The other night, I had the joy of co-creating with my neighbor Annie and her friend Michael from Dreads Threads, a fellow dye artist from Wisconsin. Michael, who started ice dyeing a few years ago while caring for his mother, has turned what began as a personal therapy into a thriving small business. We bonded over our shared love of vibrant colors and the healing that art brings into our lives.
Michael shared a story of sobriety similar to my own, and throughout our session, we found so much in common—especially how art has become our way of processing and growing. We all break in unique ways, and we all heal in unique ways, too. Dyeing, for both of us, has been part of that healing.
Watching them experiment with the dash dyeing process was fun, creating beautiful pieces of wearable art. Together, we dyed their clothing, pressure-set it, and rinsed it out, and by the end of the night, they were able to take home their freshly dyed item, ready to wash and wear. It was not just a creative session but a meaningful exchange—a reminder that art connects, heals, and brings new colors into our lives.
