Filming Catherine Alice Michaelis

Earlier this month, the Craft in America film crew visited Catherine Alice Michaelis (pronounced Michaels) in Shelton, Washington, also referred to as the South Salish Sea. Catherine is inspired by and uses the plants in her garden to create her artist books. Michaelis spends time drawing and photographing her plants and even uses the plants for eco-printing. The paper is wrapped in plants and placed in a dye vat for at least a hour. When the paper is removed from the dye vat, the paper is transformed into yellows, oranges, browns, green, blue, and purples. She works closely with her husband, Bill Moody, who helps her with this process.

In Michaelis’ studio, we watch her ink up her press and print copies of her newest artist book, “Aster Nautica.”