Elizabeth's Flowers

Pressed Flower Votive Candle Holder Gift Idea

2011-11-21T19:02:00.001-07:00

Flower pressing friends, here's a cool Christmas idea gift idea for you to make, that's unbelievable easy.

1. Glue a pressed flower of your choice onto each side of a triangle or square votive candle holder. I tend to prefer Perfect Paper Adhesive for gluing, but in this case any white glue should be fine. I also recommend using flowers pressed in a Microfleur microwave flower press since they tend to retain more of their color.

2. Tear a piece of white/translucent tissue paper into a square that will cover each flower by at least 1/8". You could also cut the square, but the torn edges give a much nicer, "artsy" look.

3. Cover one of the flowers plus an extra 1/8" of an inch around it with either matte Modge Podge, or Perfect Paper Adhesive. Place a tissue paper square on top, press out any air bubbles, and then carefully apply another coat of either Modge Podge or PPA over the tissue paper. Make sure to cover the edges of the tissue paper, but avoid getting excess on the glass. Repeat for each flower. Allow to dry.

There you have it! The tissue paper lends a certain whimsical look to the pressed flowers, and also helps protect the flowers. Avoid using greens since they readily fade unless you add some kind of pigment - with either water color, or markers such as Prismacolors.

For the candle holder above I used osteospermum flowers (a type of African Daisy) in several shades of purple. Which ever flowers you choose to use, be sure to have plenty on hand - everyone you know will want one of these!

Friday Fun

2011-11-04T08:05:00.000-06:00

Blogger has a fun new link out this morning. You can plug in your blogger name, and try one of their new dynamic templates, for a vivid new take on your blog. Take a look at the "snapshot" view of Elizabeth's Flowers. Fun! Don't you think?

If you have a blogger blog, you can plug in the name of your blog, and play around with the new templates yourself here. I love things like this, especially when they're free!

Ok, now it's time to go back to work.
Have a great weekend,

Are you upgrading to the iPhone 4s?

2011-10-29T13:22:00.000-06:00

I wish, but I'm sticking with my iPhone 3for awhile longer.

But, I did upgrade my blog so that it will look better on your iPhone, or any smart phone for that matter.
Click here while on your smart phone and enjoy!

P.S. Do you use blogger? If so, go to Settings and select "enable mobile phone" setting. I am thankful and pleasantly surprised when things like this are really easy.

New name, new site, new things to try!

2011-10-26T09:54:00.000-06:00

New name: Wooden Deckle paper making kits (formerly Going Green paper making kits)

New site: Wooden Deckle Paper Making Kits and Supplies

New things to try: Note card size mold and deckle , and a Rectangles Kit , and many other fun paper making things.

Special thanks to Nicole of Nicole Hacker Photography for providing photos of the paper making kits and mold and deckles.

Got Tomatoes?

2011-09-16T08:09:00.000-06:00

When Tom and the kids came home one by one last night, each one wanted to know how soon supper would be - the aroma of roasted tomato sauce roasting in the oven sent their hunger soaring.

A little sauce goes a long way with this recipe, because the roasting concentrates the rich flavors of the tomatoes, onions, garlic and herbs. It's the perfect way to use up tomatoes when you have limited freezer space like I do.

Garden helper/hindrance

2011-09-14T14:29:00.001-06:00

Gardening is more of a challenge with a husky. Apparently he likes cherry tomatoes.

- Elizabeth

Strange new flower

2011-09-06T07:49:00.001-06:00

The first few of my new 'Henry Eilers' rudabeckia have just opened - aren't they odd? Can't wait to try to press them...

- Elizabeth

Lavender Bee Balm Pair

2011-08-08T09:19:00.000-06:00

Here's a pair of the lavender bee balm I picked the other day, in an 8 x 10" acid free mat, mounted on my handmade paper. The bee balm my neighbor friends and I have been growing for years is deep fuchsia or brilliant red, so I find myself really enjoying this laid back, peaceful looking native Wisconsin bee balm.

native bee balm

2011-08-03T08:10:00.002-06:00

I love this native bee balm I came upon while gathering Queen Anne's lace near our local dog park. I temporarily pressed it in a phone book until I was able to pop it in the Microfleur.

New picture soon to come...

Handmade gift tag surprise...

2011-07-26T09:46:00.002-06:00

As a heart felt "thank you," I send along a pressed flower gift tag in appreciation for each order. During busy times I don't always keep up (if I've missed you I'm sorry), but recently a friend started helping me make the small pieces of handmade paper, so I've been able to stockpile quite a few.

Customers regularly tell me that they frame the pressed flower cards they receive from me, but here's a first - a framed gift tag! I love it!

This tag is a calendula flower pressed in the Microfleur, mounted on a 2 x 2" piece of handmade paper from our gift tag mold and deckle kit. I also cover each gift tag flower with PPA (a great pressed flower sealant), to help seal in the color, and protect it from handling. They are so much fun and so simple to make - instant gratification!

Creative Framing with Pressed Flowers

2011-07-19T08:43:00.002-06:00

It's such a treat when my customers send pictures of my pictures in their new setting. I love to see where my creations end up!

A customer friend from Pennsylvania requested four pressed flower pictures mounted on my 5' x 5" handmade paper, so that she could insert them into some shutters she had modified. I was having a hard time imagining how they would look, but the results were absolutely beautiful! The colors of the flowers she requested match perfectly with the fabric below - what a cheerful addition to her sewing room!

Pressing crocus and wild violets in the Microfleur flower press

2011-04-15T11:54:00.001-06:00

"Hi Elizabeth, I love your blog and website and am ordering a microfleur press in the next day or two. I'd love to make my mom a mother's day card out of wild violets, but don't really know where to start. I looked at your crocus tutorial, but can't tell if you split the stem and flower into two parts, remove some leaves, or press the whole thing at once. Can you offer any advice for wild violets? They won't be here for long. Thanks so much." Melissa - Lawrence, KS

Hi Mel,

Thank you for your questions! First, regarding crocuses, I snip the crocus flower at the base of the stem, and I press the crocus whole - with out removing any of the petals. Sometimes, if I cut low enough a few of the leaves are attached, and I press them too, but usually I need to cut extra leaves and press them separately.

Regarding wild violets, cut the stem as close to the ground as you can, so that you get a nice long stem (violet stems are so perfect! I also use them for other flowers that have gnarly stems). Then cut off the violet flower at the back, where the stem and the flower meet. Be sure to cut some extra leaves as well.

If you are using the Microfleur, you will find the flowers will need more time in the microwave than the stems and the leaves, so press them separately. I gently press the flowers between my thumb and index finger before laying them on the Microfleur pads, so that they lay nice and flat. In my microwave, I give them about 3-4 30 second bursts on high. When I do the leaves and stems, they tend to only need one 30 second burst.

I hope this helps! As always, feel free to let me know if you have any more questions.

Ancient Botanical Art

2011-04-04T07:56:00.000-06:00

At the Oriental Institute Museum in Chicago on Saturday, I fell in love with these awesome ferns. They adorned an Assyrian palace, in approximately 3000 BC. I forgot the name of the king, but I think he had excellent taste.

The vase in the middle is 5000 years old! It's from Egypt, and did you notice the row of flowers along the top? The saying "there's nothing new under the sun" appears to be true. Artists have been using/borrowing the beauty of the plants God made in their creations since the beginning of civilization.

In a matter of days... pressing crocuses in the Microfleur

2011-03-23T12:39:00.000-06:00

Yellow Crocus Spring Greeting

12 x 12"

Pressed flowers on handmade paper

In a matter of days I will be pressing the first crocuses of the year (smile). This winter has seemed unusually l o n g to me, has it been that way for you? I'm hoping not. At any rate, my little purple crocuses have begun to peak out, and I am on the look out for the large yellow crocuses in the picture above which usually aren't far behind..

For those of you new to pressing flowers, you may want to check out my tutorial on pressing crocus flowers in the Microfleur. Crocuses are delicate, but with care both the flowers and the classy stripped leaves press very well. This year, since Easter is so late, I will have plenty of time to make pressed crocus Easter cards.

Amen.

2011-02-21T09:32:00.000-07:00

Love your iphone (or ipod touch, your smart phone, or whatever your technology of choice is) like I do? Then read this...

Beware: The Bible Is About to Threaten Your Smartphone Focus - Desiring God

www.desiringgod.org

I admit I am very distracted by my iphone. And my computer, and my kindle, but especially by my iphone... and have I have been really bothered by that. But this is a brilliantly simple strategy!

I love finding practical information (on my iphone) I can actually use! Now I'm off to spend some time on my Bible app to review yesterday's sermon topic...

Blue Cornflowers on Handmade Paper

2011-02-11T15:28:00.000-07:00

I love the handmade paper these cornflowers are on - it's very textured because it was never pressed after I pulled the sheet - it almost looks like stucco. I love how the wild texture contrasts with the simplicity of the flowers, but there aren't many flowers substantial enough to mount on such rough paper. Thankfully this trio of blue cornflowers do the trick perfectly.

2011-01-31T10:04:00.000-07:00

I went to a short course in writing a business plan Saturday morning, and what a gem of a morning it turned out to be!

For years I've known I should write a business plan, and I even halfheartedly began to once or twice, but this short, inexpensive ($35.00) seminar finally gave me the motivation, knowledge, and tools I needed to begin. I loved the instructor, he was a retired CEO full of wisdom, humor, enthusiasm, and valuable insights.

I've been working on my plan this morning - it's been completely painless, and am already a good part of the way done. My home business is indeed very small as small businesses go, but writing a business plan is forcing me to think things through, measure my results, and get a better handle on what I've accomplished, and what my options are for moving forward.

The seminar was sponsored by a great organization called SCORE, a branch of the SBA that provides professional small business guidance via volunteer business executives, many of whom are retired. In addition to very affordable seminars, they also offer free business counseling, which is my next step. I signed up on the Miwaukee SCORE website, and was able to specify what kind of business I am, and what kind of guidance I am requesting. I'll let you know how that unfolds.

I know a number of you who read my blog are on a path similar to mine, and wanted to let you know about this great resource. If any of you have already utilized SCORE, or have written a business plan, I'd love to hear about your experience.

