Arriving sunny Malaga

Via Zurich I arrived the "coast of sun" - Malaga. View over the plane glaciers of Switzerland are splendid.

Landed on the sunny and hot Malaga at noon

After checked in, an immediate walk around the centre 

High street in the centre

Along the sea side

Alley in centre 

Leisure walk and coffee break

Just a quite note to my family, I arrived the beautiful Malaga safely after 24 hours. Enjoyed my 

breakfast and will be meeting friends in a couple of hours.  Awesome trip to follow soon.

Cat prints 貓語

Cat walk -  can you see it ?

These days I've only cats and leaves in my mind - even doing eco prints with the idea of cats.  After I can control the leaf prints I started to sketch a picture with leaves and made it a tote bag.

這些日子鍥而不捨的要做到好一點的植物印染, 經過無數次的嘗試與失敗, 終於在老公大人的提點後在鐵質媒染上控制到清晰的效果, 他取笑說我日以繼夜, 夜以繼日的 "剪布" 做實驗 !  我想像用葉子構圖做了這個絲質布袋, 你看到

"叢林中的貓兒" 嗎?

A tote bag is made with both sides botanic prints, the top and the handles are also of eco prints.  I call this " A cat walking in the brush".

The cat shape is indeed cut from euc leaf

Below is how I made it 

Open the mirror fold

  

 All leaves are iron mordant except the middle one of orange

 Made two bundles.  See the different cats.

 I'm quite pleased with this experiment - bold, strong and sharp.

Cats cats cats, Mogi is my inspiration. 

This tote bag is small but still good for grocery shopping or whatever purposes.

I'm addicted to botanic prints. Spent quite some efforts and materials on experiments, not only to myself. When I almost daunted my husband gave me lots advice on iron mordant.  Without his support I wouldn't have achieved this pleasing outcome.  Thanks also for his gift of many yards of silk fabric on my birthday.  

On my day, I pamper myself a 3-week to Spain / Portugal for the wool extravagaza and get together with brilliant friends.

Hit my road tomorrow but not with Mogi....

Prints fine tuned 效果好一點的印染

Have been doing experiments of botanic prints to get more clear and strong outlines.  Even the same iron bath I use, it may differ. I daunted sometimes for the unstable outcome of penetrated marks.  That looks messy.   After trial and error, seems I got the tricks that may be controllable.

These days I tried iron mordant with euc and rose leaves as well two unknown wild leaves (the top left and right narraw ones) on two separate silk fabrics. Only the wild leaves have no strong prints, others are good.

Same leaves and result on this pattern.

Strong dark prints with iron mordant.

Mirror fold of prints, same shape with shades.

Clear prints with less iron penetrated.  Friends asked how to make the background as clear as this.  Excuse for the overwhelming images below.  I'll explain at the end.





"Mum, are you succeed in getting prints", Mogi.

"Not really but at least I can control individual leaf prints, I'd share later if I could get constant outcome.  Mum have to explore more".

I do these prints by steaming or boiling in clear water.  I like to use the used rice cooker. It's safe and energy save.

Today just done another bundle with more sharp and strong prints. A story to follow.

Until next time.

Felted box of poodle 狗狗毛毛盒子

A wool felt box of wenslaydale fleece and hair from poodle. 

My sister-in-law has lovely dogs.  This poodle is one of it. I said I can make something with their hair. Just give me a little after cutting.

I used a little wensleydale fleece, merino wool mixed with poodle's brown curly hair to enclose a foam resist.  After 2 layers, wet felting and rolling.....

Here comes the box.....

 A one-piece wool felted box with hairy lid.  

For keeping or.... 

with LED lamp  for decoration. 

Something made with loved pets is a treasure.