Three words describe my textile practice: simple, natural, crafted.
I harness the natural dye in leaves, bark, seed pods and onion skins to create lasting prints on handmade felt, wool, silk, linen and upcycled clothing — working in a health-conscious and environmentally mindful way, without the use of harsh chemicals.
As part of developing a sustainable way of working, I’ve planted over 13,500 trees on my rural Irish property and laid out extensive print and natural dye borders. These support a wide range of butterflies, insects, birds and mammals, helping to convey the wider ecological context of my practice.
My primary focus is on sustainable, intuitive eco printing and wet felting — supporting students as they move from confusion to confidence while creating beautiful, meaningful textiles, time after time.
Nicola Brown
Greetings from Clasheen.
We’ve been enjoying beautifully cool but sunny weather here over the past while, and I’ve some lovely news too—the swallows have returned. It always amazes me that such small birds travel between Ireland and Southern Africa each year, covering extraordinary distances as the seasons change. A real marvel of nature.
As the days lengthen, everything around the studio is beginning to green up again. Fresh leaves are appearing in the hedgerows and garden, and for anyone who enjoys eco printing, this is such an inspiring time of year.
Two of my favourite early leaves to print with are Acer pseudoplatanus (known in Ireland simply as sycamore, and in North America as sycamore maple) and Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’, often grown for its vivid winter stems. Young spring growth can produce beautiful shapes and lovely detail on cloth, though many other leaves need a little longer to mature before they give their best prints.
In the images, you can see how I’ve used Cornus leaves to transform the body of a dismantled merino jumper (sweater) into a cowl.
I’m also delighted to be collaborating with HobbyScool for the first time as part of their upcoming Eco-Creative Summit.
It’s a free online event for anyone who enjoys thoughtful creativity, sustainability, natural processes, and making beautiful things by hand.
I’ll be sharing a session on eco printing in the dirty pot—a practical and approachable method that avoids traditional powdered mordants.
My class will be especially helpful if you:
- are completely new to eco printing
- want to revisit the foundations with greater clarity
- would like a simpler, more natural approach
- enjoy experimenting with leaves, cloth, and colour
👉 Learn more and register here: carrierco--hobbyscool.thrivecart.com/2026-eco-crea…
Because it’s free to attend, it’s an easy opportunity to dip in, explore a few sessions, and gather fresh inspiration for your own making.
If you later choose to purchase any paid offers from HobbyScool, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
2 months ago | [YT] | 27
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Nicola Brown
Check out how this handwoven Eri silk fabric from Raja at Cuckoo Looms eco printed recently in the dirty pot.
This particular piece can be worn in multiple ways and, as you can see from the image, each corner offers different opportunities to highlight specific prints and colours.
Later this month, I’ll be sharing eco printing in the dirty pot as part of HobyScool's FREE Eco-Creative Summit. My session is ideal if you’re a beginner, want to revisit the foundations, or are moving away from traditional powdered mordants.
👉 If you’d like to take a look, check out what's on offer here: carrierco--hobbyscool.thrivecart.com/2026-eco-crea…
The summit includes a lovely mix of sessions centred around slow, thoughtful, hands-on creativity, with sustainability and upcycling at the core.
I’m also especially looking forward to a presentation from my friend Philomène Cauchois:
• Mend Loud: Turn Worn Out Clothes Into Statement Pieces with Simple Hand Stitching
For context, HobbyScool invited me to collaborate with them this year, and I’m very excited to be involved. It’s a wonderful opportunity to share my love of eco printing in the dirty pot with a new audience.
The summit is completely free to attend. If you later choose to purchase any of their paid offers, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
2 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 9
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Nicola Brown
It’s been a little quieter than usual here over the past few months — I’ve been travelling in Australia and am now back home catching up in the studio.
New videos are coming, but it’s just taking a little time to get back into the rhythm again and catch up elsewhere.
In the meantime, I wanted to share something I think many of you will enjoy.
I’m delighted to be collaborating with HobbyScool for the first time, and taking part in their upcoming Eco-Creative Summit — it’s free to attend.
For this, I’ll be sharing eco printing in the dirty pot, and my session is ideal if you’re a beginner, want to revisit the foundations, or are moving away from traditional powdered mordants.
👉 Here’s the link if you’d like to take a look and possibly join me:
[link]
Over the course of two days, the summit includes a lovely mix of presentations centred around slow, thoughtful, hands-on creativity, with sustainability and upcycling at the core.
Two sessions I’m particularly looking forward to are:
• No Pattern, No Pressure: Slow-Stitch a Calming Fabric Roll from Scraps
• A Masterclass in Natural Color: Crafting Professional Watercolor & Gouache Paint with Earth Pigments and Plant-Based Binder
If you do take a look, I’d be curious to hear which sessions catch your eye.
Bye for now and expect more videos soon! Nicola
2 months ago | [YT] | 18
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Nicola Brown
Happy New Year from rural Ireland. Here’s my first video of 2026.
5 months ago | [YT] | 0
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Nicola Brown
New to eco printing? Avoid these common beginner pitfalls! From fabric selection to boiling techniques, these 3 quick tips will set you up for success.
6 months ago | [YT] | 0
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Nicola Brown
Botanical printers, ever wonder what to do with garment labels? Keep them for their story—or remove potential troublemakers for flawless eco printing results.
6 months ago | [YT] | 0
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Nicola Brown
Ready to run your best workshop yet? These essential tips will help you create an engaging, enjoyable learning environment—without the stress!
6 months ago | [YT] | 0
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Nicola Brown
New to hosting face-to-face craft workshops? Learn how to prepare, communicate and create a seamless experience for your attendees so that you set yourself up for success!
6 months ago | [YT] | 1
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Nicola Brown
New to botanical printing? Uncover why the process you choose, steaming versus submersion matters more than you think!
6 months ago | [YT] | 0
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Nicola Brown
Preparing to participate in a face-to-face hands-on workshop? Discover my simple tips to help you prepare, stay organised and get the most out of these exciting and fun learning experiences!
6 months ago | [YT] | 5
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