Dreamcatcher - from Mystical Handicraft to Spiritual Art

Album Link: Lillian's Dreamcatcher

After trying different techniques of making dreamcatchers, I wondered if I can "paint" on a dreamcatcher, making use of its original net structure. The idea was inspired when I was staring at a dreamcatcher, examining its perfect and amazing structure, and suddenly I thought I saw some sacred patterns out of it. A beautiful flower emerged from the net surface, and then a spiral.

I'm such a doer that I used colorful beads to outline the net of a dreamcather that evening, and made a work symbolizing the Galaxy.

That was the first time realized the net structure itself can resemble so many patterns, as long as I let the imagination run.


Then, of course, I must "draw" a lotus, my favorite flower, on a dreamcatcher, and made it a beautiful accessory. This time, I utilized the net structure completely, using interlaced threads to present layers of petals.


But my ambition didn't stop there. In addition to patterns that standard structure can resemble, I also wanted to create more interesting images that are not bound by the web but still following its nature.

That's when variation of normal knitting technique comes into place. One difficulty in "drawing" on a dreamcatcher is that there's no "long" straight line on the net, although the net itself is composed of many short thread segments. However, with advanced knitting techniques, different shapes can be formed.

Hence, two more artworks with spiritual themes were born - We Are One and Tree of Life.

I was so amazed by the outcome and the possibility of dreamcatcher creation, and was literally thinking about making a series of dreamcatcher collection on the theme of spirituality and sacred geometry.

Later, I've decided to return to simplicity, and made the Vertex by only shifting the point of threads intertwining with each other.

One friend saw the work and asked: "Is it possible to make a Tai-Chi-style dreamcatcher?"

"It's feasible, theoretically. But I'm afraid the shape won't be perfect due to the nature of dreamcatcher's web structure. I'll need more time to think about it.", I responded

Well, I mentioned earlier that I'm a doer, and so of course, I found a way to solve the problem without delay. I was holding the Vertex dreamcatcher and pondering how to blunt the edges and present Tai Chi's round characteristic, and then it stroke me that by shifting the crossover point from the middle to one side, the shape formed by the consecutive line segments is rounder and smoother.

Therefore, using the same technique of making the Vertex, I completed Tai Chi dreamcatcher as well. Here I present the ultimate integration of Eastern (Chinese) and Western (Native North American) traditions and cultures. Black intertwines with white, forming a perfect circle, just like the harmonic combination of Eastern and Western spirituality.

Dreamcatcher Evolution - Transformation of Butterfly

Album link: 3D Dreamcatcher - Transformation of Butterfly

Finally I'll hold my first handicraft workshop in two weeks!! In the workshop, I will show the students how to make a dream catcher, and how their creativity can be integrated into their works.

I started to learn how to make a dreamcatcher when I was on my working holidays in the UK 2 years ago. At the time I didn't have proper materials at hand, and therefore I had to use something else instead. For the hoop, I used tiny bracelet in replace of willow; for the web itself, I used elastic thread bought in the shop in stead of sinew or cordage made from plants; as to the feather....although I could pick feathers everywhere in Brighton, they were too big for the tiny bracelet, and so I'd decided to use everything I had as the decoration.

For example, once I used alphabet beads and spelled my friend's name, and another time I even made a Chinese know and tied it under the dream catcher. I was so proud of that work - perfect combination of Eastern and Western tradition.

After coming back to Taiwan, finding proper materials for making a dream catcher is not a problem anymore; but still, I love to use bracelets to make dreamcatchers since the results look more elegant and exquisite. You may hang it above the bed as before, or you may wear it as an special accessory or necklace. I had add ingredient of FASHION in to the traditional mystical dreamcathers.

The web of a traditional dreamcatcher looks like a blossomed flower, with all its petals touching the edge of the hoop and layer by layer crossing each other. 

However, when I looked up information on the internet in preparation for my workshop, I've came across different styles of dreamcatchers and weaving techniques. Hence, I started to look for the works I like, and figured out myself how to make them. I love trying new things, especially advanced techniques.

At first, I only changed the way I weaved the web or decorated it, which resulted in different looks of dreamcatchers.

Then, I went further, and added another ring into it. With two hoops, the possibility is limitless, and I only taste it a little bit so far.

Last night, I've decided to leap to a higher level, and turned the world of dreamcatchers from 2D into 3D. I combined 2 bracelets together to form the skeleton of sphere, and began my weaving inside of it. I didn't plan carefully how I wanted the work to look like; my idea was to make each facet symmetrical and hope the thread tension may hold the shape. Also, to make the work more interesting, I added some beads, just to highlight the petal shape.

The result was a big surprise!! The web itself presented as a curved surface in topology, and the beads dotted into a beautiful butterfly!! It was totally beyond me imagination; I had never thought this idea could turn out to be something so beautiful.


