Customer Reviews

The Creative Art of Pressed Flowers (The Creative Art of Series)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book will be most appreciated by those who already possess at least a basic knowledge of and skill with floral pressing techniques. The information is generally well presented, with numerous color illustrations. The ideas, while beautiful and creative, are aimed for the more ambitious crafters.

Colorful photos and clear instructions for making over 80 different projects with pressed flowers. Projects range from typical to more unusual ideas such as decorating bookends, placemats, and even shoes. The emphasis of the book is on projects, with creative ways to use pressed flowers. 125 pages, hardcover.

First, the reason I am giving this work four stars rather than five is due to the claim, as noted on the book, that "Here is everything you need to know about making and using pressed flowers." While this is a fine little book, no doubt, the claim of "everything" is a bit of a stretch here.

To be quite honest, if this art form is done right, it would take several volumes to just cover the basic steps in the selection of flowers and plant, the preparation work and preserving to cover all of the bases. This nice little book is much more suited for those who have a good working knowledge of the material they will be working with than is given in this book. A few paragraphs addressing the drying, pressing and preserving hardly covers the issue. Again, to be honest, if this is to be done correctly, it is not as easy as it looks our sounds.

No, the focus of this book is more on a series of projects for crafters that can be accomplished using dried flowers and plants. The projects themselves are quite nice and if done properly will look quite nice. The author presents everything from decorating shoes, enamel canisters, herb jars, card, boxes and plaques. Each of these projects is quite worthwhile and the author has provided solid information and photographs as to how to get them done.

On a personal note: I have absolutely nothing against these craft projects but my interests are completely within the old Victorian art form of mounting, framing and designing framed work or work that is mounted under bubble glass frames. While these subjects are touched upon, they simply are not as in depth to do me much good. On the other hand, the author flower combination, color schemes and arraignment did give me some very good ideas so I found the work to be of real value for my needs.

Bottom line is that this is for the more advanced student of this art form and for those more interested in the craft aspect of dealing with pressed and dried plants.

This consists of approximately 125 well illustrated (color photographs) pages and is well worth adding it to your library. Please let me emphasis again, so there will be no disappointment is purchasing this book...this IS NOT for beginners!

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks