A Poisonous Plant Pocket Guide Workshop: Intro to Embroidery & Oleander with Sarah Zanchetta

Date: Friday, August 8th, 2025
Time: 6:30pm - 9:00pm

Embark on a journey through botanical history as our Oleander Embroidery Workshop celebrates the haunting beauty of this Mediterranean shrub.

Nerium Oleander, a member of the dogbane family (Apocynaceae), has long been admired for its vivid blooms yet feared for its formidable toxicity. Bitter and unpalatable to humans and most animals, oleander carries a potent poison capable of causing nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and even fatal disruptions of the heart’s rhythm. Prolonged contact can also irritate the skin and eyes, a chilling testament to nature’s hidden dangers cloaked in vibrant colour.

Under the expert guidance of seasoned textile artist Sarah Zanchetta, you’ll embark on a hands-on session where you’ll master five essential, beginner-friendly stitches: back stitch, stem stitch, chain stitch, leaf stitch, and French knot. All materials - including a hoop, threads, and a step-by-step project guide - are provided so you can fully immerse yourself in this unique creative experience.

Whether you’re a seasoned stitcher or just starting out, join us to explore the striking contrast between nature’s captivating allure and its lethal edge. Step into a space where creativity meets the darker side of the botanical world, and take home not just a piece of art, but a story woven in thread.

Instructor

Sarah Zanchetta (she/they) is an artist, educator, and writer whose textile practice dives into her loss of connection to nature through hands-on mending and research of poisonous plants. She questions what it means to be in kinship with the poisonous, creating intimate works as a space to unfold curiosities, care, and anxieties about what grows beneath our feet.

Zanchetta is a graduate of the Master of Visual Studies Studio program at the University of Toronto and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from OCAD University. Her practice has been supported by the Ontario Arts Council, and has collaborative community-based work in the permanent collections of the Kortright Centre for Conservation and Evergreen Brick Works. Their work has been shown internationally, with most recent exhibitions at Fais-Moi L'Art (Montreal, Canada) and Art Museum (Toronto, Canada).

Cancellation Policy
Please note that all our facilitators carefully prepare in advance for each event, whether it’s gathering materials, setting up special activities, or creating a memorable experience. For this reason, once purchased, tickets are non-refundable.

If your plans change, you’re welcome to transfer your ticket to a friend up to 24 hours before the event. Just call us at (647) 341-0394 or send an email to oracle@curiosasociety.com with the new participant’s name, phone number, and email address, and we’ll take care of the rest.

Please Note
To ensure you don’t miss out, we recommend arriving a little early to get settled in.

Our event space is on the second floor, accessible only by stairs; if this raises any accessibility concerns, we encourage you to contact us before purchasing tickets to explore what accommodations, if any, might be possible.

For a full list of our workshop and event policies please visit our F.A.Q. page.