A painting or just a bag? 是畫也是袋子?

A wool felt painting

  Or a gift pack?

 Can you advise me what to do with this?

 

Recently I like to do wool painting.  I referred to the collection of the renowned contemporary Chinese painter Wu Guan Zhong (吳冠中) and made this.

 Wu Guan Zhong is one of the best known Chinese painters.

 I love his paintings of natural scenery, simple but powerful abstract forms.

 Steps of wool felt painting side one

1. First laid  wool to make a bag with foam resist; 

2.  Wet with soap water, laid the prefelt of houses with needle to "paint"; 

3. Semi "painted" houses ; 

4. Finally put on trees, grasses and do the rubbing and felting;

5. That's the look but I can't nor intended to do the same as original.

 The other side I intended to make it differently with the theme of "sky, cloud and sea". I put the white silk scrap to make the nuno felt as cloud and enclosed a shell.  After all finished I opened to show the shell.

 Two sided bag

 What to do with this bag? Just as a painting put aside?

 Or a bag for toiletries?

Or put a glass inside to make it as a vase?

Anyway, this is a practice of wool painting and bag making.

Peace of mind - Wool painting 心境平和畫作

A wool felt painting dedicated to Lindy.   How and why I made this?
在一個心境平靜的晚上製作這一幅薰衣田園小屋羊毛畫, 送給Lindy.

Dusk moon in the blue sky in Stanley

After a whole day in my Stanley studio on the 1st July, the 15th anniversay of Hong Kong Reunification to China, I was about to leave for urban home.  I called hubby that I'd make dinner that night and expect my arrival in 45-min.  He said there're road blocks due to unrest demonstration.  He told me not to hurry home.  So I  down for a walk in the promenada for a quick meal and decided to stay in the studio for a couple of hours to make something of wool felt.  
七.一假期在赤柱小室小休, 黃昏時想回家之時,  萬人上街遊行堵路,  我不能立刻回家,  唯有再留下做我的喜愛 "創作" 吧.
   

 Laurie's painting on iPad  

Last week I read Laurie's post of her tiny cottage painting which inspired me a lot.    I  got the idea of a little house for the theme.  Thanks Laurie's permission for this.  Then made a wool painting with my imagination with reference to the book "Felt & Stitch" I just bought.
在Laurie 網誌她畫的一幅水彩畫小屋給我靈感, 因而做這幅羊毛+ 刺繡畫.

My ceramic painting of lavender

Lavender is one of my fav flowers. I used to paint on ceramics.  Glazing is not easily handled.  I still hope to pursuit the interest when I have more time.
 薰衣草是我鍾愛, 曾繪畫在陶瓷上,  我的技巧馬虎, 要學習改進!

The layered merino wool

I followed Nicola Brown's instruction of  flat sheet felting. My skills improved after learnt it from Nicola weeks ago. It is much easier and effort saved !
羊毛畫較易掌握, 不過在顏色與舖排我要多點練習.

After fully felted, I machine and hand stitched to make some lines for fields and fences also knots for flowers.  This is how it looks.      Lindy and I are good companions.  We both love the little area Stanley.    Whenever I've time I'd like going there to do my creation and catch up with her over ice cream in McDonald.  She encourages me to do  business on wool felt.  I said now is not the right  moment.   I do not rule out the possibility  (My hubby always discourages me ! ) Now I'm keen on doing practice and make the giveaways to someone I love.
完成一幅羊毛畫後, 我參考剛買回來的書 "Felt & Stitch"在畫上用衣車及手繡田野及小屋等線條.  我愛作薰衣草的畫作, 但香港沒有大片薰衣草田, 我有時祗是幻想構圖,

When making landscapes, lavender fields are always in my mind.  Here in Hong Kong we don't have but stunning mountains are inspiring.
香港沒有大片薰衣草, 但山巒起伏, 視野優美, 是作畫的好題材.  

 I've been living in Hong Kong for decades still most places I've never been   I love this scenery.
在香港生活多年, 有些地方從未踏足,  這是香港那一角度? 猜猜......

This day I have friends Melinda (MzTasty's Kitchen) and Jeanita from the States.

有朋自遠方來, 藉此日前我們驅車上到這山上, 藍天白雲的,  群山擁抱, 遠眺山下是西貢, 蠔涌,  將軍澳....

Undulating views of Sai Kong and Tseung Kwan O

We rode to the Kowloon Peak  (also named  Fei Ngo Shan that means "mountain of flying goose").  Up there we see the New Territories, Kowloon and Hong Kong Island.

