New look through the window 窗內窗外之作

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I've the tiny studio close to the nature.   Through the window and the door I find more creative being there.  This is the sanctuary where I showcase my works of the recent 10 years from ceramics, wool works to natural prints.

窗內窗外滿景色.....我的郊野小天地收藏了少許近十年興趣製作，從陶瓷、羊毛氈工藝至植物印染，製品不算精緻但每件都盛載著美麗回憶，有學習的過程有濃情厚意的交誼。在這小天地探訪鄰居農夫，他們總是盛意送我滿滿的自耕作物，我也拿回一大把的葉片做實驗，好喜歡這郊野工作室，日後也許會更有創意！

 

In the rural New Territories surrounded by plantation.....

My window curtain first printed in Israel in Betty's house with the wild yellow flowers then back to Hong Kong I printed with the lemmon marigolds leaves picked nearby.  This means lots to me for the good memory with Betty this spring.

  

 

Almost everything in the studio recalls my wonderful times with friends. Prints of cushion and runner done in Ireland in Nicola's house, Wool felt rugs made in Portugal in Nicola's workshop. Ceramics done in Hong Kong Pottery Stall....

Fabulous time in Spain with the ladies to design own garment textile

Mixed media ceramic/paverpol and nuno felt dolls learnt from Sharon in Canada.  Fabric prints with leaves from the studio neighbor.

Natural prints hanging just done in Holland this June. Wool felt hanging with Mogi's hair.  Wool felt teapot learnt in Ohio in Pamela's studio and the blue felted bottle coat done with mum three years ago.   The 3D wool felt vessels with nature inspired.......

 

My nuno felt garments learnt from Vilte Kazlauskaite in Holland......

Picture of Provence taken with Brigitte....

all those are only part of my works in this little sanctuary.  

Here's the outside look......

 

a path leading to the house.....

how can I resist not to try the leaves?  The farmer is so kind to give me lots of his produces whenever I visit.

  He gave me the okra I made green salad. The okra is so fresh to attract the little creature.  I picked the big taro leaves for my prints.

 

fresh picked fruit.....

 

and the neighbor gave me pomegranate  and guava .  The leaves are good prints

 I use the big leaves of taro and papaya as resist instead of plastic film

the bundle with lots of oxalis, okra leaves and hisbicus ....

 

wondering how the leaves work as resist?  show you next.....

Grab a bread, coffee time with the fresh langan fruit, sweet corn and okra from the farmer.  That's my country life.  I'm pleased to have the space to do some more outdoor nature related creation.

All natural dye - 3D texture clutch flap 質感羊毛手提包

 

Today I dressed  all in my eco print, lots compliments from my friend.  I said I like natural dye.  "What? You like natural die?"  I said "no no, I meant natural dye".  

I've done quite a lot experiments of eco print / dye. Some are good some are not.   With cool season approaching, wool felt stuff becoming hot.  Since last Jan learnt the 3D textural surface,  can't stop to make bags to make use of the scraps. This is the one just made.

  

I like to use my own "not-so-good" dyed scraps just to make use of every single piece.  This georgette silk I imprinted the euc leaves but no good then dyed in safflower pot.  Still not pleased thus used for the 3D texture of a clutch flap.

 

After layered around and enclosed the resist and the 3D scraps..... 

 

Final to lay the safflower dyed silk hankie for a bit yellow sheer look. 

 

Time out, let the stuff saturate and have my coffee....... Mogi's final check....

 

Almost 3.5 hours rubbing, rock n roll........ here it comes.

 

The rich texture of the flap with little raw fleece is the way I like to do - a little soft against the hard "twist".

  

Finished with lining, magnet button and detachable strap.

 

The fold back flap to make an inner pocket is fine and the clutch size is just fit.

 

Goes well with the natural printed scarf.

 

A clutch of a detachable handbag is the sample for my upcoming workshop. Also a new item for my winter.

 

"Mum, it's windy, mind the blow-off.... "

Another 2 pieces of natural print nuno felt scarves are in the making.

Stay tuned, until next time.

24-h in my sanctuary 我的創作空間

Yellow, orange, green..... vivid colors of life I love.  My 24-h weekend in my sanctuary started with such bright colors........

週末一位學生從遠處來到我南區的小小工作室學做羊毛混絲手袋, 在四小時的學習及閒談中, 很技巧地完成了一個鮮明別緻的nuno felt 手袋,  很感謝她的熱誠不厭長途到來學習。 

I've a one-on-one nuno felt handbag tutorial with student C.     I appreciated very much for her coming from the far north to my tiny studio in the south island.  She started by layering thin wool and a chiffon fabric with foam resist. On top put on mulberry silk strings and silk scraps for the textural effect.  After almost 4 hours she made it. 

Beautiful color of nuno felt flowers, some curly Teeswater fleece and silk strings which will be lustrous after dried. 

Simple on the other side also with some silk strings.

C. is interested in wet felting.  She self-learnt and made small pretty pouches. For big project like this was the first time. I'd say that making the handle is tricky and doing the nuno felt flowers are wonderful. 

Well done girl.  Thanks for coming to my far away tiny studio.  

My sanctuary is in Stanley.  Sometimes I do my creations or give tutorials.  Also a space to showcase ....... 

The nuno felt dresses learnt from Vilte Kazlauskaite 

Baby booties and hat, ceramics I made earlier....

Little table with wool felt bottle 

A rug learnt from Nicola Brown, Hat learnt from Marie-Clare Buckle.  Vessels inspired by Shirley Cook.

The needle felt dogs and cats.  Ceramic dolls with nuno felt dresses. 

The little corner I do my creations or dreaming..........

Stayed overnight, a walk to the pier...... 

Boats sailing by.... 

My studio, the little sanctuary with inspiration around..... 

Call it a day I picked a stone from the stream to make a wool felt paper weight later.

Keepsake for the brilliant workshop 一份紀念品

My CA workshops with Vilte Kazlauskaite and Irit Dulman was so great that I learnt a lot the skills, what's more is friendship that made my wonderful time in the sunny California.  What's best to do my practice with the new skills? 

 In the mid winter the fallen leaves were still rich in color, brown, red, yellow.......  Can't resist to pick up some......

The old oak trees behind Melinda's house are so huge

A lovely day with Monita to pick some windfalls in Central Park.... 

All the good days made me to make a keepsake with the leaves.  I steamed the leaves in between iron mordanted fabrics and papers to make the clear outlines.   

Here they come....

 I learnt the skills of nuno felt of sculptured texture, I made the book cover with wool and fabrics dyed there in the "witch pot" of euc, onion and wallnut.....

Now I'm back in the fascinated Hong Kong with lots of good memories in CA.  

Each page with the leaves picked there.  Oak, euc, liquidamber.. and other unknown sorts

They're pretty in shape and color.  I love all.

I binded it with plain paper in between for writing. 

A little journal for my keepsake of the nice days 

I made 3 little journals in a row 

These are nuno felt covers with euc leaves prints steamed 

One with a ceramic button closure

One tied with a wool felt knot 

 

 Both are nuno felt covers with textural look and pages also with prints and plain papers

 

These two little journals are special keepsakes for special friends who made my fabulous trips. 

Tied with a little ceramic button with "no secret"

Brought my heart back from Levis' Plaza, San Franscisco .....