Supporting and providing a creative, intellectually challenging and artistically provoking program does not come easy. It takes work and commitment from everyone to continue to develop and grow in this area. It is vital to look for ways to spark creativity, to make sure it moves forward and has an active life of its own. It is sort of like caring for a child-it takes time, attention and care. Creativity is fostered and challenged by amazing artists such as Natalie Grambow ( see her biography at the end of the post). Kate did a workshop with Natalie at Maiwa  https://maiwa.com last year. Kate and I are huge Maiwa fans, always dreaming about spending our extra time in their studios! Kate was struck with Natalie’s incredible work and reached out to her to come to TNNS to offer us a professional day for our team. After many emails, gathering of supplies, and a trip to Maiwa, our eco-dyeing workshop came to fruition yesterday! What a grand day it was as many educators and volunteers from our team gave up their Friday afternoon to be with us (others on our team had to work at other jobs so we will share our new knowledge with them!).

Some thank yous are in order:

Thank you Natalie for being the generous, inspiring and beautiful artist that you are!

Thank you Kate for reaching out to Natalie!

Thank you to Carol, the team at Thompson and the Board for supporting professional development opportunities!

For our TNNS families- look for stories with play silks incorporated into our play scapes.

Read Natalie’s bio:

Natalie Grambow has an extensive background in design, teaching, and textile arts. An accredited Interior Designer, she spent many years in Ottawa working within the architectural design field and teaching Design Theory. Natalie’s first deep exploration of textiles began during her Visual Arts/Photography studies at the University of Ottawa when she experimented with non-silver techniques of transferring photographic imagery onto cloth. She subsequently studied at the École d’Impression Textile à Montréal and later travelled to Asia and Latin America where she spent six months learning to weave with local Mayan weavers in Guatemala. Shortly after completing the Textile Arts program at Capilano College in 2001, she was awarded the BC Craft Association’s Award of Excellence. Natalie has exhibited her textile art installations in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and on the Sunshine Coast. Currently living in Roberts Creek, BC, she continues her art practice and studies from her studio.

With warmth,

Emily