這是九龍的最高峰飛鵝山 , 上斜再拐一彎, 極目遠景港島, 山下九龍一 覽無遺.

Down is Kowloon.  Further distance is Hong Kong Island.

These are two pictures I took at each hill top (Victoria Peak and Kowloon Peak) to view the oposite side across the Victoria Harbour.
 從港島山頂及九龍山的兩張遠景對照

After an hour ride we headed to my Stanley studio.   I shown them the wool felt stuff and eco printing.  They found impressive. I said we may find somewhere some time to share the fun. Today Melinda is back to US.     Thank you Melinda and Jeanita.  Because of you I discovered the good viewpoint of Hong Kong. 
瀏覽一會風景, 我們回到赤柱工作室, 當然又是我介紹羊毛工藝作品的 "環節" 了, 他們對nuno felt 及植物印染特別有興趣, 我說有機會我一定會分享製作過程,  今天Melinda已飛回美國, 謝謝你們到訪, 讓我發拙香港的美景. 

Wool felt has become my pastimes.  Doing stitches is peace of mind. I do not bother to demonstrate on streets.  Enjoy being alone in my santuary.

香港有美麗的景色, 有時行行山, 時而做點刺繡, 心境也平靜, 何須太多怨懟要上街示威, 這是各人的表達方式吧. 

Will give this felted painting to Linda when I visit her office soon.

Lindy, 因為你, 我認識這美麗的赤柱及進駐做我的創作試驗,  送給你這羊毛畫,

 

.

The back is eco dyed cotton with iron and stitched  the initial L & M.  Hope she loves it.

 底部是我做的扎染綿布, 繡上 L (Lindy)  & M (Mathew) 及我代名 (tk). 希望你喜歡.
Linking with CreativePrincess

To my surprise prints 驚喜的效果

 Doing eco print is always challenging me.  I've no patience and always want to unbundle after 1 or 2 days.  Before my last long trip to Portugal I wrapped a silk fabric with wild yellow daisies and other leaves around a can. That could only allowed me to open after 20 days on my return. 

 Unbundled it, to my surprise ......
 

 the yellow marks......

..... and some different prints of rust marks, leaves prints...

 Quite nice prints to my expectation

 I love this

 Rust + iron + yellow daisies + PATIENCE .......

 Loving it.  Is this what we call "subtle look" ?

 Back home after 20 days holiday and should back to track (but my mind is still away !) Today I walked up the hill behind my apartment just to find some wild daisies to do again the prints.  Found the stream running after heavy rain yesterday.  Freshed me up.............

 Picked these wild daisies and wrapped around a can with other leaves from Corrina's eucalyptus and Jan's maple leaves.

Bundled it and put inside a bigger can.   Now boiled for 45 minutes and stayed in a thermo pot.  Will see how it looks later.  When?  How my patience will stand?

Brimming trip from Portugal & England 滿載而歸

Riding in the cloud to England for friends visit after my Portugal wool felt workshop in Dominio Vale do Mondego, and a short stay in Lisbon (that).  Leisure and cherish moments followed.......
完成一星期的羊毛氈工作坊(網誌)及在里斯本(網誌)幾天的遛躂後, 我繼續旅程騰雲駕霧去英國訪友......

After half day flight and train I arrived in Gloucestershire and stayed with Jan, my English tutor.
經過大半天的飛機與火車輾轉到達告羅士打郡來到Jan的家.

We had a fabulous dinner in a local inn. .
 在地道館子晚飯

.

 A tranquil little English village in Gloucestershire.  Houses are most of Cotswolds stones
  村子座落於英格蘭的丘陵地Cotswolds

House is at the end of the road

 English breakfast with the views in the garden.
 寫意地吃著英式早餐看著園子外雀鳥.

Such a beautiful day, beautiful view ......
如框畫的美景....

...... through the eye of a stone bus shether
..... 自路上公車侯車間一瞥.

Flowers everywhere in the mid summer.  Wild daisies against the old stone walls
花卉處處, 有路邊小野菊 ...

Thriving planted flowers. 有簇簇家花

 Poppies - I love most.  This sort is a big one in the wild.
 品種大朵的罌粟花是我最愛

  Walked the dog in the morning. Life in the village is still and leisure.
遛遛小狗開始休閒的一天

Life steps can be as slow as a snail. Friendly as dogs, meet and greet.
在小村莊生活節奏可徐徐緩緩如蝸牛, 在路上相見問問天氣

After a walk, tired? Rest and admire the nature.  Little wild flowers on the lawn.....
歇一歇賞花

The neighbour cat still as a door decoration.  His name is "Socks".  See how sweet he is with a big round head,  a little white dot on the month and a white collar. Shy as a girl or as a gentle lad?
鄰家貓兒既羞答但又神武, 帥 !

