I have wanted a hobby for some time that I can pursue during the winter and that is creative.
Most of the year I prefer being outdoors and active, gardening, long nature walks, countryside and beach walks. However in the depths of winter and to be honest as I get older i have felt the need for something I can do that is indoors in the depths of a cold, wet winter and that is creative, but that still relates to my love of nature.
I wanted to pursue something useful and make something. I truly admire those who can knit and crochet and make clothes but while I can do basic mending I have never been so successful at those crafts. I like art and drawing but it is not something I am especially good at. I would love to learn pottery but it is not something I can do at home.
So I was watching a gardening programme and there was a lady who was gathering flowers from her garden for flower pressing! Suddenly it hit me, I could do that!
Flower pressing is a lovely, traditional craft that allows us to gather and preserve the beauty of flowers and leaves from Spring to Autumn which can then be made into decorative or artistic pieces at any time, but especially for me in winter.
So the Flower pressing journey for me started this summer.
Selecting Flowers
The first step in flower pressing is selecting the right flowers. I had to do some research on this as I needed to know which flowers were suitable for flower pressing.
We need to look for blooms that are not too succulent. The reason is that they press well when their moisture is taken out quickly.
So I learned that all Roses and daffodils are excellent choices due to their thinner petals. Luckily I have a garden full of roses in summer though I missed the daffodils this time i can pick those in Spring.
Then it was a case of looking for flowers with thinner petals and I found that Aquilegia, Poppies and Forget Me Nots were perfect and with learning and a little trial and error I found a lovely selection from our garden.
I made a decision early on that I would only pick flowers form my garden. We are losing so many wildflowers from the wild so fast that I do not want to contribute to their loss , so I never pick any wildflowers. I only pick the flowers that I grow and I always leave a lot to set seed for next year and for wildlife.
When to Pick Flowers
I read that for the best results it is preferable to pick flowers when it is a dry day after the dew has evaporated from the flowers , so about mid morning. The worst time is after it has been raining when the flowers are wet and should be avoided.
How To Preparing Flowers for Pressing
It is ideal to prepare the flowers by blotting them with tissue paper carefully in order to remove any moisture. Although I have to say that in my excitement to get going I often forgot to do this step and the flowers were just fine, but for best results I would advise it.
The Flower Pressing Process
I remembered as a child I used to press flowers with my Mum. We used to arrange the flowers with paper and place between the covers of a heavy book like a National Geographic hardback copy. However now we can buy specific flower presses and once my husband realised I was interested in this hobby, he thoughtfully bought me a flower press for my Birthday! I was so happy with this beautiful gift!
I simply placed the flowers carefully and not overlapping onto the paper in the Flower press and placed another sheet of the absorbent paper over it and repeated until the whole book was full. Then gentle and carefully tightened the screws
I always used to think you needed a huge weight for the process to work but it turns out you only need a gentle pressure.
This Happinit Flower Press is really lovely with great reviews and can dry smal petals quite quickly
The Waiting Game, Drying and Storing Flowers
We need to have some patience as the drying process takes time, up to 3 or 4 weeks ideally though you can get away with 2 weeks, or with some flower presses and small petals you can manage a few days.
The flower press needs to be placed in a warm dry place indoors. It is advised to check on the flowers every day or every few days, however due to family bereavement I did not check for several weeks and they were just fine.
I think ideally I need at least two flower presses so that I can have some drying and some to work with. I like this Aboofx Extra Large Flower Press
So I have now reached the stage where I have all my beautiful pressed flowers! In the coming year I will have the whole season of flowers so even more to work with. I am very much still learning what work and what doesn't but I am finding it a very satisfying hobby. The next step is finding out what I can create with the pressed flowers.
Creating With Pressed Flowers
I am thinking of using the pressed flowers in several different ways. First to make a piece of art that I can hang on the wall or if good enough give as a gift.
I could make cards from some of the flowers. I could explore how to add flowers to plain glass vases, though I am not sure how I could then wash them.
Perhaps some of the more crafty people reading this could give me some more ideas.
If you are or you know someone who loves flowers, nature and gardening a gift of a flower press would be a beautiful present. A Flower Press can be an excellent gift for an adult or a child.
I have found flower pressing to be a lovely way to still feel connected with nature even in winter.
I love the process of collecting them and pressing them and now I can see them all again and work creatively with them which is a beautiful hobby that brings me joy.
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Flower pressing seems like the perfect hobby for you, Raintree Annie, what with your love of gardening and nature in general. And I can see how a flower press is exactly the tool you need to pursue your hobby. You will have to share your completed flower crafts with us in a future article.
ReplyDeleteHow awesome and thoughtful of your husband to give you a flower press! I can just imagine the beautiful pictures you will create with your pressed flowers from your own garden. Like you, I do remember pressing flowers between the pages of books when I was a child, but I've never considered using them for artwork. I love that idea!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a perfect hobby or someone who love flowers. I will be anxious to see your finished products and how you use the flowers.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I have done with pressed flowers is to decorate candles with them. Apply melted paraffin to a candle, press on dried flowers, then apply a layer of melted paraffin over the top to seal them in. This is obviously best done with smaller flowers, and you can apply petals individually or entire small flowers to create your desired design. Enjoy your new hobby!
ReplyDeleteThis is a lovely hobby and one that can be done by everyone. I love flowers too and prolonging their lives by pressing them is a great way to enjoy them for much longer. I love your flower press!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a beautiful hobby. Not sure I could tackle this effectively, but the artwork it produces is quite stunning. Lovely!
ReplyDelete