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Get #simplyblockprinting. Learn the foundation of stamp carving & master block printed repeat patterns.
Join us for the spring season of block printing magic!
My block printing workshops are back one last time and I am excited to be offering Intro to Block Printing workshops followed by Repeat Patterns Deep 1 & 2 over the course of April, May and June.

- Have you ever wondered how to carve your own stamps?
- Do you want to hand print your own designs on paper or fabric?
- Are you curious about how repeat patterns work?
- Do you want to learn a new creative skill?
- Are you curious about what makes a pattern tessellate?
- Do you want to learn more about the materials and tools to use for block printing and get valuable tips from a working artist?
- Do you want to spend a few creative hours or several weeks block printing with a group of like-minded people?
- Let’s get #simplyblockprinting.
HOW STUDENTS DESCRIBE ALI'S WORKSHOPS IN ONE WORD
The workshops are ...
amazing comprehensive brilliant encouraging creative fun excellent inspirational thoughtful exhilarating confidence-building enthusiastic artful illuminating empowering essential wonderful enlightening informative excellent heartening exceptional fantastic inspiring great well-rounded kind motivating eternal resourceful suuuuper magic successful thorough fabulous helpful engaging
DISCOVER THE WORLD OF BLOCK PRINTING!
What are block printing workshops?
Discover the world of block printing with our online workshops! We offer a variety of workshops, from a 3-hour “Intro to Block Printing” to a multi-week “Repeat Pattern Deep Dive” series, all delivered virtually to the comfort of your own home. Our workshops are perfect for beginners and seasoned block printers alike, as we tailor our instruction to meet you where you're at and help you establish your block printing and repeat pattern skills with plenty of opportunities for questions and feedback.
Learning by doing is the best way to master this art, and our workshops are hands-on with optional homework assignments to apply what you've learned. And you will leave each workshop with actionable knowledge that you can apply to your own creative goals, such as art prints, gift wrap, cards, etc.
Choose to take one workshop or sign up for our full 7-week package, which covers everything from fundamentals to advanced repeat patterns.
Our workshops are conducted via Zoom in English, with German workshops also available. We offer two timeslots for each workshop type to accommodate different time zones and make our workshops accessible to creatives all around the world. If you can't make it to a live session, don't worry. You'll have access to workshop recordings to catch up on what you missed.
Join the hundreds of students who have already taken our workshops and unlock your block printing potential.

Examples of student work from previous workshops
"Ali made everything very clear. I had been trying to do repeat patterns on my own, but I was in need of some fundamental steps to really understand the process. Ali made the process very accessible."
- Meghan Phillips, USA
LET'S DIG INTO THE DETAILS
The workshops in nutshell

Intro to Block Printing
The perfect place to start - a 3 hour workshop
- Know the tools and materials needed
- Master the art of stamp carving
- Create your first block prints
This workshop is designed for beginners (or those who would like to refresh their knowledge), so no prior knowledge is required.
By the end of the workshop, you'll have the skills and knowledge needed to carve your own stamps and create prints on your own.

Repeat Patterns Deep Dive 1
Dive deep into the art of creating beautiful and intricate repeat patterns - a series of three 2.5-hour sessions.
- Understand how repeat patterns work in the context of block printing
- Explore different types of repeat patterns and block shapes in detail
- Take your carving & block printing to the next level
By the end of this workshop series, you'll have the skills and knowledge to create beautiful and intricate repeat patterns, as well as the confidence to apply what you have learned to your own projects.

Repeat Patterns Deep Dive 2
For graduates of the Deep Dive 1 to take your skills even further - a series of three 2.5-hour sessions.
- Combine different blocks to create new print variations
- Dive into more complex curved shapes to create stunning patterns
- Make your own tessellating shapes
This workshop series is designed to take your repeat pattern knowledge and block printing skills to the next level to create stunning and intricate multi-block repeat patterns with ease, as well as the ability to design and incorporate your own tessellating shapes seamlessly into your prints.
Dive into the details!
of what you will learn in each workshop
Intro to Block Printing
Repeat Patterns Deep Dive 1
Repeat Patterns Deep Dive 2

"[I liked] everything - from the pre-workshop communications which were very organized and comprehensive, to the relaxed pacing of the workshop, and all the content/knowlege you packed into a short time. It was fantastic."
- Mel Beach, USA - Intro to Block Printing
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR, ALI BAECKER OF 3 DOTTED PENGUINS
Hey there, I'm Ali!
I am a self-taught printmaker and surface pattern designer based in Zurich, Switzerland. I am here to teach you all about my passion for block printing and pattern design. I discovered my love for block printing in 2018 - with no previous experience with stamp carving or block printing and no understanding of how patterns worked. Since then, I've been carving blocks and creating countless prints and patterns. Through trial and error, I've learned what works and what doesn't, and I'm excited to share my knowledge and my tips and tricks with students like you to help kickstart your block printing and pattern journey.
Since 2020 I have taught hundreds of students from around the world in online workshops. There is no bigger joy than seeing my students experience the magic of block printing and creating beautiful handprinted repeat patterns.
When I'm not working on 3 Dotted Penguins, you can find me chasing after my little printmaker (aka my daughter), exploring the world, or playing board games.

