An Update from Rebecca Saylor Studio 💌
Welcome to the First Edition of My Substack!
Hi Hello friends,
I’m thrilled to welcome you to this new corner of the internet, where I’ll share behind-the-scenes stories, studio notes, creative musings, and early access to upcoming workshops, pop-ups, and special events. This Substack will be a more intimate space for us to connect—a cozy newsletter that drops into your inbox like a note from an old friend. This first edition is getting you caught up on my upcoming events. There are so many!
Whether you’ve purchased something from my Oodlebadoodle Etsy shop, joined me at a natural dye or ice dye workshop, visited my studio, or followed along online, thank you for being part of this creative journey. I have so many exciting things coming up, and I wanted to share them with you. I’d love to see you in person if that works with your schedule.
🌿 Upcoming Projects & Events
💗 The Huggable Heart Returns – Night of Ideas at SF Public Library
I’m honored to bring a new iteration of The Huggable Heart to this year’s Night of Ideas at the San Francisco Public Library! This soft sculpture installation invites you to pause, reconnect, and wrap yourself in a moment of care and reflection. Created in 2017, I’ve spent the first part of this year sourcing new reclaimed fabric, testing dyes, finding the right colors for the project with natural materials, and even making my own knitted textile! This reimagined version will be part of a dynamic evening of art, conversation, and community. Here’s my cheesy blurb about the project. I enjoyed the connection so much when we first introduced the heart, and I’m humbled to have the chance again.
Saturday, April 5, 2025, 4pm - 1 am - The Huggable Heart is more than just a sculpture—it’s an experience. When you embrace it, you’ll feel an immediate connection as it responds with real heartbeat sounds recorded at Johns Hopkins Medical Center. This interactive piece explores the profound power of touch, comfort, and human connection. Come, hug, and feel the art come to life! ❤️
🌀 Studio Workshops – Year-Round in Petaluma
Are you looking to learn something fun and unique with indigo or natural dye processes? My studio workshops are back! From beginner-friendly indigo intensives to experimental dye labs, I’ll be opening my doors for small-group sessions throughout the year. My Intro to Indigo covers everything to get you started, and you get to take home a kit for later use. The in-depth indigo class will be a fun exploration of how to go beyond the basics, and I’ve been testing my screen printing and painting class, which is a fun way to get to see all the natural dye tones in one class. Subscribers here will get early access to sign-ups.
If you want to read more, I’ve been updating my website as I find time. I have endless ideas to encourage your creativity with natural dyes and plants, so come by the studio and check it out for yourself. Generally, I’m in studio for open hours Friday and Saturday 10am - 2pm, but I’m often around most days feel free to reach out if you’ll be in the Petaluma area.
🎨 April Art Break – Thursday, April 17th! ✨
Join us at the studio in Petaluma for our monthly Community Art Break—an easygoing, creative evening where everyone is welcome! This month, we’ll be exploring a candle making activity led by Taylor from Dolly’s Collective, or feel free to bring your own project and just vibe with fellow makers.
🗓️ Thursday, April 17th
🕔 5–8 PM
📍 Barn 5400 Studio | FREE to join!
Come as you are—snacks, supplies, and good company provided. Let’s make something beautiful together! 🌿
✨ Ferry Building Art Pop-Up – This Spring
I’ll be bringing a curated collection of hands-on mini workshops to the Ferry Building Marketplace with some of my teammates at SFEtsy. It’s our third year bringing art and activities to this historic space in SF, and It’s one of my favorite places to gather with fellow creative spirits and meet new faces. Below are the upcoming April dates but we have lots of fun activities planned throughout the year —I'd love to see you there!
Sunday April 13, 2025 from 10am - 4pm - Tiny Plants, Big Joy Succulent Project
Earth Day Lunch & Learn! April 22, 2025 from 10am - 4pm - Micro Mini Succulent Planter Project
🎨 Craftcation 2025 – Ventura, CA
I’m honored to be teaching again at Craftcation, the ultimate creative business conference for makers. I'll be leading a special workshop to help you start or continue an Urban Sketching practice. I’ll be sharing everything I’ve learned from my travels and meeting the best Urban Sketching teachers from around the world. I’ve complied some of my favorite tips and I’m excited to put them to practice at such a fun beachside location. There may be a VERY LIMITED amount of tickets still if you want to join.
🎨 Union Square Art Activity – Starting This May!
I’m excited to announce a brand new creative series happening in the heart of San Francisco! Beginning in May, SFEtsy will be hosting a fun, interactive art activity on the first Thursday of each month in Union Square Park. These open-air sessions are free, for all-ages, and designed to bring a little creative magic to your day—whether you're stopping by after work or making a special trip into the city.
Come get your hands messy, meet fellow art lovers, and add a splash of color to your life. Mark your calendars—our first gathering will be May 7, 2025 4:30pm - 6:30pm
If you made it this far, I’m so grateful. Thanks so much for being here with me on this journey! My next newsletter will be much more intimate as I hope to chat with you more about how the huggable heart project developed in my brain. I enjoy reading about how creative projects develop so I hope to share my own story in an interesting way.
Why Substack?
I’ve wanted to have a newsletter for over a year and this space will allow me to slow down a bit, share more thoughtful updates, and connect with you without the noise of social media. Think of it as a blend of studio journal + inspiration board + cozy community letter and basically an extension of my IG stories.
If there’s something you’re curious about—natural dyeing tips, the life of a working artist, or what’s currently blooming in the dye garden—hit reply and let me know. I’d love to include your questions in future posts.
Thank you for being here.
Let’s make some magic.
With gratitude,
Rebecca
@Rebeccasaylorstudio (IG)