Natural printing creation on the bike 騎行上的天然印染

 

These days I'm really into natural botanical prints on leather.  Know it may be a controversial topic of printing on leather as some kinds of leather treatments are quite polluted.  I bought scraps from shops.  The leather scraps are going to be discarded so prices are cheap.  Rather than making more waste dump I hope to save some pieces by turning into functional.  That's why I keep on experimenting prints on leather recently.  I didn't learn from others the techniques or asked anyone the tricks.  I just view from internet some shared posts.  I tried to figure out my own way of making.  I ruined some and saved some.  I can say that this bag I printed and sewed is the best of my work so far.  It's sturdy and bold prints.  Most plants were picked on biking. 

近日多作皮革植物印染, 不同的皮類厚薄有不一樣的效果, 我沒有正統學習植物印染於皮革上,祗自行鑽研,可能我的技巧是笨笨的, 時而失敗, 我想自己做到簡單有變化有自己風格就是了, 有時網絡上別人想跟我學習這印染, 恕我仍在實驗中未能掌握, 拙作仍須改良.

最近做了三件皮包包都是在郊外踏單車撿拾植物隨意印製的實驗品.

 

That day after biking I was home with handful of assorted plants for the experiments

 Petals, willow and oxalis

 One of the pieces printed with grape leaves and cosmo

 Detailed flower prints

 

This piece is with logwood and madder background just to bring out shades

 

 Actually it's not a successful print.  Quite hard after steaming for 45 min. in high heat

 Tried next for this thinner leather.  It's soft in lower heating.

Both sides of the leather purse

 A set of leather bag and purse

  

One is sturdy, one is soft.

 

Two sides of the bag of all leather, bottom and handles 

 

Lined with inner pocket with zipper.  I'm pleased with the making. 

 

Enjoy the making with company of Mogi ~.~

Private eco printing from basic to advance 植物印染從基本學習開始

 "Mum, you're thoughtful for the students."

"Yes, my students are quite enthusiastic and we get inspired at times.  I love them."

These days I have a few one-on-one tulelage for natural printing. 

Today a welcome kit of the basic botanical eco printing was prepared for a student, May.
這些日子不時有個別學生跟我學習植物印染, 有從基本絲質面料而至媒染處理植物纖維布料上的印染, 近日兩位本地及臺灣學生的製作, 有簡約及豐富色調, 這是植物印染的奧妙.

 

Following a brief introduction of eco printing, she started the placement with assorted plants I gathered around.

 

I taught the skills of shades effect on one end and the other without anything thus she knows the difference and able to apply on her future experiments.

 After 1.5 hours of steaming, May got her own OOAK (one-of-a-kind) pure silk eco printed scarf.  The basic skills are what I developed some years ago.  It's simple yet can do fabulous shades with appropriate natural mordants.  The first piece of successful eco printing drives her enthusiasm to learn more about natural printing on cellulose fabrics.

 These days I also have another student from Taiwan, a returned student SL who's the second time coming to explore the cellulose mordant.  I'm glad that I got heads up from master artist Irit Dulman whom I learnt from her the techniques, to teach others with my way of working.  A batch of sample prints on linen, cotton, canvas and rayon was done by SL.

 Other than some plants I gathered on my biking, she picked flowers and leaves in my yard and placed in her artistic style.......

 

Outcome as the pictures speak themselves.   Grape leaves, lemon geranium, lemon grass, passion fruit, cosmo....and lots and lots from farmer's field.

 

 

 

Some acid plants of discharge effect

We also talked about leather prints and did an experiment.  Quite interesting outcome.

 Prints and dyes on cotton

 

 Prints from the flowers picked in my yard.  Yellow cosmo and marigold are quite strong.

When I asked my students how did they find me, some would say when they searched internet my exposure in social media popped up.  This was one of  the shootings of a TV program of my works.  I'm  not a marketing or hard selling person but if anyone who likes to learn the basic eco printing on fabrics or paper, here are my instant download PDF tutorials (English version of basic tutorial, Russian version of basic and English enhanced tutorial incl paper prints)  in my ETSY on line shop TerLing Creations. 

Do with passion you will reach 投以熱誠的作為

， 

 "Mogi, what are you expecting? "

"I've a dream, I want to travel, I want to spread, I want to share my passion!"

These days weather was not good.  Sometimes thunder storms sometimes showers.  Whenever possible I like to do biking, not only for exercise but also for my creation experiments.  Seasonal plants yell different outcome.  Now is May but I can't find the flowers I used to do last year.  Anyway I'd like to try any sorts.

法國五月，好浪漫的情懷！這個五月香港天氣陰晴不定，這日趁無雨又去郊外踩車，為的是尋找那些葡萄葉，踏在小路上左右的植物盡是我的獵物，抬頭一看那晶透欲滴如翡翠的葡萄，園主我不會偷摘，請給我採4片葉子好了。為的就是繼續圓我的夢，拈來路過明友家及農莊植物一小把，出城與我年輕時同學Heidi茶聚，正巧商埸庭園佈置主題「小法國」，我兩不期然懷念那年同遊南法普羅旺斯居在山城Brigitte 家中，我也正正在這夏再訪法國波爾多酒區交流創作，因此必然要與南法好友 Brigitte 共聚。

回到家裡晚上急不及待做了實驗，Mogi 踏上掌印！通過合格測試，然仍有很多待續，下周有海外學生來上課，備課是應有的態度。 

On the day rain stopped I was biking in the rural

 just a mile away from my rural studio, the traditional village houses

 then crossed over the footbridge

 

I'm heading to the mountain foot

 I'm in a leisure ride but inserts are busy for their life on the melon flower

 butterfly is too tired, taking a break

 

Onward and onward along the path .......got some leaves 

 

fishing ponds in the village form the beautiful tranquility

 indeed the grapes leaves are my aim to pick.  a fruitful season is expected

 next to the fence of the grapes are eucualyptus.  not to miss it I picked some

 

also blooming overhead are these flowers.  I'm not sure the name.

 

It's only a short ride this morning as I've lunch appointment with my salad days mate Heidi.

 

We known each other since in teenage.  Though not seen quite often we miss each other a lot.  Our lunch was in a mall where just themed "La petitte France" .  We both have a passion about France and have been together to Provence some years ago.  Amid this flowery mall we took some shots and reminisced our good days in Brigitte's house and the fruitful grapes overhead when the balcony door opened.

 

After the afternoon chat I have to call it a day and back home to do my experiments.......... 

Placement of some plants gathering on the ride ...... after an hour boiling....it came out

 the marks of grape leaf, chinese willow .....

 hibisus, lemon grass, sugar cane leaf, vegetable flowers, passion fruit leaf, eucalyptus, quisqualis indica.....

 I tried prints with clear background and some with shades

 

I'm happy with the experiments but still lots to test as I will have teaching in the coming days. 

 

 Hey boy, what do you think? He's my approver.  With his paws on that means I'm passed.

 "What are you looking forward to?

 

He said he's happy with his life but mum just wants to spread and lots in her plate.  Mum's going to France for the interaction in summer and friends reunion.

 

Yes, I'm off to France, to the wine-growing region and Provence.  Hope to pick some grapes when I head up.

 

A good day chilling out and experiments.