Seasons theme wool felt teapots 四季系列羊毛茶壺

 

Set of my four different teapots. 

Spring of green field and sprout popping out

Summer of lavender field

Autumn of birches with crisp yellow leaves

Winter of flame on wood

春回大地

盛夏薰香

白樺秋意

火暖寒冬

我的季節系列羊毛茶壺以不同的主題帶出四季意境，每一個都是以羊毛濕氈封合式塑造完成，立體感、實用既可裝飾是我的目的，以下是最新製作。　　

 

Since I've done a few wool felt teapots (last post), I wanted to make a season series. 

 Added to it is Winter.  

 Winter is cold, flame is hot.  A burning pot fills a room cozy with steam and hot air.  That's why I think of a burning pot for winter.

 

  I made it with a single enclosed resist. Upper is a teapot and bottom is the burning wood.    I  put some white silk strings and mulberry silk as ashes and smoke.  Put a few onion dyed Teeswater curly fleece and red dyed Wensleydale curls as fire or flame.

 

Here it comes......The finished look of a teapot on a burning wood

Both sides look

 

I made the Winter theme of a burning teapot as I remember when I was young we went hiking or wild camps,  we used to carry with us a metal pot to set fire with wood on the rocks to make noodles or rice.

 

Nowadays we live in the urban and country parks are well built with cement BBQ stoves.  People are not bother to carry lots of stuff for cooking.  We're in Hong Kong with high rises in urban.  Much of Hong Kong's  terrain is hilly and mountainous.  Only 30-min away I'm up from my place in the mountain to have this good view but wildfire is not allowed.

 

This wool felt teapot is not only an ornament, I want it a  functional storage.

 

Mogi, "Hmmmmm, a storage for my treats ?!"

 

A flower holder is a good decoration.  

 

Whatever it serves is fun to make

 

Of the seasons theme, I like the most is this one first made in Pamela A MacGregor's workshop since the wool used is Finn.  It felts so well.  Quite firm and sturdy.  I just ordered a lot to do more 3D creations.

There're lots of my creations in my facebook page - TerLing Creations.  Please feel free to browse.

Tutorial - Ruffled wool felt flower 羊毛花製作

 

A flower, a ring, a scarf closer...... whatever it serves. 

 This ruffled wool felt flower I have been teaching groups or shared with like-minded friends.  It's easy to make without thread or needle, all finished with a loop in one off.  

Some friends asked me the steps.  I'm pleased to share.

簡易波浪羊毛花製作, 無須針線, 完成可作絲巾或手花配飾.

 

 With the loop as a ring

 

 

With the ring as a scarf closer

 

A multi-purposes wool flower making with resists follows.....

 

With the simple materials you can make it.

6g wool top or fleece and little colorful yarn as stamen

A net and bubble wrap as working sheets

Cut another 2 pieces round circle resists from bubble wrap, each dia 11cm with center hole cut off 4cm.  Below I just call the circle "resist" for short.

 

Place a round resist on working bubble wrap.

Pull small amount of  fibre and lay in radiate direction over the round resist,  fine to have the excess tuft of fibre beyond the resist, spray soapy water over it.

 

Turn over fibre with the resist. 

Fold the tuft of fibre inward to enclose the whole resist.

  

Pull small amount of fibre over this side. Wet it and turn over.

  

Fold the tuft of fibre to enclose the whole resist again. 

Put the second round resist over the just fibre wrapped resist. 

 

Lay fibre over the round resist with tuft of fibre fold back (tuck under the margin of resist) but not to enclose the resist.  So there is only one enclosed resist and one resist just has one layer of fibre over it. Thereafter will have three layers of petals (details to follow).

  

Wet the fibre then put a little yarn as stamen. 

 

Cover with net and rub with soapy hands for 20 counts both top and bottom.

 

Pull small amount of fibre to make a ring loop. Wet the middle with soapy water but with two ends dry.  Gently roll the fibre between the palm and three fingers till it becomes a bit firm. 

 

Then radiate out both ends from the centre and attach on the enclosed resist.

 

Put very small amount of fibre through the ring as glue.

 

Cover a net, gently rub the ring loop and the upper side.

 

Take out the net and insert soapy finger to rub all the area round .

 

Wrap up with bubble sheet and roll for 40 counts, open and do the other side same counts.

 

Insert the middle finger to do more rubbing till it fixed.

 

Cut the enclosed resist with scissors along the circle with a margin of 1/4cm of the under petal.    so as to make three slightly different size petals.That is the under petal is a bit bigger than the middle one.

 

Now are three petals. Gently rub the petals to thinner and with thumb or middle finger to do more rubbing till all felt

 

At this point the three petals should be firmly attached to the core. Stretch the petals sideway with soapy fingers, way like to may a "fan".   This will make a nice ruffled, rippling flower.

Note : only the radiated direction of wool fibre laying can make nice ruffled flowers.  If crossed that will limit the stretch.

 

Rinse and pinch the stamen, a double petals flower is done.

 

A scarf closer......

 

A finger ring or simply a flower, all done in one off.

Simplified steps of making

 

This simple ruffled flower I can make in 30 minutes without Mogi's distraction.

Hope you like the making. I've my facebook page. You may find it inspired. 

Linking with From Dream to Reality Party

Linking with Craftastic Monday Linking Party

Gold prints 金黃印染

Every time I got the prints - such bright prints from green leaves, I really appreciate mother nature gives some eucalyptus such beautiful color.

每一次的印染效果總有不同, 特別是桉樹的顏色明明是綠色何以出現金黃.....橙色甚至鮮紅 ?  

樹木的奧妙, 尤是桉樹, 怎不另人讚嘆 ! 最近以尼絨做了幾項實驗, 桉樹的鮮艷最為特出.

Thought to put aside the dye pot for a while due to our Chinese New Year is approaching and I'm busy in family gatherings.  I've to clear the fridge but can I throw away those euc leaves blew from strong winds.  No no no, every piece is from mother nature and must be used up properly.  That's why I made a few bundles with all sorts of leaves I have before the festival.

Here they are.......

Simply the euc leaves and little rose leaves dipped in vinegar, bundled and boiled for 2 hours.

Gorgeous gold to orange color.  I really love it.

This is so impressive

This piece with euc cinerea from florist, some maple and rose leaves. All with iron mordant.

I made a total of four pieces, the former three are with iron mordant thus with darker shades.

  Orange is bold and outlines are clear.

I know maples are not sharp or bold, so I put a few euc cinerea to bring the red.

 Maple and rose leaves.  Euc cinerea is outstanding.

Euc and rose leaves

Rose petals and leaves 

Maple, euc cinerea and rose leaves

Before and after for reference

Maple, rose leaves and euc cinerea

 

Maple, rose leaves and euc cinerea

Euc and rose petals on the bottom - a little purple

"Hmmmmm, gold is bold...."

 

Make it a runner......

or wrap around to keep me warm?

 

Each of different patterns, some with dark shades.

"Want to know  how to make shades?  Mum has tricks "

 "Tell you the secret, Mum uses iron mordant synthetic fabric to cover the leaves and bundle up so have dark outlines and shades. "

 

Mogi, "I don't know if it's that simple, I wanna out for a look is my simple request."

Indeed fabric is the key success.  The prints are done on "boiled wool" I bought from the shop.  

It's marvelous to do prints with.  No wonder my overseas friend asked me to mail her some more after her experiments. 

Happy printing !