Who me? The Stylish Blogger Award!!!

2011-01-04T09:12:00.000-07:00

Bless her heart, my friend Lisa from Lisa's Urban Nostalgia has given me the Stylish Blogger Award! I've known Lisa for a number of years, and have always enjoyed her bright personality and her amazing art. Please check out her blog, and while you're at it, check out her Etsy store too.

In order to accept this award, I am supposed to reveal 7 things about myself. Here they are, in no particular order:

1. When I was a student at UW- Madison I worked in a radioactive plant pathology lab (maybe that explains a few things).

2. Before I attended a Christian Camp called Fort Wilderness in high school, I had no idea why Jesus died on the Cross, and what that had to do with me.

3. One of the best times of my life was backpacking all over Europe for a month with a good friend after graduating from college.

4. Once I ran right into Walter Payton at a racetrack - literally. Wham! My nose slammed into his name tag. Even though I was the one not watching where I was going, he politely apologized.

5. Elisabeth Elliot is one of my heroes.

6. My Dad used to jump barrels while ice skating on the Manitowoc River in Chilton, WI. (I know that this is not about me, but I am running out of things to say.) He still does push ups and he's in his 80's.

7. You might not know this about me, but I love plants! And, before that, I really loved fossils. I have quite a collection, including a piece fossilized vertebrae, and a gastrolith (you might have to look that up).

There you have it. Now I am going to pass The Sylish blogger Award to...

KateXpressions - Karen is a new online friend of mine who combines both pressed flowers/botanicals and beautiful watercolor scenes in her note cards, which she sells on her Etsy store. I also love reading her wise, inspiring blog called the Sower's Corner, where she combines her strong faith everyday living. Please visit her blogs and her Etsy store - it will be time well spent.

Pressed Flower Artists: A great tip, from a kind reader...

2010-12-16T11:50:00.003-07:00

Back in September, Marj from Ontario emailed me with several questions about using Perfect Paper Adhesive (my go-to pressed flower sealant), but unfortunately she had one question I couldn't help her with.

She was having trouble using the PPA to seal pressed flowers that she had glued onto card stock, because in sealing the flowers with the PPA, a slight amount of PPA would get onto the card stock, causing it to warp. Because I glue my flowers onto my absorbent handmade paper, I've never dealt with warping, and didn't have an answer for her. But, recently Marj emailed me again, with a solution for her problem:

"In September you kindly answered questions I had about the Perfect Paper Adhesive. I have been having great success with the product since then and am so grateful for your help. I think that I was probably using a bit too much initially. Sometimes I 'top coat' the plant material first, placing it on a piece of baker's parchment paper (which can be re-used many times) to dry without sticking. Then I adhere the chosen bits to my card design. It is so reassuring to think that they are then hardy enough for the postal service."

I love the idea of "top coating!" I can see that coming in handy for a number of different projects I have planned, especially one involving rice paper... Marj also included the above Christmas card, and she says:

"...the 'balls' on the tree are hole punched from an autumn Bergenia leaf which turned a lovely red, and the star is a bit of Queen Anne's Lace."

Great ideas Marj! Thanks so much for sharing them, and your art with us!

Fireworks in December

2010-12-07T12:20:00.002-07:00

One of the new plants I couldn't wait to grow last spring was Burpee's exclusive Fireworks flowers , an unruly shockingly pink Globe Amaranth. What a fun flower! The ladies who walk past my house every morning stopped by several time to get a closer look, and even my kids, who are a bit "flowered out," as you can imagine, found them "cool."

Although they are dimensional, they ended up pressing very well in the Microfleur, and their flat, graceful stems are an added plus.

This piece of Fireworks pressed flower art is created on 5 x 7" handmade paper, and mounted on fine Gilbert Oxford card stock. It has been sealed with UV resistant polymers, and is ready to frame in the 8 x 10" frame of your choice.

You can grow your own fireworks next spring! The seeds are available here. If you are interested in purchasing a Microfleur, you can do so here, and, remember, free gift wrapping is available on all Microfleurs and paper making kits from now until December 20th.

Time to make gift tags...

2010-11-18T10:23:00.000-07:00

For the past few Christmas seasons I've been offering free Christmas gift wrapping on all Microfleur flower presses and Going Green paper making kits, and I've always included a free handmade paper gift tag. Sometimes it's a pressed fern/Christmas tree tag, other times a pressed Queen Anne's Lace flower/snowflake tag, either way, they are fun to make, and a great way to showcase two of my favorite things: pressed botanicals and handmade paper.

Here's a quick tutorial of my favorite way of making handmade paper gift tags...

Bold bee Balm

2010-10-19T10:37:00.001-06:00

"Bold Bee Balm," Pressed flowers on handmade paper
8 1/2 x 11" matted. October 2010

Some flowers are sweet and tranquil, like pansies or lavender, others are in your face so to speak, like bee balm. It's bold colored petals are arrayed like exploding fireworks, and being a member of the mint family, they conspire to take over your flower garden if given half a chance! And they are beloved by both bees and hummingbirds, so a person just about takes their life in their hands when trying to pick them...

Bold Bee Balm is a side view of two deep red bee balm flowers, mounted on my handmade paper, sealed with an invisible UV resistant coating, and is ready to frame.

I never tire of a lavender line

2010-09-27T13:49:00.000-06:00

Rarely do I make two similar pictures. Cards, yes, but if I am going to go to the trouble of making something worth framing, I definitely want it to be unique. Except for lavender! I love putting it in lines - that's all I want to do with it. I think it looks awesome! Someday I'd like to put a whole series of framed lavender lines on both sides of the my entry way of my home...but until then, here is a lavender line to share with you.

P.S. Elizabeth's Flowers is on facebook now! Please press "like" if you'd like - it will help my facebook rating. Thanks!

1988 Confirmation Keepsake

2010-09-03T13:55:00.002-06:00

I am so excited to share this idea!

Andrea, a customer friend of mine is traveling back to Norway to meet her extended family. Before leaving she and her mom and sister decided to make pressed flower gifts for each of the relatives they would be meeting. Originally she decided to make pressed flower glass "sun-catchers," but then she came upon this wonderfully unique idea - embellishing copies of her great-grandfather's confirmation certificate from 1888 with pressed flowers, and framing them.

Adrea emails: "We made 30 of these 5x7 frames with Bachelor Buttons, Potentilla, and Feverfew (they smelled like a lovely herbal tea when they were drying)... I did most of the flower pressing in the Microfleur, and my mom and sister did most of the artful gluing onto the documents, to highlight his name just right!"

Stunning. I can't wait to hear about her family's reaction to them!

Free skeleton leaves!

2010-08-09T14:03:00.001-06:00

Absolutely free! Here in Twin Lakes, and actually anywhere I've been in Wisconsin or Illinois lately I am often finding the ground sprinkled with free skeleton leaves! Granted they aren't quite as pristine and colorful as those perfect albeit very fake looking ones you can buy at Michaels or on ebay, but they are beautiful, and every once in awhile I find an absolutely stunning one. Often I keep the leaves their natural color, but sometimes I color them using Prismacolor art markers

Next time you go for a walk outside, bring along a small plastic bag in case you find some on the grass or pavement. When you get home, either place them in your Microfleur, or just put them in a heavy book to press them flat. Since most of their flesh has been removed (most likely by a Japanese Beetle) they will only take a day to two to completely dry and press flat.

What have you made with skeleton leaves?

Some great new pressed flower techniques...

2010-07-27T20:27:00.000-06:00

Just came across a great video showing some creative ways to use Perfect Paper Adhesive with pressed flowers and leaves. The creator of PPA herself, Susan Pickering Rothamel, shows how to use PPA with botanicals and a variety of different papers, glitter, and mica to create a very interesting collage. Check it out!

The top 5 reasons I love anything botanical...

2010-07-23T10:27:00.000-06:00

The top 5 reasons I love anything botanical...

1. Plants are so easy to share. Press them, print with them, dry them, cook them, photograph them, paint them, pick them. You get the point!

2. The lines, geometrical shapes, the symmetry - especially in unexpected places. I still love seeing the star when I cut an apple crosswise. And when pressing flowers, I am often surprised to find that the back of the flower is more interesting than than the front.

3. They are edible. Who doesn't love to eat? I adore the fact that I can settle a few seeds in the ground, water, wait, (and weed) then eat. I also love that I can sometimes eat what I don't plant - mulberries from a tree near the library in town, wild ground cherries from a nearby field, asparagus along the side of the road in the spring.

4. Their scents. Lilacs and lavender, are no brainers, but love the unexpected pleasant scents of tansy, yarrow, hay ferns, and even weeds like dandelions, bindweed and creeping charlie. And don't even get me started on herbs!

5. Last of all, but most of all, I love that they emanate peace. The older (and hopefully wiser) I get, the more I love the fact that plants are silent. I love their peace. I assume their Creator is responsible for that attribute.

Why are you drawn to them?

Out with the old, in with the new.

2010-07-19T11:59:00.001-06:00

Starting today, I'm changing the focus of my blog.

My friend Bonnielynn and I are taking the "31 days to a better blog Problogger Challenge" together (along with about 400 other women!) and our first task is to write an "elevator pitch" i.e. a short blurb describing to focus of our blogs.

I was hoping to be able to jump right in to something exciting like learning the secret to gaining thousands of new followers in 2 easy steps...but alas there was much wisdom to starting out with this slow, thought provoking task.

Forcing oneself to stop and look intently at why we do something is almost always worth it's weight (time?) in gold, isn't it? For some time now I have felt guilty that my blog has been less about my promoting my art, and more about "other" things. But, after looking at how and why I started my blog five years ago, and where it has ended up now, I realized that not only am I celebrating my passion for all things botanical, I am also sharing my passion. And, even more importantly, and much to my delight, others are increasingly sharing their passion with me. This web place is becoming more of a sharing place, where others who share a wonder, love, and appreciation for the beauty and simplicity of plants and flowers can come.

This blog is about "Sharing and celebrating the beauty of all things botanical."

What do you need to look more closely at?

I don't care for light blue...

