Oshibana art in wabi sabi style

Oshibana, an ancient Japanese art form, involves meticulously selecting and pressing plants, flowers, and leaves to craft intricate and stunning designs. This practice dates back to the Edo period, where it was utilized for spiritual purposes and to enhance floral arrangements' aesthetic appeal. Even today, Oshibana continues to be a popular art form, both traditionally and as a modern craft, across Japan and worldwide.

By displaying these pressed flower frames in your home, office, or bedroom, you can add a touch of beauty and tranquility to your surroundings. These frames boast exquisite details and striking colors, resulting in a unique masterpiece that is bound to spark conversations.

Power of imperfection

Wabi-sabi, a Japanese design aesthetic, values simplicity, naturalness, and the allure of imperfection. It is a philosophy that exalts life's imperfect and fleeting aspects, including the natural cycle of growth, decay, and regeneration. Wabi-sabi style in home decor incorporates elements of nature, such as rough-hewn wood, organic shapes, and natural fibers, to produce a tranquil and serene atmosphere. The primary aim is to foster mindfulness and appreciation of the present moment, while bringing a sense of calm and tranquility to the surroundings. Wabi-sabi decor frequently involves handcrafted items that exhibit the marks of time and use, such as textured pottery and furniture with visible knots in the wood. The goal is to create a welcoming, authentic, and cozy environment that is in harmony with the natural world.

 

Biophilic designing

Biophilic design is an approach to design that emphasizes the connection between humans and nature. This design philosophy is based on the idea that human beings have an innate tendency to seek out and connect with nature, and that incorporating elements of nature into our built environment can have positive impacts on our health, well-being, and overall quality of life.

In practice, biophilic design incorporates elements of nature into our buildings, homes, and workspaces through features such as green walls, indoor plants, natural light, views of nature, and other similar elements. Studies have shown that biophilic design can help to reduce stress, improve mood, enhance cognitive function, and promote physical health, among other benefits. As such, it is becoming increasingly popular in a wide range of applications, from residential homes and commercial spaces to healthcare facilities and schools.

Pressed flower frames can be considered biophilic as they bring elements of nature into our built environment. By displaying pressed flowers in frames, you can bring the beauty and diversity of the natural world into your home or office. This can have positive impacts on your well-being, such as reducing stress, improving mood, and promoting a sense of peace and tranquility.

Additionally, the process of pressing flowers itself can be a form of mindfulness and meditation, promoting a connection with nature and helping to reduce stress and anxiety. So, incorporating pressed flower frames into your decor can be a great way to incorporate biophilic design into your space and promote a sense of well-being.

 

Evergreen heathers

Heathers are a group of evergreen and deciduous shrubs that belong to the Ericaceae family. They are native to Europe, Asia, and North America, and are known for their delicate, bell-shaped flowers and evergreen foliage.

There are many different species of heathers, each with its own unique characteristics, such as different flower colors, growth habits, and foliage textures. Some of the most popular species include Scottish heather, Spanish heather, and bell heather.

Heathers are popular ornamental plants and are often grown in gardens, parks, and natural landscapes. They are low-maintenance plants and are well-suited to a variety of growing conditions, including well-draining soils, partial shade, and acidic soils.

In addition to their ornamental value, heathers also play an important role in the ecosystem, providing food and habitat for wildlife, such as bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. They are also important components of moorland and heathland habitats, helping to stabilize the soil and provide important ecosystem services.

Pressed and dried heathers make for stunning and unique decor pieces, preserving the delicate beauty of these plants in a timeless way. Using heathers in your decor brings a touch of nature into your home, and the dried blooms can last for many years, making them a long-lasting addition to any space.

Pressed and dried heathers can be used in a variety of ways, such as in picture frames, shadow boxes, or on their own as a decorative accent. They can also be combined with other pressed and dried flowers to create a beautiful and intricate floral display.

Whether displayed in a prominent place or tucked away in a quiet corner, pressed and dried heathers are a versatile and attractive decor element. They are a great way to bring the beauty of nature into your home, and make for wonderful gifts for anyone who loves flowers and plants.

 

Beautiful and dangerous

Yes, some flowers can be dangerous and even poisonous. Certain flowers contain toxic compounds that can be harmful if ingested or if their sap or pollen comes into contact with the skin. 

 

Dried flowers can still contain toxic compounds, although the level of toxicity may vary depending on the type of flower and the drying process used. In some cases, the toxic compounds can become more concentrated during the drying process, making dried flowers more hazardous than fresh flowers. It's important to be aware of the toxic potential of certain flowers and to keep them away from children and pets. If you have concerns about a specific plant or flower, you can consult with a local nursery or garden center for more information.