Up to explore the undiscovered Cotswolds.

Steps and trail walk in the woods 踏上山丘

Arived at the viewpoint.

A panaromic view of the villages.  Fields and undulating dales.
  極目遠眺, 延綿起伏山丘田野

Picturesque as post cards  田園美景.

Pastures with sheep. Overview  further is River Severn flowing  from central Wales through  w England
如詩如畫的景致, 遠處長河 River Severn

Village in the dramtic landscape of Stroud  小村莊

A barn and a farm for local produce 自家農場

Reminisce the old days, we flipped the photo album. 

 That's me, some 20 years ago I went to Belgium with kids for the meeting with Jan.  Also dressed up of Jan for the Royal Ascot.
 閑坐翻閱相部, 懷舊一翻, Jan 在Royal Ascot 的優雅盛裝.
   不正是我和孩子到比利時與Jan的相片嗎? 二十年前了, 時光飛逝 !

After the 3-day visit, Jan saw me off at the train station in a rainy day. Goodbye Jan. 
細雨中說再見

On my way down to London to visit my intimate C.
火車到達倫敦轉往好友 C 的家,

Haven't seen C. for almost 3 years. Last visit her gorgeous Tiffany was only 1 year old spoke broken words.  Now  the sweetie is four and writes neatly.  Time flies.  My 40-hour stay was fantastic.  I couldn't resist to show her my "master pieces" of the wool felt stuff just learnt in Portugal.  C. made fabulous food and we opened the chatter box in a boozy night. 
三件前的探訪小妮子才一歲牙牙學語, 如今已工整寫字, 看著孩子成長, 意會時光荏苒.  日間C 弄美食之餘, 我教她做羊毛手作與植物印染, 深宵侃侃而談.

I also shared with her wool felt and eco print. Taught her the

skills.  

How nice that C.. has the eucalyptus tree in her garden that she can do more experiments. 

C 的園子有一顆高大的桉樹, 可以做更多印染實驗. 多好呢!  

The rose leave prints on a silk fabric are bold. 玫瑰葉的效果比較明顯的綠及清淅

C. is clever to have made a 2-sided scarf, a nuno felt scarf and a pouch for glasses.  Delighted to share the fun of wool felt and eco printing that are new to most. 
C 很明快利落的做了這些印染的羊毛圍巾及一個眼鏡套,  祗要朋友有興趣, 我會樂此不疲的分享推廣羊毛手作.

My 19-day vacation was fruitful with the start of a wool felt workshop in the beautiful  Dominio Vale do Mondego in Portugal .....
很高興在優美村莊學到新的羊毛製作技巧及與好友人分享心得.

....  under the guidance of the brilliant instructor Nicola Brown  and ...
一流的愛以蘭導師 Nicola Brown 

....a wonderful personal meet with blog friend Heather from the States attended the same workshop.
喜與美國網友見面同在工作坊學習

The pieces I made in the workshop - painting inspired by the local oliver trees & poppies, nuno felt scarf, nuno felt top, rugs of raw wool and handbags.
我的豐收學習製作

This handbag with wonderful flap is what I intended to learn and I love it the most.
這手袋是得意代表作

See how cheerful we're with the the pieces - the rugs, shawls, vessels, handbags.....  This is an exceptional workshop I've ever attended.   Same workshop will be held again next year in June.  For interest please ask info@dominiovaledomondego.com

各學員展示自己的製作

明年六月將會再度有同類美食文化羊毛工作坊,

 有興趣請聯絡 Karin of info@dominiovaledomondego.com

Last but not least, when I checked in at the London airport for the return to Hong Kong, the airline ground staff asked me if I could release my seat for their overbooking.  In return to get the compensation of cash euro 600 with free night in airport hotel plus dinner and breakfast.  Considering it's only 14 hours delayed home. I accepted it and got the bonus.  Yeah,  what a fulfilling holiday..... brimming with friendship and take aways of new skills.  

不單學習及友誼豐收, 回程在倫敦機場航空公司因為超賣機位, 地勤問我可否讓出機位給更需要的旅客, 給我補償HK$5,900 另加一晚機場酒店及早晚餐,  因為祗是遲了14小時回港, 我答允並即時拿取現金 , 可真是津貼我這旅程!

 FANTASTIC !