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.

Botanical imprints workshop Israel 以色列植物印染

To prepare the workshop taught by Irit Dulman, we went to the Forest-Abboretum to pluck  sorts of euc leaves and the yellow flower Camomile Dyer

Make sure all in good order

Lots of leaves, euc, Casuarina, guava, oak, maple... 

The yellow flowers are so yummy.....

We're kind to nature. The snails attached under the petals were set free. We picked them out and put them back to the flower field before we soaked the flowers in alum.

Next morning, The workshop ran on schedule with Irit's introduction and demo.

Students started the laying and bundling.

After 2 sessions of different skills, it's my turn to share.

Irit's students made amazing prints. The Casuarina and yellow flowers are quite strong prints.

Students each done a few bundles with different methods and mordants

Opening bundles are always excited. 

Prints on this cotton top are so fine and detailed.

All these amazing outcome  under the guidance of Irit Dulman are truly amazing.

Bundles of these in purple dye pot are waiting to open.

Effect on cotton with fine outlines

Casuarina and the yellow Camomile Dyer are bold and strong with iron.

Such great experiments with different skills and different come out.

I'm glad for the chance of meeting some Facebook friends here in Israel.

Thank you so much for Irit Dulman's excellent organising for her wonderful workshop with a bunch of lovely ladies.  I learnt the new skills and happy to share a session with them. 

My big project is going on. What's it? Stay tuned.

Story behind a blouse 不一樣的襯衣

Not a fashionable wear nor a costly blouse but it's made of love - my mum made it.  That's the leaves print fabric I made then my mum turned it a blouse.....

一件襯衫, 不是時款也不是什麼貴價物料, 但祗此一件慈母手中線, 是我八十多歲母親以我的植物印染布料給我設計的上衣, 能不珍惜 ?

My mother is 80+. She's quite independant.   I mentioned before we go to collect windfalls for my ecoprints at times.  Pictures taken above were after strong storm.  Lots of euc branches and other flowers blown off.  She picked for me to do prints and petals to put on a dish for her home decoration.  She used to be resilient and confident.  She still manages quite well her  routines and goes to church every Sunday.  Can't deny she's getting aged.  She said  she's getting poor memory and not capable as before.  She finds life content but scares may be of dementia that would be a burden to us.  She wished if she could go to heaven in the sleep without any burden to us would be good.  I told her just follow God's guidance and not to worry anything.   I console her even I myself is not smart in memory.  I wanted to make her find her capability again and asked if she could make me a blouse of the cotton fabric I printed with leaves. 

 

She makes her tops by hand stitches at times.  I've no doubt to ask her to cut it a "T" shape of front & back and do the running stitches without measurement.  A few days later she gave me the semi-finished blouse for my final touch-up.  I was quite happy that she made it.

 

I machine sewed the seams,  I intentionally keep the blue thread of her running stitches on waist lines.

 

The neckline and both arm lines I sewed with the "not-so-good" leaves printed silk fabric to have a bit color.

 

Here's the piece my mum and I made.

 

Prints are of iron mordant eucalyptus and rose leaves - kind of subtle and organic on cotton.

 

The blouse I dressed to office with iron dyed scarf as waist wrap.... casual walk in the suburb with iron printed fabric belt ...........

 

When I was a pupil I  found my school emblem nicely stitched,  the surface looks like machine sewed.

  I  treasure the blouse she made and the moment we're together.  

Being children we should care our parents, spend more time, be patient..... when they know who we are.  I've some friends who's dad or mum doesn't recognize their children because of dementia.  It's sad.

Workshop of brilliance 很棒的工作坊

               Vilte Kazlauskaite and Irit Dulman are brilliant textile artists.  Their nuno felt and eco print works are awesome.  I learnt from Vilte nuno felt dress making two years ago (post of the dress). Since the announcement of workshops of wild fleece manipulation combine with eco printing were to take place in California, I was delighted to sign up immediately.  

在加州的羊毛混絲戟絨工作坊使我眼界大開, 回來馬上做一些實習, 現在滿腦點子. Vilte Kazlauskaite 和 Irit Dulman 不愧是大師, 學生在他們指導下製作出各式各樣的作品, 其實學員中有好幾位已是業內的表表者, 能夠與他們同場學習, 獲益良多. 

After the marvelous workshops in Pacific Grove, Monterey, my head is full of inspiration. Can't wait to do some experiments with the techiques learnt.This post captures the gorgeous works by students who broadened my horizon in nuno felt and eco print. Indeed some of them are already renowned in the field. Such a good moment to share.......

Pity for my friend Melinda's illness I took her place on the first day to refresh myself the skills of "beyond the surface".  Sample scarfs with the fancy ruffles and flowers were made.  Glad she's in good shape now.

Class started in the spacious room

After samples of wild fleece manipulation and the dresses made,  time for  "road show" .....

             

                                

Ama and our amazing teachers Vilte and Irit

Elegant Ama in her pure white dress

Very find and detailed surface

Pretty Raisa

Confident Marilou in her eco print coat

Awesome sculptured wrap

Doris' unique design

                    Nika's shawl with textural and color after dyed is wonderful                

                             

Nina's chic coat with wild fleece !

My white vest after eco print with euc leaves

My piece with wild fleece manipulated 

The shawl with sculptured surface is what I wanted to learn

Irit briefed us the eco print methods and layout

Hunting for our treasures

Unbundled my eco print scarf with local leaves

Delighted to see the bold and bright prints

Bold prints of Tash's dress I love most.

My wild fleece and sculptured shawls dyed in onion skin and euc pots

 A few of our group

We're busy to capture the pretty dresses after the workshop

On my last day, I woke up in the early morning and walked to the beach just wanted to see the stunning sunrise.....

Listen to the voice of wave.......

Still at the other side......

My days in California was brimming with loads of friendship, met my fb friends in real,  new skills of nuno felt and eco print.  I'm addicted....... can't stop doing more and more experiments.  Got inspired of wool felt and natural print / dye.

在陽光燦爛, 風光如畫的 Monterey 學習, 與 fb 朋友見面...... 好一個豐盛之旅 !

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