Botanical printed leather/fabric dress

Set of botanical printed leather apron-wrap dress and espadrille just made.  Absolutely one of a kind.  I'm quite pleased with this own made wearable.  I must say that the garment made with huge thanks to Nicola Brown, my good friend I know since she taught me wool felting.  A couple of months ago I went to Ireland and we had a great time together for botanical printing interaction. Nicola is very generous to give me the exquisite "crust" hide and wool fabric for the printing with her own grown plants.  I made the big nice prints of leather and wool.  Back home with fabulous ideas to make them into memorable wears.

The leather Nicola bought from Linda G Illumanardi who is a brilliant eco printer based in the US. She prints so well on leather and was so generous to share her tutorial with me too. This big piece of leather I have never seen before.  At first I was hesitate to print with as it's huge to handle.  If I made it wrong I would have ruined such expensive leather. Nicola was so kind to encourage me to go ahead and make the most of it.  So that I combined with Linda's way of working and my own to print it.  It's a big piece but as usual "less is more" for me. I just put on a few leaves and flower is the main theme.

It came out so pleasing.  I was thinking to make it a work apron but seems a waste.  Finally I made it a wearable apron dress with panels of linen/silk printing. Just simple cutting and lining I made this wrapped dress. It's easy piece of free size and two-way dressing.

 The big wool yardage and the huge lambskin botanical printing done in Nicola's studio are the nice keepsakes of my holiday in Ireland.

From below images you will see how it looks in different style.

早前在愛爾蘭Nicola Brown 莊園印製的兩大片羊皮及羊毛氈植物染終製作成衣物，一件羊皮夾絲麻長裙及兩件袖子被肩上衣，很多謝Nicola 的濃情厚意送給我這些貴重物料作研究，成為那次旅程訪友的珍貴紀念製品。

 

Lined arm holes and neckline with printed scraps 

  

Intended raw edges of leather

Button at the back for tight waist style.  Small buttons on both sides to make it loose style.

The wool yardage I made into two wrap tops.

 

The three generations of us - daughter-in-law and granddaughter, we all in eco printing.

 

This easy to sew garment fits all size and age. 

 

Nicola Brown based in Ireland and teaches on line eco printing. She's great and brilliant to share her techniques of eco printing and wool felting.

Linda G Illumanardi  based in the US teaches botanical printing and supplies exquisite leather for printing.

 I have a wonderful stay with Nicola and learned a lot.  Such great memories bond in mind.

We walked up the mountain 

Gathered flowers and leaves in her house

Made the beautiful prints 

Nice drapping of the printed leather

Creating in such gorgeous environment is inspiring 

The big wool yardage printed and made into two wrap coats

Thank you so much my great friend, Nicola !

Fibre arts creation 纖維創作

Year 2020 is difficult for all of us.  We used to travel for teaching or learning overseas but all schedules hold off or cancelled. People in lockdown have to find something engaged. I need to review what I have been doing these years. Though I addicted to eco printing I find wool felting, my initial encountered fibre arts, is versatile in my creation. I'm back to felting table  these days. This is a knitted wool jersey I sewed it a raglan tunic with only neckline wool felted. 

這年不能遠行，日子還是要過，待家也未有閒着，拿來一片針織羊毛料做衣裳，領圍則以羊毛混纖完成，這純白上衣襯上手作植物印染皮腰帶及羊毛混纖手袋簡約自然。

 

 White is pure and goes well with botanical eco printed leather belt and accompanied with  nuno felted purse.  I like the set but can't resist to do eco printing on it just with basic skills and simple eucalyptus layout.   Here come the result.......

就是按奈不着那細柔的羊毛布料印上桉葉的效果，我急不及待，白色的衣裳馬上與桉葉結合成另一欵襯衣，明亮的白中有橙紅。

Simply with eucalyptus leaves and a few strokes of casaurina.

 Just don't want to waste the remnant I printed it the same tone. Looks like set of tunic and mask.

 

Another fibre creation is wool felt purse.

  

Weather is becoming cool and wool felted purse is a warm accessory. Made this seamless purse with inner pocket.  Both sides embellished with lace and yarns with nuno felt technique.

為機構再續纖維藝術教學，我又重拾羊毛氈創作，就這麼又做了兩件無縫手包，一件蕾𢇁混線，另一件後期再做植物印染。

Another seamless purse done with white wool fleece then eucalyptus printed.

 

A hat round with wool jersey eco printed scraps.  Set of fibre art creation - wool and eco printing.

帽子繞著桉葉印染配著肩包與腰包。

 

Strolling in my area wrapped in eco prints. Sounds no one recognises me.

Thought Mogi approves it and likes sitting in the shade with fragrance of eucalyptus.

 

The tunic in white with wool felt neckline I have only dressed once for shooting. Now eucalyptus printed and will be my casual winter top, bright color makes me cheerful.  

A quick update

Can't imagine it's been 2 months I was absent from blogging. This is a difficult year for everyone. We're not free to travel even walking locally.  Days are boring and daunting but show must go on.  I immerse myself in the colorful world with limit access to the nature.  Still doing some creation and designs with my stuff.  A quick update for what I am up to in a nutshell.

I have done some dress making with simple designed pattern and combo creation with leather and linen.  What's more is I'm going to list my latest version of tutorial on enhanced leather imprints, sporadically mention of blended linen mordant and prints as well paper printing.

Stay tuned I will be back shortly when the instant download pdf tutorial is listed.