2010-07-07T11:34:00.000-06:00

I just can't stand light blue. Like finger nails against a chalkboard, so is light blue to my eyes. I don't like light blue walls, clothes, carpeting, or blankets. Remember light blue eye shadow? Thank God that's over with! At least I hope it is.

However, there is an exception to every rule, and I have two. I love light blue skies, and I love light blue tradescantia - otherwise known as spiderwort. It's a native plant here in Wisconsin, and this time of year you can see it along shady roadsides - if you are up and about early. The beautiful triangular flowers with their bright yellow stamens melt away by 10:00 am. Tradescantia aren't easy to press, but they are definitely worth the extra effort. I pressed these with the Microfleur which captured their color perfectly, but it was tricky getting them off the liner sheets with out tearing them.

This card is one of 25 assorted pressed flower cards I'm making that will be included in gift bags for the judges in the Lake Geneva Flower Show later this month.

Free plantable wildflower paper kit!

2010-06-29T13:22:00.000-06:00

I've really gotten into making plantable paper lately, so I thought I'd pass along the fun. I'm including a free plantable wildflower seed paper kit in every Going Green Paper Making kit ordered - while my supplies last.

Included are instructions, ideas for using plantable paper, planting directions, and of course, a nice variety of wildflower seeds. Going Green Paper Making Kits are available at Elizabeth's Flowers as well as leaf petals. Enjoy!

got basil?

2010-06-22T11:27:00.000-06:00

I do! It's definitely time to pinch back my basil today. But, since we will be celebrating the end of my son's little league season tonight, I won't have the opportunity to make fresh pesto for supper. (We'll be eating at Taco Bell...please pass the Tums...)

Instead of pesto, I'm going to try this Basil Lemonade recipe from a good friend of mine. It sounds great - I really don't think you can go wrong with anything as delicious as lemons and basil.

basil lemonade

makes 4 servings
-ingredients-

1/2 cup rinsed, lightly packed
fresh basil leaves

3 tablespoons of sugar

4 cups of water

1/2 cup of freshly squeezed lemon
juice

4 sprigs of fresh basil

-preparation-

In a 2-quart glass bowl, combine basil leaves and sugar. With a wooden spoon, crush leaves with sugar until bruised. Add water and lemon juice.Stir until sugar is dissolved. Pour through a fine strainer into ice filled glasses. Top with a few sprigs of basil leaves.

Enjoy!

Flower Pressing Tips, Part 2 - Revisited

2010-06-16T19:45:00.001-06:00

We are in early summer here in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, and it is beautiful. My perennials and annuals are blooming, and the wildflower seeds I planted earlier along the cornfield are beginning to pop as well, so as usual I'm doing lot's of pressing. I love it!

Here are a few more pressed flower tips I want to share with you:

* I usually press the flowers I gather right away, but sometimes I let certain flowers sit on the counter for awhile, such as carpet cosmos, poppies, and even pansies. I gently flatten them out, and arrange the petals as needed, but then I let them sit for a few hours, and they kind of “draw in a bit.” This tends to concentrate the color of the flowers, and it adds a bit of interesting texture. Try it, and see what you think.

* A number of you have written in asking me what kind of glue I use on pressed flowers. For years I used plain old Elmer's glue. However, now I tend to use Perfect Paper Adhesive for both gluing and protecting all of my pressed flower and botanical art pieces. It's UV resistant, moisture proof, and it's even flexible - and virtually invisible.

* Pansies are a favorite for pressed flower artists, but they can be tricky to glue properly. Here’s how I glue them:
First, place a small drop of glue in the center of the flower, and place a row of small dots of glue along the outer edge of the flower. Arrange the pansy where you want it and press down.

Then take a tooth pick and gently run it under the overlapping petals of the pansy from the middle out, and lift up the flaps that make up the "face" of the pansy. Place a tiny drop of adhesive on the end of the toothpick, and gently slide it under the unsecured parts of the overlapping petals.

After gluing down the flowers, I would recommend lightly covering each flower, stem and leaf with a light coat of Perfect Paper Adhesive to preserve and protect the them and to maintain their vibrant colors. If I'm making a piece of pressed flower art that will be framed at some point, I also spray it with clear UV resistant sealer in addition to applying the PPA.

Happy pressing!

Flower Pressing Tips, Part I - Revisited

2010-06-14T12:54:00.000-06:00

Back in April of 2005, I entered my first blog entry. I reread it the other day, and was happy to see that it wasn't too bad, considering! I've dusted it off and polished it up a bit because it contains some good information for my newer "pressed flower" readers.

Flower Pressing Tips, Part I

* My most used press - I love the "Microfluer" microwave flower press. It's essentially two thick pieces of thick durable plastic, 4 clips, and a set of thick fleece liners. I use this press the most, because it's so FAST and easy. I can press about 15-20 decent sized pansies in about a minute. The color is exceptional - often the color seems richer after being microwaved, since they are both pressed and dried in just a little over a minute. There are a few flowers that turn strange colors, or don't tolerate the microwave at all, especially very moist flowers like impatiens. Also, the timing can be tricky, i.e. how long to zap the flowers, but it just takes some patient trial and error. Please practice on some "not so perfect" flowers first.

* Gently flatten the flowers - before placing them in your press. That way they have a better chance of pressing perfectly.

* Don't forget the leaves! - It's easy to get so carried away while gathering flowers, that you forget to snip a few leaves and stems. Find young fresh leaves, as they press best. Also, if the stems of a certain flower are thick and bulky, substitute a more slender stem from another flower.

* Cultivate a sense of wonder - Take a moment to look...really, really, look at a flower. See the intircate handiwork of each flower - the precise symetry, the irridescent glowing colors on such a tender canvas. How kind of our Creator to sprinkle such beauty at our feet!

* Cultivate a sense of humor - I try to gently knock the bugs off each flower I gather, but those little pests are persistent! Can you believe God made so many odd looking bugs? I try to be patient and carry those little bugs back outside, but after the millionth one...

* A few of my favorite flowers to press - Cosmos, osperspermum, pansey, viola, violet, verbena, coreopsis, calendula, transcantia, borage, edelweiss, mallow, and lavender,just to name a few. Here is a complete list of flowers that I have found to press well in the Microfleur.

If you haven't pressed flowers before, please try it! If you have any questions, just email me. I'd be happy to help get you started!

Do you juggle?

2010-06-04T08:43:00.001-06:00

It gets tiring to keep all of my balls up in the air, so I let my "art/work" ball fall to the ground for a while this spring. I was secretly hoping no one would notice, but you did. Thanks to the gentle admonition from several friends and readers to "get going!", I'm ready to get back at it again.

While I've been gone I happily discovered that my daughter is a budding track star. I knew she was fast, but I didn't realize she was fast enough to win races and set a record. Awesome!

I've also been busy with the usual home and garden things (I expanded my vegetable and herb gardens), and visiting and helping my parents as much as I can, as well as trying to help a friend who is going through a hard time. I'm glad I can be available to them.

And, thanks to my husband, I now have another ball to keep in the air - fitness, of all things. In March, the company he works for sponsored a 12 week "Body for Life" program involving very healthy eating, and 6 days a week of serious exercise, and we signed up. Getting up at 5 am for cardio or weight lifting was a grind! But we struggled through, and I am so thankful to feel strong and fit once again. I haven't been in shape since my college days - and I cringe to tell you how long ago that was.

The most important "ball" in my life is my faith, and thankfully as I occasionally drop one or two of my other balls, that one has stayed with me. I might have mentioned earlier this year that I am memorizing "chunks" of scripture - for the incredible spiritual benefits, and also as exercise to keep my mind as fit as possible as I age (Alzheimer's is common in my family). So far I've got the first 11 verses of 2 Peter 1 under my belt, I'm almost done with Psalm 139, and am still struggling with Isaiah 53. I'm finding memorization takes a lot of work when one is in their mid forties, but what a sense of blessing/accomplishment it is when I finally get it.

Back to work!

Plantable Paper Making workshop coming up...

2010-03-22T10:54:00.002-06:00

Plantable seed paper is all the rage right now and is very pricey…. so why not learn to make your own?

On Saturday April 24th I'll be teaching a workshop on how to recycle the paper we commonly find in our home or office to create plantable handmade paper. Plant-able handmade paper can be used to make wonderful greeting cards, wedding or baby shower favors, hang tags, wedding confetti, etc.

In this three hour “hands on” workshop each student will learn the basics of making handmade paper, and will make a number of different seed papers, in different colors, shapes, and sizes.

Class size is limited due to the “hands on” nature of this class. For more information on AFAF classes, please visit the Antioch Fine Arts Foundation website.

Plantable Paper Making Workshop
Saturday, April 24
9:00 am – Noon, at the Antioch Fine Arts Gallery, Antioch, IL.

Feel free to email me with any questions!

My first ever painting...

2010-03-11T14:00:00.000-07:00

Those of you have read my blog for any amount of time know that I am a botanical artist by way of glue - I take the beautiful pressed flowers, stems, leaves, etc. that God created and simply glue them down.

This past Tuesday I gave a nature printing demonstration at the Antioch Fine Arts Gallery monthly meeting. Nature printing/leaf printing is something I've dabbled in, and look forward to doing more of, but I hadn't created any significant art pieces with my prints. While preparing for the demo, I decided make a prints of a large maple leaf on a piece of handmade paper, and then (and this is really reckless for me) I attempted to watercolor within the outlines of the leaves. I was pleasantly surprised at the results! I even went so far as ordering a mat and frame for it this morning.

Lunch Time...

2010-02-23T10:21:00.000-07:00

The microgreens I'm growing on my kitchen table have really taken off, and a friend and I will be adding them to a big salad in just a few minutes for lunch. The seeds I used were Pine Tree Garden's Kitchen Sink Mix, with over 16 different kinds greens. They were surprisingly easy to grow - after planting the seeds I covered the top of the planter with saran wrap, until they sprouted. After that, they were ready for clipping in just a few weeks.

But, before we eat, I just wanted to thank everyone for participating in last week's Mid Month Give Away. I'm happy to announce that our winner was Patty S. from Arizona. She is an experienced maker of handmade paper, and is looking forward to using the mold and deckle to make bookmarks for her visitors at an upcoming art exhibition she will be participating in this May. Best wishes to you Patty!

