The Book of Pressed Flowers, A Complete Guide to Pressing, Drying, and Arranging

Description

The Book of Pressed Flowers, A Complete Guide to Pressing, Drying, and Arranging by Penny Black from Simon and Schuster, Inc. 1988
This book contains the techniques and decorative theories behind the author's original pictures, cards, borders and pillows, all made with pressed flowers and other types of plant material. Includes guidance on techniques of pressing and arranging and advice on growing and gathering plants and flowers. Penny Black is the author of "The Book of Potpourri" and "The Scented House".
A guide to pressing and arranging flowers foliage, this practical craft book covers every aspect of the art of pressing flowers, leaves, seeds and grasses, and arranges them in original and attractive groupings. From a sumptuous summer frieze to a romantic wedding bouquet, from a cheerful kitchen poster to a lavish garland of flowers, this book is packed full of Penny Black's inspirational ideas. She demonstrates the many different applications of the art, from flower "samplers", perfumed sachets and greeting cards to incorporating flower pictures on textiles, ornaments and furniture. Penny takes the reader step-by-step through all stages of making a flower picture from pressing flowers to arranging the composition. There is an extensive section on the different flowers and foliage that can be pressed, including those from the garden. Advice is given on choosing a flower press, and there are clear instructions on the different pressing techniques involved.
Black takes us the next step and shows us some of the possibilities. She doesn’t limit us to flowers. We can also use leaves, ferns, seaweed, mosses, lichens, fungi, seedheads, bark, and even fruits and vegetables. The possibilities are limited only by our imaginations.
She leads us through the techniques, gives us a quick sketch of the artistic decisions we will have to make regarding color, texture, and composition, and provides us with examples of what we can create.
As a bonus, she gives us short paragraphs on making potpourri, dying fabric with plant dyes, and renovating picture frames for all those collages you’re going to make.
The book has one or more photographs, by Geoff Dann, on almost every page. They’re so colorful and interesting; I’d recommend this book to you on that basis alone.
The Book of Pressed Flowers
is hardbound, 120 pages long, and includes a useful index.