In the spring of 2021, I started some seeds to grow my own Japanese indigo, Persicaria tinctoria. Happily, my first foray into the magical world of this dye plant went well. In summer of 2022, I grew more plants and learned not only how to use the fresh plants for dyeing but also how to extract the pigment and store it for future use. 

Through this journey into natural dyes and using the materials locally produced, I am rethinking what I choose to make as an artist and how I choose to make it.