Botanical Fibre

Where to reach us, and when

Most questions about workshop benches, dye batches or commissions get answered the same day. If you are not sure who to ask, start with the studio line or send a note and we will point you to the right person.

Studio address

31387 Maree Street
Lake Leigh, FS 6238

The Woodstock workroom sits behind the courtyard gate. Ring the bell at the side door if the front is closed during a dye session.

Phone and email

+27334987516
info@botanicalfibreart.com

Calls are best between dye batches. Email works well for commission measurements, fabric questions and workshop bookings.

Studio hours

  • Tuesday to Friday, 09:00 to 16:00
  • Saturday workshops, 10:00 to 14:00
  • Sunday and Monday closed

Saturday sessions are limited to eight benches, so a quick call ahead saves a wasted trip across town.

Which channel fits your question

Workshop bookings, dye-bath dates and bench availability: call the studio line during opening hours.

Commissions for restaurants, guesthouses and stylists: email your wall or table measurements and we will reply with a per square metre quote.

Plant holders and offcut pieces sold at the door: drop by on a weekday afternoon, stock changes with each dye batch.

Care, washing and repair questions for a piece you already own: email a photo and we will walk you through it.

Clarifications before you write to us

A few definitions we keep coming back to at the desk. They settle most of the back-and-forth that happens when a request arrives without the details we actually need to answer it well.

What counts as a commission

Anything sized to a specific wall, table or room is a commission, even a single plant hanger cut to a fixed drop. Pieces already knotted and sitting in the studio are stock, not commissions, and they leave the same day.

Colour is a range, not a swatch

Madder root, onion skin and indigo shift with the water, the season and how long the fibre stays in the bath. Two panels from the same pot will sit close but never identical. We treat that as the point, not a fault to correct.

Workshop bench, not a class seat

Saturday sessions hold eight people because that is how many pairs of hands fit around the dye pots. Materials are included, and whatever you knot or dip goes home with you the same afternoon.

Offcuts stay in the studio

Short lengths of hemp and linen cord left over from larger work become small plant holders sold at the door. They are not a separate product line and we do not take orders for them in advance.

Quoting by the square metre

Hospitality and styling work is measured, not guessed. Send the wall or surface dimensions and we work from those figures. A rough photo helps, but the tape measure decides the shape of the piece.

Where the desk ends

We answer questions about dye batches, knot patterns, care and timing. We do not advise on interiors, structural fixing or anything outside the fibre itself. For those, your installer or stylist is the right person.

If your question is not covered here, the studio address is 31387 Maree Street, Lake Leigh, FS 6238. You can call +27334987516 or write to info@botanicalfibreart.com, and we will point you to the right page or the right person.

Questions we get at the studio door

Most people arrive with the same handful of questions about dyeing, workshops and commissions. Here are the answers we give in person, written down so you can check before you travel to Woodstock.

Do I need any craft experience to join a Saturday workshop?

No. The session starts with the basic knots, then moves to dye-bath prep and finishing. We keep the group at eight people so there is time to correct your hands before a knot pattern goes wrong. Most attendees have never worked with hemp or linen cord before.

What should I bring, and what is provided?

Cord, dye materials and tools are included. Wear clothes you do not mind staining, since madder root and indigo both mark fabric. Bring a notebook if you want to record your dye ratios, and a bag for the piece you take home at the end of the day.

How do commissions for restaurants and guesthouses work?

We quote per square metre, based on the cord, the dye batch and the knotting density you choose. Send the wall or table dimensions and a photo of the room. We then dye a small sample so you can see the actual colour in your own light before the full piece is knotted.

Will plant dyes fade over time?

They shift, which is part of the material. Indigo holds well but softens with direct sun, while onion skin and madder deepen slightly with washing. Keep pieces out of harsh afternoon light and wash linen covers cold by hand where possible.

Can I see the current dye batch before booking?

Yes. The studio door is open on weekdays when a batch is on the line, and the small plant holders made from offcuts are sold there. If you want to talk through a commission or a bench for the next session, the quickest route is to reach us first.

What if my question is not covered here?

Send it through and we will answer directly, usually within a day or two between dye batches. For anything about how we handle your details, the privacy notes cover it, and the support page lists the other ways to get help.

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