Today, we'll create a brooch depicting the three blessings of good fortune, wealth, and longevity. This brooch's prototype is inspired by a collection from a Chinese museum. The main shapes include a pomegranate, a longevity peach, a Buddha's hand, and a ribbon bird, symbolizing good fortune, with many children and grandchildren, happiness and longevity.

The color style of brooch is primarily pink, purple, and turquoise, with leaf embellishments. This creates a youthful and vibrant feel and appeals to a wider audience.

Key Steps:

1.Match the silk yarn colors: Choose purple, pink, and turquoise silk yarn. (Note: All items in our shop are dyed in-house. Usually we dye the silk yarn by ourselves, and it will be easy for us to match the different colors.)

2.Smooth the selected silk yarn onto a wooden stick and clamp the ends securely to facilitate combing.

3.We typically use a brush to comb the silk yarn, starting from the bottom and gradually moving outwards until the silk yarn is smooth and tangled.

4.Clamp the prepared copper wire onto the silk yarn strip, determine the desired width, and twist the wire at both ends.

5. Cut the silk yarn strip. We typically use several types of scissors during the production process. We recommend using long-nosed scissors, as some silk yarn strips are quite wide and can be cut all at once. If you're too slow to cut, you'll need to cut the strip in batches, which can result in uneven cuts and untidy results.

6. Pinch the cut silk yarn strip at both ends and twist the copper wire in opposite directions to form a spiral. Continue twisting the strip with a wooden stick to strengthen the strip and create a more delicate texture. Be careful not to apply excessive force in one spot, as this will break the copper wire. Don't make the strip too loose, as this will cause the silk yarn to fall apart.

7. After the strip is finished, begin to point it. This refers to shaping the strip. For example, a pomegranate is spherical, so the ends of the strip should be cut into a tapering shape. If the leaves have sharp corners, the corners should also be trimmed to the desired shape. Use tweezers to remove any uneven silk yarn and smooth the entire strip to make it smoother. (Ms. Liu Mei, inheritor of Yangzhou's intangible cultural heritage, explained: "When making velvet flowers, the shape is usually in our minds, not simply cut with scissors. Having a clear direction in mind will help you avoid messing up the pattern.")

8. Finally, assemble the flowers according to the design. The pomegranate, Buddha's hand, longevity peach, and ribbon bird are assembled one by one. Each added part needs to be tightly wrapped with silk thread, otherwise the finished product will be loose and not bloom properly.

9. Our entire velvet flower design, representing the three elements of fortune, wealth, and longevity, is complete. Craftsman can create it as a vase decoration, brooch, or hairpin according to their requirements. Which type do you prefer?

 

Our shop currently offers brooch designs. Wear it on a suit, on a cheongsam, on a hat :

I believe you can find more options, such as pinning it to a scarf, displaying it on the shoulder, and so on. Feel free to share your thoughts.

 Tip: Sharing a Moment in Chinese History and Culture

In China, Fú福, Lù禄and Shòu寿 symbolize happiness, official rank, and longevity, representing the ancient people's aspirations for a better life. This powerful combination of gods and goddesses is considered the most representative of the ancient "auspicious celestial group." "Fu, Lu, and Shou" is not one deity, but three, representing the three core dimensions of the Chinese pursuit of an ideal life:

Lucky star - The Protector of Good Luck

"Fú福" has the broadest concept, representing overall luck, harmony, and well-being. Fuxing originally governed the celestial phenomena and later evolved into a celestial official bestowing blessings. In folk culture, the single character "Fu" encapsulates all good beginnings: a harmonious family, a large family, and peace and prosperity. The upside-down "Fú福" character, pasted on paper during the Spring Festival, vividly embodies the arrival of good fortune.

Wealth star- The Symbol of Career and Success

"Lù禄" originally referred to the salary of an ancient official, so Luxing governs fame, wealth, and official career. He satisfies people's desire for social achievement and material security. Under the ancient imperial examination system, students invariably prayed for the favor of the God of Fortune, hoping to pass the imperial examinations and bring honor to their families. The God of Fortune was often depicted holding a ruyi (a lucky charm) or an official hat, symbolizing advancement in rank and wealth.

The God of Longevity—A Prayer for Longevity

"Shòu寿" is the foundation of all this, representing health and longevity. The God of Longevity, also known as the Southern Pole Immortal, is deeply rooted in Chinese culture with his exaggerated forehead and peaches in hand. The pursuit of longevity embodies the traditional Chinese values of "life is paramount" and "love life and hate death." The prayer is not just for a long life, but for a healthy and quality life.

If Fú福, Lù禄and Shòu寿are abstract "gods," then the ribbon bird is the "nature spirit" that embodies these abstract blessings.

The ribbon bird is named for its pair of central tail feathers, which resemble a long ribbon. Its name itself is rich in wonderful puns and symbolic meaning:

"Shou" (绶) and "Shòu寿" are homophones, a core meaning of the bird. Because its long tail feathers are considered a direct symbol of longevity, the oriole, also known as the "longevity belt bird," is a frequent subject in birthday-themed art.

Other auspicious meanings: Its vibrant feathers are considered a symbol of good fortune and luxury; the "dai" in its name is a homophone of "dai," meaning "generation," and thus suggests "longevity from generation to generation" and "noble titles from generation to generation."