3-Day Studio Introduction & Creative Project

PLEASE NOTE:
• THIS WORKSHOP COMBINES THE 2-DAY STUDIO INTRODUCTION WITH 1 DAY OF STUDIO USE.
• This class is held Monday-Wednesday each week but only the first day of the 3-day workshop shows in the calendar, until you select that day and then the whole 3-day workshop is selected.
• This workshop is held Monday-Wednesday each week but only the first day of the workshop shows in the calendar.
• To schedule this class on other days, please contact us at classes@threadsoflife.com.

For four millennia the textile arts of Indonesia have articulated an intimate and harmonious relationship with the earth. Through the plant-sourced dyes and the symbolic potency of the colours created, the archipelago’s indigenous peoples have literally wrapped themselves in their stories of this relationship. Based on field research and studio practice since 1998, Threads of Life’s staff dyers are offering a 3-day workshop exploring the making, meaning and application of these colours through the practices of batik, yarn and swatch dyeing, plus 1 day for a personal creative project. The program is hosted at the Threads of Life Natural Dye Studio on the grounds of the Umajati Retreat in Ubud, Bali.

Class Location: The class is held at the Threads of Life natural dye studio and botanical garden at Umajati Retreat, 4 km from central Ubud. (Google maps link to studio location)

STUDIO INTRODUCTION - DAY 1
9:00-1:00
- Dye garden walk-through and dye plant introduction.
- Introductory talk on Indonesia's natural dye practices.
- Indigo paste making.
- Making an indigo vat with a sugar as reducing agent.
- How to scour (prepare) fabric in preparation for dyeing.
1:00-2:00
- Free For Lunch (Lunch is not included but can be eaten at the studio)
2:00-5:00
- Indigo dyeing of fabric swatches to practice color gradation.
- Introduction to Ceriops brown dye processes.
- Ceriops dyeing of fabric swatches to practice color gradation.

STUDIO INTRODUCTION - DAY 2
9:00-1:00
- Introduction to dyeing grays and blacks with mud.
- Introduction to yellow dyeing with jackwood.
- How to finish (wash) fabric after dyeing.
1:00-2:00
- Free For Lunch (Lunch is not included but can be eaten at the studio)
2:00-5:00
- Hands-on practice guided by teacher.
- Address questions specific to your practice in the studio.

9:00-5:00
- A full day for a personal creative project at the dye studio.
- Lunch is not included but can be eaten at the studio.
- Studio day use includes dyes, soaps, scouring and finishing agents, batik wax, and studio use but does not include fibre to be dyed. Fabric or yarn can be purchased at the studio or brought with you.
- 2 meters of cloth may be dyed during this day. Further cloth may be used with the agreement of studio staff and an additional fee may be charged to cover dyes used.
- Studio day use grants access to vats for indigo blue, Ceriops red-brown, Woodfordia light-brown, mud black, jackwood yellow. New vats will be stronger and dye deeper colors quicker than old vats; only with old vats will subtle colors be possible. Vats will be renewed once they are exhausted. Participants agree to work with vats in the conditions that they find them.
- Participants agree to use only the studio's dyes, scouring and finishing soaps and agents in their work. Participants agree not to use outside dyes, soaps or chemicals in the studio.
- Separate vats will be set up for studio day use Participants. Participants agree not to use the studio's production vats.
- Participants are expected to share vat use fairly amongst themselves.
- Participants can dye three meters of fresh cloth per day. Unused meters may not be dyed another day. Studio day use is for creative exploration and not for production dyeing.
- After the 2-day studio introduction, studio staff offer limited coaching and mentoring but will not do members' work for them.

Cancellation and Refunds

There is a 100% refund for cancellations more than 7 days before the start of class, and a 50% refund for cancellations less than 7 days before the start of class.