Saturday, June 29, 2013

Sorting & Storing Flowers

I love this time of year when new blossoms seem to appear every day in the garden.  I enjoy gathering flowers, leaves and stems from the garden to press each day.  I don't mind changing the desiccant paper every 1-2 days during the pressing process to ensure fast moisture removal and bright colored results.  The part I do NOT like is organizing and storing my bounty.

Since we have received considerable rain over the last two days, I decided to bite the bullet.  I took my stack of pressed flowers still encased in Viva paper towels and one by one removed roses, potentilla, pansy, delpinium, coral bells, coreopsis, larkspur, verbena, scabiosa, tiny daisies, lobelia, peony assorted leaves and stems and sorted them onto computer paper.  My kitchen counters were covered with flowers.


Then I placed each batch of flowers on cardstock cut to fit the size of the storage bag.  Then I placed a piece of tracing paper over the top of the flowers and folded it over the bottom of the cardstock to prevent damage while inserting and removing the flowers from the package.



Finally, I carefully inserted my bounty into freezer bags, labeled them and placed them in storage.  I store most of my flowers alphabetically by name but they could be stored by color.  The key is to develop a system which ensures you can find what you need when you need it.
 

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Flower PressingTips

I found these lovely tiny, daisy-like flowers while walking at Seneca Lake Park.  Of course, I had to pick some to press.

Daisies are best to press when they haven't been open too long.  One way to tell if the flowers are too old to press is by checking the center.  If it is raised like the one shown below, don't bother pressing it.

I decided to use my desiccant paper to press these daisies.  Desiccant paper is made with silica gel and is very absorbent.  I placed one sheet of desiccant paper on an old piece of paneling to protect it.  Then I placed a sheet of Viva paper towel.  I use Viva because it does not have a raised pattern which might transfer to the flowers.  Then I added my flowers as shown below.

Most of the flowers were pressed with their stems attached but I also pressed a few flower heads without stems.  Once the flowers are placed on the Viva, I cover the flowers with another piece of Viva paper towel and then a second sheet of desiccant paper. If needed, I could add multiple layers of flowers sandwiched between the Viva and desiccant paper.  When I am done, I place a second piece of paneling on top.  Now I place the filled press in a warm area protected from rain and moisture and cover it with a patio brick as shown below.


I checked my press the following day, and the tiny daisies were dried and ready to use.  I removed them from the press and used some of the flowers to make the following cards.


Now I'm ready to move on to the next pressing project.  Aren't these blue Salvia lovely?  I will use the same technique as above to press these flowers.  Don't forget to press leaves along with the blossoms.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

156 - Memorial Flowers For My Sister in Law

The attached was created to honor my sister-in-law who passed away a few weeks ago.  It will be presented to my husband's brother in her memory.
 

Monday, May 6, 2013

2013 Tentative Show Schedule

Date Show
2013-May 4-5 Great Swamp Conservancy, 8375 N. Main St., Canastota, NY
2013-Jun 8-9 Keuka Arts Festival, Penn Yan, NY 14527
2013-Jul 6-7 Cazenovia Area Ambulance Corps. Arts & Craft Show, 106 Nelson St., Cazenovia, NY
2013-Aug 3 Cortland Arts & Wine Festival, 64 Main St., Cortland, NY
2013-Sep 7-8 Beaver Lake Nature Center Golden Harvest Festival, 8477 E. Mud Lake Rd., Baldwinsville, NY 13027
2013-Oct-5-6 Hunt Country Vineyards Harvest Festival, 4021 Italy Hill Rd., Branchport, NY 14418
2013-Oct-12-13 LaFayette Apple Festival, Lafayette, NY 13084
2013-Nov 23-24 Open House, Home of Artist @ 1917 State Route 14, Geneva, NY,  Sat. 12 noon-6 pm, Sun., 12 noon-4 pm

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

#153 - Roses, Roses & More Roses Bridal Bouquet

I was recently commissioned to preserve a bridal bouquet consisting of lots and lots of full stem and sweetheart roses.  She selected a beautiful gold frame.  The bride was very happy with the results!


16" x 20" Bridal Bouquet with Vows Provided by the Bride

Frameless Pressed Flower Art

I have had fun creating new frameless pressed flower art with garden quotes and Mother's Day verses.  The quotes were printed on decorative paper and each picture was adorned with garden flowers.  For strength, three layers of heavy cardstock paper was added.  Both the front and back are covered with laminate for protection.  Each has a ribbon for hanging.  I'm looking forward to displaying them at my next show and plan to take some to Keuka Creations in Penn Yan later this week. 

Mother's Day Verses



Garden Verses
Garden Verses

Friday, March 15, 2013

#152 - Valentine's Day Card Contest

One great benefit of membership with the World Wide Pressed Flower Guild (WWPFG) is that they offer fun contests.  I created the following Valentine's Card in order to submit it in the "Share the Love Contest" offered in February.  Not only do members earn great prizes, but in this case all entries were donated to a local VA Hospital. Although I placed third in this contest and won a great prize, the greatest winners were our veterans! 

Materials used included red rose petals, baby's breath, Queen Anne's Lace, gerbera daisy, ginko, clematis and pompas grass blossoms.