Learn how to create beautiful natural plant designs on lambskin leather! Eco printing (also known as botanical printing) is a natural dyeing technique that allows you to imprint images of leaves, plants, and flowers directly on leather. In this class, you’ll learn to:

• create your own unique, beautiful, and colorful designs with plants you bring from home,
• everything you need to know to work with and care for leather that accepts eco-printing,
• what equipment you’ll need and how to use it (most of which you already have!) and cross-over tools you can use for leatherwork,
• what plants to use and how to use them,
• which mordants to use and how to use them,
• which dyes to use for permanent results, and
• sources for leather, dyes, mordants, tools, and equipment.

You’ll leave with two samples (approx. 8″ x 18″) of eco-printed lambskin leather and the rest of your full hide to continue printing at home using this natural and sustainable art form!

M. Theresa Brown studied Commercial Art and Printmaking at East Carolina University, and it was her years of printmaking and graphic design work that led her to the fiber arts. She is now a hand painter, felter, and eco printer who creates unique, beautiful designs on silk, wool, paper, and leather and then transforms those designs into artisanal clothing, accessories, and art. Theresa is widely published, has a line of instructional PDFs on eco printing techniques, and has taught for many fiber art shows. She and her artist husband reside in rural North Carolina with their alpacas, chickens, and family dogs!

$175 – $210

Additional Supply Fee: None! $40 for a full lambskin leather hide, use of instructor’s equipment and supplies, and information sheets are included in the cost of the class.

Scholarship Available: No

Level: Open to all skill levels.

Number of Students: 8 to 12

Required Supplies: Leaves from your surroundings with an emphasis on high tannin leaves such as oak, maples, rose, hickory, sumac, blackberry, kudzu, and interesting weeds. Fun additional plants (usually store-bought) are eucalyptus and colorful flowers such as carnations and Gerber daisies. Please, no thick or woody plants or plants with waxy leaves (camellia, magnolia, etc.).

Class Schedule: Class will be in-person at the SEFAA Center from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday, July 29, 2023. There will be a 1-hr break for lunch, so we encourage you to bring your lunch. There is a small refrigerator and a microwave available for your use at the SEFAA Center.

Covid 19 Policy: SEFAA is following the CDC COVID-19 Community Level guidelines for DeKalb County, Georgia, and masks are only required in the SEFAA Center only at High Covid-19 Community Levels.