Meet at General Post Office, 2 Connaught Place, Central
Contact
Susan Wallace, 9783 3227 / Jane Buck, 9530 7957
Member Cost
$250.00
Guest Cost
$320.00
Description
Today,
we take a cross border coach to Da Fen Village, the world’s largest oil
painting village in Shenzhen. This 4 sq km area comprises 60% of the
world oil painting market. It has more than 800 stores and 5,000+
artists.
Choose a new piece of art from a huge
selection of paintings in oil, water color, embroidery, and more, or
bring a favorite photo to be copied into a hand-painted work of art. Art
supplies can be purchased at unbelievably low prices.
Our coach provides storage space to bring
your purchases back, but we need to limit the size to one piece of
airline check-in luggage per person. Purchases need to be taken off the
bus when going through immigration. We will spend 4 to 5 hours in the
village.
Lunch will be on your own. There is a
Wal-Mart nearby with fast-food facilities, and exploring the Chinese
version of this megastore is an interesting tour in itself.
Hong Kong I.D., passport with 6 months
validity and a valid China visa are required for this activity. For more
information, see http://www.cndafen.com/enindex.asp.
20%
– 40% off already WHOLESALE PRICES on finished items.
70%
off Normal Retail!
Sample : 19th century
elmwood altar coffer, circa 1880 A.D. Origin: Shanxi, China
Size:
219 x 54 x 83 cm high Price:
$10,
000 HK NOW
$8,000 plus shipping
Valued @ $28,000
---
ART TREASURES GALLEY ---
One
of the well known Zhuhai Factories has lost their lease and must move
their factory next month. In order to thin out their inventory they
are offering a special selling promotion this month! This factory
has exquisite Antique Chinese Furniture and Accessories, beautifully
restored from the 18-19th
century. Prices are a little higher than other factories, but their
quality is well worth the investment. In the USA and Europe the
prices would be 3-5 times higher.
Wednesday, Sept 19th - cancelled
Tuesday, Sept 25th - FULL
Thursday Sept 27th - cancelled.
Saturday, Sept 29th-FULL
Cost
: $1098 per person – cost covers round trip ferry ticket,
transportation for the day, consultation and follow up from factory
to your home. There will be time to see another factory and
possibly a marketplace for lamps.
Van
fits 7 people. Payment reserves your spot.
Email
for reservation form: homeredesignhk@yahoo.com
This
is something you cannot do on your own. We have a van and driver
taking us to 2-3 factories and a marketplace in a short amount of
time. We do business with these factories on a regular basis for
years and have developed an understanding of every factory strengths
and weaknesses.
If
there is something your looking for – email and we can supply
photos and quotes.
I haven't been to the Art Village in 4 years, but I doubt it's changed much and many clients ask me how to get there. Artwork can make a room come alive and finish a mood.
DaFen Art Village is located in Shenzhen, about 15 minute taxi ride from the LoWu Station. It's home to hundreds of art galleries and oil painting companies - many streets of small shops back and forth . Tons of art to look at.
Today, there are over 5000 artists and art workers. Its no longer a hamlet but more like a gated community surrounded by busy bustling streets. The Dafen Oil Painting Village streets and alleyways, however, are quiet, walkable, and full of art shops selling oil paintings, watercolors, sculptures, and other art.
The choices are plenty as there are several hundred shops. You can even commission an artist to paint an image of your choosing. How about a self portrait? Want to immortalize your favorite landscape? Just bring a pic and
I’m sure any of these talented artists can help you out.
You may take a chance and bring a photo of a landscape or still life for them to copy. Remember, they haven't been there and their interpretation might create a different end result than what you were expecting.
SUGGESTION: Look for art that is original - not a commercial massed produced item. Even though the prices are fabulous - you may tire of something that you see everywhere versus a quality piece of work.
Yes, you can barter! If it's original - the percentage off may be smaller.
I was on a mission to find just this type of work and must have visited every shop. Just when I was about to give up - this caught my eye and I knew I had found it. It's about 52" x 42" already framed and cost about $1200 RMB and I have a museum type painting.
This was an original piece - not a copy. It reminded me of the factories I frequent and the colors were spot on to my decor. It's about 36" x 48" and unframed it was $1100 RMB. I then took it to a framer - and for about $350 RMB it was complete. The framer shipped it to me - CRATED. Maybe another $350 RMB
That's not easy - the framers don't speak English. Maybe bring a phrase or two written in Chinese so you can communicate.
Like: How much for this molding to frame this painting? No, I do not need cloth matting. I want you to crate it and send it to me in Hong Kong. How much complete to do that - include cost of delivery?
