Artist Kathryn Card Garcia turned to the internet to master the traditional Indonesian clothing-making technique batik.She devoted herself to three online classes in cloth dyeing throughout the summer. Now her vibrantly coloured quilts and wall hangings are featured in Pillow Talk, a solo exhibit at the Dockyard Arts Centre.Mrs Garcia said the show aimed to “showcase my passions for fabric dyeing”.She said a wall hanging ‘Whales’ Tails’, was inspired by her experiences while deep sea fishing, and seeing dolphins and whales in the ocean.In addition to online classes at the Quilt University, Mrs Garcia found books, magazines and youtube.com to be major resources.She said: “YouTube is invaluable. I learned how to do altered T-shirts via YouTube. The other larger wall hanging, Colourful Fish, is [made from] woven fabric; this I learned from a book.“Books, magazines [and] the Creative Craft Show in Toronto offer all sorts of classes for five days. I’m going again this year with my friend Dorothy [but] the most fun was a quilting cruise to Alaska with ladies from the Bermuda Quilters’ Guild.“All sea days we had classes. I learned so much and had an absolute blast while doing it.”According to Mrs Garcia, cloth dyeing can encompass many different techniques, such as wrapping silk around a pole, scrunching it together or stitching the silk into patterns then dyeing it. Pieces in her collection also range in colour — from a brown and yellow purse to a brightly hued red, orange and green scarf.She said: “There are many, many recognised patterns with names to match the process. I have a lot to look forward to and [am excited to] learn.“The browny/blue silk scarf [was made by using] blocks of cut-offs of wood. What is amazing to me is that when it was dyed, dried, washed and ironed, it looks like the rings in wood.”Mrs Garcia said she found “great delight” in learning about new crafts and was happy to meet friends from around the world through her online courses.“I am so very fortunate, and so very grateful, to be retired and have my health,” she added. “In the mornings I make coffee, check on the weather, feed my kittys, then head for my studio.“Usually I have quilting and sewing projects on the go [but] recently I learned via the internet how to do batik. Now this is exciting stuff.“When I put the wax pot on, the aroma goes throughout the house and it smells just like a spa [and] time just disappears. On sunny days I’ll do silk dyeing and hang them out to dry or sun printing.“I try to work on one project or the other every single day [so] my days are always full and never boring.”She hopes to continue learning new things and wants to provide useful and attractive items for customers to purchase and enjoy.She said: “My dream is to travel to far away places, like Italy, and partake in creative classes. One of my most inspirational teachers, Ineke Berlin, is holding classes there next year.“Another dream is to take part in a month-long creative retreat with friends to Lake Louise in the winter so that I’m surrounded by mountains and snow.“I want to be able to inspire others [and] to always to be amazed at the art of creating, so I can send a picture to my friends and say ‘Check this out!’”In addition to Mrs Garcia’s work, the Dockyard Arts Centre will show an exhibition called Reflections, featuring pieces by Molly Godet, Christopher Grimes, Michele Smith, Tricia Walters, Heidi Cowen and Kok Wan Lee. Both shows run until September 20.The centre is open every day from 10am until 5pm.