Help the Kelp: Create Natural Dye with Sea Urchins, with Seelie Studio

The Fibershed Learning Center is excited to offer Seelie Studio's most in-depth urchin dye workshop to date!

For the first time, Margaret Seelie, the founder of Seelie Studio, will show you the entire urchin dye process, beginning with how we source the urchins, process their bodies with care, and create the dye. You’ll have your own dye station where you’ll get to experience this unforgettable natural dye process and dye a silk pillowcase, wool scarf, and small silk squares.

For the first time, Seelie Studio will also have live urchins in class for you to touch, hold, and marvel at these magnificent creatures. You’ll learn about our spikey friends with PhD student and urchin extraordinaires Maddie Armstrong.

Sea Urchins are incredible creatures. However, due to human impact, their populations have gone unchecked, and they have consumed 95% of the kelp forests in California. In efforts to help the kelp and honor these magnificent animals, we will create beautifully dyed items using urchins from various kelp restoration projects along the West Coast. Join us at the intersection of environmental responsibility and artistic expression.

What’s included:

✴ Personal dye kit station with ingredients for a half-gallon sea urchin dye bath
✴ One silk pillowcase with zipper (14”)
✴ One wool scarf (8x54”)
✴ Two silk squares
✴ One urchin shell (also known as a test)
✴ (optional) You are welcome to bring any silk or wool items from home, like yarn, that you wish to dye. If there is enough dye left over, you’re welcome to use it.
✴ (optional) Bring a jar to take any leftover dye or sludge home with you to keep experimenting.

Note: Seelie Studio will have urchin dye kit refills available for purchase! Each refill includes enough acid and urchin spine dust to create a ½ gallon dye bath on your own. You will also take home the glass jar we used to create your dye in class.

Maximum 16 students.

Participants must bring:

• Any personal snacks, lunch, and beverages. Coffee and tea will be provided.
• A notebook and pen for note taking is encouraged.
• Appropriate, studio-safe clothing and footwear

Instructor Bio:

Margaret Seelie is a natural dyer, textile artist, and writer based in San Francisco. She is the founder of Seelie Studio, a natural dye company that specializes in creating color from purple sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus). She has taught natural dye workshops since 2012 for partners like San Francisco Public Libraries, Bodega Marine Lab, The Sea Ranch, Fibershed, and more.

margaretseelie.com
IG @margaretseelie
seeliestudio.com
IG/FaceBook: @seelie.studio

Maddie Armstrong is a PhD student at UC Davis who is researching the impacts of urban pollution on marine invertebrates. She uses the Pacific purple sea urchin as a model organism in her studies at the Bodega Marine Laboratory.

IG @maddieleigh11

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Fibershed Scholarship Program

Fibershed is offering limited workshop scholarships for our workshops. If you would not otherwise be able to attend, and would like to be considered as a scholarship recipient, please see our Scholarship Application. Responses will be reviewed by Learning Center staff and kept strictly confidential.

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Cancellation Policy: Refunds (minus Eventbrite fees) are available up to 7 days before the event. If you cancel after 7 days before the event, we are unable to provide refunds unless we can fill your space from the waitlist. (**Please note that this is not common.**)
If someone is waitlisted and is able to purchase your space, we will refund your ticket, minus the Eventbrite fees. Otherwise, there will be no refunds. You are also welcome to transfer your ticket to someone who wishes to purchase it directly from you, or let us know if someone is coming in lieu of your name.

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There is livestock onsite, so we ask that visitors please keep their pets at home. Service dogs are permitted.

You can now support the Fibershed Education Fund by selecting an optional donation amount during ticket registration, or email us at learningcenter@fibershed.org for alternative donation methods.