My one painting came in with the corner chipped - even though crated -try and communicate to protect the corners with bubble wrap- they're more fragile.
IMPORTANT: Also look on the back. How are you going to hang it? Is it wired and ready for hanging. Make sure they
do that!
I also wrote my name and address on the back of the canvas so it didn't get confused or replaced by a copy.
HANGING A PAINTING:
Measure the middle of the painting in the back and mark it.
Measure the wall 59-60" up from the floor (eye level) - mark the wall.
pull your wire in the back and measure the center point of your wire to your center point marking on the painting. Say 10" is the difference/ the gap... (the curve of the wire).
Then measure on your wall 10" ABOVE your 60" mark. That's where you place your screw or hanger.
Your painting center should hit at your eye level when hung.
If there is a piece of furniture positioned below the painting - make sure you have room so it doesn't hit. You can raise it slightly.
Lucky you - here's a map:
Remember: You must have a current Chinese Visa.
You can do this in about 1/2 day and still have time to shop Lo Wu on the way back.
Easy enough is to walk over to the Shangri-La hotel when you arrive and they can help get a taxi. Take a hotel card to show the taxi on your return.
Last week I had a marvelous day with girlfriends at Lo Wu and made it a point to look into drapery making while there. I don't do draperies for my customers, but I can help guide you on choices of what and how. In the past, I've always made my own draperies, but this time moving to HK I was lucky enough to find a flat that already had beautiful silks - so no need to change out.
After a 10 hour day in Lo Wu.... not bad they're still smiling!
MUST DO BEFORE YOU GO: know your exact measurements of your window. It's also helpful if you have a photo so they can copy. Remember, what you see is what you get. I like to have the curtains drape on the floor about 2-3" instead of stopping just before the floor. Most pleated curtains are 2x your width. They can go up to 3x your width - but that's a waste of material and money.
Here's a couple of recommendations:
Shop 1039 Jianxiu Curtain Fabric Shop - it's a HUGE store with loads of fabric hanging on the walls. One of the few times you can see the entire thing instead of viewing it from a book.
Thai Silk about $210 rmb - and the quality is good. There was a knock off upstairs cheaper and it looked it!
Sheers are a great way to save. They can be 110-120" wide vs the 54" and with our beautiful views - why hide it. It diffuses the strong sun but gives weight to the room. Add a straight valance in front with small pleats if you want to add color .
These are wicker/fabric that's housed on a roller - a plastic pulley. It's $478 a sq meter. I think it included the entire unit. It's a nice semi-transparent look - and then surround it with drapes. The drapes don't have to close - just a 'faux' drape.
This is bamboo shades - much cheaper - but on a cord pulley system. $128 rmb sq meter. The photo below is not what I would choose - but think of a straight valance (this hides the pulley) and a more commercial weave. See the photos below.
Love the ribbon trim going down the linen drape and the bamboo shades. Notice how high the hardware is on the ceiling - this makes your ceilings feel taller.
Hardware can be purchased with your curtains - not a great selection - but you can always spray paint. Then just hire a handy man to put them up.
Another good source is SHOP# 3066 Baoshiheng Curtain Shop. It's on the corner by the restaurant on the 3rd floor - and multiple pillows hanging on display outside. The higher up you go in the mall the better the price. My girlfriend did her entire flat in Roman Shades from here for about $4200rmb.
Roman Shades with Trim
Roman shades with a soft bottom
Again, the reason I don't do draperies is it involves the purchase of fabric. Fabric is such a personal choice - too time consuming for me to go look, make a presentation and go look again if it's not your cup of tea. Trying to back into a fabric choice is even harder if your decor is already on going. Bottom line - keep it simple. That's why I love Linen - since it's light weight and loosely woven, it allows lots of sunlight to filter through while still providing privacy. Linen in Shenzhen runs about $35-60rmb a meter depending upon the weight for 54-60" wide. If you buy a lot you can get the price down. A higher grade can be purchased in the Western Market for about $220hk - and of course there is still Sham Shui Po.
Here's another one of my favorites. The accent border. You could add a smaller accent - like gross grain ribbon - between these two. The bottom should be about 20-25% of the length.
You can save money if you don't line it, however, if you want a gorgeous expensive and flowing look - spend the money . Drapes don't hang as nicely when they're unlined. Dupioni silk - line it - because you don't want this beautiful fabric fading by the sun.
Nail Head Linen Curtains from West Elm
But, I have to admit, I'm seeing more and more natural weaves being shown unlined in the magazines. I know - you save money that way.
