Gualala Arts Promoting public interest and participation in the arts since 1961
Discover the magic of solar dyeing in this hands‑on cyanotype workshop designed especially for beginners. Using sunlight as your creative tool, you’ll print striking blue designs onto cotton fabric—perfect for quilting projects or for adding artistic flair to clothing.
Participants will experiment with a wide range of stencil designs provided in class, from playful motifs like cats to traditional Japanese patterns and textured shapes. You’re also welcome to bring leaves or other foliage from home; pressed plant materials make beautiful natural prints.
Class fees are $50 for GA members, $60 for non‑members, sign up at GualalaArts.org or at the Gualala Arts Front Desk by October 12. There is a a $25 materials fee paid directly to the instructor.
Materials List
- Plastic dishpan or bowl for rinsing fabric
- 8–12 medium (1.25″) to large (2″) binder clips
- Any special objects you’d like to print—doilies, stencils, or pressed foliage
- A flat plastic sheet or bag for laying out wet fabric
- Large trash bag or lidded container for transporting your wet, dyed fabric home after class
Charlene will also supply an extensive selection of designs, patterns, and objects for participants to use.
About Instructor Charlene Younker
Charlene’s lifelong passion for fabric design began in childhood, sewing clothing for her Ginny dolls. She later studied fashion design in college and sold her creations- from bikinis to velvet Renaissance dresses- in boutiques from Hollywood to Laguna Beach during the late ’60s and early ’70s.
Her fascination with color and textiles led her to study dyeing techniques at College of the Redwoods, and for 25 years she traveled the country as a business owner, selling silk‑screened designs and hand‑dyed laces at quilt shows nationwide. Charlene loves sharing her expertise in trims, textiles, and embellishments, inspiring quilters to explore new techniques in both clothing and wall art.