Something else for free...

2010-02-17T06:51:00.001-07:00

Lifehacker.com has an interesting article this morning about growing an endless supply of free onions, using their gnarly old roots. I was cutting onions last night, and the bottoms I sliced off are still in a plastic grocery bag hanging on a nail in the garage, waiting to be carried out to the compost pile.

I'm off to reclaim them and to see if growing a free supply of onions is as easy as Lifehacker says it is...

Speaking of free, don't forget our Mid Month Give Away, which ends Friday at noon Central time.

Mid Month Monday Give Away - Book Mark Mold and Deckle

2010-02-15T12:39:00.002-07:00

I know last month's give away was a paper making kit - I'm not in a rut, I'm just celebrating two recent large orders of my new bookmark mold and deckles, one to a school and the other to a children's museum.

I have yet to see anyone else selling these on the internet, but this 7 x 2" mold and deckle is perfect for showing off and esprcially sharing your handmade paper making skills.

To be included in the drawing, please fill out the information below. Please only enter one time per month. The drawing closes this Friday at noon Central time, and the winner will be notified by Email.

If you have an item of interest to Elizabeth's Flowers readers, and would like to be considered for our Mid Month Monday Drawing, please email me.

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Unframed "Groovy Calendula"

2010-02-12T11:49:00.001-07:00

I have a number of new pressed flower art pieces to photograph and post on my website, so here's the first in line, because it makes me smile.

Groovy Calendula is made from two of my largest golden calendula flowers from last summer (over two inches across!) with rich burgundy centers, and green fun and curvy stems.

The 5 x 7" piece of handmade paper I made for this piece is really, really textured. In fact the paper wasn't pressed after it was formed, so it ended up being very wavy, similar to the stems of the calendula.

Speaking of calendula, it is one of my favorite flowers to press in the Microfleur, so be sure to order some seeds when you place your seed catalog order this year. I've read that calendula is edible! I've never tried it though.

This Month's Give Away Winner

2010-01-25T12:25:00.002-07:00

Judy from Pennsylvania was the winner of last week's Mid Month Going Green paper making kit Give Away. She writes:

Dear Elizabeth,

What a nice surprise your email was this morning.  Thank you so  much!  I've never tried making paper before but it looks like something  I'll enjoy learning.  I have several grandchildren who love crafting and I  think this will be a fun project to try with them.

Gardening is my favorite pastime.  I garden on 3/4 of an acre in zone  6 in a mostly sunny yard.  This past summer I dried flowers from my garden  for the first time and so my hope is to learn to use them with my own homemade  paper.

I really enjoy reading your blog and visiting your websites.  Your  beautiful artwork and cards are what inspired me to try drying flowers.   I'm sure that your generosity in offering free tips and information is very much  appreciated by all of your readers.

I know you'll enjoy using the kit with your garden flowers Judy! If you every have any questions, just let me know.

Give me a hand...

2010-01-22T10:20:00.001-07:00

This is a handmade paper imprint of my youngest son's hand - we did these for a Mother's day project a few years ago in his first grade class. This was made with the 5 x 7" mold and deckle from the Wooden Deckle Paper Making kit - which just happens to be this month's Mid Month Give Away, which ends at noon today (central time).

Directions for making handmade paper hand imprints (try to say that ten times fast) are available on my leaf petals site.

There's still (a little) time to win a free Going Green paper making kit for the Mid Month Give Away.

Fireworks!

2010-01-20T09:00:00.002-07:00

While scouring through the pile of seed and plant catalogs I've been getting, this immediately caught my eye. What a fun little flower! This is "Fireworks," an exclusive globe amaranth gomphrena from Burpee. I can't wait to try pressing it, and if that doesn't work out, it's supposed to be a great cut flower, and even dries well too!
What are looking forward to pressing this year?

By the way, don't forget about the Mid Month Give Away drawing this week for a free paper making kit!

Mid Month Monday Give Away - Free Paper Making Kit

2010-01-18T08:44:00.007-07:00

Here we are slogging through the middle of January, and it's a Monday. We're not exactly on track for a stellar day. So, I've decided to shake things up a bit.... you have stumbled upon the first monthly Elizabeth's Flowers Mid Month Monday Give Away. On a Monday somewhere in the middle of every month, we will be giving away something of interest to the readers of this blog - something that celebrates the beauty and simplicity of plants, and the Creator who made them.

This month's give away is one free Going Green Paper Making Kit. With this kit it's easy to make beautiful handmade paper by recycling the used paper in your home and office. It includes our standard 5 x 7" mold and deckle, an instruction booklet with lots of paper making recipes, and fun inclusions to add to your paper such as flower petals, lavender buds, shredded currency, etc. This kit was developed to use in my handmade paper making classes, and the method used is the exact one I use for all of my pressed flower art.

To be included in the drawing, fill out the information below. Please only enter one time per month. The drawing closes this Friday at noon Central time. The winner will be notified by Email.

If you have an item of interest to Elizabeth's Flowers readers, and would like to be considered for our Mid Month Monday Drawing, please email me.

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A different kind of exercise...

2010-01-16T13:20:00.002-07:00

It's a quiet Saturday around here and after an extended time away from my Elizabeth's Flowers and leaf petals work (other than filling orders as they came in) I'm happy to pick up from where I left off.

I absolutely love the beginning of the New Year. I'm not that into "ringing in" the new year, but I love the opportunity to pause and reflect on where I've been, and where I'm headed. This year I took an extra long time in doing this, and just now finished evaluating how I did with the goals I made last year, and what I want to focus on for the new year.

Because my mom has Alzheimer's (as did her mom) one of my foremost goals is to exercise my brain as well as my body. So not only am I going to keep on getting my regular dose of Sudoku, I am also doing the Revive our Hearts scripture memory program. Memorizing was always a breeze for me in school, but I've been shocked to see how much repetition it takes for me to memorize now that I'm in my mid-forties. Yikes! But, I'm getting a ton out of doing this so far, and greatly recommend it. Spiritual growth and brain exercise all in one shot - that's hard to beat. And, it's time well spent.

Gardening How - To Surprise!

2009-12-08T12:52:00.001-07:00

I was pleasantly surprised to be informed that my pressed flower cards have been featured in the "Great Garden Gifts" section of the January edition of Gardening How-To magazine. It's a gorgeous issue full of beautiful blooms and practical gardening advice, such a treat for those of us who can't wait to get growing again!

Just time for Christmas gift giving, all boxes of pressed flower cards are 15% off. And, free gift wrapping is available if ordered before December 20th.

Thanks to the editors of Gardening How-To for your surprise feature!

New bookmark size mold and deckles

2009-12-07T06:05:00.001-07:00

What's this, you ask?

This is a 2 x 7" mold and deckle for making bookmarks. I have been trying to locate one for years, but no one seems to make them. Now Bob, my craftsman makes them for me, along with the 5 x 7" mold and deckles featured in my Going Green Paper Making Kits.

I just got the bookmark mold and deckles in last week, and I'm looking forward to making some fun handmade paper bookmarks with the kids for Christmas gifts this year.

Finished Batik on Paper

2009-12-04T05:23:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of the paper batiks I completed last week, after I removed all of the beeswax. They certainly ended up being interesting pictures to say the least!

The first picture (on the left) was my attempt at drawing/painting with wax. Now you know why I create my flower pictures by gluing flowers, rather than trying to draw or paint them!

The other two pictures are nature prints, the larger is hosta leaves, and the other picture is a print of geranium leaves on a piece of my handmade paper. As expected, I found that I definitely need to make my handmade paper stronger in order for it to withstand the batik process, because I lost some of the surface layer while trying to remove the wax. But, in the places where there was no damage, the effect is wonderful.

I'm really looking forward to experimenting more with batik on my paper this winter.

2009-11-20T09:03:00.000-07:00

Last night I went to my last Paper Batik class at at the Lemon Street Gallery in Kenosha, and this time I brought along some nature prints I made, to use as a background for my batiks.

Starting at the top left, the ginko print, and the two tall hosta leaf prints are on rice paper. However, the bottom left geranium leaf print, and the black hosta leaf print on the lower right are on my handmade paper.

I usually don't apply a lot of pressure to my handmade paper, so it tends to be on the soft side (applying pressure to freshly made hmp compacts the fibers, making the paper stronger), so I was curious to see if my hmp could withstand the repeated coloring and waxing involved in batik.

When I got to class, I applied alternating layers of colors and wax to the prints. Because the pieces needed to dry thoroughly before removing the wax, that still needs to be done. I plan on showing you the results next week, and I can't wait to see how they turn out myself!

Have a great weekend!

Making free handmade paper...

2009-11-16T07:58:00.000-07:00

I had the privilege of being a guest blogger on Mariel and Jessica's "Or so she says..." blog this weekend. I wrote a brief tutorial on making "free" handmade paper with 100% recycled paper.

The tagline for "Or so she says" is " a daily dose of great ideas" and that it is! Check it out, and see if you don't find a great idea or two to inspire you...

String Garden?

2009-11-11T09:58:00.000-07:00

I'm busy filling orders today, as well as preparing for a guest blog post this weekend.

But, I wanted to share this "String Garden" idea with you. I'm not sure what to make of it, are you? But isn't it interesting? I would love to know how they do it...and why.

Better!

2009-11-09T09:24:00.001-07:00

Pressed Maple Leaf Collage

Matted, 8" x 12"

I am back in the saddle again! Two weeks ago my children and my husband all took turns getting the flu, while I ran around dutifully taking care of everybody. Soon I found myself bragging about my superior immunity.

Then I was reminded that God hates a prideful heart! The flu hit me hard and after 8 long days on the couch it is such a blessing to be healthy again. I'll be back to my 3 day a week blogging schedule this week.

Have you ever seen anything like this???

2009-10-29T16:01:00.000-06:00

Here's a quick scan of some purple smoke bush leaves I just pressed. Has anyone ever seen anything like this? Only a few of the leaves at the very top of the bush had this incredible design. These are so cool!

Fading Hosta Leaves

2009-10-26T09:51:00.000-06:00

We were blessed with an unexpectedly nice day yesterday!

The weather people had called for yet another day of rain, but instead we had mostly sunny skies with a warm 60 degree breeze. What a treat!

