Hi, I’m Mel Sweetnam. I’m a natural dye educator and fibre artist. I live on Unama’ki (Cape Breton Island), the territory of the Mi’kmaq people, on Canada’s east coast.

Mamie was my Mother, and my first fibre arts and conservation teacher. Mamie is pronounced may-me, like Mamie Eisenhower or Mamie Van Doren.

I combine over 30 years of natural dye study and practice with a postsecondary education in science, and previous career in public science policy management, to teach the most comprehensive natural dye education available online - historically accurate, evidence-based, research focused, riotously colourful and fun, and always prioritizing your health and the health of our planet’s precious ecology.

I’m a juried member of the Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design. I’m also a member of the Guild of Canadian Weavers. My work has been in gallery exhibits in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, and featured in newspaper and magazine articles, and in the book With These Hands.

I manage a very popular Natural Dye Education Facebook group of natural dyers from around the world - come join us! You can also find me on YouTube, where I share my Natural Dye Science in 60 Seconds videos and tutorials, and at the social media links below.

What others say…

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