Event Details

Join Chantel West of we.grow.eco for a hands-on workshop focused on creative reuse, material transformation, and sustainability. Participants will learn how discarded cotton textiles are broken down and transformed into handmade paper, then bound into a simple and beautiful buttonhole-style journal. During the workshop, participants will process cotton clothing waste into pulp, form their own sheets of paper using traditional papermaking techniques, and learn basic bookbinding to assemble their paper into a buttonhole journal. The session emphasizes slow making, tactile engagement, and an accessible introduction to circular material practices. No prior experience is required. All materials are provided. Participants should wear clothes they do not mind getting wet or slightly messy. Each participant will leave with handmade paper and a completed buttonhole-bound journal created during the workshop.

 Chantel West is a Diné artist from the Navajo Nation, born and raised in the Southwest. Her creative practice is rooted in the philosophy of walking in beauty, and honoring the relationship between land, materials, and making. For the past five years, Chantel has worked as a jewelry maker, developing a deep respect for craft, patience, and intention. Over the past year, she has expanded her practice through papermaking and book arts with we.grow.eco, transforming reclaimed textiles into handmade paper and journals.

The workshop is presented by Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area. Registration is $50 per person and proceeds benefit Los Luceros Historic Site. 

Registration link coming soon!