Protected: Botanical Printing on paper 2
GROWING JAPANESE INDIGO IN THE NORTH OF EUROPE SHARING GROUP
Spring is not far and with it the farmers will start planting seeds and planning their dye plants spaces. As everyyear I will set up The Indigo Plot in the grounds of the Glasgow Botanics in Glasgow. This year is probably the last year I will grow there. Farming for dyes is time consuming and I have now been growing for 5 years. I would like my time back to concentrate on other eco projects I have at heart.
For one last time I am offering this sharing group to those who are interested to start growing but don’t yet have the confidence to do so on their own.
In this growing group we will meet up around once a month to share notes about growing wherever we are. If you live in the UK I can send you 50 seeds of Japanese Indigo which will grow in compost or in your garden (ground or pots)
Please note:
- All sessions will be fixed in advance and happen on zoom, recorded for display, I will share my experience but this is not a teaching group so I will not answer personal messages by emails or messengers.
- All communications will be done in the FB group (private) so be prepared to use FB if you want. No exceptions.
- I am not able to send seeds overseas.
- If you would like to join the dye sessions in the summer you will have to do so by clicking the button and buy a space i will not answer questions regarding dyeing outside the registered group.
- It will be fun and very rewarding.
- YOU MUST BE PREPARED TO WATER YOUR PLANTS IF YOU WANT SUCCESS.
GROWING JAPANESE INDIGO IN THE NORTH OF EUROPE GROUP (UK BASED) (NO DYEING INVOLVED)
This is the booking form for the “Growing Japanese Indigo group” in the North of Europe. We will kick in the season in April 26 to grow Japanese Indigo. If you are booking with this button I will send you 50 Japanese Indigo seeds if you email me your postal address on bettysbeautifullife@gmail.com We will meet regularly on zoom to swap notes and You will be able to join in my FB group to interact with other growers. In June we will plant outdoors, in July August for an additional charge I will offer an online workshop about extracting Indigo and dyeing with fresh leaves. But you can decide to just use your own notes and only enjoy the growing group. If you live outside the UK you will have to source your own seeds please use the other button to book a space.
£15.00
GROWING JAPANESE INDIGO IN THE NORTH OF EUROPE GROUP OVERSEAS BASED (NO DYEING INVOLVED)
This is the booking form for the “Growing Japanese Indigo group” in the North of Europe. We will kick in the season in April 26 to grow Japanese Indigo. If you are booking with this button you will not receive any seeds and will be responsable to source yours. We will meet regularly on zoom to swap notes and You will be able to joi In June we will plant outdoors, in July August for an additional charge I will offer an online workshop about extracting Indigo and dyeing with fresh leaves. But you can decide to just use your own notes and only enjoy the growing group. If you live outside the UK you will have to source your own seeds please use the other button to book a space.
£10.00
DYEING WITH JAPANESE INDIGO AND EXTRACTING PIGMENT (2 ONLINE CLASSES IN JULY AND AUGUST 2026
This online classes (two classes recorded in July and August 2026) are aimed at the Japanese Indigo growers from this page. The purpose of the classes is to learn to extract and use colour from the japanese Indigo plants grown in the summer of 2026. Both classes will be recorded and shared for two years in a webpage at no additional costs. There will be a support group on FB where you can exchange and ask questions. You must be prepared to use FB for your questions. No private email enquiries will be answered
£120.00
Botanical printing on paper 1
In this short video, I demonstrate how the shades obtained on my botanical prints are affected by the position of the ferrous sulphate in the bundle when steaming with a tannin blanket and a ferrous dip
For this I am using the Chiangmai studio kindly lent by https://www.instagram.com/crafterming
This method is part off my « Botanical printing on paper » book chapter 6. Please refer to this chapter for a « how to » description. This video does not replace the step by step instructions but more allows the learning to observe the technique.
You can purchase a copy of my book from Crowood press website.
Protected: The French Retreat 2026
Protected: Ecoprint with Onion skins, a sustainable workshop at the Scottish National Museum of Rural Life – Sept 2025
Protected: From Blue to Green, Using Natural dyes from The Indigo Plot to create dyed cloth and yarn in a sustainable way
Protected: PATTERN MAKING WITH INDIGO VAT – OCTOBER 2025 COURSE PAGE
Protected: From seeds to blue, workshop 2 – Pigment extraction, vat making
“Blue Prints”, Scottish residential retreat week of Pattern making and Indigo dyeing
It is my great pleasure to invite you to my 2026 “Blue print” a residential week of Indigo dyeing and print making using resists. If you have been looking for an opportunity to spend a week learning to dye with Indigo and work with resists methods to create patterns this residential time is for you.
It will take place in my Glasgow studio between the 17th and 24th of May 2026.
Wether you have experience in Indigo dyeing or are a complete beginner you will be at ease as we will start with the very beginning.
In my lovely dye studio located in the West end of Glasgow, a small group of students will spend a week learning :
- How to set up a ferrous natural Indigo vat, dye with it and maintain it.
- Creating prints using two resists methods from South East Asia, Batik with wax and a Chinese Soya/lime resist.
- Working on sample size pieces but be advised on how to upscale.
- We will essentially work with cellulose.
The size of the group will be limited to 4 students to make allow plenty of personal attention.
The week is residential and accommodation will be within a few minutes walk in single rooms with ensuite facility. Breakfast and buffet salad lunch is provided. (special diets can be accommodated). as well as a welcome diner to meet the rest of your team.
The West end of Glasgow is located near the University of Glasgow and features wonderful Victorian architecture, green parks and a great variety of cafes and restaurants with interesting cuisine at walking distance from our area. From French cafe to Moroccan local restaurant you will find there great diner experiences for the other nights of your stay.
During the week we will take a few hours off to visit the grounds of Glasgow University and the local park and you will have the last day off to allow a visit of the local area. Glasgow has plenty to offer and is only 45 minutes by train to the Scottish Capital of Edinburgh.
Typical week:
Arrival on Sunday 17th May with check in after 3pm, welcome diner at 6pm with introduction to the group.
Day 1: About the chemistry of Indigo , setting up a ferrous vat, making the paste resist of Soya lime.
Day 2: Testing the vat, applying the paste resist, dyeing tests of a range of blues.
Day 3: Starting dyeing your pieces and testing the range of blues
Day 4: Applying more paste, testing different pieces.
Day 5: Removing and neutralising. During the week… neutralising our prints in vinegar water.
Day 6: Batik, introduction, application and dyeing, removing the wax and neutralising.
Organising an exhibition of our work and offering to view from participants to those who had a link.
Day 7: Day off to allow you to visit Glasgow or take a trip to Edinburgh. Accommodation is provided for the Sunday night and check out is on Monday 25th May after breakfast before 10am.
Unfortunately this retreat is not for you if you have mobility difficulties, my studio space in at the bottom of stairs and we will spend a good deal of time standing up. Apologies if that is your case, There will be other opportunities in the future that are more appropriate.
If you are interested and you have questions please email me bettysbeautifullife@gmail.com If you are clear and want to book a space please see below.
BLUE PRINT – A WEEK’S SCOTTISH RETREAT IN INDIGO DYEING AND PATTERN MAKING
This is the booking page for the May 2026, “Blue Prints” a Scottish retreat week of Pattern Making with resist methods of Southeast Asia and a Ferrous Indigo vat. This deposit payment will secure you a space, The balance of £1350 will be paid by an immediate bank transfer on the account you will receive the details. Upon payment you will receive a confirmation by email with an invoice and the due dates. Please do not book transport before the retreat has been confirmed.
£150.00
