Transform the beauty of the garden
into heirloom textiles.
Botanical Contact-Printing ,
Natural Dye workshops & tutorials
Explore three ways to learn with Alison:
The Flora Obscura Atelier: Alison is currently hosting a 5-month atelier session with monthly live meetups, a private members areas brimming with immersive studio guides full of useful information on botanical contact-printing, mordanting recipes, natural dyeing and some exciting beginner friendly sewing patterns.
Printing from the Garden— Learn from Alison’s popular new book, Printing from the Garden
A la Carte Workshops & Tutorials— Scroll down to preview our immersive a la carte workshops, foundations courses and e-Books
the flora obscura ATELIER ARCHIVES— a la carte workshopS
If you're drawn to a particular project or technique but aren't ready to commit to the full series, select workshops will also be available as standalone à la carte classes, allowing you to study individual themes as they are released.
Atelier Archive I: The Woodland Shawl— A dark botanical silk velvet study.
In this workshop, you'll learn how to combine ecoprinting and natural dye techniques to create a dramatic textile infused with the beauty of fresh leaves and flowers. You’ll capture the delicate verdant impressions in sumptuous silk velvet, while a dark logwood carrier blanket provides depth, contrast, and atmosphere.
No sewing is required. Simply arrive with a length of fabric and a curiosity for the natural world.
Order a signed copy of Printing from the Garden, my comprehensive botanical printing book and natural dyeing guide.
Books ordered now will ship June 8th— thank you for your patience. This beautifully illustrated eco printing book teaches how to create one-of-a-kind prints using flowers and leaves, featuring step-by-step instruction and a compendium of 30 plants documenting their stunning effects on fabric and paper.
Say hello to my first sewing pattern! The Flora Obscura Kaftan: Edition One is a paperless sewing pattern that transforms simple lengths of fabric into an elegant, wearable silhouette. Designed with simplicity in mind, this project requires only straight cuts and straight seams, making it an approachable introduction to garment sewing.
Custom Sizing— The Flora Obscura Kaftan is drafted directly from your own measurements using a simple formula. Rather than conforming to standard sizing, each piece is shaped around your unique proportions, resulting in a garment that feels effortless, comfortable, and distinctly your own.
Low-to-No-Waste Construction— This is a patternless sewing project designed to honor both fabric and maker. No paper patterns are required—nothing to print, tape, or cut out before you begin. The cutting layouts are designed maximize fabric usage and minimize waste.
Create a timeless wrap jacket without a sewing pattern.
This simple, patternless sewing workshop teaches you how to sew a beautiful zero-waste wrap jacket using a single panel of vintage linen—no printing, taping, or cutting PDF patterns required. With step-by-step video lessons, you'll learn an approachable method that's perfect for beginners while creating a uniquely chic garment you'll wear for years.
Atelier Archive III: Bundle Dyeing— The Flora Obscura Method
Discover the magic of bundle dyeing as flowers and leaves imprint their color and form directly onto fabric. In this video workshop, you'll learn the Flora Obscura method for creating richly layered botanical textiles using fresh and dried botanicals, natural fibers, and steam.
No sewing is required. Simply arrive with a length of fabric and a curiosity for the natural world.
Pre-Mordanted Silk Habotai Bandana & Botanical Printing Kit
Bring the pages of Printing from the Garden to life with this thoughtfully curated silk bandana kit, designed to help you practice botanical printing with confidence and ease. Transform nature into wearable art with this pre-mordanted silk habotai bandana, thoughtfully prepared and ready for botanical printing. Each luxurious silk scarf has been professionally mordanted, eliminating the most time-consuming step so you can begin creating beautiful leaf and flower impressions immediately.
Botanical Contact Printing with Fresh Flowers— The Flora Obscura Method
In this comprehensive Botanical Contact Printing Workshop, you'll learn the techniques behind Flora Obscura's signature botanical textiles while developing the confidence to create your own naturally printed silks. Rather than simply laying flowers on fabric, you'll discover how pigments transfer directly from fresh botanicals into natural fibers, creating one-of-a-kind prints that celebrate the individuality of every bloom.
Bring the pages of Printing from the Garden to life with this thoughtfully curated Starter Kit, designed to help you practice botanical printing with confidence and ease.
