Today I thought we could share a cup of tea and my way of savoring the beauty of nature. For the past several years I have been using a Gardener's Press to preserve various flowers from my gardens.
The art of pressing flowers was popular during the Victorian Era. You can call me 'old fashioned', I don't mind :-)
Pressed flowers and leaves are nice accents to journals, scrapbooks, cards, bookmarks and gift tags. Creations using pressed flowers allow me to appreciate the beauty all year long and share my gardens with others.
If you don't have a press you can always do it the Girl Scout way! After picking your fresh flowers or foliage arrange them on a piece of wax paper and cover them with another piece of wax paper. This will help prevent them from sticking or staining your book. Be sure to pick your flowers when they are completely dry and free of moisture. Next, place the sheet of flowers in the middle of a phone book or encyclopedia and wait approx. two weeks. You may want to add additional weight depending on the size of your book.
Over the summer I came across this wonderful book entitled 'The Nature Notes of an Edwardian Lady' written in 1905 by Edith Holden.
Edith's watercolour paintings are exquisite. The book is filled with flowers, plants, birds and butterflies. Her thoughts, anecdotes and writings are interspersed with poetry.
A time when the only way to capture the close up of beauty was through paint.
This book beautifully evokes the peace and tranquillity of Edwardian England.
Thank you for having tea with me today and for letting me share my flowers and book with you. I'm planning a giveway for October 1st. It will be for a very good cause, so please stop back for a chance to win a beautiful scarf.
Today I am joining ...
Tea Time Tuesday @ Rose Chintz Cottage
Tea Cup Tuesday @ Martha's Favorites
Tea Cup Tuesday @ Artful Affirmations
Tuesday Cuppa Tea @ Antiques and Teacups
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a daily cup from Mrs. Olson
Time Travel Thursday @ The Brambleberry Cottage
Home & Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life
Open House Friday @ Bernideen's Tea Time
Show & Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
Today I am joining ...
Tea Time Tuesday @ Rose Chintz Cottage
Tea Cup Tuesday @ Martha's Favorites
Tea Cup Tuesday @ Artful Affirmations
Tuesday Cuppa Tea @ Antiques and Teacups
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a daily cup from Mrs. Olson
Time Travel Thursday @ The Brambleberry Cottage
Home & Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life
Open House Friday @ Bernideen's Tea Time
Show & Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
Very cool. Haven't ever heard of something made to press them. Love the single flower head you did, very neat.
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
I hadn't heard of the Gardeners press before either. Your pressed flowers are so pretty. What a great way to enjoy them all year long. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos! I, too, have never heard of an actual press for flowers. I learned something new today. Thanks! :-)
ReplyDeleteTerry
Your pressed flowers are very pretty! I have been pressing for years, too! I also have the Edith Holden book! A treasure and inspiration. This is a lovely way to hold onto summer. Hope your weekend is lovely, too. xx
ReplyDeleteYour pressed flowers are beautiful Donna. I used to press flowers and leaves in books when I was young. Sometimes I open old books now and they come tumbling out! (Some of them still look remarkably good.)
ReplyDeleteI do remember doing this as a child but that is sooo long time a go.Your photos are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI was glad to read this post because I dried some of my son's wedding flowers this way this summer. I have the book you are referring to. I need to take another look at it. Nice post. I am your newest follower.
ReplyDeleteI love these flowers and you press them so artistically with that coordinating book!
ReplyDeleteHi Donna,
ReplyDeleteYour pressed flowers are just lovely and so is your teacup with the robin on it! That looks like a wonderful book. Thank you for sharing and joining me for tea. Happy Autumn!
Blessings,
Sandi
Your pressed flowers are lovely, Donna. When I was a sophomore in biology class, we collected, pressed, and mounted local wildflowers. I think I still have my book!
ReplyDeleteYour pressed flowers are lovely...just wish I had seen it before our frost...I would have been inspired to press some too!
ReplyDeleteI used to press wild flowers in my teens. Still come across them in a book now and then. Country Diary is one of my favorite books! It evokes such a wonderful time and way of life, as well as a countryside that is very much altered today....it's the area my husband grew up in. I love your teacup! That is so cute! Thanks for your wonderful post and for linking to Tuesday Cuppa Tea!
ReplyDeleteRuth
Wonderful post Donna!
ReplyDeleteSharing the flower press and book with your tea is such a creative way to put it all together. I love it!
And I too appreciate the Edwardian Lady...such a fine book!
Oh I do love that birdie tea cup!
Hugs,
Terri
This is an amazing way to enjoy flowers! Thank you for the informative share.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Donna. I too love pressing flowers. Although I have to do it the old fashioned way, using the books. I haven't done any this year. Thanks for reminding me and sharing with SYC.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Jann
Pressed flowers shown by you are too good, you have shown some beautiful flowers
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