Sign of Spring botanical prints 春天不遠矣

 We're into Feb and Lunar New Year falls on the 19th, that means spring is in the corner. My botanical prints should be thriving with golden color or brighter.

已經立春了, 農曆年下星期就到了, 聽到春天的步伐嗎 ?  我的植物移印染也該有春日萌芽的金黃嫩綠吧 ! 因此用了兩片不同絲質料放上不同桉樹葉 (尤加利), 橡樹葉與桔葉作的效果.

 So I made two pieces prints with assorted eucalyptus, mandarin leaves and oak leaves. One piece of gorgette silk and the other is Thai silk.

Oak is always my fav. Love it's shape and brown color.

 Eucalyptus cinerea never a fail.

 With the branch bark and the leaves made the outlines

 The down side of oak leaf is always a good print

 Two sorts of eucalyptus

 Euc cinerea gives more bright yellow on Thai silk

 Mandarin leaves of little green and euc cinerea of yellow are not bad.  Mogi is quite pleased with the outcome.
I thank so much for my friend Melinda brought me the ingredients for the yummy prints.

Red -Tote bag from eco prints 點點紅植物染布袋

 

 My last post mentioned about the prints on the new flannel I tested on. The fabric takes bold prints, particularly the red of euc silver dollar.

 

 The dog and cat silhouette I further enhanced the outline by a sharpie.  Cat looks like a cat but a dog...... only the owner knows it is, I'm afraid !  

The prints on a small flannel is a test but turn it into something practical would be great.

  

 So I used the different cotton scraps from stash made the back and the lining.  The straps are also eco prints of another testing on flannel.

 A tote bag with two inner pocket of same red color but different pattern.

 The tote bag is big enough and strong enough to hold two thick books.  Whatever purposes the prints turned into a practical item is what I wanted.

 What do you think Mogi?

Mogi, "hmmmmmmm.......good shade for me!"

 This is how it was made from scratch to finished. 

Red is the tone I love from eco print.  It's still mystery for me why euc  silver dollar gives such bright ad bold red.  No idea, if someone knows and share would be great. 

 Yesterday was a sunny Sunday.  I went to my studio and picked some casaurina and the dried cones.  Will do some testing on dry cones to see the outcome.

 On my way passing the park, the red running kids caught my sight. There was a rugby event for the families.

Red is thriving......

 Mogi, " have a good day !"

Styles of Scarf 植物印染圍巾

 

A scarf of both sides - wool and silk with natural prints.

Left is the wool side and the right  is silk of the same scarf.

一件圍巾, 兩種物料 -羊毛絨與絲料混合製作.

事原為了準備週末的植物印染課程，日前去新界拾了些桉樹及楓葉，加上祗可在花店才買到的桉樹葉和玫瑰花， 隨即動手剪了一小片較名貴的羊毛絨做印染，經過兩小時加熱, 清晰的葉印， 尤其有粉紅的玫瑰花使我喜出望外， 這塊羊毛絨料不常買到， 所以我祗用少許試驗， 我把這片羊毛絨車縫上一片早前印染的絲質料上, 就此成為一件兩質料、 兩款葉印 、多款被搭的圍巾。

 

Most prints on wool side are bold and impressive.

  

 These days I haven't done much natural prints since hooked on wool felt.  To prepare a natural print scarf workshop this weekend I bought euc cinerea and roses from florist and  went to the  bushes to pick some barks.  To my surprise there're lots blow off of euc and some maples. That triggered my juice of creation again.    I cut a small piece of the formerly bought quite expensive "boiled wool"for the experiment.

 

I put sorts of leaves on the  "boiled wool"  and bundle boiled for 2 hours.  Turnout is good  except the oak leaf is not impressive.

 

I was quite happy particularly the pink rose and outlines.

 

A closer look by Mogi

 

Rose, leaves and maple.

 

Unknown sort of euc and maples

 

Close up of prints on wool - rose, rose leaves, maples and brown & red from different sorts of euc.

 

Close up of prints on silk fabric with rose petals, rose leaves and euc silver dollar.

 

I found the prints of the "boiled wool" nice and decided  to make a long scarf with it.  I sewed the wool piece over the longer silk fabric with natural prints.  So a scarf of both wool and silk both with different prints. 

 

The wool piece is sewed on the silk fabric with  longer silk ends that make soft knot or draping.

 

Styles of the same piece of silk side

 

Styles of the same piece 

 

Mogi, "Mum  thanks for your viewing. Have a nice weekend ."

From scratch to styles 簡約被搭

Since back from NA, my plate is full. I wanted to do this and that. I want to make pavepol Sharon was so kind to teach me, I want to make another teapot learnt from Pamela A. McGregor.  All that will be done in a couple of days. 

 Before that I went to the fabric shop and sourced the "boiled wool"  for my experiment with assorted leaves.  I was hesitated if it's truly wool fabric.  The shop owner immediately burnt for me.  Hmmmm, smelt good !  Bought a yard for testing. How it turnout ? Photos speak themselves.

   These days we're getting into winter, it's chilly today at 9C only.  Wrapped me up and walked in the sun.

回港一星期了, 仍是馬不停蹄, 滿腦子想這想那的, 不過, 第一時間仍是去我的不二之選布行 "滿裕布行" 找料, 給我找到白色羊毛絨布, 買了一碼做植物印染試驗, 果然是好料, 就以這一碼的料子做件簡約被搭, 今天很冷, 被在陽光下, 洒出金黃.........

 

A two-fold shawl

 

Slip into arm holes.....

 simply a vest

 No more no less, just a yard of fabric

 

From scratch to styles, a vest or ....

 

a shawl also makes my days warm

 

Here's how it's made. The "boiled wool" is great for cutting, no sewing needed. I put kinds of eucalyptus leaves, rose leaves, onion skins and a little tea leaves over the fabric.  Rolled up with a thin paper core and simmered for 3 hours in a pot with onion skins and vinegar.

 

I used onion skin from one onion for boiling since I don't need too strong but still got the dark tie lines.  Still good for me.  That's the experiment I got from here that all pigment from onion skin absorbed by the wool fabric as the water in the dye pot is so clear after 3 hours boiling.

 

Unwrapped.... rose leaves, euc leaves and onion skins....

 

Bold and clear prints of euc and rose leaves with little tea leaves spots

   

Euc cinerea is particular impressive

  

Euc with seeds of orange but brown leaves

  

Rose leaves and onion skins

  

Brown spots are tea leaves

  

Well, I cut the flat fabric two arm holes with the copy of a vest since I'm no good in measuring.

 

Lined the two holes with tore silk scraps from my "not-so-good" prints

  

Hand stitched the arm holes

  

So, no more no less.  I made the flat sheet with two holes.

  

Make it a vest...

  

or double fold to make it a shawl

  

 Mogi, "Mum, you made it, you made a bright warm day!"