Here are a couple of suggestions for harvesting and storing plant material for use during the winter months:
1) Harvest colorful flowers by trimming the flower from the plant and picking off the petals. Dry the petals in a shallow paper box or in a flower press (for flat petals), then store on between paper towels in a plastic bag. Make sure the petals are completely dry before bagging, or you're return to a mouldy mess!
Fresh flower petals are beautiful in handmade paper, so if you are inspired to pull a few sheets now, just add the petals to your vat and whisk well.
2) Leaves can either be dried flat or curled. Dry leaves between books or in a flower press and save in bags, as done above with petals. Curled leaves are handy for crunching and adding to pulp at a later date. This crunching gives the paper lovely bits of leaves throughout the pulp.
3) As irises and daylilies fade, leave them on the plant to fully wither and dry. Harvest them either in the fall, or better yet, in the early spring after they have retted somewhat on the ground.
Take the time to gather and dry some of the summer's bounty. When winter comes, you'll be glad you did!
6/17/2005
Plant Material For Making Handmade Paper
In my backyard, some of the beautiful late spring/early summer plants are starting to fade and wither. But not to worry, they can be used for making handmade paper!
Here are a couple of suggestions for harvesting and storing plant material for use during the winter months:
1) Harvest colorful flowers by trimming the flower from the plant and picking off the petals. Dry the petals in a shallow paper box or in a flower press (for flat petals), then store on between paper towels in a plastic bag. Make sure the petals are completely dry before bagging, or you're return to a mouldy mess!
Fresh flower petals are beautiful in handmade paper, so if you are inspired to pull a few sheets now, just add the petals to your vat and whisk well.
2) Leaves can either be dried flat or curled. Dry leaves between books or in a flower press and save in bags, as done above with petals. Curled leaves are handy for crunching and adding to pulp at a later date. This crunching gives the paper lovely bits of leaves throughout the pulp.
3) As irises and daylilies fade, leave them on the plant to fully wither and dry. Harvest them either in the fall, or better yet, in the early spring after they have retted somewhat on the ground.
Take the time to gather and dry some of the summer's bounty. When winter comes, you'll be glad you did!
Here are a couple of suggestions for harvesting and storing plant material for use during the winter months:
1) Harvest colorful flowers by trimming the flower from the plant and picking off the petals. Dry the petals in a shallow paper box or in a flower press (for flat petals), then store on between paper towels in a plastic bag. Make sure the petals are completely dry before bagging, or you're return to a mouldy mess!
Fresh flower petals are beautiful in handmade paper, so if you are inspired to pull a few sheets now, just add the petals to your vat and whisk well.
2) Leaves can either be dried flat or curled. Dry leaves between books or in a flower press and save in bags, as done above with petals. Curled leaves are handy for crunching and adding to pulp at a later date. This crunching gives the paper lovely bits of leaves throughout the pulp.
3) As irises and daylilies fade, leave them on the plant to fully wither and dry. Harvest them either in the fall, or better yet, in the early spring after they have retted somewhat on the ground.
Take the time to gather and dry some of the summer's bounty. When winter comes, you'll be glad you did!