After the Packer game we headed outside to do some raking, and I was intrigued with the lovely mounds of fading hosta leaves. They have gone through several light frosts, and their color is slowly draining away. The dark grass doesn't really show it, but some of the leaves are actually translucent!

I'm thinking of what kind of botanical collage I can make with them... Any ideas?

Calling all pressed flower and botanical artists...

2009-10-23T11:05:00.000-06:00

Horticulture Magazine is celebrating "the centuries-long marriage of gardening and art" with an art contest for mediums of any kind. Winners will be selected in two categories:

*plants and flowers

*gardens and landscapes

The entry deadline is December 1st. Let's all get busy!

The Horticulture Garden Art Competition

The worth of a book...

2009-10-21T10:22:00.002-06:00

This is my favorite book. After the Bible of course, but I find endless beauty and inspiration for my art in this book. The Pressed Plant, by Andrea DiNoto and David Winter, is a collection of pressed botanicals from the eighteenth to the twentieth centuries. But beyond that, the authors examine the artwork created within the plants themselves.

Much of these pressings were put together by early botanists solely interested in preserving their specimens for posterity, yet the beauty of the plants comes shining through, all on their own!

Because so many inquisitive new flower pressers frequent my website, I have opened the Elizabeth's Flowers Amazon Bookstore to include the key books that have influenced my botanical art journey thus far. Maybe some of them will be helpful on your journey as well!

The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it.
~James Bryce

The very latest in storing pressed flowers...

2009-10-19T10:58:00.000-06:00

Previously I blogged about how I store my pressed flowers in large foil zip lock bags.

Well, I eventually found these large bags to be cumbersome to store, hard to zip up after use, and quality issues were also occasionally a problem.

We learn as we go, and now I have a new pressed flower storage method that is working so much better for me. See if it doesn't help you as well.

Up or down?

2009-10-16T08:51:00.002-06:00

I can't decide if I'd hang my latest unframed art creation up or down. I seem to change my mind by the minute! At least when I create my pressed flower art there's no question. Stem at the bottom, flower on top.

At any rate, this unframed pressed fall leaves art collage is now available, with leaves from Wisconsin. We are currently at peak color, and as soon as it stops raining I intend to go out and enjoy them! And press more of them as well.

There's an app for that!

2009-10-14T08:22:00.003-06:00

I've been accused of being addicted to my iphone. Here's another reason to be - now there's a gardening app! One can reap what they sow with help from Botanical Interests. There doesn't seem to be much on flowers, but there is detailed info on vegetable and herb gardening, tips and tricks, and even a coupon for 5% off your first seed purchase from the company who designed the app.

$5.99 at the itunes app Store.

It's a good day...to make paper

2009-10-12T09:16:00.001-06:00

Happy Columbus Day!

It's a balmy, cloudy 36 degrees here in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. I've decided to forgo my plans of doing some much needed garden clean up today, (after our hard frost Saturday night) and make paper in my warm kitchen instead.

I will be making a large batch of small papers for my pressed flower cards, as well as some larger square handmade papers for a series of leaf pictures I have planned.

By the way, I just read that it's National Pumpkin Pie day today. I think I'll make one of those too!

A celebration in the trees...

2009-10-09T08:42:00.000-06:00

I like everything about making Autumn Leaf Cards.

From tramping in the woods searching for the perfect autumn leaves with my family, to pressing them in the Microfleur, and then spreading the colorful leaves out on the table and enjoying the riot of color before I adhere them onto handmade paper.

God certainly thought of a great way to celebrate the end of a glorious summer - by throwing a bright and colorful party in the trees. I am always amazed.

Unframed Fern on "Free-Form" Handmade Paper

2009-10-07T09:21:00.000-06:00

My Elizabeth's Flowers website re-construction is happily over, and I'm back to doing what I love best - and here's proof. This is an unframed pressed fern picture from the Northwoods of Wisconsin, near Three Lakes. The finely cut fern is beautiful in itself, but I decided to combined it with a highly textured "free-form" piece of my handmade paper, which really seems to compliment the orderly structure of the pressed fern.

If you look closely, you can see that the edges of the handmade paper are very irregular, and the texture itself has an unruly look as well. I really am pleased with this combination.

Hard Hat Area

2009-10-05T10:27:00.001-06:00

Behind the scenes, I have been busy transferring my Elizabeth's Flowers website to a snappier, more up to date template. After two weeks of toil, I finally breathed a quick prayer and pressed "publish."

Alas, not all went well, and there are a number of broken links and missing pictures. Sigh! I'll be busy fixing these during the next few days, but please check back Wednesday for some new art I've been eager to show you.

You're Welcome!

2009-09-21T10:16:00.004-06:00

Thank you to one of my customers for sending this kind note. Beth purchased the Deluxe GoingGreen Paper Making Kit , which includes both a 5 x 7" and a hard to find square 5 x 5" mold and deckle. Happy paper making Beth!

Blessed with a harvest!

2009-09-10T10:36:00.011-06:00

These tomatoes on my counter weren't grown by me - I wish they had been. Mine succumbed a nasty blight, and I ended up harvesting little more than a few cherry tomatoes.

My brother Karl, (bless his heart) came to my rescue and gave me a large grocery bag full of slightly unripe tomatoes from his garden, and they've been sitting on my counter getting ready for me to use. We've been making BLT's through out the week, and tonight I will be using many of them for my favorite roasted tomato sauce. Hopefully there will be some left for me to make fresh salsa this weekend.

By the way, if you are ever in the need of a rigorous intellectual challenge, my brother has written two books, Having Words with God, and The Heart of Biblical Narrative. I have yet to delve into them, but one of these days!

It was a sunny weekend...

2009-09-08T09:07:00.006-06:00

It was a picture perfect, warm and happy kind of weekend. We spent almost every minute of it outside, enjoying the beauty. Hiking, gardening, grilling, and biking. And of course flower pressing. It was such a lovely weekend that I find myself a bit discombobulated as I reconnect with real life. It's a price that I'm willing to pay! Have a great week!

Upcoming Art Classes in the Northern Illinois Area

2009-09-03T12:37:00.006-06:00

Don't you think it's about time for an art class? Of course it is, and if you are in the southern Wisconsin/northern Illinois area I have just the class (or classes) for you.

The Antioch Fine Arts Organization has announced its Fall Class Schedule, with a variety of classes sure to interest just about evryone. Classes include fused glass workshops, airbrushing, various drawing and painting classes, calligraphy, stained glass, as well as an animal art class for children.

I will also be offering my "Totally Green" paper making workshop on Saturday October 3rd, at the AFAF Gallery. We'll spend an entire morning making a number of different types of beautiful handmade papers by recycling unwanted paper. Going Green Paper Making Kits will be available to purchase for those who are interested, but are by no means required.

Here is a complete listing of the art classes available from The Antioch Fine Arts Foundation.

The return of "You frame it Friday"

2009-07-31T13:27:00.006-06:00

"Be still and know..." Pressed Fuchsia Flower
Fuchsia, handmade paper
8" x 10" Acid-free mat
Unframed pressed flower art

Ever since I tried pressing the fuchsia plant on my patio, it has been getting smaller and smaller. I've pressed fuchsia in the past, but their round little "bellies" never pressed to my liking, they ended up looking like blobs. I bought this fuchsia not for pressing, just for enjoying, but pressed it on a whim one day because I wanted to use some of the leaves.

I apologize that I don't know what variety it is, but it's a beauty with its unusually slender flowers, long tendrils, and long pointed petals.

I've made a number of pressed flower cards with these flowers this week, and also placed a sprig with one of my favorite verses, Psalm 42:10.

Today's featured unframed pressed fuchsia flower picture has been treated with a UV resistant polymer to seal out moisture and prevent fading indefinitely.

Another line of lavender

2009-07-28T11:31:00.004-06:00

Lavender Line
14" x 7"
Sold/Consignment for Jen M.

I have made a lot of "lavender lines" lately, and although it's more interesting to make new creations as opposed to doing the same thing over and over, I love how each of my lavender pictures seems to come together in a different way. Each has it's own uniqueness.

This morning I gave myself permission to procrastinate for just a little while, and on a blog I visit every so often there was a a quote from Edith Schaeffer that really made me sit up and take notice:

"There is a staggering diversity in Creation from the silence of snow to the delicate sound of rain on leaves...

The captivating ingredient in the whole fantastic stream of reality is that the Creator God created beings in His likeness so that each one could be a creator...^"Two reminders. One being of how vast and varied creation is, and the other, that the Creator of all things also gave us a portion of His of creativity, so that we too can create in many many different ways. That's why artists can use the same media over and over again, and each time something different appears.

How amazingly kind of God to share His creativity with us.

What's so great about the Internet?

2009-07-13T07:31:00.005-06:00

Free information at your finger tips - that's the single most valuable aspect of the internet, in my opinion. The amount you can learn is almost endless!

Over here, you can learn quite a bit about how to press flowers, how to make pressed flower cards, and what flowers press well, just to name a few. You can access all of my tutorials here: Elizabeth's Flowers Tutorials

For my non-flower pressing readers, here's a "how to" tutorial for you that I just love. See what you think...

Enjoy!

I'm in here...

2009-07-08T09:49:00.005-06:00

I'm not sure if this quite equals my ship coming in, but I am thrilled that my Elizabeth's Flowers website was mentioned as a source for the Microfleur flower press in the August edition of Canadian Living.

Editor Karen Kirk contacted me a few months ago to find out if I ship to Canada, which I have been gladly doing for years. Her article, "Blooming Frames" details an interesting way to use pressed flowers to decorate frames, and has a wonderful step by step pictorial on using the Microfleur. My site is listed as a source under "Things You Need," and you can view the article online here.

It has been exciting to see my website in print and mentioned online, and I'm eager to find out what kind of traffic will be generated to my site. But mostly, I hope the article convinces more people to press their own flowers, and enjoy the beauty they bring.

"The beauty of each blossom speaks silently of God's love..."

Pressed for all time...

2009-07-02T15:24:00.008-06:00

July already? Do you ever get the feeling that God pushes "fast forward" during the summer? It never fails to whiz by.