On top of that, since the dreamcatcher is in 3D, it shows difference faces at different angles. From one angle, it looks like a butterfly spreading the wings, and from another angle, it looks like a tunnel or a butterfly net...well...hopefully it doesn't come for my butterfly. But it does make a good dream-CATCHER, isn't it?

I love this work very much; like the transformation of butterfly, I've made a breakthrough again. I proudly share this work to you :)

Shining Angelic Lights

Album Link: Angelic Light Jewellery

I should've posted this article a long time ago, but I had been busy enjoying my British life until now.

I've been taking A Course in Light for many years, and this course has been one of my inspirations for handicrafts. Lots of ideas often came to my mind when listening to the course, and my hands started to move spontaneously. 

Last year this time, I finally reached the series of Angelic Level, which introduces the final levels of this course. In the Angelic  Level, all the light colors we had learned in the previous levels mix together and form new colors of light, ex: white + gold = yellow, orange + pink = magenta.

I always love colorful things, and I was crazy about beading at the time, so I thought: why not materialize those angelic colors in the form I love the most - handicraft?

So, here it is, the collection of angelic light. Each combination of colors form a new color, and was materialized as a piece of jewelry, including necklace, hair pin, brooch, ring, bracelet, pendulum, earring, etc.

You can take a closer look at each piece via the album link above, and know the stories behind if you know Chinese.

Enjoy! This is one of my most "useful" creations...I wear those jewelries all the time...hoping to absorb the angelic lights more efficiently :P

Colorful Mandalas

Album: Cloth & Jewelry Design

There are several things that I love: colors, weaving/knitting, and patterns. Most of the times, I can only include some of the elements in my handicraft works. But this time, I got it all.

This design is call Mandala, which is basically bead weaving technique which I had known long ago. But I didn't really put too much effort in rocailles weaving when I was young since it was time consuming apparently. I spent much time studying how to weave the beads into 3D objects, such as animals, fruits, balls, etc., instead.

People in the UK are crazy about Mandala, Shamballa kind of things, and they even have course to teach you how to make these things. So I took one of the class and learned how to make a Mandala.

I instantly decided to pick red, yellow and blue as my main colors for the Mandala, as they are the three basic color in light. After finishing one, I was fascinated by the result, and found it was like the feather of a peacock.

We didn't have time to make too many Mandalas in the class, and I ended up finishing 3 Mandalas. I didn't want to make a bracelet as instructed, and didn't intend to make more in same patterns; thus, I decided to make a one-of-the-kind necklace.

I recalled that I had picked a tiny feather of a peacock when I was in London last month, and it would be the perfect match for the Mandalas I had made.

It took me some time to work out how to combine the three Mandalas as well as the peacock feather together, but I was satisfied with the result. The necklace itself was also a special design, with the mixture of indigo and metallic blue beads and the S-shape formed by continuous metallic blue beads. Due to the similarity of the colors of the beads, the pattern was not obvious, which was designed on purpose to avoid it taking away the visual focus from the Mandalas and the feathers.

I love the dazzling colors and patterns so much that I had to make another one to fulfill my desire. The second one was full of new ideas that I weaved two Mandalas together into an infinity symbol. On top of that (or I should say on "bottom" of that), I made a chain maille bracelet as the base for the infinity Mandala. This is a gift for Nalia; hope she will like it.





Again, making this, whether the Mandala part or the chain maille part, is time-consuming, but I love it...so let it be~

Dream A Little Dream on Dreamcatchers

Album Link: Dreamcatcher

I have had a fancy to dream catchers for a long time. I remembered that I saw many dreamcatchers in a shop, in Old Town in San Diego, selling native American crafts in 2007, and I decided that I must have one someday.

I bought one, and made one later, and that was the  end of my fancy to dream catchers...at least that was what I thought.

Few years later, when I walked in the North Lane in Brighton two weeks ago, I saw dreamcatchers again in a native American shop. The dream catchers seemed to bring back my obsession for them, and I kept seeing them in all kinds of accessories (earrings, hair pins, necklaces...) since then.

When Emma showed me the procedure of making a dream catcher in her garden last Sunday, I knew it was a sign. Thus, the next day I went to Primark to buy a bunch of bracelets (10 for 1 pound) after class, and on my way home, I found a piece of feather which is perfect for  dressing a dreamcatcher.

Using the bracelet as the frame, tangled with shearing elastic, attaching a bead as the core, and don't forget to give a final touch with the feather; now an exquisite dream catcher is done.

The perfect work didn't satisfy me, especially when one of my classmate Valentina asked me to make one for her after she saw it. As a result, I couldn't help but making another 3 dreamcathers in the following days. Each work was one of the kind and unique; I put in much energy when I make one.