This kit includes a fine selection of my favorite silk fabrics which are prominently featured in the book— perfectly sized for experimenting. These are quietly luxurious fibers that soak up plant pigment beautifully.
Pre-measured selections of mordant ingredients to prepare fabric and paper for printing, so you can focus on the creative process—not the math and measuring.
Whether you’re new to botanical printing or want a guided way to refine your technique, this kit removes the guesswork and invites you straight into making. See additional details below.
the flora obscura atelier
A five-month long journey into the immersive art of botanical contact printing, eco-printing, natural dye foundations and beginner sewing patterns.
If you join the Full Atelier Bundle now, you'll receive immediate access to the May, June and July workshops— including all studio guides and class recordings, and you'll continue to receive each new monthly chapter as it is released.
ORDER a SIGNED COPY OF
printing from
THe Garden
Order a signed copy of Printing from the Garden, my comprehensive botanical printing book and natural dyeing guide.
Books ordered now will ship June 8th— thank you for your patience. This beautifully illustrated eco printing book teaches how to create one-of-a-kind prints using flowers and leaves, featuring step-by-step instruction and a compendium of 30 plants documenting their stunning effects on fabric and paper.
NEW: Botanical Printing
Foundations workshop
I’ll guide you through the essential processes I use in my own studio
You’ll learn:
• How to prepare fabric properly with Mordants (the foundation for successful prints)
• The role of mordants and how they affect color
• Dyeing fabric a solid color and printing over with botanicals
• Step-by-step botanical printing techniques
• How to bundle, steam, and care for your prints
• How to begin understanding and refining your results
By the end, you’ll have a clear, repeatable process—and your first finished botanical prints.
The essential natural dyeing workshop for beginners and advanced students. Learn how to easily prepare silk and cotton for eco-printing, using fresh leaves, flowers and natural dyes to make stunning imprints on fabric. Learn how to coax brilliant color from botanicals and overdye with plants to create vibrant designs.
e-BOOK:
The Essentials for
Printing with Plants:
For Cellulose Fibers (cotton, linen, rayon) E-Book
Whether you are a seasoned artist looking to expand your repertoire or a beginner eager to dive into the world of botanical printing on cellulose fibers, this course will provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to create stunning designs on cotton, linen, bamboo, tencel, etc. that stand the test of time.
e-BOOK:
The Essentials for
Printing with Plants:
For Protein Fibers (silk, wool)
This course teaches practical botanical printing techniques alongside essential recipes on how to best prepare fabric for printing, giving you the skills to create unique, nature-inspired textile art. Designed in an easy-to-follow, self-paced format, the lessons can be accessed anytime, allowing you to learn and experiment at your own pace.
Work with me!
Book a private session online or an in-person class in New York city for an intimate natural dye experience designed around your specific needs and desires to achieve vibrant success in botanical printing.
NATURAL DYE
& BOTANICAL PRINTING
RESOURCES
UNITED STATES /
Fabric, mordants, botanical dyes:
Dharma Trading Co. www.dharmatrading.com
Botanical Colors www.botanicalcolors.com
The Yarn Tree www.theyarntree.com
Organic Cotton Plus www.organiccottonplus.com
Picknatural www.picknatural.com
Aurora Silk www.aurorasilk.com
AUSTRALIA /
Fabric, mordants, botanical dyes, instruction:
Kraftcolour www.kraftkolour.net.au
Beautiful Silks www.beautifulsilks.com
CANADA /
Fabric, mordants, botanical dyes, instruction:
Maiwa www.maiwa.com
FRANCE /
Mordants, botanical dyes:
Green’ing www.green-ingredients.com
Couleur Garance www.couleur-garance.com/
NATURAL DYE SEEDS /
Grand Prismatic www.grandprismaticseed.com/
Strictly Medicinal Seeds www.strictlymedicinalseeds.com/
UNITED KINGDOM /
Mordants, botanical dyes, fabrics:
George Weil www.georgeweil.com
Wild Colours www.wildcolours.co.uk
Themazi www.themazi.com
ISREAL /
Fabric, mordants, botanical dyes, instruction:
Suzanne Dekel www.suzannedekel.com