Evelyn Ying's Parchment Page Home page of parchment crafting
Firstly, let me introduce myself. I am Evelyn, married and have an 8 year old daughter. I was born and educated in Singapore and worked for a while in the fashion industry before leaving to join my husband in Sri Lanka, where he was first posted to manage a Television & Radio Broadcast Company. We are currently residing in the Philippines and have been here for two and the half years now. Prior to this, we were based in Cambridge, United Kingdom for one and the half years and Sri Lanka for three years. Being an expatriate has it's ups and downs. On the up side, this is a period of discovery where I get to learn, experience and live the culture of the country and it's people. This is also where I found time to do the things I've always wanted but couldn't because of the constraints of time, like Golf for example, which I took up about 9 years ago but never really got around playing because of my job and daughter then. Now I also find time to involve myself with a charity organization that deals with abused and unwanted children. During my spare time I play the piano, check out new restaurants and pubs and hunt for antique furniture and decorative arts. The down side is that you do not have a proper home and have to pack and move every couple of years, which gets more and more tiring, as you get older. You also get to attend an awful lot of farewell parties, which is no fun once you find a friend.
I got involved in Parchment craft about 2 years ago. It all started when I saw a Parchment card in a craft shop and knew immediately that it was something I'd like to do. So I bought the beginner's kit and practiced doing it on my own. As I got more and more involved, I then knew that unless I had my work scrutinized by a professional Pergamano teacher to see how I was fairing, I will not be content. So I took lessons from a lady who is a certified teacher in Singapore and insisted that she gave me a crash course on the finer points of the craft whilst I was back home for the holidays. When she showed me her art folio, I knew immediately that I made the right decision. Every piece of her work was immaculate. Every cut out cross was perfect. The border was cut neatly giving it a post stamp edge effect. The tracing was fine, even and light. The embossing had a shadowy ethereal effect. And the painting was breathtaking. She was very frank and pointed out all the areas where I needed to improve. Till today, I have no regrets paying for those lessons and would encourage all enthusiasts to do the same, if they are really keen to improve on the finer points of this craft. I was amazed at how critical I became after that when I looked back on all my old pieces of work and how satisfied I was with them then but would be so embarrassed to show them now. I now take in students every now and then (when my mood dictates) and enjoy the craft even more than before. I make it a point to paint and emboss daily as to maintain my brush strokes and pressure. This is especially important when I have to teach and I never leave home without a little kit. Lately I've been doing some research on Filipino 'laces' and have designed some patterns to go with the craft. I must admit I do not enjoy drawing quite as much as painting but since I'd already devoted so much time into this, I might as well do a set of patterns on the subject. I especially love painting flowers on Parchment. I'd take snap shots of a particular flower and try to paint it exactly the way it is. Sometimes it'll take a couple of hours to paint but other times it may take a whole day. For the past year or so, I've taught some friends who have now left the Philippines. I've decided to create this site as a means of touching base and exchanging ideas and patterns with those who are posted to countries where it's difficult to find continuance for this craft.
Please join me as I go along to show you the progress of my work from two years ago till today. Parchment Craft has enriched my life in so many ways and I'm so glad that I'm able to share this wonderful craft with you.
Yours truly,
Evelyn Ying
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