This time of year almost every spare moment I have is spent pressing flowers, so that I have plenty to use all year long for my framed and unframed pressed flower art, as well as my pressed flower cards.

Today I pressed the last of my violas, the first of my red poppies, many blue and purple cornflowers, a fern sprig, and lots of calendula and osteospermum.

Can you tell what the silver star shaped flowers in the middle of my Microfleur flower press are? They are edelweiss flowers - not an easy plant to grow, unless you are in the Alps. I am thankful when ever they grace me with their presence here in Wisconsin, and this year I've been blessed with a modest amount of small blooms. Many of them will be used for consignment pictures customers have ordered, and any leftovers will be used for cards that I will put up on my Etsy page.

If you are new to pressing flowers, here's a Microfleur Flower List I complied a summer or two ago about on what flowers I have found to press well in the Microfleur - if you have any to add, please email me, and I would be glad add them to the list.

My very simple display

2009-06-16T11:34:00.008-06:00

Debra from Georgia emailed me last week asking how I package and display my cards.

Simple isn't always best, but when displaying artwork of any kind, I find "simple" usually rings true.

Since God already made the plants I use so beautiful, I want my packaging and displays to be almost invisible, so that viewer's eyes immediately travel to the flowers.

Each individual pressed flower card is sealed in a clear cello bag, and my boxed cards are enclosed in clear plastic boxes that fold shut on both ends. I used to display all of my cards in various baskets, but then discovered the great acrylic card rack displays from cleardisplays.com and have been more than happy with them.

Coming up with a simple, inexpensive way to display my framed art was a little harder for me. Other artist friends use metal display grids to hang their art on, and although they are classy and durable, I was hesitant to make that kind of investment.

Thankfully, I passed by an old discarded ladder one morning, and after painting it white it became a sturdy but lightweight way to display my pictures. I also have strong rubber bands behind each picture anchoring the frames to screws attached to the back of each ladder each step.

On really windy days, however, the ladder isn't a good option - but so far this year our Friday Farmer's Market mornings at Northwind have been calm and beautiful. I am hoping this Friday will be the same!

What's in the grass?

2009-06-09T07:54:00.003-06:00

Today's post was going to be about my "set up" at Northwind last Friday, but I have a last minute order to do for a friend who desperately needs a birthday gift for her MIL tonight.

In the meantime, here's a cute picture I took while setting up my space last Friday morning. See anything unusual in the grass?

No better place to be...

2009-06-03T08:27:00.008-06:00

Beginning this Friday, most Friday mornings will find me here, at the very picturesque Northwind Perennial Farm, near Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

Well known Chicago garden designer J. Siegel describes Northwind as being:

"...exceptional on many levels. They sell & promote unusual plants with a nod to natives, their lovely staff knows a lot about their products, and the place is so well-conceived and arranged, that people visit just for the charming experience."

Northwind isn't just your average nursery; they sell over 400 different perennials, and feature a number of amazing showcase perennial gardens, not to mention a very tempting garden shop in a centuries old barn as well.

I will be participating in their Friday morning farmer's market (9:00 - 12 noon) , from now until the end of August, selling my pressed flower cards and botanical art. I can't imagine a better place to spend a few hours each week - I only hope I don't spend all my earnings there!

Black Pansies

2009-05-29T09:05:00.004-06:00

I'm not into Gothic things (at all!), but I love black pansies.

Actually a deep, deep, purple, the black pansy pictures and cards I make are always good sellers at the farmer's markets and shows I do. The only problem is that I'm sometimes reluctant to press them, because they look so dramatic in the containers on my patio!

I made this card yesterday, and today it's on it's way to a good friend. Because I brushed on a thin coating of Perfect Paper Adhesive over the pansies and their greenery, I don't have to worry about the flowers fading, or being damaged in the mail. A thin coat is all it takes to provide invisible UV resistance, and because it provides a tough, flexible layer of protection, it's perfect for pressed flower cards, gift tags, etc.

Purple Crocus Trio

2009-05-26T09:52:00.006-06:00

Purple Crocus Trio
Unframed Pressed Flower Art
For an 11 x 14" or
8 x 12" frame
Pressed crocuses, handmade paper

Spring is winding down here in Wisconsin, so here is another crocus collage before I have the joy of bombarding you with a riot of summer flowers.

I just got back from a short trip to visit a friend in Puyallup, Washington (near Seattle) and was amazed at the beautiful flowers there. I saw a lot of blooming wild pelargoniums (geraniums) on the Orting Valley bike trail which were tempting to pick and press, but I refrained. My own pink pelargoniums are blooming now and I'll be heading outside soon to press them before this afternoon's rain.

The above "Purple Crocus Trio" pressed flower picture could be framed in either a standard 8 x 10, or 11 x 14" frame. In an 8 x 10 frame, the mat would neatly cover the edges of the handmade paper, and the 11 x 14" frame would allow the interesting deckled edge of the handmade paper to show, for a more organic look.

I will happily include an acid free white mat for either size frame (8x10", or 11x14") upon request. Just state your mat size preference in the "comments" section when ordering, or email me.

How do you know if you're an artist?

2009-04-25T15:05:00.013-06:00

Autumn Leaf Card
4 3/8” x 5 ¾”
Blueberry leaves, handmade paper

For my Blog Triage class, my latest assignment involved reviewing a previous blog post, and as I looked at one of my earliest posts, I started thinking about how I've gotten to where I am now as an artist. I'm wondering if you've ever done that.

For me, I see mundane "random" pieces that have somehow come together.

First, feeling like I made a huge mistake after my first child was born. I didn't think I was cut out for being a mom, and I kept feeling this overwhelming desire to "create." I didn't have a spare moment to myself, but all I could think about was having a few minutes to make something beautiful for my home with my own two hands.

Second, one dreary January day while folding laundry, I watched a TV show about making handmade paper. It seemed really easy. Later I watched a show with a woman pressing flowers in a microwave. I was amazed at how colorful they were. Maybe I could combine handmade paper and pressed flowers?

I did. I sold my handmade paper pressed flower cards and pictures at craft fairs, and made enough money to pay for all the flowers and garden supplies I needed. I had a nice hobby going.

Then one afternoon, at a noisy Holiday Craft Fair, a stern looking older woman stopped to look at my cards. She wasn't the usual friendly faced craft fair shopper, and she made me uneasy. Finally she held up one of my cards and said, "This does not belong here. This is art. You are an artist." I didn't know what to say, but I thanked her as she gave me a business card for a local art foundation.

I joined that art foundation, got to know the artists there, and eventually during the last few years I have given myself permission to call myself an artist.

For me, being an artist has been an unexpected journey. Isn't it amazing how God graciously gives us seemingly random experiences, and uses them to make us who we are? I am thankful.

The Blogging Goals of a Botanical Artist

2009-04-23T18:15:00.006-06:00

Goal - noun: 1.the result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end. 2. finish.

My blogging goals:

1. Ultimately, to bring my art work out of my home, into the homes of others.
How? By giving my art words: Describing it. Revealing its origins, motivations, and inspiration.

2. To make connections:
- with others who appreciate the simplicity and beauty of the plants God created.
- with other artists

3. To document my journey as an artist, by having a visual record of my art to look back upon, along with the comments/reflections of others.

Striving Bee Balm

2009-04-22T20:02:00.015-06:00

Striving Bee Balm
Bee balm, handmade paper
8" x 10" Acid-free mat
Unframed pressed flower art

I’m striving a bit.

In order to bring some new energy and relevancy to my blog, I’ve signed up for an intense four week long “Blog Triage Class.” I'm really looking forward to the weeks ahead, and learning how to have a more vibrant blog!

Apparently most of my homework is to be completed on my blog, so hopefully you may end up learning right along with me. Today’s assignment is to blog about my “ideal visitor.” With detail. Quite honestly, I am thankful for absolutely anyone and everyone who takes a moment to visit my blog, but here’s what I’ve come up with:

* My ideal visitors would first and foremost love and appreciate the beauty and wonder of flowers, leaves, and all things botanical. They would also have an appreciation for the One who created them.

* They would tend to be past, present, or future gardeners.

* Other pressed flower artists – who learn from my techniques and share theirs with me.

* Previous customers – who have purchased my art, and are interested in getting to know me as an artist as well as a person.

* Previous customers who have bought flower presses or handmade paper kits from me, and are seeking inspiration and new ideas for their own botanical art.

* Other artists who are on the same journey I am – to get the art they create “out there,” into the world beyond their studio.

Coming up with this list has caused me to slow down and think really think about the readers of my blog. I am thankful – what a neat way to connect blogging can be.

By the way, the Blog Triage "doctors" teaching our class are Cynthia Morris and Alyson Stanfield.

Purple Crocuses - Unframed Pressed Flower Art

2009-04-14T11:33:00.006-06:00

Purple Crocuses
Unframed Pressed Flower Art
For an 11 x 14" or
8 x 12" frame
Pressed crocuses, handmade paper

We have had such a long winter here in Wisconsin, so I find myself unusually reluctant to press my crocuses this year. I just want to leave them in my garden, so that I can look out the window and believe that spring really is here! Despite myself, I have managed to press a few.

This "Purple Crocuses" pressed flower picture could be framed in either a standard 8 x 10, or 11 x 14" frame. In an 8 x 10 frame, the mat would neatly cover the edges of the handmade paper, and the 11 x 14" frame would allow the interesting deckled edge of the handmade paper to show, for a more organic look.

I will happily include an acid free white mat for either size frame (8x10", or 11x14") upon request. Just state your mat size preference in the "comments" section when ordering, or email me.

Going Green Earth Day Journal Project

2009-04-08T13:50:00.008-06:00

Two weeks from now will be Earth Day, a day set aside to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment.

I like to put my own spin on it, and focus on the beauty and wonder of our earth. More importantly, I like to reflect upon the awesomeness of the God who created our earth, with gratitude.

This Earth Day Journal project is a great activity for kids and adults alike, and is made from 100% recycled paper! The cover of the journal is made from recycled junk mail, using the Going Green Paper Making Kit, and the paper earth is made from scraps of blue and green paper, and believe it or not, tin cans!

