We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mary Hermans. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mary below.
Mary, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
Ironically, the first natural dye classes I took didn’t ignite much of a spark. It wasn’t until a couple of years later, when I stumbled upon eco-printing, that everything changed. The sight of crisp, delicate impressions of real flowers transferred onto fabric inspired a deep sense of wonder and awe. In that moment, I thought, “I have to do that!” and felt utterly compelled to learn how.
From there, it’s been a deep dive into organic chemistry, gardening, foraging, pre-treatment processes, and endless experimentation—a captivating blend of curiosity and discipline that keeps me fascinated and always yearning for more. Each teacher, book, botanical discovery, and whimsy-filled “mistake” has added another patch to the ever-evolving quilt of my self-taught skills. Like any quilt, the imperfections and irregularities are what make it uniquely mine, stitching together moments of discovery, frustration, and delight—mostly delight!
Reflecting on my learning process, I wouldn’t change a thing. My work thrives on the pace of nature; it demands that I attune to its seasons and rhythms. To rush that process would rob me of the joy and stunning aesthetics that emerge when curiosity leads me down unexpected paths. The greatest obstacles I’ve faced have been when I tried to rush, assert control, or force outcomes. These moments have taught me that the best results come when I slow down, trust my intuition, and tune into the subtle energies of the plants and the living, breathing earth around me.
Mary, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
For those who haven’t yet been introduced, I’m the creative force behind Nexus Botanical Arts—a business born from my love of nature, curiosity, and advocating for self-care. My work walks the line between science and art; it is both calculated and feral, blending the organic chemistry of botanical dyeing with folk artistry to create one-of-a-kind pieces that celebrate the beauty of the natural world.
The journey to where I am today has been anything but linear. It started as a deeply personal need—health conditions made me sensitive to synthetic ingredients, so I began crafting my own natural bath and body products. That practical start opened a door to the world of herbalism, where I discovered not only remedies but also the healing power of connecting with plants. From there, my curiosity led me to natural dyeing and botanical printing, where I learned to unlock the stories held in leaves and flowers, coaxing their pigments into fiber and fabric.
Today, my business offers a wide range of creations: botanically printed garments and accessories, herbal apothecary remedies, and whimsical home decor. I also teach workshops on natural dyeing, tea blending, and cyanotypes, where I guide others to tap into their own innate creativity and discover the magic of working with plants. Whether someone is looking for a gift that feels personal and unique or a hands-on experience that sparks their creativity, my goal is to inspire a deeper connection to nature and a more intentional way of living. Sustainability lies at the heart of everything I do, driving me to work in harmony with the environment. From sourcing materials responsibly to breathing new life into pre-loved items through upcycling and repurposing, I aim to reduce waste and keep useful materials out of landfills.
What sets Nexus Botanical Arts apart is the emphasis on collaboration—with plants, with nature, and with people. Every piece I create is infused with the uniqueness of its materials—no two prints are ever the same because no two leaves or flowers are. This individuality makes each item truly one of a kind, much like the people who wear or use them.
I’m most proud of how my work bridges the gap between art and the everyday. Whether it’s a piece of clothing that carries the imprint of a summer meadow or a pumpkin adorned with pressed flowers that can eventually be composted and returned to the earth, my creations are meant to be lived with, touched, and cherished. They tell stories of seasons, places, and moments in time.
What I’d love for people to know about Nexus Botanical Arts is that it’s more than a business—it’s an invitation. An invitation to slow down, to notice the quiet beauty around us, and to rediscover the magic in the mundane. It’s about finding joy in the simple things and realizing that art doesn’t just belong on a wall—it can be in the clothes we wear, the tables we gather around, and the rituals we create in our lives.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
Perfectionism has a sneaky way of becoming a tyrant—it whispers that what you’ve made isn’t good enough, that there’s always something more to refine, adjust, or fix. When I first started exploring natural dyeing and botanical printing, I held on tightly to the idea that every piece needed to come out exactly as I envisioned it. If a print didn’t turn out just right, I’d obsess over what went wrong and lose sight of the beauty in the imperfections. But working with plants and natural processes has a quick way of humbling you. The weather, the seasons, even the subtle variations in a single leaf—all of these forces are beyond my control. Trying to micromanage them was not only futile but also exhausting.
The breakthrough came when I shifted my mindset from “practice makes perfect” to “practice makes progress.” Progress honors the journey over the destination. It’s about showing up, experimenting, and trusting the process instead of clinging to an unattainable ideal. The truth is, there’s magic in the surprises: the unexpected hues, the ghostly shapes of a flower petal that didn’t press quite as planned, the beautiful serendipity of flowing with nature instead of fighting it.
This shift also taught me to release my grip on control. Letting go doesn’t mean lowering your standards or abandoning discipline—it means embracing flexibility and finding joy in the unknown. I’ve learned that healthy self-discipline isn’t about forcing myself to push harder; it’s about showing up consistently, being patient with the process, and knowing when to step back.
Now, when I unroll a bundle and the results aren’t what I expected, I don’t see it as a disappointment. Instead, I see it as an opportunity to learn, to grow, and to deepen my connection to the craft. And often, those “mistakes” become the moments that spark my next design idea through creative problem solving. Playful progress, not perfection, is what keeps my work alive, evolving, and fun!
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Last year, I bought a 200-year-old fixer-upper on a beautiful five-acre plot, with grand plans to grow my own dye garden for the 2024 season. I meticulously mapped out my garden using spreadsheets, hand-drawn bed plans, and a detailed schedule for seed starts. But as life often does, other responsibilities delayed me, and I got a late start—six weeks behind schedule to be exact.
Then, just when things were starting to take shape, a rodent snuck into my grow room one night and dug up and ate about two-thirds of my seedlings. Undeterred, I replanted, only for more setbacks to follow. Birds and more rodents picked off what little made it outside. After securing the beds with a hardware cloth fence, I managed to get some flowers growing, but I ended up with just a fraction—about a quarter—of what I required to keep me creating through the long, harsh Western New York winter.
Despite the setbacks, I found ways to adapt. I utilized more wild foraged botanicals in my work as well as taking the opportunity to support local flower farmers, buying their blooms to press and store for later use in my designs. This pivot led to great networking and new connections with other women-owned businesses in the area who I will likely collaborate with in the future. Now, I have the infrastructure in place for next growing season and a deeper understanding of resilience—not just in the garden, but in how I approach challenges. For me, it is about acknowledging hardship without getting stuck in the emotional stress, so I can take a breath and move forward with clarity. “Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass but learning to dance in the rain.” – Vivian Greene
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nexusbotanicalarts.com
- Instagram: @thenexusrevolution
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/NexusBotanicalArts
Image Credits
Bubbles & Berries Boudoir