Ever loved flower printed garment 從花花印染到成衣

 

Flowers prints are my recent favourite experiments. To grasp the seasonal blooming of Lagerstroemia speciosa (大葉紫薇)I've made some prints on panels. A few have been made into garments already.  This is the one made from scratch to a tunic dress.

一件成衣的製作從印染至裁縫一心都是想著送予一位好朋友Heidi, 好朋友不必常見面也毋須有共同愛好，互相欣賞互相支持已是神會之交。

Composition of plants on silk mainly with Lagerstroemia speciosa, marigold and euc as well a few pine needles. Silk was dipped in cochinael for the pink shade.

After an hour bundle boiling, here's one of the bundles in the air.

Mogi, "hey, the calliopsis did print orange."

 

After the botanical imprints on silk I dyed the yardage of knit cotton in the leftover of Lac bath from last project. 

While the cotton yardage was drying Mogi found it a place of seek & hide.

 

With my simple skills of cutting and sewing I made this dress with extended sleeves and the folded bottom.

 

Simply a tunic dress of natural prints and dyes.

When I was doing this I intended to make it for my friend Heidi. She's my great supporter. She appreciates my work though we don't have the same hobbies except traveling. She has good taste of wine and food. She deprecates herself a Mrs Fatty (肥師奶) When we're in teenage we're the same size. This dress I made just a bit larger then my own, a one-size garment.  So it fits me and her. 

I gave her the set of natural printed scarf and the tunic that makes a contrast.

 

The day after fitting and time with Mogi, we've a nice time strolling in the harbour in our "natural outfits".

Good friends are not necessary to see each other very often or to have the same hobbies but appreciates each other is blessed.  

 

This is another natural printed top made with same tone of flowers. Going to give away to whom of my size and who appreciates handmade.

Unique purse's prints 獨特的包包印染

 

This is simple purse 

 A purse like this in the market may only be a US dollar or euro but I still like to make it with heart, with love, with the thought of the person who receives it. I like to give own handmade gifts to the persons I appreciate.  These purses are simply made with the leaf prints of direct contact skills.

 

 As I always said my outdoor activities are creation inspiration. Yesterday, our hiking to Big Wave Beach (大浪灣) and Shek O (石澳) started at 8:30am up to the trail in a sunny day.  From one end to the other along sea shore in 2.5 hours......

we arrived the top of the hill.  

 There're  trees and bushes with fallen flowers......

This is Hibiscus tiliacens (黃槿), typical plants along seashores.  The leaves and the flowers give pretty shapes I tried before.  With different fabrics and mordants outcome varies. I picked a few on the ground for experiment.

遠足途中撿拾的黃槿花印在羊毛混綿布料上，色調何奇結實。把試驗布料做成小包包，我就是喜歡用心的製作小東西送給知音人，早前也做了一個用去年在西班牙上課的栗子葉印包包，我的車工一般但用心的去做，這些店子賣十元八塊的東西我仍喜歡花時間去製作送給好友，因為這是獨一無二。

 

Soaked the wool blend (50/50) in very weak tumeric solution. The solution with little alum, and tannin etc. they're not in proportion, just the leftover of last project.  I laid plants on one end.  The deep purple and the yellow flowers are Hibiscus tiliacens (黃槿) , the small purple are Lagerstroemia speciosa (大葉紫薇) and others are assorted eucalyptus.  Folded with the other half with rust iron solution, bundle boiled for 50 minutes.  When I opened it, I was surprised with the bold prints.

The original deep purple flowers became dark brown and the yellow one became orange on one end.

Yellow of the heart-shaped eucalyptus

The prints of  Lagerstroemia speciosa (original purple) on the side with iron solution is clear of khaki

 

I printed this flowers before on silk only but not bold as wool. I have to figure out if I can do the same prints with more experiments.  

 

It's nice sample prints on the panel.  I cut a small portion to make a purse.

Sewed two sides of different shades

This purse of knit silk,  chestnut printed in Irit's workshop last year in Spain.

The leaf shape is beautiful, the large ones are big as head while the small ones as palm size.  I cut the sample prints, sewed the zipper and lining.

 

Purses are made for two persons whom have the same passion of nature. 

A small gift with my whole heart. Just wish they like it.

Mother Nature's Gift 大自然的恩賜

 

Green from Mother Nature, green from tumeric + indigo, green from my hands.  Yes this is creation from Mother Nature after last bike ride.  

早兩天從騎單車途中撿拾風雨打下的桉樹葉，把布料印上及簡單剪裁做了一長裙。

 

Last Thursday I joined the bike team for a ride along Tolo Harbour. After lunch we departed but I went on riding up to Sha Lo Tung Village （沙螺洞）for another 16 km. 

From the photo above you see the white statue - Gwun Yam（觀音）that's the mountain I was heading to.

那日與單車隊友遊畢烏溪沙，午飯後我獨自繼續騎行上大埔半山沙螺洞，那長斜路段也頗吃力，就是不甘心要堅持體力，終扺達村莊，廢屋幾家但環繞青蔥、蟬鳴蛙叫、蝶舞青蜓飛......倦意全消，回家後已急不及待做印染做衣裳，又一夏日裙子。

My destination is another 2.7km steep route up to the mountain village.   This is only in the mid with down view of Tai Po.

 A break here before going on........

 I've been to the village before but by car and hiking only. Never rode on a bike on the steep road. It's tough and challenging. I almost exhausted but don't want to give up. On the way I haven't seen a person but just a car passed by. I know I was adventurous or dangerous for the solo ride. Just wanted to see how the village looks now and challenge own ability as I may have to lead another team next.

 

Finally I'm here but the ruin village. Still but sounds of frogs and cicadas feeling like orchestra of nature.

The old village amid the well preserved wetland is going to move soon.

 

I made my riding up in 20 minutes then down the road in a few minutes.

On my way back home I found some blown off eucalyptus of assorted species but I don't know which one yells orange or green.

No harm to experiment with mixed composition on the non mordant wool blend cotton (50/50).

 After an hour boiling, not quite to my expectation.

 Most are only brownish, only a few orange. Can't expect too much since fabric is half cotton and without mordant. Mogi looks not quite pleased too.
 Is Mother Nature not kind at times?  As eco dyers we appreciate whatever nature gives us and make use of it.

 

Immediately I cut and sewed with other panel done earlier before. I used the jacket template Tatiana Sheverda made me while I was in her workshop in Holland. That's the template flexible with easy adjustment.

 I'm lazy.  Just front and back with side zipper. That's it.

 Simple and easy sewing as well comfortable wearing.

 So a green dress of own made with tumeric + indigo dyed and eco prints with eucalyptus.  A new dress for summer wardrobe.

This is how it's composed of. The wool blend fabric dipped in weak indigo then tumeric for the yellow base. Placed a few euc, casaurina and Tabebuia chrysantha flowers (風鈴木) as resist.

A dress of front and back made mainly of euc, clean and clear.