100 Days of Making – Week Three | Creative Experimentation

 

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Another week down, and my 100 Days of Making journey is rolling right along—this time, with some eco-dyeing experiments, travel-friendly creativity, and how to connect with other artists in the challenge.

This week began in California and ended with me back at home in Florida. I managed to squeeze in some eco-dyeing, creative conversations, and, of course, a little unpacking. This is my biggest challenge when I return home from a trip. 🤣

Let’s dive into Week Three!

Creating in California: Eco Dyeing & Experimentation

While still at Susan’s studio in California (check out Episode Three), we decided to explore eco-dyeing—a process that involves layering natural elements like flowers, leaves, and rusty bits (if you want that cool effect) onto paper and fabric, then steaming them to create random organic prints.

To gather our materials, we took a trip to Trader Joe’s and foraged from Susan’s yard, which offered up lavender, rosemary and bougainvillea.

Here’s a peek at our process:
•Prepping the materials – Cutting, sorting, and organizing everything into bowls.
•Layering fabric & paper – Stacking elements with added infusions like tea, dye powders, and acrylic inks for a mix of natural and unexpected effects.
•Bundling & steaming – Tying everything together and simmering in a hot pot, then leaving them overnight to dry.
•The big reveal! – Like Christmas morning, unwrapping each bundle to discover the unpredictable, one-of-a-kind prints. 💕🌸

Some of these gorgeous dyed fabrics and papers will find their way into my EmbellishBits–two this week to be exact.

 
 

Want to learn about eco-dyeing?  My super talented artist friend, Francisca is the one to check out. 🌸

How I “Audition” My EmbellishBits

Do I create each EmbellishmentBit start to finish, or do I prep pieces and assemble later?

The answer? A little of both!

•Some days, I batch-prep materials—layering and organizing elements before committing to final assembly. (My friend calls this "auditioning"—testing out different layouts before deciding what works best.)
•Other times, I sit down and complete a full piece in one go.
•Storage hack: I keep everything together using Wonder Clips (usually for sewing) to hold elements in place.

This flexible approach lets me stay productive without feeling pressured to finish everything in one sitting.

Q&A: How to Connect with Other 100 Day Project Artists

One thing I’ve noticed this year is that finding other participants isn’t as easy as it used to be, thanks to Instagram changing how hashtags work. But don’t worry—I’ve got some tips!

Ways to Find & Follow Fellow Creatives:

•Follow @DoThe100DayProject on Instagram – They’re doing an amazing job resharing participant posts in their stories daily.
•Sign up for their newsletter at The100DayProject.org – They offer free updates and an optional paid version with more interaction and prompts.
•Mark your favorite accounts – If you find artists you love, add them to your “Favorites” on Instagram so their posts don’t get buried.
•Save posts to a dedicated folder – Create a collection for 100 Day inspiration so you can easily revisit posts that caught your eye.
•Engage & connect – If you see something you love, leave a comment or send a DM! A simple “I love your work!” can lead to new creative friendships.

This project is all about community and creative momentum, so don’t be shy about reaching out to fellow makers!

Wrapping Up Week Three

This week was all about experimenting, traveling, and connecting with other creatives—three things that always make my creative process more exciting. Now that I’m back home, I’ll be incorporating my eco-dyed pieces into my work and settling back into my studio rhythm.

👉 Want to see more behind-the-scenes action?

Watch Episode One: Prep Week here: 100 Days of Making – Prep Week
Watch Episode Two: Week One here: 100 Days of Making – Week One | My Creative Process & First Projects
Watch Episode Three: Week Two here: 100 Days of Making - Creating on the Go

Are you following along with The 100 Day Project this year? How do you connect with other artists? Drop a comment and let’s chat!

 
 

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artRoben-Marie SmithComment