join US…
…and a small group of creatives, on an exploration in rust printing that will leave you feeling inspired by the magical combination of iron oxide & tannin!
The Rust & Root workshop is designed for those who are curious about building an elemental palette and how to capture its unique hues through various techniques on all kinds of natural fiber.
You’ll have time away to pause and soak up the rural landscape and fresh air as you experiment with earth’s color alchemy.
Our time together will be a balanced mix of daily workshops focused on creating uniquely printed designs with rust & tannin on fiber through bundling & binding, along with ample time for creative play in the dye studio nestled on the beautiful 70 acres of Junction Garden.
Color
This retreat is designed to experience a rich palette of neutrals that is possible solely from blending mineral & organic matter gifted from Mother Nature. We will explore fiery hues from rusty metal in all shapes & sizes and welcome shades of black & gray by introducing tannin-rich material like oak gall, myrobalan & black tea leaves to the metallic mix. With a quick dip in calx, we will quickly shift to the cooler side of the spectrum to enjoy the beauty of complementary colors.
Cloth
Woven fibers of cotton, silk & wool will be our natural substrates to bundle & bind. We’ll begin our experimentation with paper as another fibrous friend who loves tinted prints as well.
Create
Get ready to swathe, soak & stew your way to extracting color for a stack of natural textile samples and finished pieces. Cultivate your rust printing curiosity by creating one-of-a-kind motifs of golden flecks on silky fibers. Keep your fingers busy with folding, twisting & tying to make unique resist patterns and designs. We will explore simple ways to capture the visually stunning fusion of iron oxide & tannins as a treasured memory of our days at Junction Garden together.
Collect
From steel nails and wire mesh to metal plates and tin cans, you will discover how rusted iron scrap can become the foundation of design elements for fiber printing.
Commune
At its very colorful core, this workshop is a safe space to play, experiment and discover together with a small group of creatives who find joy in the magic of earth’s palette.
About The kennebec river valley
The Kennebec River Valley in central Maine is a picturesque region known for its stunning natural beauty and rich history. Stretching from the western foothills of the Appalachian Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean, the valley boasts lush forests, rolling hills, and fertile farmland. The river itself is a focal point of the area, providing visitors a chance to enjoy outdoor recreation, explore quaint small towns along its banks, and learn about the rich heritage of this enchanting region of Maine.
junction garden
Nestled in the countryside of Vassalboro, Maine, Junction Garden is a vibrant market garden, offering a fusion of natural dye plants, blossoming flowers, and an array of produce. With a focus on sustainability and community enrichment, this family-owned farm, stewarded by John and Eileen since 2018, spans across 70 acres adorned with a charming farmhouse and barn dating back to the 1870s.
Guided by an ethos of environmental stewardship, the farm embraces practices that honor the Earth, employing organic and regenerative methods. Harnessing the power of solar energy and geothermal heating, Junction Garden harmonizes with nature to reduce its ecological footprint. Cultivation is approached with reverence, utilizing gentle, no-till methods, all accomplished with the human touch and the strength of hand-powered tools.
In every aspect of its operation, Junction Garden radiates a commitment to fostering a resilient community and a sustainable future, rooted in the fertile soil of Maine's countryside.
about your hosts
Margaret Byrd
Margaret is an installation and mixed media artist with a serious case of wanderlust. Roaming the globe, vast landscapes and naturally derived colors have inspired her artistic focus and visual aesthetic. Weaving her creativity into a daily practice, Margaret is currently working with organically dyed fibers, encaustic and dreaming up her next site-specific installation project.
Margaret shares her creative journey on her YouTube channel, Margaret Byrd: Color Quest, building a community to celebrate organic color through hands-on tutorials and vlog-style film dedicated to nature's palette. To connect more closely with other natural color loving creatives, Margaret teaches workshops and destination retreats around the world.
eileen flanagan
As co-owner of Junction Garden, Eileen's dedication to growing a diverse array of plants, from dye plants to flowers, vegetables, and herbs, speaks volumes about her passion for nurturing biodiversity and sustainability. By selling her seedlings at multiple farmers' markets and pop-up events, she's not only sharing her love for gardening but also empowering others to create their own beautiful gardens at home. As the growing season progresses, Eileen sells a wide selection of vegetables, mushrooms, eggs, and natural dye products at farmers markets and nurtures her own natural dye garden.
