WELCOME TO
THE FLORA OBSCURA ATELIER
The Flora Obscura Atelier is an intimate, immersive monthly series rooted in natural dyeing, botanical printing, and beginner-friendly sewing. Each month unfolds within a thoughtfully curated studio space, where you’ll receive a detailed guide filled with recipes, resources, techniques, and open Q&A to support your practice.
A live Zoom session, centered around a seasonal theme, brings us together each month. We begin with foundational processes and botanical contact printing, then gradually move into zero-waste garment construction and larger-scale motif development—guiding you toward creating your own refined, wearable textiles.
The only prerequisite is a copy of Printing from the Garden. Welcoming to beginners and advanced students alike, the sewing projects require access to a sewing machine and basic straight stitch skills.
HOW DOES THE ATELIER SERIES WORK?
The Atelier Series unfolds as an immersive, studio-based experience within this site’s membership space, paired with a live Zoom gathering each month. Inside, each chapter reveals a thoughtfully crafted studio guide filled with recipes, resources, techniques, and an open Q&A—inviting you to explore, create, and deepen your practice at your own pace.
To enter the Atelier, you’ll begin by purchasing access through this website— in monthly installments or the “full atelier” for a discount.
Afterward, you’ll be invited to create your personal login—your key to the studio. Once inside, a private space opens: a living archive of the work we’ll move through together.
Each month reveals its own chapter, with carefully gathered resources, guidance, and important dates. You can return to the studio anytime, moving at your own rhythm, letting your practice unfold.
each month highlights a theme in
botanical printing and textiles
May — The verdant shawl
Outcome: Finished silk or lightweight natural fiber shawl
Working with fresh spring leaves, you’ll create a luminous, wearable textile that captures the first vitality of the season— no sewing needed in this studio. This workshop focuses on placement, clarity of imprint, and working with the delicate balance between tannin and iron on cloth to achieve prints that feel crisp, alive and full of life.
June — Flora Obscura Kaftan
Outcome: Finished kaftan— printed and sewn by you
An introduction to garment-making through a zero-waste approach which can be applied to any body shape and size— with no size constraints & fully customizable. You’ll cut and construct a simple, elegant form while incorporating your botanical prints, resulting in a piece that is both functional and expressive.
July — Heirloom flower wrap
Outcome: Botanically printed wrap made from vintage fabric
Using fresh summer flowers, you’ll transform a vintage texile or linen into something renewed— a zero-waste wrap jacket. This workshop explores the bold and saturated imprints of fresh flowers, working with heirloom textiles, and embracing their history and imperfections.
August — WILD BLOOM PONCHO
Outcome: A hand-printed poncho formed from a single piece of cloth
Created from one continuous piece of cloth, the poncho becomes the template for larger-scale compositions. Working with late summer plants, we’ll explore depth through floral motifs, large-scale botanical printing techniques and tonal shifts.
September — harvest TAPESTRY
Outcome: Finished textile pieced together from smaller botanical prints
A culmination of the seasons practice—you’ll bring togther collected prints and fragments, stitching them into a larger composition— a tapestry, wall hanging, quilt or made into a garment. This workshop centers on integration and honoring the full arc of what’s been created.
Inside the Studio
Each month = a new chapter
→ Materials list
→ Botanical focus
→ Technique tutorials
→ Inspiration & references
→ Key dates
A Monthly Rhythm
How You Move Through Each Month
Week 1 — Gather & prepare
Week 2 — Learn via live session
Week 3 — Create your piece
Week 4 — Refine & reflect
your project path
You can choose your way intuitively:
→ Follow the full 5-month journey (build a wardrobe)
→ Or join for a single piece (like the kaftan)
Each month builds skill + confidence
Each month you will receive access to a new, thoughtfully developed project, along with step-by-step guidance, techniques, and resources. As the practice unfolds, the Atelier introduces simple zero-waste patternmaking and beginner-friendly sewing, allowing you to transform your naturally dyed textiles into wearable forms. This is a monthly subscription, and you’re free to cancel anytime.
Save with the Full Atelier bundle. The Atelier is designed to be spacious, flexible, and deeply immersive—offering a steady, supportive rhythm for those ready to fully step into botanical printing and garment-making. Over five months, you’ll move through the process with intention, creating a collection of pieces crafted by your own hands.
FAQs
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The series runs from May through September, with one live session each month, usually falling on the second Thursday of each month, at 11am EST.
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Most sessions are held on the second Thursday of the month at 11am EST, chosen to suit as many participants as possible.
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All live sessions are recorded and immediately posted to the Atelier, so you can catch up anytime. Each month includes a live session, supported by pre-recorded videos and detailed visual guides. You’ll learn both dye techniques and simple garment construction in a clear, approachable way.
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Materials are not included. You’ll receive a sourcing guide, along with ideas for using fabrics and garments you already own.
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Not at all. We’ll cover everything from mordanting fabric to eco-printing, and those with experience will still find room to deepen their practice.
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A basic familiarity with sewing and access to a machine is helpful. Projects are simple and adaptable—this is about learning and enjoying the process, not perfection. You can leave your pieces as textiles rather than wearables— think wall tapestry, quilt, shawl, tablecloth…
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Each month includes a live session, supported by pre-recorded videos and detailed visual guides. You’ll learn both dye techniques and simple garment construction in a clear, approachable way. Alison is available weekly for questions and an ongoing Q&A session will be posted in the Atelier.
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Yes—this lives on a page in the Atelier and is a space to ask questions, share progress, and stay motivated. It’s also where you can reach me between sessions for additional support.
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All content can be accessed for one year, after which the courses retire into individual offerings.
