FLORA OBSCURA OPEN STUDIO:

Notes, experiments,

& knowledge

from THE atelier

A rustic table with stacks of white napkins, two plates of colorful flowers, a window with sunlight, and floral curtains in a sunlit room.

Welcome to the Flora Obscura Open Studio—an open corner of the atelier devoted to learning, experimentation, and the first steps into botanical printing.

Here, you’ll find a growing collection of free resources for beginner botanical printers: foundational guides, material lists, simple techniques, and thoughtful insights drawn from my studio practice. From understanding natural fibers and mordants to working with leaves, flowers, and pigment, each offering is designed to help you begin with clarity and confidence.

Floraobscura 10/27/26 Floraobscura 10/27/26

Flora Obscura: When the Garden Becomes the Art

Some artists work with nature, and then there are artists who let nature lead. Alison Kelly—textile artist, author, and founder of Flora Obscura—belongs firmly in the second camp. Through the ancient alchemy of botanical printing and natural dyeing, Kelly has built a practice rooted in curiosity, collaboration, and the quiet intelligence of plants. Her newly released book, Printing from the Garden (Storey/Hachette), documents 30 distinct plants and their effects on fiber—a field guide to a world most of us walk past every day without seeing.

Floraobscura 8/17/26 Floraobscura 8/17/26

Bundle dyeing 101 — how to bundle dye with plants on fabric

Floraobscura 7/6/26 Floraobscura 7/6/26

Creating Inky Backgrounds with a Dye-Soaked Carrier Blanket— LOGWOOD

A dye-soaked carrier blanket is a simple way to create rich, atmospheric backgrounds.

Floraobscura 6/13/26 Floraobscura 6/13/26

HOW TO MORDANT COTTON, SILK, WOOL, LINEN, RAYON— A FREE GUIDE TO NATURAL DYEING

To prepare fabric for natural dyeing, first wash and scour the fabric to remove oils, waxes, and residues.

Floraobscura 4/26/26 Floraobscura 4/26/26

Planting a Dye Garden for Botanical Printing + Natural Color

Learn how to plant a natural dye garden with flowers and plants for botanical printing. Grow your own color with this beginner-friendly guide.

Floraobscura 10/20/25 Floraobscura 10/20/25

A Quick Guide to Mordanting Fabric for Botanical Printing and Natural Dyeing

How to prepare silk for natural dyeing and botanical contact printing— a simple and efficient alum mordant.

Floraobscura 10/16/25 Floraobscura 10/16/25

Seven Unexpected Flowers That Print Like a Dream

Explore the alchemy of botanical printing: the unexpected blooms that leave pigment, poetry, and memory on silk.

Floraobscura 10/10/25 Floraobscura 10/10/25

Printing Red with Eucalyptus Leaves

Eucalyptus leaves hold a rare kind of magic — when steamed into silk and wool, they release shades of rust, rose, and deep red. This natural dye process is part science, part alchemy, revealing the hidden colors of the plant world. In this post, I share how to coax those reds from eucalyptus and bring the warmth of nature into cloth.

Floraobscura 10/8/25 Floraobscura 10/8/25

The Beauty of Botanical Sleep

For centuries, silk has been cherished as the most skin-friendly fiber — a natural protein filament spun by silkworms, almost identical to human hair in composition. Its smooth surface minimizes friction, helping to prevent sleep creases and protect delicate hair from breakage.