If you love working with your hands to create one-of-a-kind pieces or art, we invite you to join us in the greenhouse for Macramé: a DIY Workshop with Natasha Kessler – on Saturday, August 11th, from 2:00pm to 4:30pm. We recently had the pleasure of talking with local artist Natasha Kessler of SugarWolves Macramé about her passion for this expressive, useful, accessible, and therapeutic art form – and she can’t wait to share her love for the craft with you at our upcoming workshop.
Natasha’s Enthusiasm is Contagious
Natasha is an English teacher and poet by trade, but a couple years ago, she found herself searching for a new creative outlet. After seeing examples of the amazing pieces artists were creating using the knotting techniques of macramé – from plant hangers to jewelry, wall hangings, curtains, clothing, and even furniture – she decided to give it a try, and very quickly, she was hooked. Macramé patterns may look complex in some cases, but Natasha says the craft is actually quite accessible for people with any level of crafting experience – a few simple materials and just three or four basic knots are all you need to begin following a wide variety of patterns. It’s such a satisfying craft too. Natasha loves how quickly a pile of material – such as jute, cotton rope, or wool roving – can transform into a beautiful and useful object. And as she works the soft cords with her fingers, tying the knots and following the repetitive pattern, Natasha finds macramé to be almost meditative too.
Ancient Origins Meet Modern Sensibilities
Natasha is also fascinated by the origins of macramé – its history is more rich and ancient than many of us realize. The beginnings of the craft are traditionally attributed to 13th century Arab weavers, but the art was spread quickly around the globe by sailors who practiced macramé as a way to pass time and generate extra income. Even Queen Mary of England was an enthusiast of the art form. Macramé’s American heyday was in the 70’s, but recently, macramé has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity fueled by a few aspects of our modern life. One is the ease of sharing information, techniques, and inspiring photos with people all over the world. Natasha says the materials used for macramé have stayed relatively the same over the years, but our access to them has increased exponentially too, making the potential for creativity and artistic expression almost limitless. Also, the handmade, customizable pieces we create using macramé fit perfectly with today’s more comfortable, inviting, and self-expressive design trends. People of all ages love how easy and fun macramé is and how so many of the objects have a practical purpose too – but with an approachable warmth that no mass-produced plastic plant hanger or metal chain could ever have.
Join Us at the Workshop
At our workshop, Natasha will begin by teaching the basic knots that form the foundation of macramé, so you can go on to create an amazing variety of projects as you build on your skills. Then, using variations on just one of these basic knots, she’ll guide you through a pattern to create a beautiful plant hanger to fit a range of pot styles from six to eight inches across. If you have a container that size already in mind, bring it along – or purchase one at the store, if you’d like – and Natasha will show you how to customize the pattern to create a perfect fit. And throughout the afternoon, enjoy refreshments and the company of other macramé enthusiasts as you complete your project – all while surrounded by the lush, plant-filled atmosphere in our greenhouse.
There are a limited number of spaces available for this fun and inspiring workshop, and pre-registration is required – just give us a call at 402-496-0700 so we can hold your spot. The cost is $65 and includes all the materials you’ll need to complete your plant hanger plus Natasha’s expert guidance, printed instructions to take home, and 15% off at her Etsy shop too. We’re looking forward to having Natasha, and we hope you’ll join us for this exciting workshop.
