Playing natural prints and dyes 天然植物印與染

 

"Raise the curtain see what am I up to......"

Formerly I dont' know how to set indigo vat and not really like to do indigo. My friend Nicola Brown gave me an indigo kit on her visit two years ago. I kept it till last month Debbie Leung helped me setting the vat and I started playing it.  

 In the recent days I burned the wax melt, a set of wax aroma Lilian Lui gave me as Christmas present. I was so relaxed in the aroma ambiance and it hit my mind to do something with the melting wax.

 I recalled last year the wax indigo workshop in Hangzhou Edith Cheung, textiles specialist invited me to attend.

 

  I painted roughly the nandina sketch on linen.

 

Dipped in the indigo bath.

 

 Pale in the first dip

 

After 3 dips it's getting blue.

 

 Then boiled hot water and put the dyed piece to have the wax melted.

 Started to sew a purse with the fabric.

 

A clutch is made.

 A few compartments for cosmetics.  

 

Be it a cosmetic bag or a clutch.  

I'm happy with the outcome and going to give this pouch to Lilian Lui who gave me the wax present and a friend I respect. These days apart from doing experiments of natural prints/dyes I am indulged in making the swatches into pouches.

 

This is wool flannel printed with leaves in Israel.

 

The pouch of dark background printed with nandina with Betty in Israel always recalls my good days with her.

 Just love the white discharge of nandina on the mordant cochineal dyed fabric.

 I've already made two pouches with this panel prints.  Love the black which I don't like before.

 

 

I got leather of lamb skin at good price. Find it no harm to try botanical printing.  I printed with my own grown strobilanthes and eucalyptus from florist.  Prints are bold and clear but leather became a bit hard after heating.  I know it's not the proper way of printing leather as fabric but I just tried.  Will figure out the correct procedure of printing.

 Made a palm sized purse out of the printed leather.  Good for keeping USBs or keys.

 

Another fabric printed with flowers bouquet from my sister's son wedding. This set I am going to give to my sister.

  

This is also leather printed with flower from my studio neighbor.

  

And this is a clutch of leather prints with maple and eucalyptus.  So far I have made three purses of lamb skin.  They're not perfect but quite interesting to do with botanical prints.

 

I don't remember how many pouches made with swatches I have done.   Each is unique and one of a kind.  Like to give to friends who appreciate my work.  

Hangzhou arts interaction 杭州工藝交流

 

 I was away to Hangzhou this week for a jaunt of interaction of crafts printings.

 Hangzhou is renowned for it's stunning scenery particularly of the Lake.

春雨綿綿來到杭州，為的是參與一個交流分享，藉著一個傳統苗族蜡染工作坊在𢇁綢博物館進行，友人邀請體驗傳承文化，我們與會者也分享個人創作一二，旋風一轉也不容錯過參觀博物館，西湖一瞥，紛紛細雨，垂柳與櫻花更有詩意。

 

The event of traditional Miao wax resist printing was held in the heritage crafts studio in the China National Silk Museum

 

This is what I was doing - the wax resist printing and dyeing

 The Sericulture House where we're doing wax painting and dyeing

   

Participants are to show some of their original works.  Mine is natural printing and wool felting.  

They're quite impressed with the new technique of my botanical imprints

 

Others are printings from India

  

The expert of Miao wax resist printing showed us her collection and taught us the technique

 Nice ambiance of working on the ancient craft in the old house

 

With the wax pen and hot wax, participants working hard to rekindle the ancient artisanal 

 

They finished the wax painting then dyed in the indigo pot

 

Since I've work in the following days I came just for the introduction and done a small piece for the practice.

 

I am quite happy though it's only like a kid's work.

Taking the chance coming here I also visited the galleries.  The current exhibits of Miao costumes are glamorous

 

 Other displays of Chinese costumes from early stage of weaving to modern design

 

It's spring with rain all the day but still good strolling by the lake

 I am the early bird in the street

 

A coffee break to rest my feet

Never boring in the rainy day when I walking in the park with blooming cherry blossom as well other flowers

 

A fruitful trip to Hangzhou with interaction and pleasure

Just like a bird flying high and seeing more ..........Am I tired？ Probably not.