WELCOME TO
THE FLORA OBSCURA ATELIER
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.
FAQs
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Each month includes a live session, supported by detailed visual studio guides.
You do not need to attend the live sessions, but it is encouraged.
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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The current Atelier runs from May through September, with one live session each month.
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Most live 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 then posted to the Atelier, so you can catch up anytime— in fact, live participation is not required— only encouraged.
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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. A sewing machine is needed for June, July and August. Hand sewing is welcome but not covered.
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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. For those who have never sewed before— we’ll just be sewing straight lines and applying simple finishing techniques.
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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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Yes—this Q&A 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. Any questions received will be posted and answered here. Student work will also be shared here.
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All content can be accessed for one year, after which the courses retire into individual offerings.
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.
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.
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Welcome to the Atelier
Welcome! I'm so glad you're here.
The Flora Obscura Atelier is a creative space for exploring natural dyeing, botanical color, slow fashion, and patternless garment making. Inside you'll find workshops, tutorials, resources, and inspiration designed to help you create beautiful textiles and clothing from nature's palette.
Welcome! I'm so glad you're here.
The Flora Obscura Atelier is a creative space for exploring natural dyeing, botanical color, slow fashion, and patternless garment making. Inside you'll find workshops, tutorials, resources, and inspiration designed to help you create beautiful textiles and clothing from nature's palette.
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One: Introduction & Resources
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 opening 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.
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 opening 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.
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Two: Studio Guide
Welcome to May— The Verdant Shawl. This page walks you through the process of creating a botanical contact-printed shawl, from sourcing materials to gathering leaves, we’ll cover all the bases towards creating your own wearable creation.
Welcome to May— The Verdant Shawl. This page walks you through the process of creating a botanical contact-printed shawl, from sourcing materials to gathering leaves, we’ll cover all the bases towards creating your own wearable creation.
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Three: Live video & printing with a carrier blanket
Watch the live session video and a walk through of printing a silk velvet shawl with a logwood carrier blanket.
Watch the live session video and a walk through of printing a silk velvet shawl with a logwood carrier blanket.
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Four: Printing a raw silk shawl with leaves
A visual guide for printing a raw silk shawl with fresh spring leaves.
A visual guide for printing a raw silk shawl with fresh spring leaves.
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Check here for comments and answered questions.
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June Atelier: Natural Dyeing & Sewing a simple kaftan
I am so excited to share my low waste, patternless sewing project with you! In the live session we’ll go over how to dye fabric a solid color with natural dyes and then bundle dye on top of that to create vibrant tonalities and color.
I am so excited to share my low waste, patternless sewing project with you! In the live session we’ll go over how to dye fabric a solid color with natural dyes and then bundle dye on top of that to create vibrant tonalities and color.
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Two: The Flora Obscura Kaftan Guide
An introduction to garment-making through a low-waste approach. My pattern making approach 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.
An introduction to garment-making through a low-waste approach. My pattern making approach 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.
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July Atelier: 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.
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.
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August Atelier: 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, overprinting and tonal shifts.
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, overprinting and tonal shifts.
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September Atelier: 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.
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.
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