How to Press Flowers

Ever since I was a kid, I have loved to press flowers. There is something satisfying about preserving the colors of nature by gently pressing the plant in a heavy dictionary or a hand-made wooden flower press. The process is so rewarding it often makes me question why it is not a more common practice. Is it our fast pace lifestyle that doesn't allow us to take time and "smell the roses", or is it the fact that some just feel that it is a daunting task? Whatever the reason, I am here to tell you that flower pressing is simple! All that flower pressing requires is flowers or plants, pressure, a dark place, and time. 

To find flowers and other plants to press I usually look in abandoned fields or along the country roads. If those are hard to come by, make a trip to your local gardening store or flower shop and buy some!

To press the flowers you must use pressure. Pressure can come in many forms. As I have previously mentioned a heavy book like a dictionary can work. Stack bricks or other heavy objects on the dictionary for added pressure. Flower presses are hard to come by in stores. I would suggest buying one online or even making one yourself. 

Place the flowers and plants in the heavy book or in the flower press using the pages or pieces of paper to separate the flowers. Once everything is in place store the book or press in a dark place for up to two weeks. In two weeks take the flowers and plants out of the dark and out of the book or press. Now you have beautiful flowers to do with what you will!

If you have any questions, feel free to comment.

Natural Dye Chart

Since if is finally spring and time to start foregoing for natural dye stuffs, I decided that I should have an online version of my natural dye samples. So here it is! I am sure this chart will change as I am preparing to do more tea dying and finding more local Missouri plants to dye with. Most of the fabrics and yarns below were dyed using pre reduced dye powders and dye instructions from www.tablerockllamas.com. Thanks to my wonderful natural dye teacher Alison Greene for teaching me natural dying and helping providing me and the class with many of the sample materials and dyes pictured below from last spring!

Enjoy! XXXO