 

If you have come into contact with a poisonous flower, it's important to take immediate action to minimize the risk of harm: 

• Wash your skin: If the poison has come into contact with your skin, wash the affected area with soap and water as soon as possible.

• Rinse your eyes: If you have gotten the sap or pollen of a poisonous flower in your eyes, rinse your eyes thoroughly with water for at least 15 minutes.

• Seek medical attention: If you have ingested any part of a poisonous flower, or if you are experiencing symptoms such as skin irritation, eye redness or swelling, or nausea, it's important to seek medical attention immediately.

• Identify the plant: If possible, try to identify the type of flower you have come into contact with, so that you can provide this information to the medical professional.

It's important to remember that different poisonous plants can cause different symptoms and require different treatments, so prompt and appropriate medical attention is essential. 

The symptoms of poison from a flower can vary depending on the type of flower and the extent of exposure. Some common symptoms include:

• Skin irritation: Some flowers produce sap or pollen that can cause skin irritation, redness, itching, and blistering.

• Eye irritation: Flowers that produce a lot of pollen or sap can cause eye irritation, redness, and swelling.

• Nausea and vomiting: Ingestion of poisonous flowers can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

• Dizziness and confusion: Consuming poisonous flowers can also cause dizziness, confusion, and disorientation.

• Respiratory distress: Some flowers produce toxins that can irritate the respiratory system, causing symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.

• Cardiac symptoms: Some flowers contain toxic compounds that can affect the heart, causing symptoms such as palpitations, irregular heartbeat, and low blood pressure.

• Seizures and muscle tremors: In severe cases, exposure to poisonous flowers can cause seizures and muscle tremors.

These are just some of the possible symptoms of poison from flowers. If you are experiencing symptoms after coming into contact with a flower, it's important to seek medical attention immediately.

 

Floral cats made of pressed and dried flowers

 

Dried and pressed flowers are a wonderful material for creating animal arrangements. Small twigs, tiny leaves, colorful petals and leaves. Cats usually come in subdued colors - black, brown, gray, white. Thanks to building them from flowers, we have bright, full-color images that are perfect for a gift for a cat lover.

 

Sketching the silhouette 

You can use a photo of a cat from the internet. Lightly sketch the shape of the head with a pencil, the position of the ears, eyes and nose. These are the most important elements. I always paint my eyes and nose with a black marker because they are the most important for the whole composition. 

 

Filling with dried flowers 

You can easily use large flowers and leaves to fill the surface. I build small spaces from small leaves and smaller flowers. A cat's mouth is usually made of small petals of different flowers. The whiskers are, of course, meadow grasses or thin twigs. Dried wheats also works great. Pressed ferns give a vivid green color, yellow from pansy and evening primrose, blue from tiny lobelia flowers. Fluffy ears are made from small leaves with jagged tips. Red geranium flowers are perfect for balancing yellows in whole composition. My flower cats find their new homes quickly, but for those who are interested, I have prepared a section with digital images in my Etsy shop. You can print Your own floral cats at home, or send files to print on demand companies.

Pressed flower art - birds made of dried plants

Working with dried plants and pressed flowers for many years I discovered how many ideas can be realized using this natural material. Today I am going to show you a few ideas how to build images of birds using dried flowers.

 

The works you see here were made of real plants and flowers. More precisely, it is made of flower petals, small leaves from trees and shrubs, and even broken flower parts. They are always unique models and already found their owners in my Etsy shop.

The most important part of preparing such a job is finding the right picture of a bird. I am always inspired by old chinese and japanese paintings in style called Ink wash painting (shuǐmòhuà; suiboku-ga, sumi-e; sumukhwa). Suibokuga is a style of monochrome painting characterized by the use of just two things, black ink (sumi) and water. Deceptively simple, suibokuga artists make use of these two seemingly mundane materials to create a complex world of light, form, and even texture.  

Sumi-e style painting (left) vs my interpretation made of pressed plants (right)

 

Then we select the materials, sometimes a few leaves, small flowers and twigs are enough. Sometimes the arrangement of the picture goes smoothly, and sometimes I have to throw away my work. One thing is for sure - it takes a lot of patience. But when You get everything right You will get a simple, minimalist floral home decor. Full of colors and nature accents. Perfect gift for many occasions.

 

 

Flowers and plants drying kit

All you really need is to want to dry the flowers. To start, you don't have to pay for anything. Did you bring a meadow bouquet from the bike trip? Let's start.

