2-Part Workshop

Date: Saturdays, February 28 and March 7

Time: 1:30-4:30PM

Description: In this workshop, you will learn how to create a seasonal and natural dye using pinecones found throughout the winter, encircling the base of the lofty Norway Spruce. Pinecones produce a soft, warm hue rich in tannins that, when combined with iron, can shift into a range of grey tones. You will harness this natural reaction to create iron-based pastes in varying shades, which you will then use to design and paint wearable art.

This is a two-day workshop, as the paste will need time to dry on the fabric before dyeing. On the first day, you will learn how to create a portable surface for painting and printing with natural dyes (which you will take home). You will then make mordant and iron pastes and explore different techniques for painting with them. Using these pastes, you will create your own designs on an organic cotton bandana.

On the second day, you will learn how to set the color so it lasts and dye the bandana using pinecones. Watching the different tones come to life in the dye bath feels like magic!

At the end of the workshop, you will be given a project packet that includes details about this process along with resources for repeating this method at home.

This workshop is open to all skill levels – no prior experience is needed!

Something neat to know: Kelly created an entire body of artwork with the color of the pinecone! She is infatuated with its warm, pinky hues.

Tuition: $130 + $55 materials fee

Materials: All materials will be provided.

Note: We really want you to join us in the studio! Full and partial tuition scholarships are available to offset some of the financial burden of attending a class.

Please fill out the application here! You can expect to hear from someone on the CC staff within 2 weeks.

If you have any questions, email Jamie Boyle, Fibers Program Manager, at jboyle@contemporarycraft.org, or leave a voice message for them at 412-465-1628.

Location: Contemporary Craft, Timmons Studios (5688 Butler St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201). Note, this workshop will take place in the Fleischner Family Fibers Loft, which is on the second floor of the building.

There are 2 entrances to the Timmons Studios.

• One entrance is facing Butler Street. To access the Fibers Loft from the Butler Street facing entrance, there are a total of 32 stairs to ascend.

• One entrance is facing 57th Street. This entrance is accessible by ramp, with no stairs to ascend. There is a lift inside the building to access the second floor.

If there are accessibility accommodations we can provide, or if there is anything you would like us to know before you arrive, please feel free to call Jamie Boyle at 412-465-1628 or email jboyle@contemporarycraft.org.

Cancellations and Refunds: Workshop cancellations are decided three business days before the start date. If workshops must be cancelled due to insufficient enrollment, the entire class fee will be refunded through Eventbrite, or you may leave your workshop fee in your Contemporary Craft account for future workshops.

Refund Policy: Student refund requests must be made at least three business days before a class begins. There will be a $25 cancellation fee. No refunds will be given without three-business days notice. Processing of refunds takes approximately three weeks.

About the Artist

Kelly is a natural dye and mixed media artist and educator. Her work is inspired by our innate connection to the natural world and the wellspring of wisdom that surfaces when we slow down and tune in to our surroundings. As an artist, she taps into this connection to create work that is an intermingled reflection of landscapes within and without. 

For each project, Kelly thoughtfully forages plants to create botanical palettes that imbue both formal beauty and conceptual depth. In addition to plant-based dyes, she also incorporates sustainable or rescued textiles in her work. With over 15 years of experience as a sustainable clothing designer, Kelly has a deep appreciation for natural fibers and the warmth they radiate.

In addition to her artistic practice, Kelly loves sharing her passion for creating color with plants through teaching natural dye and ink-making workshops.