Fibre arts creation 纖維創作

Year 2020 is difficult for all of us.  We used to travel for teaching or learning overseas but all schedules hold off or cancelled. People in lockdown have to find something engaged. I need to review what I have been doing these years. Though I addicted to eco printing I find wool felting, my initial encountered fibre arts, is versatile in my creation. I'm back to felting table  these days. This is a knitted wool jersey I sewed it a raglan tunic with only neckline wool felted. 

這年不能遠行，日子還是要過，待家也未有閒着，拿來一片針織羊毛料做衣裳，領圍則以羊毛混纖完成，這純白上衣襯上手作植物印染皮腰帶及羊毛混纖手袋簡約自然。

 

 White is pure and goes well with botanical eco printed leather belt and accompanied with  nuno felted purse.  I like the set but can't resist to do eco printing on it just with basic skills and simple eucalyptus layout.   Here come the result.......

就是按奈不着那細柔的羊毛布料印上桉葉的效果，我急不及待，白色的衣裳馬上與桉葉結合成另一欵襯衣，明亮的白中有橙紅。

Simply with eucalyptus leaves and a few strokes of casaurina.

 Just don't want to waste the remnant I printed it the same tone. Looks like set of tunic and mask.

 

Another fibre creation is wool felt purse.

  

Weather is becoming cool and wool felted purse is a warm accessory. Made this seamless purse with inner pocket.  Both sides embellished with lace and yarns with nuno felt technique.

為機構再續纖維藝術教學，我又重拾羊毛氈創作，就這麼又做了兩件無縫手包，一件蕾𢇁混線，另一件後期再做植物印染。

Another seamless purse done with white wool fleece then eucalyptus printed.

 

A hat round with wool jersey eco printed scraps.  Set of fibre art creation - wool and eco printing.

帽子繞著桉葉印染配著肩包與腰包。

 

Strolling in my area wrapped in eco prints. Sounds no one recognises me.

Thought Mogi approves it and likes sitting in the shade with fragrance of eucalyptus.

 

The tunic in white with wool felt neckline I have only dressed once for shooting. Now eucalyptus printed and will be my casual winter top, bright color makes me cheerful.  

DIY botanical imprinted tote bag 植物印染皮包

Sometimes I got the hides for botanical imprinted with less pleased outcome but just don't want to waste it.  I made them into nice combination and practical use. Done a few botanical imprinted leather tote bags with swatches and up-cycled accessories.

有時我的皮革植物印染效果未如理想，不想棄之，最近買下幾片羊仔皮，誰知加熱後縮到一半原來尺碼，且硬如皮盾，唯有祇作冷泡扎染，於是就把早前的實驗碎塊與扎染羊皮及舊皮手袋手挽、拉鍊配件拆下重用，就這樣做了幾個輕巧實用皮包，送給好友，希望受樂受用！

 

Each of different sides of which the leather pockets are made of botanical prints while the whole bag is still of dyed leather. 

 

This one is a failed print which shrunk too much almost half the original size but the "wave of shrunken texture" is unique so I just sewed it as it is for the external pockets.

I bought a few hides in a local shop at very cheap price but after a trial found it's no good for eco printing as after heating it shrunk half the size and hard as a weapon.   It's better just to do cold tie dye with natural extracts. 

Made a damped tie dye in logwood or lac extracts for a few hours.

With those swatches done before I started the tote bag sewing.

Sewed the inner pocket with the canvas printing and dismantled the handles and zipper from the wore out bag for the up-cycle making.

Both sides of the eco dyed leather tote bag with upcycled handles and botanical leather imprints.

Tote bags of all leather,  soft and unique also with inner and outer pockets.  It's roomy and practical.  This special one I made for my daughter's mother-in-law.  Today a leisure walk to the seashore where my studio located. 

A gift of handmade tote bag is a touch of love.  I embellished with a ceramic button knot made it a two-styled bag.

 

Carry it to the seashore and listening to the wave......

 

Another cross shoulder purse accompanies the tote bag gift.  The zipper is also from the up-cycled purse.  This is eco printed linen fabric.

One side with the outer pocket of leather prints and zipper with my ceramic bird pendant with wool felt wings.

 

Thought this is something represents what I am doing. From ceramic making, wool felting to eco printing. Whenever I am asked what's my current profession.  I would show my style that's why I always wearing in my way with own creation.

 

Botanical imprints on leather is interesting.  If you can source reliable hides you can make colorful, soft and impressive printing.  I have instant download pdf tutorial of making leather botanical imprints you may find interested.

 

Sneak peak the contents...... Just a click for easy shopping.

Botanical imprints workshop 植物印染工作坊

 

 

Botanical imprints from workshop just made.  It's a planned workshop since Feb but postponed a few times due to Covid19.  We've just made it with a bunch of enthusiastic participants from NGOs.  

 

Our workshop was held in a cultural heritage ambiance.  Alley leading to the studio.....

........greeting by "little white".  How I love cats !

A glimse of the workshop.

It's a 1.5 days botanical imprints workshop with mordant and printing skills.  First started by introducing my sample prints of rayon.

 

Then a pretty participant to show the silk jersey sample with indigo dyes and botanical printing.

 

We're lucky to have a well organiser Ming, who is familiar with the neigbourhood and knows well the villagers (Lung Yeuk Tau 龍躍頭).  A private garden well maintained by owner Mr Lee next to the studio is amazing with all sorts of printable plants.  The couple are so nice to show us around and encouraged us to pick any sorts of plants and flowers.

 

With a handful plants from the garden and bunch of flowers from florist we started the making......

 

Rayon mordanted overnight.

 

Layout of plants

Concentrated working on...

 

Will that dill fragrance remind your taste bud? 

 

After layout then bundling.  Team work to tie it more tightly.

 

After 1.5 hours heating the outcome hanging dry and the images speak themselves......

 

Bright yellow onion skin

 

Discharge of nandina (南天竺)

 

Ferns, oxalis, nandina, flowers.....

 

Eucalyptus leaf of two sides printout

 

Nandina and euc cinerea

 

Those plants have no pigments as resist prints

 

Big leaf of macaranga tanarius (血桐)

 

All finished in a fine day and happy to shot in such natural ambiance.

 

I like the ruins of brick houses and  such a good theme with our natural botanical printings

 

Thank you so much for the lovely ladies, particularily renowned artist Evelyna Liang  for connecting my workshop with Ming who worked hard behind.

 

The villages - Lung Yeuk Tau (five walled villages and six villages 五圍六村)  is only 45-min drive from my urban apartment but I have never been before.  It's worth for a cultural and heritage visit.

  After the workshop I grasped the chance strolling around.  Sure next time I must explore the villages by bike.  I am so in love of the area and the scenery.