Want to learn ecoprinting and wool felting? Here's the path.....遊走植物與羊毛的創作路

  

This silk yardage I printed with leaves collected in my area with "mix and match" eco-prints technique for the shades. All done with natural resources. 

Just a little merino wool I made a seamless reversible nuno felted dress with own printed silk jersey. I have been doing research and experiments with different plants and techniques in this area. By chance I am invited to teach in Canada this fall.

During the 4-day workshop I will teach the skills of natural printing on silk yardage then make it into a wrap/vest and another one into a seamless reversible nuno felt top/tunic. 

We will use plants to derive pigments with natural extracts

 

Shades and outlines on fabric

I was asked how to become so addicted in fibres.

Well, that's the magic of wool.  I was fascinated by the versatility of wool with nuno felt technique. Then printed and dyed own yardage for garments making.

 

These nuno felt dresses with logwood dyed and assorted leaves prints.  Wool is not only warm but also airy and light.

 

My passion drives me to design a series of rustic costume for the fashion walk.....

passion drives my overseas teaching and interaction....

All those interaction overseas earned me friendship with like-minded people

I like simple and developed my way of working

 

Particularly like to make reversible, functional, multi-style wearables

During the workshop in BC Vancouver I will teach to make this multi-style wrap/vest with own printed yardage.

As well a seamless, reversible nuno felt tunic/top with textures.

For details please contact

 Genoa Daniel email : genoa55@gmail.com

Norma Janes email : norma.janes@gmail.com

Warm with blooming flowers and creation inspired 春暖花開 - 遊走山水間之創作

 

Our town is blooming with the red cotton flowers that implies we're into warm days.

春暖花開，城中紅棉燦爛 。昨天踏單車路經木棉樹下，紅彤彤的花朶滿地，撿拾回家，一同與木棉樹葉及野花印在布料上，烙印布料上明顯的非花朶色調。實驗結果葉子比花兒出色，此謂花兒雖美仍要綠葉扶持。

 

Just found the red carpet on my way to biking.  Such lovely heart-shaped flowers ! 

 

Following the leader we biked along the route with villages down by the coast.

Tranquil with backdrop of the new town and undulating mountains

  

After hours biking I back to the train station.  Just can't resist to collect some flowers for my experiment. 

 

Not to disturb the busy butterfly 

 Picked a few cotton flowers, leaves and the wild daisies.

Composition of the good finds on cochinael mordant silk.  Boiled for 1.5 hours then opened.

 Flowers are not impressive as expected but leaves are fine and wild flowers are good as resist.

A piece of silk with natural contact prints just done. The experiment shows bold prints are not from flowers but the leaves.  Bounty from nature is not always flowers dominated.

 

Out of expectation is always the leaves in my experience of natural printing.

Fabric prints from bounty of nature 大自然之靈感印染

 

What do you think this? My belief is "less is more". 

Just a few pine lines and euc leaves to make this natural prints on silk.  I made this sample  for the upcoming workshops.

 How about this?  Simple layout of leaves printed on wool blend with shades.

 My friends asked how come I have the time or energy to do lots of creations while I spend some days weekly in hiking and biking. 

Well, I'm too addicted or the passion drives me crazy.  Indeed when I do outdoor activities particularly nature related, my mind is full of ideas and inspiration.

Just last hiking on Lamma Island we went up from one bay to the other with stunning views.

 Within 3 hours easy trails walk, we're on the top........

 with the view of Hong Kong Island.

 The strange looks of rocks are naturally stacked.  This looks like a dog.

 While I passed by the casaurina trees on the island, to my surprise the pine lines are so long as 80cm which I've never seen.  It must be a good find for natural prints.

 Other than hiking I got inspiration with the energetic biking team.  We biked along the sea coast for 50km today.

 Tired?  No, today's weather was fine for the long ride.

 

The panoramic view is gorgeous.

  A bike and boat ride is leisure.  What's more? Wow, found the eucalyptus blown off.  Can't resist to take home for the experiments.

 I recalled my last visit to a friend in Tuscany, Italy.  She lives in the brilliant region with the lined cypress.  Such picturesque view!

 With the ideas of the beautiful nature, just a little pine needles and assorted leaves, I made the placement for the prints on fabrics.

 Here's the outcome.  My simple natural prints on silk.

 

 Layout from the inspiration of Tuscany cypress

Such bounty from nature. 

This is the simple and  basic natural contact prints skills on wool blend.

Want to do this?  My ETSY instant download pdf file has the step-by-step tutorial.