Skillshop for Doulas: Indigo & Binding

This is a skills class for doulas who want to understand different techniques of binding, their cultural origins, the benefits of wrapping and binding for core restoration, posture for breastfeeding, and the risks of binding improperly. Bryna has taken courses with Doula Love and Sacred Pregnancy, as well as learned the cultural history of belly binding via self-study, and the evidentiary basis will be shared via research articles on the practice.

Doulas will also learn to indigo-dye their binds, giving new skills for indigo textile artistry- which can be used for gifts, burp cloths, rejuvenating old birth-clothes, and more. Interwoven in the dye instruction is an introduction to the historical and cultural roots for indigo. Indigo is revered across the globe, from West Africa to India, Central America and Japan. Celeste has self-studied the history and has taken courses at Oregon College of Arts and Crafts as well as Botanical Colors in Seattle.

The whole messy, beautiful creation process will be documented by a professional photographer (who specializes in birth and knows the messy transition process well), and an image will be provided after the course for marketing new skills to augment the doula's existing toolbox!

Skillshop fee includes:

• Instruction in proper binding technique, modifications for breastfeeding, and benefits and risks of binding (1h)
• One prepared binding cloth, ready for dyeing.
• Instruction in indigo cloth dying and history of indigo, as well as various techniques (1h)
• Professional-quality digital image for marketing of new skill
• Dessert reception following skillshop

About the Hosts:

Celeste Sarvata is a creative crafter and artist in many mediums with Hand Crafted. Her penchant for textiles and skill with indigo is well-known in her community in Portland, Oregon and beyond. She offers textiles for sale and workshops in indigo history and dye techniques. When not getting her hands blue, she's a thoughtful and engaged parent for her twin boys.

Jessica Clark is a photographer, doula, and entrepreneur in Gresham, Oregon with Jessie Photo Doula. She is an internationally published birth photographer; Featured on Birth Becomes You and Lookslikefilm, awarded one of LOOKSLIKEFILM'S Artist of the year 2017, and awarded top 27 in LOOKSLIKFILMS’S Birth Photographer of 2018, she has established a photo-journalistic and organic style that captures eyes and hearts. When not snapping photos, or working on creative video production, she serves families as a doula, and her community as the co-founder of RedFred Collective- an artist collaborative in downtown district of Gresham, Oregon. She's a wife, mother, and lover of life.

Bryna Sampey is a lactation consultant and doula with Doula My Soul a lactation and doula private practice offering home & office visits, lactation consultation, doula support, parent and professional education for the community in the Portland and Southwest Washington Metro areas. She speaks nationally and internationally about breastfeeding and infant reflexes, as well as complex case management in birth and lactation.

Space is limited to 12 registrants. Sign up soon!