Learn Special Pressing Techniques From Teacher Cao–2012 Vacation Part 20

Master Nobuo from Japan agreed to teach me how to preserve whites and greens a few years earlier. However, I have not had any time or opportunities to go to Japan. I contacted Ms. Kao Fong Hsi before my vacation hoping that she could teach me. Ms. Kao arranged Ms. Cao to teach me in Taipei.

Every presser knows that whites are a challenge. Flowers like the Casablanca lily are used in wedding bouquets very often. They cause headaches for me. The results were often not white enough. Sometimes they become transparent. I knew that Nobuo has developed a method to press white flowers such as the white lilies. I asked him to teach me when we met in the US. However, he said it needs a liquid solution so he asked me to go to Japan. Actually, there are difficulties to learn in Japan. I don’t speak Japanese. And Nobuo’s English is not enough to teach pressing flowers. Just before going to Taiwan, I realized that several experienced teachers in Taiwan learned this technique before. And we have no language problems. Besides, Taiwan’s oshibana club is an off shore company of Nobuo’s. After making arrangements, I was so looking forward.

The oshibana club is sharing the same location with beading and art clay. Location is excellent. Classroom is bright and airy.

Ms. Cao is a very experienced teacher. She is warm and caring. She answered all my questions in details.

We pressed this Casablanca lily. It was like magic that the flowers came out pure white and solid.

Preserved green leaves are deeper in color but they will not fade after pressing.

I have promised Nobuo before that I will not teach nor release information about these methods. We will just enjoy the flowers.

Thanks to Ms. Cao patiently taught me for a whole day.

We ate lunch box. Lunch box in Taipei is very good. There is a pork chop, tomato and egg, tofu, and green vegetables. Cost was $80 Taiwan money. It is less than $3US.

Taipei Kao Fong Hsi’s Pressed Flower Art Exhibition–2012 Vacation Part 19

I have contacted Ms. Kao before going to vacation. I wanted to take some classes from her and also wanted to see more of her works. I saw her works in Philadelphia flower show and in UK. I am very impressed. Besides, it was her book and the book of Mrs. Shucheng Gu got me started on the art side of pressed flower art. I see that Ms. Kao continue self improvement and continue to have new works. I really love her work personally. Her work is very detailed, delicate, and sophisticated. I love her style of using original botanical colors, shapes and textures. It just makes you wanting to see her work close up to discover the flowers and leaves. I often admire her wisdom on some flower utilization and also gasp on the beauties from the nature. Wow! Beautiful!

The 3rd day we arrived in Taiwan, I went to take a class on pressing whites and greens. As I arrived to the classroom, I was so drawn to Ms. Kao’s pictures. Fortunately I have arrived a little early so I could look at them first.

The glares of the indoor lights were a big problem. I have tried all angles and up and down. This is the best I can do.

I saw this sunflower picture on facebook. I just love this one! Ms. Kao is a master on making pressed flowers look 3-D.

The curtain is done with skeleton leaves and Queen Ann’s lace. It is not painting.

Monnet would have approved this one done with pressed flowers.

All done with pressed flowers.

Goodbye Korea! Hello Taipei!

Luggage is almost ready. We were to go to the airport. This trip to Korea was totally enjoyable.

Our good friend Huayu bought us breakfast and took us to the airport bus. Thank you so much, Huayu! We have experienced a different Korea and had great time.

Look at the river one more time. And look at Incheon one more time.

At Seoul International Airport. We talked until wee hours in the morning. Then we had to get up before 6AM. It was so tiring. Plus, no makeup does not help.

We have not been in Taiwan for such a long time! We came to Ximending after dropping off the luggage at the hotel. Doug used to spend his youth here.

We stayed at the Military Hero’s Hotel for a couple of days. It is pretty minimum here but the location is excellent.

We were very tired when evening came. We just stayed in the hotel to eat instead of going out. Food is pretty good.

Drunken Chicken: I can taste the cage free brown chicken. Meat is tender and tasty.

Garlic Water Spinach: This is a typical Taiwanese vegetable dish..

Steamed Sea bass. The dish is huge. The fish portion is actually pretty big.

Dry Fried String Bean. It is very tasty.

Return to Insadong–2012 Vacation Part 17

We stayed at the same hotel in Insadong when we returned to Seoul from Gurye. Insadong impressed us a lot.

There are a lot of tourists lot also a lot of locals in Insadong. There are all kinds of art galleries, gift shops, and restaurants.

There were English and Chinese speaking tour  guides at the entrance of the street.

Insadong is a pedestrian street during the day.

I saw a small floral shop. Just try to record  what is locally available at the end of April.

This building slanting up and down like how screw is. There are all kinds of gift shops, small items, small artworks, and clothes. Most of the shops target younger people. It is so crowded.

I saw an ancient world map.

There is a flat area on the 2nd floor in the 4 stories building. Flowers were just starting to bloom in the spring. A few sheep sculptures walking leisurely. This is my favorite spot in the building. There is something for everyone. I am not interested in clothes or those tiny cute jewelry items. I just love this non-commercial spot in the building.

Saw traditional Korean flute show.

The Insadong stree is very crowded. We came back to the alley were our hotel is. Every restaurant planted a small garden outside. Let’s see what is blooming in Seoul.

We have the same African daisies and ivy in S. CA.

The English daises were about to finish in CA.

What garden daisy and viola were at their last legs in CA. They just started to bloom here.

I love this window and maple.

I saw maple flowers. Maple blooms for a very short time. It will bear seeds with wings.

Columbian. CA is too hot for this flower.

I don’t know the name for this white flower.

I don’t recognize this one either.

Bleeding Heart is so beautiful. It is too bad that CA is too hot for it.

Young couple wearing traditional cloths taking pictures with their daughter in front of traditional houses in Insadong.

A friend was celebrating his birthday the last night we were in Korea. Everyone went to dinner to celebrate. I forgot to take pictures of food. Well, we will just look at partial food.

Fried oysters.

Steamed pork

Birthday cake – green tea and fresh fruit.

We talked until wee hours in the morning. How  time flies! We will see each other again. Maybe everyone come to the US next time!