TOAST | Festive Marbling with Natalie Stopka

Join us online for a festive marbling workshop, led by book and textile artist Natalie Stopka. Using a centuries-old printmaking technique, Natalie will guide you through crafting festive paper stationery and gift tags with colourful dyes.

Based in Yonkers, New York, Natalie is an artist, educator, and the author of From Plant to Pigment, a manual of recipes for creating pigments and paints using natural ingredients.

Materials required:

• paper such as stonehenge, fabriano, or other watercolor or printmaking paper
• potassium aluminum sulphate (alum)
• carrageenan
• gouache (winsor & newton, holbein, or daler-rowney) 3 primary colors + white
• dish soap: Ecover or Dawn
• tray: any type of plastic or enamel tray at least 8x10" and 1-3" deep
• drop cloth
• eye droppers
• kitchen roll
• measuring cups and spoons
• two 1L mixing containers/jars
• small cups or jars (~1/4C) for mixing paint
• whisk
• sponge brush or wide paintbrush

Preparation:

Mordant Paper

Coating the paper’s surface with a mordant solution allows the marbling pigments to chemically bond to the paper. Dissolve 1 1/2 teaspoons aluminum sulfate (alum) in a pint of warm water and sponge this solution evenly across the paper. Pencil an X on the back of each sheet. Stack mordanted paper between blotters/papertowels and under a weight to dry flat. Allow to dry for 12 hours before marbling, and use mordanted papers within 2 days.

Mix Size

You’ll need enough size to fill your marbling tray with 1 inch of liquid. Measure the amount of water you’ll need, then mix 5 teaspoons carrageenan per gallon water. Allow to sit 4-12 hours, whisking occasionally to dissolve more speedily. Prepared size may be stored in the refrigeratorfor a few days, but must be returned to room temperature priorto marbling. Size lasts up to a week atroom temperature.

Mix Paints

All paints must be thinned with waterto the viscosity of whole milk. Gouache will require about 1 part paint : 4 parts water. Add surfactant one drop at a time to pigments which sink when tested on the prepared size. For clear ‘negative space’, mix a few drops of surfactant in water.

Mon 15 December, 6pm–7:30pm GMT (1pm–2:30pm EST)

TOAST is a unique lifestyle brand renowned for its thoughtful, contemporary design and commitment to traditional textiles and craftsmanship. Seasonal workshops and gatherings aim to bring together a like minded community and foster creativity.

As part of our commitment to creative communities, we are currently supporting Crafts Council UK, the national charity for craft. Funds raised through our seasonal events programme and activities will support the work they do to inspire making, empower learning and nurture craft businesses. We jointly believe craft skills and knowledge enrich and uplift us as individuals, and, in doing so, will change our world for the better. We are proud to be an advocate for their project which are focused on social justice, environmental responsibility and talent development in the craft sector. This workshop is suitable for beginners and 50% of ticket sales will be donated to the Crafts Council UK.