Workshop of boots and bags making in Cyprus

My boots and bags making workshop in Cyprus completed perfectly. Can't believe the boots I could make with the soft wool from the very beginning to the end of a very firm and sturdy boots all from my hands. 

We used the wool batt with wet felt skills to make the boots.

The boots are with inner sole boxes to protect heels Then to glue and stitch the sole. Thus the pairs are very comfortable and durable.

We made in a spacious hotel, the final touch in a pleasant bar by the pool. We chatted, we laughed. All done, not only boots but bags to make it a unique set in four days.

I finished mine and was so eager to take it to the 5-min walk beach for shots in the early morning.

So proud I made a pair of boots and TWO bags! I just love the special way of making the bags and the textures all done in one piece with handle.

Other students' works are brilliant. They made the high boots, the bags with metal frame, chic and stylish.  See .....they're the high street boutique displays!

I'm very very delighted in the coming winter I can walk with my handmade boots.

At the moment I left my foot print in the Mediterranean Sea, the Limossol beach, Cyprus - the country I love......

Time to say goodbye to the wonderful ladies from Norway, South Africa, Luxembourg and myself from Hong Kong.  Without the brilliant teacher Natalya Brashovetska and organiser Dorie van Dijk I couldn't have made the beautiful boots and bags with such special technique.

Special thank you to Natalya - my host, my teacher and my friend now. I have a great holiday and learning from her.

Holiday in the Mediteranean is going on..........Taking off from Cyprus and arrived in Israel.

Warmly received in my mentor Irit Dulman's house. She's a gorgeous artist I learnt from her the Eco printing and nuno felt before. 

Irit's works are amazing. I'm honoured we'll spend some time again in her house, with the sweet cat Lucas who can play music by hitting his metal bowl. Don't know how to post the video here but on my Facebook friends can view.

Lovely Lucas likes to rest on his favour chair, the match prints of colour tone!

Mediterranean trip Cyprus

Arrived Cyprus in the early morning of a hot sunny day. Received by warm host Natalya whom I'll attend her professional boots and bag making organised by Dorie, Atelier Fibrefusing based in Holland.

Natalya and her husband were so kind to take me to see the town of Nicosia and village around.

We drove up the twist road to the Holy Monastery of Macheras

Strolled in the old town of Leffaka

Up at the town tower for the panorama view of Nicosia. The further part is under Turkish Occupation since 1974

My visit to the Museum of Cyprus. Some of the ancient finds are inspiration for my vessel wool felt !

After a couple of days with Natalya, Dorie arrived and we were all greeted, even the cats in the hotel where we will take the workshop received us.

Taking the time before the former start of workshop we enjoyed the Mediterranean atmosphere, having drinks, seafood lunch by the sea

Walked down the beach around our hotel

The workshop taking place in this hotel only a few minutes away from the sea side. In the coming days I will spend some more time around.

"Can you see me?"  Lots of cats on the island. Loving them!

These beautiful boots are not shop display! They are the samples of our workshop! The setting is ready and thrilled to start making. 

Into the Mediterranean cities 悠遊地中海

Last year in March I captured the bird over the Mediterranean Sea in Tel Aviv. In two days I'll be  flying as the seagull in between the Mediterranean cities - Larnaka, Cyprus and Tel Aviv, Israel.
  過兩天猶如海鷗的飛翔地中海, 塞浦路斯與以色列特拉維夫是此行目的地, 去年三月海灣平靜, 漫山野黃菊, 特愛黃花的移印染, 現在秋天花兒不再,  攜著那次在 Irit Dulman 
工作坊印染的黃花布料縫製裙子會是此行服飾之一.

 Last time I'd a great time in Israel for the learning and meeting friends. 
 I spent some days in the beautiful promenade in Tel Aviv and good days in Galilee.

 The spring flowers camomille covered the field like a carpet was impressive.

 Such bold and strong eco prints .  I made a few pieces in Irit Dulman's workshop.

 

This knitted silk jersey I particular love most

 

The casaurina and the yellow camomille are simply good combination.  Some of the printed fabrics are now made into my wearable dresses and scarfs.

 

The eco printed and dyed clothing are to be packed for the upcoming trip. Dresses of silk jersey, cotton pants, blouses, vests, scarfs, cotton wraps, rust dyed nuno felt vest, wool wraps .....lining in the crispy breeze........

Mogi under the shade or safe guard my clothing?

Eco print fashion is now my way of dressing.  Almost every day I put on one piece since I wanted to test the color fast.

The set of cotton scarf and pant printed with assorted leaves as well the silk jersey printed in Israel last year are packed for the travel.

Mogi, "this pair is too small for you !"
Mum, " I know I know... I'm going to make a pair of boots for the chilling winter.

Gonna make a set of sturdy boots and handbag like this (photo credit from Natalya)

 That's why I fly all the way to Cyprus to learn from the renownedl Russian fashion designer,  Natalya Brashovetska and take the time back to Tel Aviv to meet my great friends again.

Show you my travels until next time......
我的網友說 "為自己的興趣做瘋狂的事", 我也是那麼熱切的老遠跑去塞浦路斯跟隨Natalya Brashovetska..........學習這創意無限的羊毛工藝, 也停留特拉維夫與友聚舊!

Wool felt chair "羊" 娃娃安樂椅

 

Woolly girl, " I'm well seated on my comfy chair ! "

  

The woolly chair with textures - all made in one piece with enclosed resist inspired by the recent exhibitions.

羊毛工藝就是這麼奇妙, 這 "軟陶土" 可造時裝成衣, 更可塑造立體物件. 這 "羊" 娃娃的寶座就是參觀完近日的城中展覽的靈感創作.

There're exhibitions in town, the nuno felt designs of Francoise Hoffmann of " Renaissance of Fashion" in Hong Kong Polytechnic are particularly impressive.

 Just love the gorgeous nuno felt coats

 Another exhibition in PMQ is "Inside Heatherwick Studio".  

The imaginative ideas and sculptural forms of the UK inventor/ designer Thomas Heatherwick are compelling. I got inspired by the Studio's innovative creations - the Spun Chair, the Sculptural Building and the Sun Cracked Earth .

 Inspired by the spun chairs, I made the wool felted chair for my woolly doll.

 The 3-D chair with the textures of the "cracked earth".

 It's made in one piece and I intended to make the stand with the idea of "easy bending" inspired by the sculpted building.

 The chair is mainly of Finn wool with little colored merino. Done with enclosed resist then shaped it to a chair form.

 

The chair finished.  My husband said it looks like a satellite.  I said it's a throne !

 The chair just fits my doll, post of making here,  comfortably seated with a boy

Wool is a versatile medium to make free forms, flat sheet, seamless clothing, 3-D objects.....  How wonderful to play with wool !