What students say

"I tried to carve on my own but there were many skills and steps I was missing to get the level I wanted. After taking Intro to Block Printing I felt empowered and educated to level up my carving.
Im so glad I took the workshop as my confidence and love for carving has grown and my carvings are a joy and meditative practice."
- Julie Byrne, USA

"I have always felt motivated after the workshops and proud of what I managed to create. I thought that one had to be absolutely perfect but it is the imperfections that I think make it my own.
If you are wanting to escape into a world of creativity, and be guided by Ali's infectious enthusiasm I would highly recommend it."
- Veronica Glattauer, Australia

"Ali's courses are an absolute pleasure to attend and worth investing time and money in. She answers all questions, and I leave every class with many new ideas.
The weekly cadence of live sessions is perfect – this leaves enough time to try all the concepts and new shapes and get carving and printing. I find it convenient that I can rewatch the lessons and work on them again at my own pace. In addition, Ali provides templates that make everything easier."
- Sandra Meeh, Germany

"Ali's Deep Dive classes will advance your carving/printing skills, confidence, and enthusiasm for block printing! You'll build upon your block printing experience and leave with new design inspiration, shapes, and lots of tips/tricks.
Ali generously shares her experience and expertise, thoughtful answers to participant questions, and provides positive feedback along with lots of encouragement along the way!"
- Mel Beach, USA
Join from across the globe
To accommodate different time zones (Europe/USA/Canada and Europe/Asia/Australia), workshops are available with different start times - in a European morning and a European evening session:

Intro to Block Printing
Sunday, April 16, 2023
Session 1: 9 am-12 pm CEST/Europe or
Session 2: 6 - 9 pm CEST/Europe

Repeat Patterns Deep Dive 1
Sundays, May 7, 14 & 21
Session 1: 9 -11:30 am CEST/Europe or
Session 2: 7 - 9:30 pm CEST/Europe

Repeat Patterns Deep Dive 2
Sundays, June 4, 11 & 18
Session 1: 9 - 11:30 am CEST/Europe or
Session 2: 7 - 9:30 pm CEST/Europe
All workshops are recorded in case you miss a session and will be available for viewing on the private workshop hub within 2 working days after the workshop.
Where Ali's students have been from
Australia Austria Belgium Brazil Canada Denmark Estonia France Germany Great Britain Greece Hungary India Ireland Israel Italy Kuwait Netherlands New Zealand Paraguay Philippines Poland South Africa Spain Sweden Switzerland Thailand United Arab Emirates United States of America Zimbabwe
... and counting
What you can expect in the workshops

Hands-on live experience via video platform Zoom

Well-structured workshops with step-by-step instructions to easily follow along

Live demos (carving and printing)

Opportunity to ask questions & show your work during the workshop

Attend from the comfort of your home with a fully immersive experience through video and audio.

Upfront information by email, such as materials list and additional details & supporting material such as work sheets and templates

Leave the workshop with a carved block (Intro to Block Printing) or enjoy optional homework to deepen the discussed topics (Repeat Patterns Deep Dive 1 & 2)

Access to the recording of the workshop for 6 months through the private Workshop Hub.
The workhops are for you if ...
- You are excited about exploring a new medium or deepening your block carving and printing skills
- You love working with your hands
- You enjoy learning in a community of like-minded people
- You are looking to add a new dimension to your art practice or hobby
- You want a break from digital screens and immerse yourself in a hands-on activity
- You want to add a manual component to your digital work
- You are looking for a relaxing and meditative activity to add to your self-care routine
- You enjoy creating unique and personalized designs and want to learn a skill that can be applied to various projects and mediums
- You want to create custom prints for personal or commercial use
- You are open to experimentation with color, texture, and composition
- You are excited to see the process of your designs come to life through printing


The workhops are not for you if ...
- You are afraid of sharp carving tools
- You don’t like to get inky fingers
- The world of patterns bores you
- You don’t enjoy being creative with your hands
- You are looking for a purely digital or technology-based art form.

"If you're unsure, consider these: Firstly, Deep Dive is a great addition to any other surface design courses out there because it will improve your designs by teaching you new ways to think about how patterns come together.
Secondly, if you are a printmaker or a dabbler, this will give you a whole new way to make prints.
Thirdly, Ali is an excellent teacher and her approach is unique as she is not only an artist but also an engineer, and again, that will make you see pattern design and/or printmaking in a new light. It did for me and I think the experience improved my creative practice and how I approach design as a whole.
Last, but not least, I had a great time and was full of inspiration after the workshops."
- Rose Stardust, Canada - Repeat Patterns Deep Dive 1 & 2
Join for the full season or one workshop at a time!
Workshops are available in two sessions to accommodate different timezones:
Session 1: for Europe/Africa/Asia and Australia/New Zealand (European morning session)
start time 9 am CEST (Central European time)
(8 am BST/UK, 3 pm AWST/UTC+8, 5 pm AEST/Australia, 7 pm NZST/New Zealand)
Session 2: for Europe/Africa/North and South America (European evening session)
start time 6 pm or 7 pm CEST (Central European Summer Time)
(5 pm or 6 pm BST/UK, noon or 1 pm EDT/US Eastern, 9 or 10 am PDT/US Pacific)
All workshops listed are in English. For workshops in German, click here.
Get the full package and join the full season of workshops
Save compared to the individual workshop
All prices in Swiss Francs (CHF). Prices in other currencies depend on exchange rate of the day of purchase and are solely stated for reference: CHF 377 is roughly 385 EUR / 413 USD // CHF 317 is roughly 324 EUR / 347 USD // CHF 197 is roughly 201 EUR / 216 USD
Join an individual workshop
All prices in Swiss Francs (CHF). Prices in other currencies depend on exchange rate of the day of purchase and are solely stated for reference: CHF 67 is roughly 69 EUR / 74 USD // CHF 177 is roughly 181 EUR / 194 USD