Tatakizome on a tote bag

Discover the art of tatakizome, a traditional Japanese technique that uses flowers and leaves to create beautiful botanical prints on fabric. In this hands-on workshop, participants will design and decorate their own tote bags using natural plant materials. All supplies (including tote bag) are provided, and no experience is required. Ages 8 and up.

Tatakizome translates to "dyeing with hammers", and is the easiest technique for rendering the colours of plants onto fabric. Leaves and flowers are placed between two layers of fabric and “hammered” until their colours appear. This technique originated in Japan and literally means dyeing (zome) by hammering (tataki). Each participant will have the chance to print one small tote bag while learning, in a fun way, the basics of plant colours and their fasteners.

The tools used are simple: aside from rubber hammers, we can use pebbles, empty bottles, and even spoons. We will mainly use plants that sprout spontaneously on sidewalks and streets. They are generally considered weeds, but in many cases are medicinal and dye plants. Through this discovery, we inspire a more comprehensive view of nature, which surrounds us with all its generosity and beauty, even in an urban area like Metro Vancouver.

Children under 8 are welcome as long as they are accompanied by a parent or caregiver.
 

About the instructor

Fernanda Mascarenhas is a textile artist, natural dyer, art instructor, performer, and graphic designer from São Paulo, Brazil. She began her artistic journey through dance. After graduating from university, she started working as a graphic designer. At the same time, Fernanda cultivated her artistic career as an interdisciplinary performer, before falling irrevocably in love with natural dyeing.

In 2016, she started researching natural dyeing to develop a costume for her performance work. This costume won an award, which allowed her to travel to Japan in 2017 to learn more about traditional forms of natural dyeing and weaving. Since then, Fernanda has been focusing on making textile art based on ancient techniques of natural dyeing with plants. Whilst a large inspiration comes from Japanese culture, locally grown plants have been the main material and passion for her. She has been teaching art workshops since 2019 throughout Metro Vancouver and in São Paulo, Brazil.
 

Location: The Music Box (Harmony Room), 1564 Argyle Avenue