March 5, 2024
Late Winter, Spring is in the Air
Often, people will ask if the process to press flowers is a difficult one. I think it isn't difficult, but it does take a lot of time and patience. Patience is required and can be developed through trial and error, experiments, a slower pace, more trial and error, waiting on flowers to dry in presses and then ending up with beautifully pressed and preserved flowers. The following is a summary of the flower journey, from garden to eventually being used in our art pieces.
Harvest
Most pressed flowers that I use are grown in my small garden. I select fresh flowers with vibrant colors and are completely dry before placing them in the press.
Press
I use a wood press and sometimes a book and weight for pressing flowers. The press has a bolt in each corner and is tightened over time by a washer and nut. Recycled paper is used (from my years of teaching) and recycled cardboard is what is used to 'sandwich' the flower/paper section.
Sequence
There seems to be a common pattern to follow for pressing. I typically use cardboard, a few sheets of paper, the flowers, a few sheets of paper, cardboard, a few sheets of paper, the flowers, and on and on it goes.
Remove and Redo after 24-36 hours, I unscrew the press, remove all the flowers, damp paper and cardboard and replace them with dry paper and dry cardboard.
Re-Press
Go through the process again, using the same sequencing and tightening the screws over time.
Unpress after 2-4 weeks and sort by palette in the storage drawers.
