Raise the curtain 揭開序幕

Mogi, "I raise the curtain. You see Mum done a door curtain of plant print this weekend."

這星期又有些攪作, 做了一件掛在往露台的門簾,當然又是植物印染.
Yes, this is a one-piece curtain hanging on the glass door to my patio.

Raise the curtain I can see my flowers in the patio. Drape it hubby has the ambience of theatre watching films in.

揭開簾可看看露台花卉.

An outside look from the patio. It's a thin silk fabric so prints are clear on both sides. 因為是絲簿, 從露台外望葉印兩面清晰透光.

Prints are clear when sunlight coming through.

I used some eucalyptus leaves and maple leaves. Bundled and boiled.

這是包扎著桉樹葉及楓葉加熱的效果.

It's a one piece fabric. I put leaves on the upper part, half folded it, then left and right, i.e. 3 folds.

Comparison of before and after.
Image through courtesy of Dorie van Dijk
Though my outcome seems good. Indeed I love the effect of the print like this done by renowned fiber artist Dorie of Fiberfusing
The black and brown effect is very outstanding. Have no idea how to make.

Just ordered the book Second Skin by India Flint. Should have it later this week. Hope to dig more info about eco print & dyeing. Will certainly do more experiments.

Mogi, "Mum don't allow me to grasp the flowing curtain, my jaws will scratch it but I'd rather like to grasp the stuff on the shelves !! "

OMG, this guy's naughty and a destroyer. My goodness, nothing broken this time.

Happy doggies and happy day 快樂的小狗, 快樂的可人兒

My doggies say “ Hey, what a beautiful Sunday ! Let's out for a walk. In the afternoon we'll have friends coming. Come along I’ll show you my area”.

Last Sunday afternoon my colleague Irene and her daughter Jasmine came to my Stanley studio for a needle felt dog making. After a light breakfast, before they're coming I went to the brushes to see if any eucalyptus leaves for eco print. 炎炎夏日隨著秋風漸去, 星期天早上, 吃過輕餐, 往小山崗走走撿拾桉樹葉做植物印染, 去沙灘溜溜, 下午同事Irene 和女兒Jasmine 來我的工作室玩羊毛針氈小狗.Quite good to have found some and other unknown leaves.Old picture of the Maryknoll Stanley House
I walked up to the hilltop just wanted to see the Maryknoll Stanley House 瑪利諾神父會院.

It’s quiet and peaceful in the morning. The almost 100 years historic Chinese architectural House was declared “cultural asset” by Hong Kong Govt.After a short stay I went down to the beaches. The sweltering summer heat has passed and we’re into crispy fall. One of the beaches of fine sand.

Mother and child. Weather starts to get cool. Not many swimmers.

Peaceful beach facing the South China Sea.

The other side of the beach is with rough rocks. A good day for a drawing class.

Also a good site for BBQ

Father and son for a geology walk.

After an hour walk, back to the studio for the needle felt dogs making. Irene and Jasmine were really into it though sting could not be avoided in the first time (even myslef !).
They made this mini dogs.

Are you satisfy with them? Hope you love them.

Sweetie, you're so talented. You're the youngest one I ever taught. Enjoyed

your visit. Next time you should come earlier and we can explore the nature nearby. Also be my model to show my wool felt costumes.

Linking with SouthernDayDreamer

Eco print top 植物漂染上衣

I did nuno felt scarves with eco-print last week. Yesterday I tried another experiment of nuno felt top eco-print with shallot skins to make clearer patterns. Using the skills of onion skins dyepot the nuno felt top has the effect of graduated color. 這日我再嘗試做植物印染, 先做一件羊毛雪紡上衣後, 加上一些蔥頭外衣做花的圖案.
I made the nuno felt top with some merino wool only on the upper part . After fully felted and rinsed with vinegar water, I dipped the shoulder part into the onion dyepot, just soaked and squeezed immediately (my last post mentioned how to make onion skins dyepot) I left the lower part of chiffon clear without wool just to put the shallot skins on. This is a rather big shallot, I used it as it's smaller than onion. The peeled skin size is perfect as flower petals. I turned over the nuno felt top and placed the shallot skins and euc leaves in between.

So the shallot skins and leaves were sandwich in. I then put a plastic wrap (only use those heat resist in microwave) over the top and rolled it tightly. The wrap is to avoid color overlapping after rolled up. Bundled it and steamed in a cooker for 45-min then. Then power off and just left overnight. That came the look.


Front and back.

I embellished with glass beads on the flower patterns.

 . This morning a lady after swimming with her dog approached me for a chat. She's impressed with the nuno felt top and amazed with its texture and seamless skills. She appreciated nowadays people like me still want to do something unique with hands. She's just being kind. Nuno felt is really the incorporation of ancient and modern craftsmanship. With little inspiration from others we can explore and share.

Thanks for stopping by.