Visitors who engage with Junction Garden are in for a treat— they can browse through a vibrant selection of seedlings, and learn from Eileen’s wealth of knowledge and experience in growing plants and natural dyeing.
itinerary sketch
DAY 1: the lust for rust
9:00AM-12:00PM - Morning workshop
Welcome to Junction Garden! Inspired by the rich patina of weathered iron hardware embedded in the surrounding farm structures, we will start our rust exploration with a stock of found metal scraps that have been beautifully oxidized by time & exposure to the elements. We will demonstrate how to deepen corrosion, as well as build an oxidized environment for shiny iron objects to welcome rust.
12:00-1:00PM - Lunch enjoyed together garden-side.
2:00-5:00PM - Afternoon workshop
With the spritz of vinegar and a dash of salt, we will begin building our own inventory of fiber-bound rusty bits to create the foundation of printed material for the next two days. Wrapping and binding with cotton, silk, wool and paper, we will tightly seal the pieces in the mist to cure overnight.
DAY 2: print & tint from nuts & leaves
9:00AM-12:00PM - Morning workshop
Inspired by the woodlands, our elemental color journey brings us to the magic of iron & tannin. First, we’ll unveil yesterday’s fibers to get a first peek of our rusty creations. Selecting a few pieces to continue the process, we will brew our tannin of oak gall & myrobalan as we twist another bundle of textiles to dip into the simmering baths. The iron/tannin reaction is quick to reveal itself as we invite new hues of blacks & grays to our fiery palette.
12:00-1:00PM - Lunch served together farm-style.
2:00-5:00PM - Afternoon workshop
Afternoon ‘tea’ takes on a whole new meaning as we welcome our third tannin in the form of black tea leaves. We’ll select a fresh batch of rusted metal to bind both new and printed fibers to steep in our bubbling tea bath. While the pots are simmering, we will unravel our morning’s tannin-soaked bundles to reveal yet another set of rich prints.
DAY 3: expand the band of color
9:00AM-12:00PM - Morning workshop
Inspired by the shifting temps of early summer in Maine, today is about broadening our elemental color spectrum to invite the cooler tones of blues & purples with the mineral help of calx. We’ll unbind and rebind to play with various resist techniques on a selection of our printed creations to experience another spectral shift with the combination of iron, tannin and calx.
12:00-1:00PM - Lunch to celebrate all of our rusty creations!
2:00-4:00PM - Afternoon workshop
The iron, tannin & calx baths will be open for free studio time to continue adding layers of enhanced color to your fiber designs. We will finish dipping & drying all the textile goodies for you to bring home as a memory of your time with Rust & Root!
please note: this is our prospective itinerary which may change based on unexpected opportunities both in and out of the dye studio.
the rust & root workshop includes:
Daily rust & tannin printing workshops with Margaret & Eileen
All studio supplies including oxidized iron scrap metal from Junction Garden
Natural fibers of cotton, silk, wool & paper for you to create samples & finished pieces to bring home as a colorful memory
Lunch and light snacks served daily on site
frequently asked questions
IS THIS workshop FOR ME?
This workshop is designed for creative souls who love earth’s color wheel. The only prerequisite to joining is a curiosity & wonder of nature’s palette, an openness to experiment and a willingness to share your knowledge & experience with others who may be at a different stage in their natural color journey.
HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL ATTEND THIS workshop?
We can welcome 8 guests at this workshop.
HOW DO I GET TO junction garden?
Vassalboro is a rural community with no public transportation options, so guests will have to come by car. For those traveling by air, you can fly to Portland, Maine (70 miles) or Boston, Massachusetts (175 miles) and arrange a car rental. Airfare and ground transportation is not included in the price of the workshop.
where do I arrange lodging?
There are many types of hotel and Airbnb lodging to choose from in the greater Vassalboro area. Waterville (8 miles) and Augusta (12 miles) are larger towns with a wider selection of accommodations. There are also a few campgrounds in the region if that is more your speed. Summer season is a popular time to visit the area, so please make lodging arrangements as early as possible. Lodging is not included in the price of the workshop.
Are there payment plans?
Full payment is required at the time of registration. There are no payment plan options at this time through my web shop, so please contact me to discuss if a payment plan is needed.
What is the CANCELLATION POLICY?
There will be no refunds offered for this workshop. For questions, concerns or workshop registration transfers, please reach out to margaret@margaretbyrd.com.
What isn’t covered in the cost?
· Airfare and ground transportation
· Lodging
· Any meals not included in the workshop
Make sure to note the cancellation policy under the FAQ’s above.
For further questions, feel free to contact me directly at margaret@margaretbyrd.com