I’ve been a visual and performing artist all my life. Currently I’m passionate about eco printing, using my results to make hand sewn books, cards, bookmarks, and more.
Eco printing is always a surprise, every “boil” is full of spontaneity. The two-day process encourages presence and attention as I gather and use natural materials from land around my rural Ozark home. I choose leaves, flowers, seeds, roots, stems, bark, feathers, and a bit of rusty metal –nails, wire, gears, etc.– harvested from old home sites. Occasionally I include onion skins, thinly sliced fruits and vegetables, or a sprinkle of Brazilian sawdust, as well as particular plants gathered on my travels. Plants and paper are soaked, layered, pressed, tied up tight and boiled in rusty water. The bundles sit overnight and reveal their treasures when opened, rinsed, dried and pressed. Every dye batch produces different and delightful original results depending on the time of year, papers used, and the placement of the objects in the dye bundles. Natural dyes are beautiful and a little delicate; they have to be protected from sunlight to resist fading.
It’s a great way to gift someone with a thoughtful note or to accompany a special gift, and it is even more special knowing that each peice is one-of-a-kind.
