UBUD OPEN STUDIOS 2026
5 - 7 June 2026 | Open 10 AM - 5 PM
at Threads of Life Natural Dye Studio & Garden
in Petulu, Ubud
Studio Talk: Traditional Use of Mud Dye
at 10 AM & 3 PM every day
Dye with Mud Workshop
Drop in anytime
Free participation – 50×50 cm cotton fabric
Available for purchase – high quality cotton scarves, T‑shirts, and other natural fibre materials
Create your own mud dye art using various tie-dye techniques on cotton fabric.
Learn foundational natural dye practices, before the complex colour systems evolved, creating shades of blacks and greys using mud and tannins. Experience traditional use of mud dyes in communities we have worked with for over 27 years, including Sulawesi, Timor, Sumba, and Bali. Here you can also learn about the work of the Bebali Foundation, who have been working alongside Threads of Life for decades – including their field research across the archipelago. We will display selected specimens from their collection on traditional mud-dyeing.
Mud dye requires repetitive application – tannin, then mud, then wash, and repeat. This can take up to 30 minutes to get a dark grey colour. The deep black colour takes more than 30 minutes to achieve. We suggest wearing comfortable clothes and be prepared to take your time. Aprons and gloves are available.
