Botanical Guide
Eco Printing
What to Bring
You're welcome to bring your own botanicals to personalize your eco-printed silk scarfs.
Aim for 10–15 leaves or flowers as a starting point. Mindfully collect botanicals that speak to you from your garden, a favorite walking path, or a plant that holds special meaning.
You'll also have access to a curated selection of fresh and preserved botanicals during class, so no stress if you don't have time to gather your own.
What Works Best
Eco-printing is a process that relies on the natural tannins found in plants. While experimentation is encouraged, botanicals with higher tannin content often create the most defined prints and beautiful color reactions.
Some favorites include:
• Maple leaves (especially Red Maple)
• Oak leaves
• Eucalyptus varieties
• Coreopsis flowers
• Cosmos
• Marigolds
• Rose leaves and petals
• Sumac
• Ferns and interesting foliage with distinctive shapes
Fresh or dried botanicals can be used. Leaves and flowers that are as flat as possible tend to make the clearest impressions.
Interesting shapes, textures, and silhouettes can create beautiful surprises, so feel free to bring plants that spark your curiosity.
Please be mindful not to collect or bring poisonous plants such as poison ivy, poison oak, or other potentially irritating species.
Preparing Your Botanicals
If you'd like to prepare your leaves or flowers before class:
• Place them between two sheets of parchment paper or plain paper.
• Slip the paper inside a heavy book.
• Add a few extra books on top for gentle pressure.
• Leave them overnight, or for a few hours if you're short on time.
For dried botanicals we will rehydrate them in class!
Most importantly, come ready to experiment! Eco-printing is part science, art, and fantastic surprise!!!