Boro, Botanicals & Tannins
Botanical Printing, Natural Dyeing & Slow Stitching with Lisa Binkley
March 8–12, 2027 | Aya Fiber Studio | Stuart, Florida
About Lisa
Lisa Binkley holds a B.S. in Textiles & Design from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master's in Urban Planning from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Formerly a public policy analyst, Lisa has worked as a studio fiber artist since 2000 and has been teaching since 2007. Her award-winning artwork has been selected for national and international exhibitions including those of the American Quilters' Society, the International Quilt Association, Crafts National, CraftForms, Wisconsin Artists Biennia, and many others. Lisa and her artwork have been featured on local and national television, in international books and magazines, and in many local publications. Her art is represented in public, private, and corporate collections. Lisa enjoys sharing her passion for fiber art through her artwork, workshops, and lectures. She and her husband, illustrator Ed Binkley, have two young-adult children. Lisa and Ed live in the woods of Madison, Wisconsin with their big fluffy dog.
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Creative Pathways: Natural Dyeing • Botanical Printing • Slow Stitching • Surface Design • Japanese Textile Traditions • Sustainable Fiber Arts • Mixed Media Textiles
What happens when cloth, plants, and hand stitching come together?
In this immersive five-day workshop, artist Lisa Binkley invites students into the rich intersection of botanical printing, natural dyeing, and Japanese-inspired boro stitching. Rooted in tradition and guided by thoughtful process, this workshop explores how natural materials can transform simple cloth into layered works of textile art.
Using leaves, tannin-rich plants, botanical dyes, and natural fabrics, students will discover how color, texture, and pattern emerge through direct contact with the natural world. The process is both experimental and deeply rewarding, producing cloth that reflects the unique character of each plant and maker.
During the first three days, students will focus on botanical printing and natural dye techniques. Working with tannin-rich plants and dyes, participants will learn fabric preparation, pigment extraction, color modification, and methods for creating layered botanical impressions. Additional techniques such as simple shibori resist processes will be incorporated to add depth, pattern, and visual complexity.
The final two days shift into the quiet practice of hand stitching and cloth construction inspired by the Japanese tradition of boro. Students will explore layering, piecing, mending, and decorative stitching while transforming their hand-printed fabrics into an art quilt, wearable textile, vessel, or personal fiber project.
This workshop is ideal for fiber artists, textile enthusiasts, quilters, slow-stitch practitioners, and anyone interested in working more closely with natural materials. No prior experience is required—only curiosity, patience, and a willingness to engage thoughtfully with the process.
In This Workshop You Will Learn
Botanical printing with leaves and plant materials
Natural dyeing techniques using tannin-rich plants and dyes
Fabric preparation and mordanting basics
Pigment extraction and color modification
Layering botanical imagery and pattern
Simple shibori techniques to enhance surface design
Traditional and contemporary boro-inspired stitching
Cloth layering, piecing, and surface construction
Design approaches for art quilts, wearable art, and textile projects
Perfect For
Fiber artists and textile enthusiasts
Quilters and slow-stitch practitioners
Surface design artists
Botanical dyeing enthusiasts
Beginners seeking an approachable introduction to natural color
Experienced artists looking to expand their textile vocabulary
Leave with a collection of hand-printed fabrics, new dyeing and stitching skills, and a deeper appreciation for the beauty that emerges when plants, cloth, and handwork are allowed to work together.
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No. This workshop welcomes beginners as well as experienced fiber artists.
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Well scoured, natural fibers such as cotton, linen, silk, and wool work best with botanical printing and natural dyes.
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Boro is a traditional Japanese approach to mending and reinforcing cloth through layering, patching, and hand stitching, creating beautiful surfaces rich with history and texture.
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Students will leave with a collection of botanical-printed fabrics and begin constructing either an art quilt, wearable textile piece, or another personal project.
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Tannins help bind color to cloth and create rich, lasting botanical prints while offering a broad range of natural color possibilities.
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Aya Fiber Studio
Ready to Explore the Poetry of Plants, Cloth, and Stitch?
Join Lisa Binkley for an immersive five-day workshop where botanical color and handwork come together to create meaningful textile art.