I'm not sure what to do with all the dreamcathers I made yet, but I'm pretty sure I'll make more in the near future.

I LOVE dream catchers!!

ACIL Keys & Codes in the reality

Album Link: ACIL - Keys & Codes

I've been taking the class of "A Course In Light" for years. One level led to another, I was in 7th planetary level, which I had never expected that I could reach.

The main topic of planetary 7 is keys and codes, which will be imprinted in our soul and will be activated one day when the time is right.

I love symbols, especially those with metaphor in it, and I always love to visualize things in my mind. So...why not make these "keys & codes" images into reality? That way I don't have to imagine what they are like anymore.

That's how the idea was born.

The idea was easy, but the process wasn't. I spent a weekend to picture the concept of each image and it's basic materials. However, it's not that simple to turn concepts into reality.

Some of the keys & codes are plain to design, like LOTUS and EYE; I can almost see how they are like the moment I decided how to make them.

But this was not the case for FACES and FLAME; true, I had a rough idea how to present them, but the output is just not what I expect. To make human face by origami is usual, but to make human profile by origami is insane. I tried many times to fold the eye, the nose, the mouth, but it end up with a mess, just lots of folding lines mixing together. And the FLAME is even harder, I mean...how to you make insubstantial flame out of a piece of tangible paper?

Of course, I figured them all out in the end, and hence accomplish the twelve pieces of work.

LOTUS was the first (for sure, since I fancy lotus), and CORNUCOPIA was the last (because I had to make the fruits from paper clay and color them), so you can also say it's from oneness (the meaning of LOTUS) to fruition (the meaning of CORNUCOPIA).

The twelve symbols are related to 12 chakras represented by 12 colors of light, also the main color of each work.

Here I array the "keys & codes in reality" by the bodies they correspond to; from top to bottom: Rational Body, Emotional/Perceptional Body, and Physical Body (the bottom 2 arrays).

Let's put an end to my study in ACIL planetary 7.

The Greatest Gift of All - Farewell HYT

Note: this is the English version of "The Greatest Gift of All -- HYT臨別贈禮"

When Marshall from How I Met Your Mother decided to quit his job, something strange happened. Every annoying person and thing seem adorable after he made up his mind leaving that company. Thus he started to wonder, if it's the right decision to quit? Robin gave him a wake-up call by telling Marshall that this phenomenon is call "Graduation Goggles", just an illusion rathe than the truth.

I totally get it, because this is my second resignation in two years. I remembered clearly that I fell in love with everyone and everything in that company; love them from the bottom of my heart, and appreciate everything they did.

And that's why I camp up with this goodbye gift for my coworkers from HYT -- The Greatest Gift of All~

The gift is not just a normal present for each one, it also shows the inner Gift of each person.

From the day I got Archangel Oracle Cards, I drew one card each morning for my main energy or wisdom needed today for more than 5 years. It had witnessed ups and down of my life, and gave me inner strength. Thus, now I want to share this gift and blessing to all my coworkers.

I've believed in that everyone has his/her own divine life purpose in this world since I began to read the Course of Light. Every single person should find his/her own potential, develop the talent, then shine!! And I think it is the so-called "the meaning of life".

Inner gift often presents in an unexpected form, and it won't be one's inner strength until it has been seen and accepted. Hence, I drew a card for everyone to point out their inner gifts, and hope this card can remind them from time to time that they are all precious and worthy, and the most important, guided.

I knew HY Tech is not where I belong from the begining. Here is just a shelter for me when I'm weak and need some rest. In return, I assist to make this company more stable and stronger; doing my best before I start my next jounery. I don't care if anyone thinks I'm too cocky...this was my sincere thought.

Now, it's time. It's time for me to go on the next unknown journey...and RTZ.

It's difficult to leave HYT, but everyone got to go his/her own way. So the only thing I can do is to send this small but meaningful gift to them all; hoping everyone can truly understand this gift/Gift someday :)

Ok...the speech is over. Now come to appreciate the details of the gifts here!!

Farewell~~HYT~~

12 Signs of the Horoscope

Album link: Horoscope

There's no need for a reason to make handicraft; all you need is some inspirarion. Using 12 name cards, covered with tissue papers, and colored with 12 different colors (which is the color of light related to the star which guards the sign).

The 12 signs are made by different materials and techniques using the "lucky" color for each sign. Also, the materials I used are matched to the quality of the sign which I want to represent. For example, the wool give us the warm feeling, which is what a Caner brings to his friend; and Aries mark is drew by red crayon representing the childlike personality of the Aries.

12 signs imply infinite possibilities, and different aspects of our life. Just like to "WHEEL of FORTUNE" card in the middle, the 12 signs are our life...with various presenting ways.