Gallery from 2008... click here
We are running a Natural Dyeing “Experience” (Including dyeing with Indigo and Mushrooms) over 5 days in the late summer, here,
at our place in Värtsilä, North Karelia, Finland.
We have decided to run this as an “experience” rather than a strict “workshop/class”
just making samples etc. It is more real for a start and more practical when dealing
with multi-lingual groups. This all happens outside, using wood as a heat
source. (It also keeps the costs for the participants down to a minimum...
200 euros per person, for the 5 days, plus materials for any of your individual
dyebaths. (Mordants approx 10euros/kg wool and 7.50euros for the Indigo dyebath. (Top quality Natural Indigo)
Wool costs, including 130cm wide, multi-coloured, layered batt carding, at about 18/kg)
As a group, we will gather, process and make several 80 litre dyebaths of various plants
to dye wool fibre in lots of two kilos or so.
To begin with you will "assist" with the fibre and dyebath preparation of the pre-picked and boiled 80 litre baths.
This will teach all the basic processes involved.
Once this is up and running it enables us to help you make any number of smaller
dye baths, of 10 or 15 litres, to dye smaller amounts of fibre for yourselves...
We always run a series of mordant tests on each bath to explore colour possibilities in our dyeing "lab" before
starting the dyebath.
It is up to the group how this will work... if you work together as smaller
groups or as individuals, we can make it happen...
We can supply the raw wool, mordants, etc. (and of course, all the instruction) and it will be up to you to choose and collect
the dyestuffs and run your own dyebaths.
Any fibre you dye can be carded into multi-coloured, layered batts of aboout 1kg.
There is no fixed schedule as such... once the main dyebaths are cooking it is up to the individuals to make their
own choices of how much they want to do... if you want to stay up half the night dyeing wool, that is fine by us and if you
want to sleep all afternoon that is equally OK... it’s up to you, we will try to accommodate everyone’s wishes...
We will provide morning coffee/tea etc. Juice and other beverages, and of course, whenever anyone wants to
make some, they can, but otherwise it is self-catering. Bar-B-Q type food
is probably the easiest, but for the campfire connoisseur we can provide a
wok, frying pan, pots etc...
Otherwise; they do meals at the “Inn”, including take away Pizza, and there is also shop in the village with everything you need...
(If you want to buy wines or spirits it is a 100km trip... so come prepared if so inclined....)
Accommodation would be self-catering and runs from...
Cabins (20euros per cabin/night) or tents at the campsite (kitchen area and
sauna, riverbank communal barbecue and log shelter and a brisk, 250m swim
downstream will find you in our backyard...) or B&B at the village "Inn".
50euros a night for a double; and 32.50euros for a single, Including breakfasts...
They have canoes so a brisk paddle, of a few hundred metres upstream, will
also find you in our backyard.
(All prices 2008 season)
We are in a very convenient place for short trips to Russian Karelia (Lake Ladoga, Valaam and other ancient monasteries)
but you would have to organise your own visas etc... We would be only to pleased to take a short trip to Russia with you and show you a few
of the in's and out's after the workshop has finished....
That’s about it really... if anyone is interested let us know... CONTACT
Hope everyone is well and happy...
Take care now...
Roderick and Karoliina...