Nature Printing: With Herbs, Fruits & Flowers (Hardcover)

by Laura Donnelly Bethmann (Author) "Simple nature prints can be used to ornament correspondence, form herbariums, and illustrate nature journals and herbals..." (more)
Key Phrases: ink spreaders, nature printing techniques, press with the heel, Project Materials, Graphic Chemical, Specialized Nature (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
In a nicely packaged format, this slim but helpful guide demonstrates how to capture and preserve the ephemera of nature on paper, for use as framed pictures, stationery, gift wrap, and adornments on fabric, furniture, and walls. In addition to printing with flowers and leaves, the instructions cover the use of fruits, vegetables, feathers, shells, fish, even a spiderweb. Accomplished with various types of inks and paints, the prints have a lovely watercolor quality, a subtle cross between the delicacy of a pressed-flower picture and the look of rubber-stamping.

From Library Journal
Nature prints are made by inking natural objects and applying them to cloth or paper in much the same way as taking fingerprints. In this wide-ranging manual of nature-printing techniques and projects, Bethmann explores a variety of techniques using inks, paint, or natural plant juices to decorate stationery, herbals, fabric pieces, and garments. A section on design and layout as it applies to leaves and flowers is included, and some unusual natural objects such as mushrooms and garden vegetables are also used. There are even instructions for traditional Japanese fish printing.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC (January 6, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 088266929X
• ISBN-13: 978-0882669298
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 9.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #495,265 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for rubber stampers & paper artists, inspirational, May 2, 2000

By	Angel Lee "Liocorno Amethyst Moonstone" (Cleveland, OH United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This is a must have book for anyone who collects plants and other nature items. It is also a great find for rubber stampers and other paper artists. The book is in full-color and has many illustrations.

The book starts out with a brief history of nature printing. It then details collecting, transporting, and pressing a wide variety of plants. Then paper & materials for printing and the printing process itself are discussed.

Specialized techniques for printing objects such as spider webs, shells, feathers, gyotaku (fish rubbing), Taku-ga (rubbing picture), bubble printing & cyanotype are demonstrated as well. All the instructions are easy to follow.

There are also many wonderful projects including fabric painting, wall printing & note cards. The resource guide is a nice bonus. This inexpensive craft is easy enough a child, yet rewarding for adults.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the book I've been looking for!, July 11, 2000

By	"iloveprovence" (Columbia, S.C. United States) - See all my reviews

Do you love nature? Do you have an artisic urge? Do you think creating art is difficult or expensive? If you love nature and want to bring it to your fabrics, walls, note cards, etc. then this book would surely delight you! The Victorians loved "capturing" nature in all its innocence, beauty, and comfort. They created so many wonderful collections, decorations, etc. This wonderful addition to the craft world shows the nature lover how to use nature to enhance the tranquility of your home or surroundings. The author shows you how to use an endless bounty from the natural world plus a few printing inks and paints to illustrate your world with the panorama of nature. The techniques within this volume are so enchanting yet simple enough for children to to accomplish as well. A wonderful way to enoy summer days!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite Storey title!, April 24, 1999

By A Customer

Nature Printing is an enormously inspiring book. After reading it I grabbed paints, paper, and children and headed out into the backyard. We had a great time being creative and finding plants and bits of nature that had, until then, gone unnoticed. Some of the prints we created were surprisingly beautiful. It was a great learning experience and a whole lot of fun!