A Season of Change, Creativity & New Opportunities
Looking ahead to the final months of 2026 and the beginning of 2027!
October through early February is always a whirlwind, and this year is certainly no exception! Between my favorite art shows, another studio move, the holidays, and a whole collection of family birthdays squeezed into a few short months, there's never a dull moment around A Botanical Dyery.
But amid all the busyness, some wonderful things are taking shape, and I'm looking forward to sharing what's ahead!
A New Creative Home at Ugly Dumpling Art Studio
Big changes are underway at my new creative home, Ugly Dumpling Art Studio in Madison!
Starting in mid-November, contractors will begin renovating the space, removing walls, pulling up carpeting, and installing washable flooring that's much better suited for messy, creative work. These improvements will expand the classroom and co-working area by at least 25%, creating more room for workshops, collaboration, and experimentation.
The former business's work and storage rooms will also be converted into private artist studios, and I'm planning to rent one of them!
One of the things I'm particularly looking forward to is sharing space with the studio's owner, who is also a dyer. We speak the same creative language, although our techniques and dyes are a little different. I'm curious to see what we can learn from one another as we figure out how to share the space.
New space, new connections, and plenty of possibilities!
My Final Art Shows of 2026
While my business continues to shift toward teaching and spending more time in the studio, I'm still making room for a handful of my longtime favorite art shows throughout Madison and the surrounding communities.
Here's where you can find me before the year wraps up:
October 24–25: Fine Art & Craft Sale — Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Madison
November 20–21: Art at the Wright Place — First Unitarian Society, Madison
December 6: Evergreen Holiday Fair — Aldo Leopold Nature Center, Monona
December 11–12: The Very Merry Holiday Fair — Baraboo Arts Center, Baraboo
These events are wonderful opportunities to reconnect, see my latest creations in person, and shop my one-of-a-kind, naturally dyed fiber art. I hope you'll stop by, say hello, and support the talented artists participating alongside me!
More Classes Are Coming in 2027!
We've already completed two Sashiko & Boro classes, and I'm happy to share that teaching will become an even bigger part of A Botanical Dyery in the coming year!
My goal is to establish a regular quarterly class schedule, offering more opportunities to explore traditional stitching, botanical dyeing, and creative textile techniques.
Some of the classes I'm considering include:
Boro Book
Basic Sashiko
Sashiko Sewing Accessories
Hand-Dyed Silk and Sashiko Embroidery Threads
Natural Dye Printmaking on Fabric
More Indigo Dyeing Workshops!
I'm planning to announce the first quarter of classes in January 2027, once I've coordinated schedules with the other instructors at Ugly Dumpling Art Studio.
And I'd love your input! Is there a technique you've been wanting to learn or a class you'd like me to offer? Please reach out and share your ideas. Your interests and feedback are helping me shape this next chapter of my business.
Be sure to subscribe to my email newsletter so you'll be among the first to hear when new classes and registration details become available.
Looking Ahead to a Creative New Year
As I navigate another studio move and continue reshaping A Botanical Dyery, I'm finding that this stage of my creative life is increasingly about sharing what I've learned, connecting with other artists, and making time for the work I enjoy most.
I'm grateful for everyone who has supported my work, attended a class, visited me at an art show, or simply reached out to say hello. These connections make the changes worthwhile, and I'm looking forward to seeing what we can create together in 2027.
Until then, I hope to see you at a show, in the classroom, or somewhere along this creative adventure!