Join the only 2025 online workshops
DISCOVER THE JOY OF BLOCK PRINTING
with Ali Baecker.
Learn the foundations of stamp carving & dive into the world of block printed repeat patterns. Step-by-step and beginner-friendly!
Embrace the joy & magic of block printing
Do you want to try stamp carving but don't know where to start? Maybe you've tried stamp carving or experimented with repeat patterns, yet something felt missing. You're not alone - and you're exactly in the right place.
This June, join me, Ali Baecker of 3 Dotted Penguins, for two immersive, live online workshops designed to ignite your block printing journey:
✨Intro to Block Printing: In this workshop, I walk you through the process of block printing from the beginning to the end. Working alongside me, you will walk out of the workshop with your first-hand carved stamp.
✨ Intro to Repeat Patterns: Learn to design and print seamless repeat patterns, building upon your block printing foundation. Working alongside me, you will walk out of the workshop with a seamlessly repeating carved stamp.
These are the only live sessions of my Intro to Block Printing and Intro to Repeat Patterns workshops this year. Don't miss this unique opportunity to carve and print alongside me with real-time, step-by-step guidance - no guesswork, just creative flow.
- Have you ever wondered how to carve your own stamps?
- Dreamed of hand-printing your designs onto paper or fabric?
- Curious about how repeat patterns work - and how to make them by hand?
- Want to pick up a new creative skill, or learn the tools and techniques from someone who does it every day?
- Or maybe you’re simply craving a few joyful, creative hours in the company of like-minded people?
If you're nodding along - you’re in the right place.
Let’s explore the world of block printing together - one stamp, one pattern, one aha-moment at a time.
What participants are saying about the workshops:
"It was fantastic!"
"From the pre-workshop communications which were very organized and comprehensive, to the relaxed pacing of the workshop, and all the content/knowledge you packed into a short time. It was fantastic."
- Mel Beach, USA - Intro to Block Printing Workshop
DISCOVER THE JOY OF BLOCK PRINTING!
What is block printing - and how do these workshops work?
Block printing is a hands-on printmaking technique where you carve a design into a block (usually rubber or soft carving material), ink it up, and then print it by hand onto paper or fabric. It’s creative, meditative, and full of “aha” moments - whether you're making cards, art prints, gift wrap, or patterns.
This June, I’m offering two live, online workshops - all delivered virtually to the comfort of your own home:
-
Intro to Block Printing: learn how to design, carve, and hand-print your own stamp
-
Intro to Repeat Patterns: explore how repeat patterns work and how to carve a tile that prints seamlessly
Whether you're just getting started or looking to deepen your skills, these 3-hour sessions are tailored to meet you where you are. You’ll get real-time support, live demos, and space to ask all your questions.
Learning by doing is the best way to master this art - and these workshops are completely hands-on. You’ll carve and print alongside me, step by step. You’ll leave each session with practical skills, creative confidence, and ideas you can apply right away.
The workshops are hosted live via Zoom in English, and I’ve chosen a time that works across multiple time zones. Can’t attend live? No problem - you’ll receive the replay to catch up at your own pace.
Join the hundreds of students who’ve already discovered the magic of block printing. Let’s get carving!
What participants are saying:
"It opened my mind to more possibilities than I realized."
"This was a real hands-on workshop - comprehensive and complete! [I especially liked] the ability to troubleshoot technical problems & [learn] about the materials used in this medium. It opened my mind to more possibilities than I realized."
- Lisa Rivas - Intro to Block Printing
LET'S DIG INTO THE DETAILS
The workshops in nutshell
Intro to Block Printing
The perfect place to start - a 3 hour workshop for beginners and refreshers.
You'll learn:
-
Which tools and materials you need - and how to use them
-
How to carve your own stamp with clarity and confidence
-
How to print by hand onto paper using your new block
No prior experience is required.
This workshop is designed for beginners - or anyone who wants to revisit the foundations of block printing in a supportive setting.
By the end of the workshop, you’ll have carved your first stamp and made your first block prints - and you’ll feel confident to keep going on your own.
Intro to Repeat Patterns
Come fall in love with the world of block printed repeat patterns - a 3-hour workshop for those who did the Intro to Block Printing workshop or already have some carving experience.
You'll learn:
- How repeat patterns work in block printing
- How to design and plan your repeat tile
- What to look out for when carving a tessellating block that prints seamlessly
- How to hand-print your pattern onto paper
This workshop is ideal if you’ve taken Intro to Block Printing Workshop or already have basic block printing experience.
By the end of this workshop, you'll understand how repeat patterns work, know how to design and carve your own repeat blocks, and have the confidence to apply what you have learned to your own projects.
Join for one workshop - or take both for the full creative journey from stamp to pattern!
JOIN THE 2025 WORKSHOPSWhat participants are saying about the workshops:
"Ali made the process very accessible."
"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 - Intro to Repeat Patterns Workshop
Examples of student work from previous workshops
Block prints created by "Intro to Block Printing" and "Intro to Repeat Patterns" workshop participants: Sara Wyatt (USA), Ginger Gelham (USA), Marie (Switzerland), Sandra (Germany), Suzi Legett (USA), Karis Hess (USA), Cindy Vissering (Netherlands), Jan (USA), Clare Hyatt (UK), Julie Byrne (USA), Meghan Phillips (USA), Sandra (Germany)
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 in 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 and online classes. 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.
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
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
Join from across the globe
I like to make my workshops as accessible as possible. These sessions are especially suitable if you are in Europe/Africa/North America or South America. Workshops start at 7 pm CEST (Central European time); you can check your local start time below.
Workshops are recorded in case you cannot make it live or your timezone is not a good fit. Everyone who enrolls for the workshops will have access to the replay within two working days after the workshop.
These live online workshops are held in English. For the German version, click here.
Intro to Block Printing
Saturday, June 21, 2025
7 pm CEST/Europe, 3 hours
(1 pm ET Eastern, check your local start time here)
Intro to Repeat Patterns
Sunday, June 22, 2025
7 pm CEST/Europe, 3 hours
(1 pm ET Eastern, check your local start time here)
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
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 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.
