Pine and Bottle Brush prints 針松與串錢柳印染

 

Last year I tried the bottle brush (Callistemon Viminalis 串錢柳）on silk, it gives purple. I was wondering how it looks on boiled wool.  The day before I done a piece but not quiet nice and I've to remake with brighter euc leaves. 

去年做了串錢柳印在𢇁料上有明顯粉紫色，日前嘗試印在呢絨上，但效果不什清晰，後加上一兩片按樹葉帶出一點橙色後，總算有些看頭。

  

This is how it looks after I put a few orange euc.  The background purple is the bottle brush shade only.

 

I made three groups on a boiled wool with the leaves picked on the day I strolled along the river.

 

Already April, it's still spring here in Hong Kong.  Sprouts with vivid colours.

 

Me, busy as the egret, looking for something...... walked and walked......

 

Spring - carpet of flowers, refreshed my sights.

Finally found the bottle brush.  I picked a few home.

 

Before and after pictures comparison.

The top picture,  three groups of leaves, all are with casaurina, the left one with bottle brush, others without but with a marigold.  After an hour boiling, the outcome was not very good, I then put the euc to bring out some color.

 

The "before and after" of the one with bottle brush.  The final added euc got a bit orange color.

 

So I found that bottle brush is no good on wool but only on silk.  

Quite rich patterns with Casaurina and euc. Casaurina on boiled wool is my fav so far.

Another pine imprints 又是針葉印染

 

To my surprise, the pine imprints on the "boiled wool" is amazing. 

Ever since I returned from Irit Dulman's workshop I almost addicted to pine prints. However not all pines are doable.  The other day I strolled with my mother in her area I found a pine tree growing in the crack of the river bank, I picked a little as well some other unknown leaves and a little cypress for experiment.

  

There're lots of pine trees in Hong Kong but some are too tall to pick, this one is small and easy to reach.

 

When I back home, couldn't wait to test the leaves.  I've no idea of this bush that gives bold and strong prints.  Believe it's rich in tannin.

 

I made a small piece sample test on "boiled wool" with the pines and the "unknown leaves" .

 

Also test on a silk fabric.  Outcome on silk is good but the yellow flowers got no color.

 

 For the "boiled wool", it's bold and strong.   The dark shades are due to overlap rolling. 

 

Here are the silk fabrics mirror prints, the middle one is the "boiled wool" .

Alright I can make bigger prints after the positive testing of the pines.

 

I cut a piece of "boiled wool" size 26" x 50".

 

 

The "Before and After" picture.  

I put some pines, scattered a little bits of euc silver dollar to make some red spots, a few cypress and that unknown leaves.

 

 

Close up of the "Before and After"

 

Cypress is clear on wool, that's to my surprise.  I tried before on silk it's not so delicate.

 

Cypress is my another fav now

 

After an hour boiling in clear water, the wool came out perfect prints.

 

Mogi approves it.

 

So just a few pine leaves, a few green leaves and bits of euc silver dollar, I made a fabric of my own pattern. Be it a skirt or a wrap, it's my style. 

 

For the test on the silk, I sewed a tote bag with my own made ceramic as closer embellishment.

 

I'm happy for the leisure time of doing all sorts of experiment, cherish the time with my mother strolling along the river bank, I showed her the kind of leaves may work for my botanical prints.  After the walk we have a cappu.

 

"How delighted mum is !!  Mum will show more her pine pattern fashion demo by her exclusive model after the long weekend."

"Have a nice long holiday !!!"

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!"