Flowering plants, conifers, and fungi are the heroes of this class, which offers an exploration of plant structures through embroidery. The beauty and wonder of flora and fauna have inspired embroidery motifs for thousands of years. From scientifically precise depictions of plant specimens to abstract motifs that delight in shape and color, embroiderers have long interpreted nature to embellish their artworks. Humans understand that plants and fungi offer medicinal and spiritual potential, and have carefully cultivated plants and plant knowledge that enhance wellbeing. Each plant, from the common “weed” to a specimen tree, awaits discovery; and plants can be transformed into teas or tinctures, rendered into dye or stitched design.

This botanical embroidery course explores the intersection of art, science, and folklore. Join famed author and artist Arounna Khounnoraj, along with herbalist and professor Katherine Elmer and lecturing mycologist Ari Rockland-Miller, for a three part workshop designed to elevate our stitching through a deep investigation into plant structure and potentials. Express your newly discovered knowledge in thread, elaborating an original abstract botanical design by Arounna with your own stitches.

Students will learn 19 stitches, including stem stitch, picot, eyelet, and turkey work. When your artwork is complete, you will know your subjects deeply.

This course can be accompanied by a materials kit containing;

• An original design by Arounna screen printed onto 18” x 18” linen fabric, with a choice between oatmeal and terracotta
• 6 skeins of Tatter’s own thread (naturally-dyed by hand, with plant matter)
• A stitching guide
• An embroidery hoop and needle
• Accompanying information about the plant illustrations

Dates
Fridays, April 26th, May 3rd, and May 10th, 2024

Time
2pm – 4:30 pm ET

Location
Zoom, a link will be sent to participants the day before class.

*If you cannot attend the live sessions, the recordings will be emailed to you for review in your own time.

Cost
Virtual Class : $165

Virtual Class with Materials Package: $210 + shipping

Class Materials

A kit for this class is available for purchase with the class. If you would like to purchase the kit, choose the “Virtual Class with Materials Package” from the drop down menu at checkout.

If using your own materials, you will need:

• 18” x 18” linen fabric that is light in color
• Embroidery hoop (size of your choice)
• Embroidery needle
• Water soluble embroidery marker or pattern transfer tool of your choice
• Embroidery thread in an assortment of colors

OUR TEACHERS

Arounna Khounnoraj

Arounna Khounnoraj is a Canadian artist and maker working in Toronto where she immigrated with her family from Laos at the age of four. While her education includes a master’s degree in fine arts in sculpture and ceramics, it was through subsequent residencies that she found her current focus in fibre arts. In 2002 she started bookhou, a multi-disciplinary studio with her husband John Booth, where Arounna explores screen printing and a variety of textile techniques such as embroidery and punch needle. She creates objects such as bags, home goods and textile art.

Arounna has explored a wide range of techniques, methods, and materials that express a passion for everyday creativity and the importance of the handmade in everyone’s life. Her work emphasizes slow design, intuitive thinking, and the importance of handwork. She teaches workshops on a variety of fibre arts and crafts, both in Canada and internationally. She also collaborates with magazines, blogs, and artists in creating social media and DIY projects. Arounna has previously published Punch Needle, (2019) and Visible Mending (2020), and Embroidery (2022).

Katherine Elmer

Katherine Elmer grew up in the green hills of Central Vermont (Abenaki territory) and revels in the opportunity to connect with folks around a shared love of place and nature through herbal medicine.  She is a clinically-trained herbalist, a national board certified health and wellness coach, and a lecturer on Herbal Medicine, Integrative Health and Food Systems topics at the University of Vermont and Vermont State University. Katherine is co-founder, co-director and a clinical herbalist at Spoonful Herbals (a local educational non-profit) and co-founder and former co-director of Railyard Apothecary on Burlington’s waterfront.

Ari Rockland-Miller

Ari has been sharing his passion for mushroom hunting and edible plants through teaching and the written word for over a decade. He has facilitated over 200 presentations, workshops and forays to over 4,500 mycophiles from around the world. His writing has been featured in a number of publications including the Vermont Almanac, Northern Woodlands and Green Mountain Club’s Long Trail News. The Mushroom Forager’s work has also been featured on CNN’s Great Big Story, New England Public Radio, Vermont Public Radio, Seven Days and Vermont Life magazine. He is co-founder of The Mushroom Forager, LLC.

Ari became an expert in cultivating shiitake mushrooms in agroforestry systems when he managed Cornell University’s Mushroom Research Project and Cornell University’s agroforestry teaching site and farm, the MacDaniels Nut Grove. Ari also currently works for the State of Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, where he works in the field of land use policy and farmland conservation. He has a B.A. from Brown University, and a J.D. from Vermont Law School.