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This information is reprinted from the Beginner Topics
column of Hand Papermaking Newsletter #68 (October, 2004).
To learn how to order Hand Papermaking bi-annual magazine
and quarterly newsletter, click
here.
Flower Inclusions
As I write this the gardens are in full bloom and when
you read it many gardens will still have flowers. One of the
longest blooming makes one of the best additives for hand
papermaking: the marigold. The blooms of this hardy plant
yield a wide range of bright yellow to deep orange petals
which hold their color when added to paper pulp. They may be
pressed in a simple flower press or allowed to dry on a
screen. The seeds that cling to the petals may be removed or
used (artistic license). Keep in mind that you may get some
bleed in the sheets from many types of flower petals.
Marigold has little bleed.
Other flowers I have used are Monarda (bee balm) in a
broad range of colors from blue to bright red, and a wide
variety of straw flowers. The latter I often pre-boil to
hydrate them. This helps them blend with the pulp and
reduces the chance for bleeding.
You may wish to retain the character of the whole flower,
or perhaps try a fern. This may be accomplished by pressing
them in a flower press and, when dry, laying them into the
couched sheets. With this method, the entire flower may be
utilized, or the various dried petals may be arranged to
create unique or imaginary plants.
I prefer to use abaca pulp for flower inclusions. It is
easy to pulp in a blender and makes a sheet that responds
well to inclusions and natural plant materials. For those of
you in apartments or without gardens I suggest watching for
municipal parks and botanical gardens to change their
plantings. They discard many wonderful materials that can be
used both for inclusions and for pulp. But pulp from plant
is another topic. For now, go harvest, and enjoy your
gardens in paper all winter long.
Copyright 2004 Hand Papermaking, Inc.
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