Sunday, June 29, 2008

Thoughts after the conference

Conference bridge gaps and facilitate communication between different organizations. We have learned so much from the UK members in the conference. As I recall that they demand everyone follow their framing standard. I now understand why. It makes the artworks so much better and professional. Seeing things online and seeing them in person is something totally different. If one looks at the competition results on mini bouquet online, one must wonder how could Carolyn Foster's tiny bouquet won over Marie Ann's magnificent peony arrangement? The quality of English work is just impeccable. While I will continue using vacuum sealing method but I am thinking to improve the back of the frame for bridal works according to UK method. I have been talking about the iron-on film that the UK people are using. I think I have convinced a few to try. However, there was overwhelming demand at the conference after Denise Stirrup showed all kinds of lamination results on exhibition. And people looked at the quilts in person. I have asked Denise to do a short demo. I ran out of films due to demand (I had 150 feet to start with). For years Denise has told me about the "iron-on" film. It did not click until I saw her quilt patches in person. Without the conference, this type of exchange would not happen> because seeing the actual things is everything.

Now that everyone went home. I finally have a little time to sit down reading the pressed flower art text book that Guoju copied for me. She is the chief editor. Xianghuan is one of the authors. I am so impressed by the content especially the sciences of pressed flowers, color retention, dyes including botanical dyes. I only had beginner biology and chemistry in middle school which was taught in Chinese. My higher education were done in the US. I have a degree in bio-medical engineering so I had extensive training in biology and chemistry (including organic and bio chemistry). It is very difficult to read these in Chinese but I recognize the chemical formulas. My goodness! They have done a lot of researches in this area already. The experiments are so interesting. No wonder they teach pressed flower art in universities. They have details on red, pink, green, white, blue color retention theories and some techniques. They are so humble in the conference about their knowledge! I feel very good knowing them. We all got to know Guoju for a few years. Xianghuan ended up is one of the authors for a very good pressed flower book published in the late 90s. I have had the book for years. She holds 2 patterns in pressed flower art. I was so touched that she said she got into pressed flower art because of seeing it on my website when she introduced herself in the conference. I am also very touched that they have recognized me in their book for my critiques in some chapters.

Meeting the Japanese group back in Feb makes me understand how important it is to be able to communicate. They don't speak English. I don't speak Japanese. I was fortunate that Sandy is an excellent translator. IPFAS invited me to the conference next year in Japan. I think I will go. I guess I will just find my way there with everyone speaking Japanese.

All these makes me wonder if there is a way to communicate without language barrier. So many people have done so much everywhere in the world. I guess it is time to pick up another language.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

1st day at the conference

We had a wonderful day at the conference. I am so happy to see some old friends and meeting some friends I have met online for the first time.
My mom attended our opening. Well, she has grown flowers and pressed for one of my classes I will teach. I am so proud of of her.

Our inspiration Cellestine made to the conference. She has even done a demo of her framing method to us. I am so happy to finally see her in person.

The competition result is announced at the conference. Unfortunately I have left the result sheet inside the classroom so please be patient for one more day. Here are the 3 first place winners. It is too bad that I cannot remember the persons' names for category 1 and category 3.


Thursday, June 19, 2008

Beautiful artworks!

I spent 1/2 day judging many beautiful pressed flower artworks with 2 other judges. Competition is very tough this year with so many wonderful entries. We still have more works to do tomorrow. Our work is not easy since every piece is so good.

Had a nice dinner with all the friends at the hotel. I still have to pack up the last things for tomorrow's setup. We are almost ready for the conference. It is so exciting to see all the old friends and meeting new ones.

Most of the members arrived have either enjoyed the pool or had fun in Downtown Disney. Some are even driving all over S. CA. I am very happy to see everyone having good time. We will have 3 packed days together. It is great when everyone is rested up after long trips.

Members are arriving

As it is closer to the conference, members are arriving. We have people from China, Canada, and PA, USA arrived.

I took a few friends to the Huntington Library and Botanical Garden today. We had great time. These ladies were very tired by the end of the day.

We first went to have some Chinese lunch. We each had a nice cold drink before heading to the Huntington Library. It was pretty hot today. We only had time to walk in the formal garden, the new Chinese garden, the Japanese garden, and the rose garden. Wish we have more time to enjoy the lovely ground of Huntington Library.
I remember the Pressed Flower Gallery is near by. We stopped there. The gallery was closed. We were trying to peak in. Fortunately May's brother is still there. I have introduced ourselves and asked if we could go in to look around. He was very nice letting us in. Then May came as well. Here we are in front of the Pressed Flower Gallery.
I had to stop by to get some shaved ice after a hot day. Everyone enjoyed some. We then decided to have dinner and wait for the traffic to die down there. We had nice Shanghai dishes.