Stella Ranae Von Schmid

Stella Ranae Von Schmid, a native of Northeast Pennsylvania, has always cherished the outdoors. Her childhood, spent on her family's farm despite being raised in a small coal mining town, fostered her deep connection with nature and animals. Stella's academic pursuits at Bloomsburg University, where she majored in Communications and minored in Spanish, paved the way for a successful career at PBS Television & Radio. There, she excelled in fundraising as an Underwriting Representative and on-air talent, participating in several national voice-over campaigns.

Her expertise extends to fiber arts and fashion, with over 20 years as a vintage clothing collector and dealer. This interest evolved into a focus on restoring vintage and antique fibers using natural dyes, leading her to experiment with botanical printing and connecting with a global community of artists online. Stella continues to adopt sustainable practices into her art and lifestyle. As an advocate of The Slow Art Movement, she appreciates the focus of the time-intensive, multi step process of natural dyes and botanical printing.

Identifying as a farmer's daughter at heart, Stella's self-taught journey in natural art is driven by her passion for teaching and continuous exploration of new techniques. Her dedication to natural dye education took her to Ossabaw Island, deepening her understanding of indigo history in The Low Country. Stella's work, influenced by centuries-old folk traditions, combines traditional recipes with modern, eco-conscious awareness to create heirloom-quality pieces. Stella's artistic process is shaped by various environmental factors, including season, rainfall, and local foraging conditions. She cultivates her own indigo and maintains a home dye garden. Inspired by the city of Savannahs vast tree canopy, she is committed to promoting environmental awareness and preserving local greenspaces.

As a fiber artist, Stella teaches many local workshops in natural surface design techniques. She is also a certified Sound Healer, using sound & vibration of singing bowls – guided meditation and grounding techniques.  She enjoys the outdoor lifestyle of The Low Country with her partner Pete and their two dogs, Doc and Machete.