Botanical imprints workshop 鄉郊植物印染工作坊

 I wanted to show is not only a bunch of plants I collected today for next experiment.  It's the botanical printed silk scarf  I just done.

 This Sunday was a fine and cool day but warm with participants from afar for the botanical imprints workshop.  Event was taken place in Lai Chi Wo, a 400 years old village in north Hong Kong. 

 這日應機構安排的其中一項文化活動，慶祝十年一度的沙頭角慶春約

打醮盛事，在茘枝窩村舉辦植物印染工作坊，20多位遠道而來的參加者在我簡短介紹及示範後，以不同的葉子鋪排型態擺在𢇁巾上捲扎，個多小時的煮熱便完成獨一無二小圍巾。
今次的葉子主要是石榴葉、牡荊、咖啡豆葉、檸檬葉、馬藍及少許花店剩餘的桉樹葉。𢇁巾我已預先做媒染處理，泡明礬水6小時，稀釋鐵水混少許白醋水中。由於有些葉單寧豐富一點，例如石榴葉遇上鐵質印出葉形更顯著。

 Before the workshop I introduced brief process of printing.

 

 Brief intro of layout and steps of bundling.

 

 We used parchment paper for the resist.

 After an hour boiling bundles are ready to unwrap, always an exciting moment.  As usual I told them not to expect too much as botanical printing sometimes not as wished but prints are unique whatever mother nature gives.

  

Shapes and shades of prints - bold color from guava and clear shape from vitex

  

 

 Guava is always right for beginners.

 Some of the participants with their printed scarfs.

 

Are they happy? I hope so.  It's fun as most of them just found such craft printing direct  from plants.

 After the session of botanical printing, I was able to see around other village art works.  

Artists painting on the abandoned house walls and installation arts are very impressive.
工作坊完結，我往梅子林村一逛，差不多被遺忘的村子房屋破落，有

些獲保育復修或由藝術家粉飾繪畫壁畫，生氣活現，待至黃昏我也歸航了。

 

Some exhibits in the village historic and cultural corner.

 

 In the abandoned kitchen a pot still looks good.

 Stribilantes are common in the village.

 

My day ended with beautiful sunset.

 

I'm home with some leftover of plants from the village workshop and immediately I bundled two pieces. 

回家後，我用剩餘的葉子再作實驗，以格水蒸的煮熱45分鐘，效果

更清晰。

  

As usual I do steaming over a tray in cooker.

 

 The main part with guava and strobilantes.

 

Prints look

 

 Mogi finds his canopy again.

 This bunch of plants will be my experiment on different fabrics.

 Stay tuned for the outcome of the prints with weeds next.

Ireland trip 愛爾蘭之旅

 

Because we are passionate about wool felting and natural printing,  this connects us and made me flew over to the other side of the world....... to meet my brilliant teacher Nicola Brown in Ireland. 

因着共同的興趣，與 Nicola Brown 相知相識亦師亦友，此行與美國友伴 Heather  同行愛爾蘭探訪老師與交流。 Nicola 很熱誠的與我們四處遊覧，參觀她現居的中世紀古城及四周迷人景致，我們互相交流做植物印染，她種植多株桉樹，色調豐富，效果很好。

 

After a night stayed in London, my flight to Dublin took an hour was rather easy.  It's a beautiful day with rolling clouds over patches of fields in England.

 

Heather is my friend from the States we learnt in Nicola's Portugal workshop years ago.  We planned this time of travel for the good company.  Nicola fetched us at the airport then directed to a decent garden restaurant for lunch.

Nicola's huge farmhouse in Clasheen is far from Dublin airport, almost 2 hours away. We arrived in a bright summer day that allowed us to walk Freddy, the smart border collie in the field.

The house and the village from inside out are picturesque. The window views are just vivid paintings in the house.

Everyday Nicola drove us to see the beautiful villages and towns. The rolling mountains and landscapes are particularly impressive.

 

This bridge in Borris was once railways over it.   

The day we walked up the wood in Curracloe was cold and raining but didn't spoil our spirit. 

 

The miles long beach is Irish Sea bounded by Wales on the south

 

 

After a walk by the sea, feel of autumn in the sight. Just love the straw rolls, symbol of harvest.

 

Horses in Myshall 

 

Sheep in the mist day

 

Cow looking for mama...... 

 

Such lovely days to see the ancient region with rivers, medieval streets and stunning landscapes as well a place rich in culture and craft.

 

That day we visited Nicola's art exhibition.  While she's busy in explaining her art pieces to visitors,  Heather and I also enjoyed shopping.

 

I enjoyed my first Irish coffee, creamy with whiskey.  Very tasty.

Nicola made us very delicious Irish dishes and I cooked a simple Chinese meal, "tofu with  mushroom", "fried sprouts & egg", "salmon in tomato".

    

We spent a leisure day in the capital Dublin, walk in the busy street, visit to the Guinness Storehouse.

Our stay in Nicola's place was wonderful, her kindness to show us around the ancient and contemporary region and generous for the interaction of eco printing and wool felting.  Our sharing of skills and tips was great. Her own grown variety of eucalyptus and local hedgerow vegetation made my eco-prints experiments special.  Heather's idea of layout is creative too.

     

 Her eucalyptus trees are amazing.Assorted variety of leaf shapes and shades make  colorful prints

 

I printed a few pieces on linen mainly with cotinus.

  

I'm happy with all the pretty prints and lots beautiful memories.  Surely I will do something with the fabrics for home decor

    

Thank you Nicola, I know there're lots to explore behind the doors, I got lots ideas after the visit to Ireland. Love your country and expecting your visit soon. 

寧謐小鎮，熱情主人 Nicola, 謝謝你的招待，不久我們又見面了，期待你重臨香江，我們又再遊山玩水！