 

 

Separate and review the plants

Gently separate the plants and flowers, and put the broken and squashed ones aside. If some have started to wilt - don't worry, it's part of the drying process. If some of the flowers started to lose their petals, collect them - you can dry them separately and then "rebuild" the flower from the dry elements. You can separate the flowers from the stems, cut off the leaves and buds, and dry everything separately. See if it is possible to remove thick centers in flowers without disturbing the structure of the plant. You can try to cut them with small scissors.

Pressing and drying in books

Prepare paper towels or other paper sheets from raw paper. Arrange the plants with space in between, put a paper towel on top, close the page. Don't put it on the next page right away, flip more pages. Fill a book and put it under a pile of other books, or under something else that is heavy. Try to put weight on the book so you can keep it closed. Check out this article for some more tips.

 

Flower press  

You can buy a flower press or ask someone to help make one yourself. I used two kitchen boards (thick, solid wood) to make my press. Bolts and wide nuts were also needed. In such a flower press, you can easily place entire books or individual plants into paper towels. For a better pressure distribution, I also prepared additional piecies of cardboard to put in between the books and paper towels. I squeeze the press as much as I can. After 2 days, I loosen the screws, check the condition of the plants. If there is a lot of moisture, I open the press, pull out the moist papers with plants and put them on a table. After a day, everything dries up nicely. You can re-insert them in the press for a few days.

 

 

Drying without special supervision 

The technique described above is for drying whole flowers and plants, stems with leaves, sets of flower buds, and all plants that may contain a lot of moisture. But if you decide to dry leaves, grasses, delicate flowers (such as pansies or violets) or the flower petals themselves, you can simply arrange them in books and put them on a shelf. Without any special checking or heating, in about 3 weeks you will have the material ready to make decorations.

DIY Pressing and drying flowers

Pressing and drying flowers is a simple and effective way to preserve their beauty and color for use in decor, art, and other projects. Here is a basic guide to pressing and drying flowers:

1. Choose the flowers: Select flowers that are fully open and at their peak of freshness. Avoid flowers that are overripe, wilted, or have any signs of mold or disease.

2. Preparing the flowers: Remove any leaves or stems that may interfere with the pressing process. You can also cut the stems to a suitable length for your project.

3. Picking the pressing method: There are several methods for pressing flowers, including using a flower press, placing them between the pages of a heavy book, or using a microwave.

4. Drying the flowers: Once pressed, the flowers will need to be dried completely. This can take several days to several weeks, depending on the drying method used and the humidity levels in the air.

5. Storing the dried flowers: Once fully dry, store the pressed flowers in an airtight container, away from direct light and moisture, to preserve their color and prevent mold or decay.

By following these simple steps, you can successfully press and dry flowers to use in a variety of projects and decorative arrangements.

More tips! 

The process of flattening and drying flowers and plants depends on the species. It takes at least 3 weeks to dry flowers and plants under optimal conditions. It's always better to leave the plants for longer - you can then see if the color has changed. The thin petals will dry faster without intervention. Thicker leaves, stems and flower buds may require supervision and action. If after 2 - 4 days the plant is still moist, take it out of the book and apply additional drying. How? You will find it here.

 

 

Summer - an endless inspiration

I love fall, I appreciate spring, but summer is definitely the best time to pick flowers and plants. It is definitely worth trying to dry everything you like - only petals, whole flowers, stems with flowers and only leaves. You can find important information and my set of necessary accessories in this blog article.

 

The best time to harvest in garden  

We do not always have the ability to track the stages of plant growth. If we have a garden, we usually realize what has bloomed and when. In such a situation, it is best to pick the flowers when they are shaped and have the right color. You can also pick undeveloped forms and flower buds. This gives you more options in creating decorations. It is best to pick the flowers in the morning (if it has not rained at night), when they have already spread the petals, but the sun has not warmed them up too much.

 

What about harvesting in wild meadows and woodlands? 

Collect what you want, when you want! Since you don't know when the flowers have bloomed, take more from a given species at different stages of development. Plastic bags with a little water will be the best for transport. If possible, uproot the plant, clean it and put it in a bag of water. You can only sprinkle the plants with water and seal them in a plastic kitchen bowl or boxes. If you can, take more than you think you need. Some plants will break, peel off the petals and have to be thrown away. Don't worry, it's normal. 

 

Have fun collecting! 

Such tours in search of plants are a really fun way to spend your free time. If you want you can go by bike, you can take your kids, friends or acquaintances. I guarantee that everyone will come back with their bouquet. Remember - try to watch out for plants that are endanger. Be sure the one You are collecting are not under special environmental protection.