Eucalyptus prints research 天然植物染桉樹實驗

 

I've been doing research in the eco printing with local eucalyptus. We've quite some species of euc over Hong Kong but which ones yell colors of red, brown, orange or green are not known. I noted there are some in our scenic landscape in the north - Nam Sang Wai.

  I collected some leaves on my bike riding last week and done the testing.

總愛尋尋覓覓找那樹葉植物做天然印染, 桉樹葉一直是我要研究的品種, 這日與單車隊友閒踏南生圍, 沿著山貝河濕地草原漁塘, 景色恰人, 一個早上悠閒地欣賞原野及撿拾枝葉, 滿滿的回家做實驗.  就這樣葉子烙在絲料上, 怡人景致印在腦海中.

Nam Sang Wai is renowned for the peaceful landscape of farms and glistening fish ponds.

The day I followed our captain along the river for leisure and treasure hunting.......

Caught my sight are the casaurina with seeding ends....

 

Just by the fishing pond is the eucalyptus

 

We're not allowed to pluck in the wild. I just touched and smelt it.

Then we're heading along the path lined with tall River Red Gum trees was pleasant.

Stop......just under my feet....the wind blown off branch of eucalyptus.  Such good finds.

Without hesitation I picked up some,

We're in the bush of eucalyptus with luck I got this sort of blown off.

Going home eagerly to do the experiment with the handful leaves.

 

Leaves composition on knitted silk jersey with partial turmeric dyed and iron mordant. 

After an hour boiling, prints of brownish yellow.  Not too bad but not as expected red prints.

 

Casaurina is just fine with bold lines.  The yellowish red is from scattered euc silver dollar.

 

Shades are what I wanted on this piece with turmeric dye that brought out the yellow flower print.

   

This part of the composition with Limonium and Loropetalum Chinense 

Conclusion for the experiment of this sort of eucalyptus is brownish green.

Next time will get some others to try.

Want to learn ecoprinting and wool felting? Here's the path.....遊走植物與羊毛的創作路

  

This silk yardage I printed with leaves collected in my area with "mix and match" eco-prints technique for the shades. All done with natural resources. 

Just a little merino wool I made a seamless reversible nuno felted dress with own printed silk jersey. I have been doing research and experiments with different plants and techniques in this area. By chance I am invited to teach in Canada this fall.

During the 4-day workshop I will teach the skills of natural printing on silk yardage then make it into a wrap/vest and another one into a seamless reversible nuno felt top/tunic. 

We will use plants to derive pigments with natural extracts

 

Shades and outlines on fabric

I was asked how to become so addicted in fibres.

Well, that's the magic of wool.  I was fascinated by the versatility of wool with nuno felt technique. Then printed and dyed own yardage for garments making.

 

These nuno felt dresses with logwood dyed and assorted leaves prints.  Wool is not only warm but also airy and light.

 

My passion drives me to design a series of rustic costume for the fashion walk.....

passion drives my overseas teaching and interaction....

All those interaction overseas earned me friendship with like-minded people

I like simple and developed my way of working

 

Particularly like to make reversible, functional, multi-style wearables

During the workshop in BC Vancouver I will teach to make this multi-style wrap/vest with own printed yardage.

As well a seamless, reversible nuno felt tunic/top with textures.

For details please contact

 Genoa Daniel email : genoa55@gmail.com

Norma Janes email : norma.janes@gmail.com

Warm with blooming flowers and creation inspired 春暖花開 - 遊走山水間之創作

 

Our town is blooming with the red cotton flowers that implies we're into warm days.

春暖花開，城中紅棉燦爛 。昨天踏單車路經木棉樹下，紅彤彤的花朶滿地，撿拾回家，一同與木棉樹葉及野花印在布料上，烙印布料上明顯的非花朶色調。實驗結果葉子比花兒出色，此謂花兒雖美仍要綠葉扶持。

 

Just found the red carpet on my way to biking.  Such lovely heart-shaped flowers ! 

 

Following the leader we biked along the route with villages down by the coast.

Tranquil with backdrop of the new town and undulating mountains

  

After hours biking I back to the train station.  Just can't resist to collect some flowers for my experiment. 

 

Not to disturb the busy butterfly 

 Picked a few cotton flowers, leaves and the wild daisies.

Composition of the good finds on cochinael mordant silk.  Boiled for 1.5 hours then opened.

 Flowers are not impressive as expected but leaves are fine and wild flowers are good as resist.

A piece of silk with natural contact prints just done. The experiment shows bold prints are not from flowers but the leaves.  Bounty from nature is not always flowers dominated.

 

Out of expectation is always the leaves in my experience of natural printing.