What steps did you take to create your artwork?
To create this bundle dye, I lightly spritzed my piece of cotton to dampen only half of it. I then carefully arranged pieces of dried logwood, cochineal, marigolds, eucalyptus, and cosmos across the fabric. My original vision was for the piece to be filled with rusty oranges and muted yellows, earthy, autumnal tones that felt calm and grounded.

What challenges did you face? How did you work through them?
I wouldn’t say I faced challenges in the traditional sense, because this project was about releasing control and allowing the natural dyes to do their work. Still, I had to confront my own expectations. Even though Marcelle explained that certain materials would create purples and pinks, that was not what I had pictured. Letting go of that internal image and trusting the process became part of the artwork itself.

What do you like or dislike about your work?
The final piece looks nothing like what I had imagined, and yet it feels perfect. It reflects bright, hopeful colours emerging through a season that often feels muted and drab. In many ways, the cloth mirrors how I have been feeling: small bursts of warmth and positivity pushing through a quieter, heavier time.

What did you title your artwork? Why?
Between Rust and Rose
The title reflects the way this piece holds contrast between expectation and outcome, restraint and abundance, quiet seasons and sudden brightness.

What did you learn by creating this artwork?
I learned that less is truly more. I didn’t think I had used very many materials and expected more white space and softer tones. Instead, the fabric became richly layered and vibrant exactly as Marcelle predicted. This process taught me to trust both the materials and the people guiding me.

If you could do it again, would you change anything? Why or why not?
I wouldn’t change the experience itself. I loved both the process and the outcome. If I were to experiment again, I might try using fewer dyes, especially less logwood, just to explore how subtlety shifts the balance. But I value this piece for what it taught me about surrender, surprise, and trust.