Instructor Bios
Marika Banyacski
InstructorI have been working with fiber for most of my adult life. I began experimenting with natural dyeing about six years ago. I refined the process and began to dye large lots of yarn and fiber when I began teaching handwork at the Eugene Waldorf School. I plant dyed all the yarn my students worked with throughout the year for the four years I taught there. I learned quite a bit about dyeing large quantities of material. It was also around this time that I began my business Artisan Plant Dyed Fiber. I dyed mainly silk and silk rayon scarves as well as wool and mohair wool blend yarns with plant dyes.
Two years ago I began to work with mushrooms as a dye stuff and got hooked. Shortly after, I attended the International Mushroom Dyeing Symposium in Mendocino CA as Dorothy Beebee's dye assistant. I feel so grateful for the opportunity I was given to learn from mushroom dyers from all over the world for an incredible week long intensive. I love looking for mushrooms as much as dyeing with them. I find the dyeing process all the more magical beginning it first in the forest wildcrafting my dyestuff. As well, I have come to appreciate the beautiful, subtle and complex hues the mushrooms offer and the unpredictability of them sparks my creativity. I have been moving my business slowly away from the plant dyes and will be working mainly with only mushroom dyes from now on. Come check out my booth at the Mt. Pisgah Mushroom Festival this October 25th from 10-5. It's a fantastic festival for anyone interested in mushrooms.
I have been teaching fiber art and dyeing classes to adults in the greater Eugene area for the past five years. I really enjoy the sharing and learning atmosphere of a group of people interested in fiber. I teach mainly felting, knitting, doll making, embroidery/needlework and natural dyeing.
