Hammering Flowers on Tote Bag Workshop. The Great Flower Hammer Experiment: Which Tool Wins?

Workshop Description

Put on your creative hat and get ready to play with flowers—no prior experience required!

Have you ever wondered what happens when flowers become paint? In this relaxed, hands-on workshop, you'll discover the fascinating art of flower pounding (Hapa Zome), where the natural pigments of fresh flowers and leaves are transferred onto fabric using nothing more than a small hammer.

Perfect for beginners and flower lovers alike, you'll create two unique botanical projects during this 2-hour workshop. We'll begin with a small treasure pouch, allowing you to experiment with flower placement, colour combinations, and hammering techniques. Once you've gained confidence, you'll move on to designing a beautiful 35 × 40 cm cotton tote bag to take your creativity to the next level.

Using a colourful selection of seasonal flowers and foliage prepared by the Community Flower Studio (CFS) team, you'll be guided step by step as you arrange your botanical designs before gently hammering the flowers to reveal their beautiful natural colours and patterns on fabric. Every creation is one of a kind—just like the flowers themselves.

Flowers speak the language of love—expressing admiration, celebration, and care. Dr Bibiana Chan will share her passion for working with flowers, along with the wellbeing benefits of slowing down, engaging your senses, and reconnecting with nature through creative making.

With easy-to-follow techniques and plenty of encouragement, you'll gain the confidence to experiment with botanical printing while creating two practical keepsakes. By the end of the workshop, you'll take home a personalised treasure pouch and a beautifully decorated cotton tote bag—both handmade using nature's own colours.

What will be covered?

You'll learn:

• how to select suitable flowers and leaves for flower pounding (Hapa Zome)

• how to arrange botanical materials to create attractive, balanced designs

• the techniques for transferring natural pigments onto fabric using a small hammer

• how to practise on a treasure pouch before creating a larger tote bag

• tips for achieving clearer botanical prints and caring for your finished creations