Over the past couple of summers I’ve been enjoying this beautiful meditative practice of gently coaxing the colour out of plant materials using a variety of repurposed and home-made tools. This summer I have been invited by East End Arts to teach an afternoon workshop at the lovely St. Matthew’s Clubhouse.
Tataki zome translates to dyeing with hammers, but the process can be adapted to incorporate any number of tools and resists. For other methods that don’t use hammers or the hammering method, the name hapa zome (leaf dyeing) may be more appropriate.
The concept is simple, to use pressure and tools to press the blooms or leaves onto paper or fabric. Although it sounds easy, there are many combinations of tools and techniques that can create more and more complex designs.
The colours imparted by the organic material will fade with use and time, unless preserved. It is not uncommon to leave these creations unpreserved and appreciate them at all stages of their lifetime; the concept of wabi sabi embraces the ephemeral and transitory nature of all things.
Materials and sources of materials used in my tataki zome workshop/
- Prepared for dyeing handkerchiefs from Maiwa, Canadian company with a huge selection of fibre-based goods and dyeing materials. I love their quick shipping and minimalist, elegant plastic-free packaging
- My beautiful flower-squashing rolling tool is a seam roller from Fabricspark, one of my favorite local fabric stores.
- A small jewellery hammer (or chasing hammer) is an ideal size for tataki zome.
- Rocks! I have a lovingly curated collection of rocks that fit the hand wonderfully and have great heft…