Art Of Pressed Flowers: A Complete Portfolio [Hardcover]

Mary Lawrence (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 2002

The craft of pressing flowers helps capture seasonal blossoms at their loveliest, and the results make a splendid decorative accent. They can be pressed into a scrapbook or used in greeting cards, framed arrangements, and other projects. This unique kit, appropriate for older children or adults, contains an easy-to-use wooden flower press, plus an assortment of the special acid-free papers necessary for creating permanent pressed flower pages. The kit makes a great gift for Mother's Day, or for anyone who is passionate about gardening or crafts. The accompanying full-color 64page guide provides complete instructions for a variety of projects based on this venerable and enduringly beautiful pastime.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Running Press; Book and Access edition (April 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762412291
• ISBN-13: 978-0762412297
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 6.6 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,456,474 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars More Style than Substance - Two Thumbs Down, May 9, 2004

By 

Cathy W. (Newburport, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Art Of Pressed Flowers: A Complete Portfolio (Hardcover)

The adage "you can't judge a book by its cover" applies here: the book jacket promises "A practical and comprehensive guide to equipment, techniques and design... guidance at every stage, from gathering flowers to the finished design... clear comprehensive instructions for beginning and experienced hobbyists...". This book fails to live up to its cover and my vote is TWO THUMBS DOWN.

Ms. Lawrence's book, as shown above, comes as part of a portfolio that includes a flower press. The book provides many lovely designs and ideas for using flowers you have already pressed and that's where the good news ends. The bad news is that the "press" that is included in the portfolio kit (as shown above) consists of two small pieces of wood with holes drilled into each corner but is without hardware or assembly and use instructions that would enable you to acquire the appropriate hardware on your own.

The book has two sections ostensibly devoted to detailing the mechanics of pressing flowers, "Making a Press" and "How to Press Flowers". Neither section contains even rudimentary basics of the craft. The "Making a Press" section is devoted to a discussion of the textiles that are used for a design base for pressed flower projects. Other than to say in one sentence that you can make a press or buy one, she never mentions the concept again anywhere else in the book.

In "How to Press Flowers," some helpful hints are given, interspersed with references to using tissue, blotting paper and a press. Unfortunately, she skipped over those topics completely (how to press flowers using tissue, blotting paper and a press). As an experienced hobbyist but a novice in this craft and eager to try my hand at it, I was left frustrated and disappointed.

Elsewhere, some of the photographs are wonderfully done but others are decidedly lackluster. The instructions for assembling and completing the projects seem better developed but lack the step by step approach I've seen in other craft books. Reading through her instructions gives one the impression that this is not an easy craft to master.

If you are considering purchasing this book as your introduction to the craft of flower pressing, my advice would be to explore the other related books offered on Amazon and visit the reviewers' comments.