Practical Arts
The Practical Arts Collective is a community based program that teaches foundational skills for creating sustainable and eco-friendly textiles, empowering people to become independent makers and conscious consumers. The community program is a gathering space for anyone interested in the production of natural fibers through weekly and monthly meetings, workshops, and networking. Workshops will include weaving, natural dyeing, spinning, and mending.
Workshops
Natural Dyeing at Wildcat Canyon Community School
November 5th
10am-2pm
Registration Link: Natural Dye Workshop
Come learn how to dye a natural silk scarf using natural plant material harvested from this place. You will leave with hands-on knowledge of a time-honored tradition and activity to use with children of any age and a beautiful, naturally-dyed silk scarf. This workshop is the inaugural workshop of the newly-founded Practical Arts Collective. Don’t miss it.
You will also have the opportunity to pay a visit to our onsite sheep herd, whose wool we will be utilizing in future felting, dyeing and processing workshops.
To kick off our program, textile artist and educator Natalie Palms, will be teaching this first workshop. Individuals will leave with basic knowledge of the natural dye process that they can continue at home and share with others using dye swatches made in this workshop.
Natalie Palms is a multidisciplinary artist, working primarily in textiles. She received her BFA in Individualized Studies at California College of the Arts in 2015. Upon graduating, she began teaching K-8th art in numerous schools throughout the Bay Area. She has recently launched her own business creating accessories she hand dyes and prints, while curating and leading textile focused workshops for children and adults throughout the Bay Area.