticular experience to take part or a large garden as Indigo can be grown in pots small quantities. You have to remember though that you will need to water regularly during the summer, make sure you have back up when you will be away…
F or any questions please come back to bettysbeautifullife@gmail.com
This class will be available in 2025 and participants from that year will quality for an authomatic follow in 2026 at no extra costs.
THE LANSDOWNE HOUSE 