I will be making this journal with some of the kids in my life, and I will be encouraging them to fill their journals with expressions of thankfulness for the world around them, as well as ideas about how we can take better care of the earth God gave us.

Here are your instructions for making the Going Green Earth Day Journal Project. Enjoy!

Pressing Time

2009-04-06T07:25:00.004-06:00

Finally, finally, FINALLY I've been able to begin pressing my crocuses, in between the rogue snow storms and spring deluges we've been having here in southern Wisconsin lately. After "tweeting" that I was pressing crocuses this past Saturday, I received a number of emails asking me about how to go about pressing them.

So, for my new readers, here's an update of a tutorial on "How to Press Crocus Flowers" I wrote a few springs ago. Enjoy pressing and capturing the beauty of your crocuses. They are such a welcome blessing from our Creator.

Planting Time

2009-03-30T11:28:00.009-06:00

I planted my peas the two Saturdays ago, and this past Saturday night we were socked not with one inch, but 7 inches of snow! My poor peas. I imagine I won't be hearing from them, and will have to replant them again soon.

On a cheerier note, today is the day that I will be starting the first of my indoor seeds. First off will be a large tray of purple basil. Personally I don't think a person can ever have too much basil, but most of these basil seedlings are not for me - they will be sold at a rummage sale I will be hosting on behalf of my church to raise funds for Operation Christmas Child. I have sold purple basil for the past few years (except the year we had that freak hail storm) and have developed a small following of customers who come back yearly looking for my purple basil.

Other plants that I always seem to have an abundance of in my gardens that sell well at our rummage sale include ostrich ferns (shoots are always coming up where I don't want them), tarragon and oregano divisions, mint, sedums (so easy to root in soil) and cilantro seedlings that seems to come up everywhere in my garden.

Terra Garden has also recommended selling Christmas Cactus cuttings which is a great idea I hadn't thought of. I usually trim my Christmas Cactus right about now, so I'm hoping that the cuttings will have rooted by the time of our rummage sale in mid May.

A quick note:
For those of you who have been patiently waiting, the Microfleur Max microwave flower presses that have been on back order have finally been shipped from Australia. Because of the flooding they experienced earlier this year, they had to order all new boxes for the presses, but thankfully they are finally on their way.

Yellow Crocus Spring Greeting

2009-03-24T08:07:00.005-06:00

12" X 12"
"Yellow Crocus Spring Greeting"
Pressed flowers, handmade paper
$95.00

Over the weekend spring was briefly here in southern Wisconsin, and in a happy frenzy I planted my super sugar snap peas as well as my snow peas. My neighbors said it was way to early, but Martha Stewart always says to get them in around St. Patrick's Day. She should know. And, while I was at it, I also planted a few kohlrabi, some beets, chard, and lettuce. It was probably too early for all of the latter, but it was so much fun for my soul.

Today we are back to that long "in between" time - not quite spring, not quite winter. It's a perfect day to post my yellow crocus creation, and try to think thoughts of spring coming, and staying.

Faith via iGoogle

2009-03-18T08:56:00.008-06:00

A few weeks ago I blogged about "Faith via ipod", and today it's iGoogle's turn. As you probably know, igoogle is a customizable personal web "home page." With iGoogle, users can select amazing themes for their Google homepages, as well as tons of different "gadgets" ranging from news items, calendars, "to-do" lists, daily comics, and on and on. The list almost seems endless.

My favorite igoogle toy at the moment is the "Verse-a-Week-Memorization" gadget. My kids are encouraged to memorize Bible verses each week in Sunday school, and when they asked me what verses I'd been memorizing I felt a bit hypocritical, since I had yet to really work that into my schedule.

But now with this gadget it's become a breeze. I can choose which verse to memorize, and each day a portion of the verse disappears. Every time I'm at my home page, which on most days is many, many times throughout the day, I can quickly glance at my verse. By the end of each week, the entire verse is hidden, and I have memorized it. My screen shot is a bit blurry, but you can see my verse box in the upper left hand corner, with a number of words already hidden.

Of course, the key to retaining what we memorize is to review what we've committed to memory of a regular basis. What I need now is for some brilliant web geek to come up with a gadget to help me keep track of and review all the verses I've memorized!

Aerogarden update 2

2009-03-16T11:29:00.005-06:00

My 8 year old actually took this picture several weeks ago, so my current Aerogarden crop is even more lush than this. The small basil on the right has now caught up to the others.

As you can see, the basil in the center definitely needs a trim! In fact, every other day I need to perform a good trim. Even though I have 4 basil plants (along with mint, dill, and thyme) I usually only have enough basil leaves for a small batch of pesto, so I usually use my basil trimmings to make fresh bruschetta, which is heavenly on my homemade 10 grain sour dough bread. Never made it before? This bruschetta recipe is a good starting point, but I also add some finely chopped onion if I have it on hand.

Lavender Line

2009-02-27T12:22:00.008-07:00

"Lavender Line"
Un-framed Pressed Flower Art
Pressed lavender, handmade paper
8" x 12"
$40.00

I absolutely love pressing lavender in my Microfleur because the fragrance of lavender permeates the air of my kitchen, and it lingers for a long time in the woolen Microfleur pads.
Unfortunately the pressed lavender no longer has any scent for me to enjoy while I am working with it, but I find myself almost unconsciously sensing the fragrance just by being with it.

This "Lavender Line" pressed flower picture could be framed in either a standard 8 x 10, or 11 x 14" frame. In an 8 x 10 frame, the mat would neatly cover the edges of the handmade paper, and the 11 x 14" frame would allow the interesting deckled edge of the handmade paper to show, for a more organic look.

I will happily include an acid free white mat for either size frame (8x10", or 11x14") upon request. Just state your mat size preference in the "comments" section when ordering, or email me.

What to do about Lent

2009-02-25T13:42:00.008-07:00

Pansy Cross
Pressed Pansies on Handmade Paper
14 1/2" x 11"
Privately Owned

Lent is here today. Last year, I didn't do anything in particular for Lent, and when Easter finally came I felt a bit guilty - must be the leftover Catholic in me.

This morning, I came upon a Reflection of Lent written by Nancy Kane on the Midday Connection facebook page (scroll down a bit to find it) which contains some great practical ways to reflect upon and prepare for Lent.

I've chosen to do a few of the spiritual practices suggested, to refocus and reaffirm His place in my life. And, just to make sure I don't wimp out, especially during fasting, I'm also going to ask a friend to join me, to help hold me accountable. If you like to join in and could use some encouragement, Email me.

Coming up for air...

2009-02-16T08:15:00.004-07:00

Lot's of commotion around here lately - my father in law has arrived to recover from open heart surgery, and we have been rearranging our lives accordingly to accommodate him. I'm determined to get back to blogging this week, but today I'm taking the easy way out. I'd like to point you towards my favorite competitor's new blog: Annie's Pressed Garden Blog. Actually Annie and I aren't really competitors, she does amazing things with bouquets, and I've always been afraid to work with them for fear I wouldn't be able to do them justice.

I also really admire Annie's cheerful enthusiasm and her contagious, heartfelt faith. Get to know her, you'll be blessed.

My tour of the Vatican Gardens

2009-02-06T07:58:00.006-07:00

Blogging has been sparse this week, due to an unexpected family medical situation. Right there's not much to do but wait, so we are all trying to get back to a sense of normalcy.

Several of my facebook friends have "tagged" me with the Twenty-Five Things meme, where I'm supposed to list 25 unique facts about myself. At the moment that seems like too much work. But, in thinking about things, I remembered my adventure in the Vatican Gardens.

My friend Annie and I went backpacking in Europe one summer after college. While in Rome I decided to tour the Vatican one day (Ann went to the Coliseum), and unfortunately they were closing down early and none of the usual tours were being offered.
As I was standing there a bit disappointed, an important looking priest came up to me, and said something in Italian. Because he seemed to want an answer, I smiled and nodded, and the next thing I knew, he was leading me by the arm, through a gate, through several doors, down a hallway, and eventually outside into a white van. I squeezed in and realized that I was the only shabby backpacker among lots of well dressed, academic looking Europeans.

Thankfully the ride was very short (I was feeling very self conscious) and soon large ornamental gates were swinging open to let our van through into a large, lush, peaceful greenness that seemed very out of place in the middle of chaotic Rome. Someone handed me a brochure, and from the pictures I was amazed to discover that I was in the Vatican Gardens.

We stayed all afternoon. The tour guide led us to various nooks and crannies, and the academic Europeans listened intently, scribbled notes, took pictures, and even examined leaves and flowers with magnifying glasses. I wasn't really into gardening back then, so I don't remember anything specific about the plants I saw. I just drank in the beauty, and tried to imagine what prayers might have been uttered in that beautiful, peaceful place. And, I eventually said a thankful prayer of my own.

looking ahead

2009-01-29T08:24:00.006-07:00

Through no fault but my own, I've been trudging through this past week, making up for the fact that I didn't keep up with my book work last year. I need that data to file my sales tax return which is due Saturday, so I've been slogging away entering all the data that should have been entered weekly and monthly. It hasn't been one of my more exciting weeks!

It's a good thing I've made discipline one of my touch stones this year, as evidenced by my lack of it last year. I didn't keep up with my book work last year (even though that was a goal I had made for myself!) because I find bookwork tedious and boring. And, if I pushed it off for another day, there were no immediate consequences.

This year, I've recruited the help of artist friend Bonnielyn Brankey to hold me accountable in keeping my books up to date each month, and I in turn have promised to keep her accountable in blogging at least weekly. I'm excited about this because I've had friends keep me accountable in other areas of my life, and it has really helped.

Why the picture of the brayer and printing ink? Just before Christmas I ordered some printing supplies so that I could do some exploration with nature printing - i.e. making leaf, flower prints, etc. on my handmade paper. I have been really eager to try this, and I set up my new supplies with in eyesite of my computer, as motivation to get my tax work done. Next week should be much more interesting!

Faith via ipod

2009-01-23T08:43:00.005-07:00

ABC News is looking for people who turn to new, often abbreviated means, as a way to keep religion in their fast-paced lives. In an online survey, they want want us to tell them how we stay connected to our faith in the digital era.

So I told them. And as I did, I was shocked at how central my ipod touch is to my realm of faith.

