Photo by Kelly Turso.
We will kick off the weekend on Friday at Botanical Colors for a mushroom themed pop-up and book event for my forthcoming book, The Mushroom Color Atlas: A Guide to Dyes and Pigments made from Fungi, from award-winning publisher Chronicle Books. It is a gorgeous primer on the universe of colors lurking inside fungi. After which we will head just around the corner for a farm to foraged dinner at the fabulous Corson Building with famed chef Emily Dan for a 4-course mushroom themed meal. Saturday will be spent in the forest, learning about and foraging for dye mushrooms. I will walk students through the mushroom identification process and teach you how to locate dye mushrooms using environmental indicators. You will leave with an understanding of how to find, forage for and identify dye mushrooms.
On Sunday we will spend the day in the Botanical Colors studio. I will cover general mushroom dye techniques as students explore the myriad of shades these forest friends offer us. You will transform the mushroom dyes and explore the process of lake making to create mushroom pigments that can be used in a variety of forms. You will learn different extraction methods for making inks and mull your own watercolor paint. Everyone will create a mini accordion book to record and capture the color. You will assemble wool and silk fiber samples for the mushroom color chart you will create. Everyone will take home some sample mushroom paint and an instructional craftbook including mushroom dye recipes. Throughout class we will have opportunities for questions and discussions on everything we cover in the class, including best practices for foraging, reviewing a list of available resources and more.
EVENT DETAILS:
Friday, September 27
4-6pm Book Event Pop Up @ Botanical Colors
6:30pm Dinner at Corson Building with chef Emily Dann
Saturday, September 28
9am We will meet at a local cafe, arrive early to grab yourself a coffee and delicious breakfast pastry
10am-4pm Foraging in a nearby forest so be sure to pack your own sack lunch
Sunday, September 29
10am-4pm Meet at the Botanical Colors Studio where we will be spending the day. Bring your own sack lunch or pick up something from a local Georgetown establishment.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Lodging is NOT INCLUDED in this event.
AIRPORT: Seattle-Tacoma Airport is 30 minutes from Seattle
TRANSPORTATION: There are public transportation options from SEA-TAC airport to Seattle.
You will be responsible for all meals, except dinner on Friday night, including a sack lunch on Saturday & Sunday.
Please provide any dietary restrictions and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
COME PREPARED: Attendees will need to plan to bring the following items:
Saturday’s forest forage
Sturdy walking boots (closed toe shoes)
Wear longs pants and long sleeves (walking through forested habitat)
Pack extra layers to stay warm, including hat and gloves
Bring waterproof pants and jacket (in case of rain)
Collecting basket
Knife for mushroom cutting
Water bottle
Sack lunch
Sunday’s studio session
Pen for writing
Apron to protect your clothes
Gloves to protect your hands
Water bottle
No previous experience necessary, though a fantastic workshop for practicing dyers. Students must be comfortable and physically able to spend 5 hours hiking through the forest, on and off-trail. Saturday’s session will be held rain or shine. Limited to 12 participants.