Extract colour naturally from flowers and plants to create your own 100% silk scarf to take home
Join textile artist Mary Cushing (@textileshed21) for an inspiring, hands-on workshop. Learn how to transform natural materials, including rose petals and blooms from the garden at Borde Hill, botanical extracts, and even kitchen waste, into stunning patterns and vibrant colours on silk.
During the session, Mary will demonstrate how to prepare fabric so that natural dyes remain bright, colourfast, and long-lasting.
Then, using your newfound skills, experiment with a range of natural dyes before designing and crafting your own unique mordanted lightweight silk scarf (35 × 130 cm) – perfect as a personal treasure or a truly special gift.
To inspire your creativity, you’ll have access to an array of colourful blooms selected especially for the workshop, including rose petals from Jay Robin’s Rose Garden and other botanicals foraged beforehand from the Garden, along with a small collection of dye plants grown in pots by Borde Hill’s Garden Team.
Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience, Mary will guide you through every step, with all materials provided.
Join us for a morning of creativity and inspiration amidst the summer beauty of Borde Hill.
Your ticket includes:
- Workshop inside the Garden Marquee, including all materials, a worksheet, and a mordanted lightweight long silk scarf (35 × 130 cm) to take home.
- Refreshments on arrival
- Garden entry to explore the beauty of summer following your workshop
Itinerary
10.00am – Tea/Coffee & Biscuits on Arrival
10.15am – Workshop Starts
1.00pm – Workshop Ends with time afterwards to explore the Garden
About Mary Cushing
At her studio in East Sussex, textile artist Mary Cushing creates naturally dyed textiles using foraged plants, food waste, and flowers grown in her dye garden. A lifelong love of textiles, a deep connection to the natural world, and a commitment to sustainability shape every part of her practice.
Gathering and foraging plants from around her studio and garden, she stays closely attuned to the rhythms of nature, letting them guide her creative process. As her dyes are drawn from the land around her, each one reflects the changing seasons. From scarves and bags to sewing kits, patchwork, and individually designed fabrics and wall art, each piece is a celebration of craftsmanship, sustainability, and the rich, earthy hues that emerge with natural dyeing techniques. Mary’s work reflects a deep respect for the land, the seasons, and the art of slow, intentional creativity.
Instagram: @textileshed21
