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Meet Tonya Pettit
Tonya is happiest when totally immersing herself in a new skill or taking a previous skill further. From basket making to fiber arts, through social media and curated presentations, Tonya shares her journey discovering what we often overlook around us and underfoot. While turning those things into an artistic expression Tonya begins with research then asks the question "what happens if?" in order to stretch the possibilities. Currently she is developing her skills in natural dyes with mushrooms and lichens, dabbling with a dye garden, and exploring locally foraged dye materials. Summer can find her exploring the woods and demonstrating pine needle basket making in living history camps.
Participants interested in a deeper, hands-on experience can also join Tonya for a two-day mushroom dye workshop on July 25–26. More info below
Dates: Saturday, July 25 – Sunday, July 26, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily
Location: Rochester Folk Art Guild, 1445 Upper Hill Road, Middlesex, NY
Explore the rich and unexpected colors of fungi in this two-day hands-on workshop focused on natural dyeing on silk. Working with dried dye mushrooms, students will learn how to create a range of colors through an experimental, process-based approach.
Over the course of the weekend, participants will move through the full dye process, from preparing fibers and working with mordants to building dye baths and modifying color with pH. Each person will create a series of smaller silk test pieces to explore color and technique, followed by a finished silk scarf that brings those experiments together.
Time will also be spent outdoors observing and identifying dye mushrooms in their natural environment, depending on seasonal availability. The workshop emphasizes process and experimentation, helping participants develop an eye for color and the confidence to continue working with natural dyes on their own.
This class is open to all levels. All materials are provided
Course Tuition
The tuition for this course is $300, which includes all materials and lunch each day.
Overnight packages are available and include lodging and breakfast each morning.
Please email programs@folkartguild.org for more information about overnight accommodations, scholarships, or workshop details.