In the morning I get up early to read my Bible before everyone else gets up, and chaos reigns. I read the Daily Bible which is the Bible in chronological order, but if I want to look up something specific, I find it fastest and easiest to use the ESV Bible I've downloaded on my ipod. When I'm done reading, I might review some verses I'm memorizing which I keep track of in my ipod Notes application. Next, I check my email from my ipod, where I receive daily descriptions of some Christian podcasts I like (Revive Our Hearts, Midday Connection, etc) and if they sound interesting I will download the podcasts from itunes, and listen to them on my ipod when I have time.

The kids like to listen to K love on the radio, and if there is a song we really like (and if I have any money left in my itunes account) I can quickly grab my ipod and download the song into itunes. Our collection of Christian songs has grown really large, but I don't mind spending money on something that can help reinforce their faith.

On Sundays I often miss the sermon, since I'm in charge of Children's Church during our service. So, I download my pastor's sermons, and if I am going to be driving up to see my parents that week (4 hour round trip) I may also see if John Piper, Mike Bullmore, or C.J Mahaney have any interesting new sermons. I love that these are all free!

I also love blogs written by people of faith, and spend many free moments (maybe too many) reading them on Google Reader from my ipod.

It is amazing to me how many faith building tools are available to an average person like me/us here in America. How blessed we are...but along with all of this comes responsibility:

"...from everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." Luke 12:48

If you are interested in taking the online faith survey, you can do so here.

Aerogarden update

2009-01-19T10:20:00.004-07:00

For those of you who follow me on twitter, you may recall that I recently received an Aerogarden for my birthday. Basically it's an indoor hydroponics garden, and I inserted the "seed pods" and plugged it in two weeks ago.

So far, as you can see, the italian basil and purple basil are going strong. To the right of the green italian basil there is a thin frond of dill that's about 3" tall, but because it's so thin and delicate it barely shows up against the dark background.
To the left of the purple basil there is mint sprouting, and on the right you can see a sprig of thyme, which is about 2" tall.

There are two sluggards on either end of the back row, chives and parsley. The chives should have sprouted 4 days ago, and the parsley is 2 days late. I called aerogarden, and after being on hold for a long time I was assured that two new seed pods will soon be on their way to me. Unfortunately by the time I get the new pods and germination finally occurs, they will be well behind the other plants. It will be interesting to see what happens.

read, write, read, write, read, read...

2009-01-15T14:35:00.008-07:00

Purple Flowers
Pressed Botanicals on Handmade Paper, Unframed
5" x 5" handmade paper (mounted on 8 1/2" x 11" Gilbert Oxford card stock)
Available for purchase here

Did you make fresh new goals this year? Me too, but lets not make the mistake I made last year.

Last year I spent quite a bit of time making goals, but I'm embarrassed to say didn't really keep any of them! Because I didn't faithfully review them, eventually in the hustle and bustle of daily life they got pushed back to back of my mind.
By early spring I had forgot all about most of them.

Donna Otto, in her book Get More done in Less Time, Otto says the Goals section of your daily planner should be "flexible and expandable - and worn from reviewing. She goes on to say, "Remember that if you write your goals and never read them, you will forget them. Reading them often fives you direction for your daily activities and a focus for your energy."

Every Monday I am re-reading my New Year goals (I have set up Google calendar alerts to remind me), and then basing my weekly goals directly off of them.
Just like our grade school teachers used to say, I need to "read, read, read!"

Stopping By

2009-01-14T11:36:00.021-07:00

Yellow Gazania
Pressed Botanicals on Handmade Paper, Unframed
11" x 14"
Private Collection

I've been a hermit.
I’ve been working overtime trying to get reorganized for the year ahead in regards to both my home, as well as my art. And I’ve been spending too much time (I know!) pouring over seed catalogs, drinking in all of the beautiful pictures, dreaming of this year's gardens, and trying (in vain) not to order more seeds than I can plant.

Like last year, I will be ordering even more vegetables, since that worked out so well for us last summer. This poses a bit of a challenge, however, since I don't really have a dedicated space for them. I have so many perennials dotted through out my gardens, as well as lots of annuals that faithfully reseed themselves each year, so I will have to squeeze my vegetables in where I can. I'm ordering a number of attractive ornamental vegetables, and will also be "hiding" some of my not so good looking vegetables behind screens of cosmos and calendula.

As usual, I have given myself permission to buy one non pressable, non edible, non useful plant - just for fun. This year's fun plant is the medusa ornamental pepper. I plan on using it as an edging plant for my front yard garden, with a back drop of purple basil, which should really lend a riot of unexpected color by mid summer. Can't wait!

So far, so good...

2009-01-05T09:31:00.005-07:00

Discipline. So far today, I've been able to stick to my plan of action with out wavering, and I'm proud! Now, if I can continue to do this for the next 360 days...

One of the first items on my to do list this morning was to create a "Squidoo" page. It's an assignment from my art marketing group, and it's due by tomorrow's meeting. In a nutshell, Squidoo is an informational portal where users can set up their own "lenses" on any subject they choose. My lens still needs quite a bit of work, but basically it's about how to press flowers, and will include links to my pressed flower tutorials. Apparently you can also link up to appropriate affilliate sites and earn adsense money for yourself, or a charity of your choosing, but at this point I'm just interested in driving more traffic to my blog and website via my own links.

Placing links on Squidoo was tricky, and involved some html coding that I wasn't familiar with. To save you some time and frustration, here is a helpful link I found explaining how to add a link in a Squidoo lens.

Back to my to do list. Next on my list is to get tonight's BBQ beef brisket going in the slow cooker...

My focus word for 2009...

2009-01-01T14:24:00.005-07:00

Discipline. (yawn) It's not too exciting, is it? But when I look back on where I've been, where I've ended up, and what I could have achieved, I've realized that this one element is key - not just in my art life, but in every single area of my life.

Friends who know me well will be amused, because discipline has never been a strength of mine. I prefer to base my actions on whatever I feel like doing at the moment. I love being flexible and spontaneous, not rigid and calculated. Being a "stay at home mom" has been like winning the lottery for me, because no one tells me what or when to do anything, I plan my days according to whatever I feel like doing.

But, this freedom has its downfalls, and God has been kindly pointing out some glaring deficiencies in my life over the past year, all of which involve my having great difficulty saying "no" to myself, and yes to something that would be a wiser, or more unselfish use of my time.

The most glaring area of my life that lacks discipline involves my use of time - especially in relation to the Internet. I love, love, love, checking my email. I love reading blogs, too many blogs. I love checking out CNN, USA today, Fox News, the Weather Channel, Lifehacker, ebay, MSNBC...the list could go on and on (and some days it does). I need to wrestle with myself and come up with a workable way to be more disciplined in my use of the internet - the amount of time I could free up would be huge.

I really love myself, and love giving myself whatever I want at the moment. Another snack? Sure. A free afternoon? No problem, you can fill that order and do the laundry tomorrow. That growing pile of bookwork? It can wait, and besides it's so boring so go ahead and ignore it another week or so...

Basically I divide my life up into these five areas: spiritual (my relationship with God), family, home(and garden), others (church, friends, etc), Elizabeth's Flowers (my art and online businesses). Each of these areas would benefit greatly from me saying "no" to myself, and my whims, and "yes" to whatever would help me achieve my goals in these areas.

I do foresee one major problem with my quest to become more disciplined. What will motivate me enough to override my long ingrained natural tendencies? The newness of the challenge might for awhile...but what about during the long haul? Do I even have a chance at becoming more disciplined consistently? Knowing me, and my track record, my answer would have to be no. Not in and of myself. I don't have enough "will power". But, while reading a blog this morning (there I go again), I came across the answer. I need to love someone else more than me. I'm going to give this a try.

Looking forward, looking back

2008-12-30T09:20:00.006-07:00

Back when I was working full time as an Occupational Therapist in a rehab clinic, I absolutely hated doing my yearly reviews. I was all about living in the moment. As far as I was concerned the past was the past, and the future was safely in God's hands, so why waste time struggling to come up with impressive sounding goals? I intended to "do my best," and I was eager to move on to the next thing, not waste time muddling through priorities, facing past mistakes, etc.

Thankfully, I've come to see the value in reflection, and the wisdom of bravely facing past mistakes and areas of weakness. It's not comfortable, not fun, but necessary to move on to a higher level, in any area of our life.

So, off and on during the past few days (when I haven't been playing on our new Wii) I've been looking at various areas of my life with a critical eye, and writing down the areas I've fallen short. But, I'm also making sure I record and acknowledge my achievements with gratitude as well.

I have come across two great resources that have helped me in my yearly review that I'd like to share with you. For looking back at the art side of my life, I'm using Alyson Stanfield's Acknowledge yourself and celebrate! list.

More importantly, I have been taking a hard look at my spiritual life, and am working my way through these Questions to ask at the Beginning of a New Year. I am going through this list somewhat superficially right now so that I can see where I need to make concrete goals, but will review parts of it in depth later on.

I'm also narrowing down what my focus word of 2009 will be (ala Christine Kane's blog). Only a day and a half left to decide...what will yours be?

Hope for uncertain times

2008-12-17T10:09:00.006-07:00

I know. It's Christmas, and we are filled with joy and anticipation, as we get ready to celebrate our Savior's birth with family and friends. Rightly so! But despite the specialness of this season, aren't we all are a bit unsettled, as we try in vain to block out all the dire economic news?

My family is blessed.
My husband still has his job, for the moment, but continued layoffs are expected. God has been good to my Elizabeth's Flower's and leaf petals endeavors, but my income won't come close to supporting our family should my husband lose his job. So, although we are fine, and I am thankful, in moments of quiet I can detect uneasiness deep inside.

Last week Revive our Hearts had an awesome series called "Hope for uncertain times" that I found to be completely reassuring. I needed to be reminded that these unsettling times are not catching God off guard - He loves us just has much as He always does, and is working things out according to His plan, as He always does. And, most importantly, even if things do get difficult, anything that makes us need God is a blessing.

You can listen to the first program of the series here. There is also a helpful "Hope for uncertain times" brochure you can download for free, a gold mine of wisdom and comfort.