A few weeks after her daughter was born, Geneva resident Nicole Yingst sat in a hospital room gazing down at a baby who looked pale and sick. She told herself it was just because of the hospital outfit. 

"I thought if she had tie dye on, she would look much better!" Yingst said.

Her daughter recovered just fine, but the idea stuck. Fifteen years later, her family hosts the Tie Dye Extravaganza every July, uniting friends, neighbors, school groups, and anyone else who wants to be part of an annual tradition that sends dozens of brightly dyed onesies to new local moms.

But the roots of Yingst’s artistic passion developed long before that.

Yingst grew up surrounded by art. Her mother, Susie Ryan, became a full-time potter when she retired from teaching art. Yingst always looked on in admiration as Ryan taught tole painting to neighborhood women in their basement — and her mother remains her biggest influence.

So when Yingst sought a degree in sculpture and art education, it surprised no one. Her early sculptures, primarily wood and metal, depended on the tools and space available at her college, so she chose a new medium after graduating. 

Becoming an art teacher gave her access to a kiln, so she began working in the medium she learned from her mother: clay. During two decades teaching all levels, Yingst experimented with a variety of materials; now she focuses on clay, painting, and mixed media. 

When her children were young and naturally curious, she’d tell them, “Stay out of the art side!” when they encroached on her artistic area of the basement. Which is fitting, because “The Art Side” became the name of her studio business, and she still works out of the same space.

Now that the kids are grown, they’re allowed to be on “the art side.” 

Yingst enjoys collage and creating layers in her work whether she’s working in clay or any other medium. 

“I like creating the illusion of texture. I usually see my three- dimensional ideas in my head and very rarely draw them out,” she said. “I will work directly in the clay just using the picture in my head for reference.” 

Her process remains intuitive. She doesn’t see the surface of the clay or the two -dimensional piece she’s working on in her head. Instead, she creates a base layer from which she adds and subtracts.

“The process can be quick or take weeks,” she said.

At each year's Tie Dye Extravaganza, the Yingsts provide the dye and instruction, while participants bring items they want to dye. Participants are also asked to bring a white baby onesie to donate to new moms through various organizations. 

This year, the group contributed 48 onesies to Corbella Clinic in South Elgin. 

For some, the annual extravaganza would be sufficient community service, but Yingst found another important path. From 2022 to 2025, when she was serving as the faculty sponsor for the East Aurora High School chapter of the National Arts Honor Society, her students formed and glazed over 250 ceramic poppies. 

They mounted each one a 30-inch metal rod, then sold them for $25 each. They donated the proceeds to Veterans Smile, a Montgomery, IL organization that provides critical dental services for veterans in need. 

People who purchased poppies could have a tag honoring a specific person, and the the poppies were displayed in downtown Aurora during the Memorial Day Parade every year. 

Yingst has been a fine role model of community service for her students, but she’s not done yet.

“Since retiring, I have continued to make the poppies from my studio and donate the money to Veterans Smile,” she said. “I’m grateful to Action Metals of Aurora for continuing to donate and support the Poppy Project and Veterans Smile.” 

You can find Yingst’s work on Instagram @theartsidestudio and on her website www.theartsidestudio.com. You can reach her by email at [email protected].

This piece was written by Ellen Jo Ljung, a longtime Geneva resident, author, award-winning educator, and glass artist. Visit her website to learn more.

Please feel free to reach out to [email protected] with questions or comments.

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