Saturday, September 18, 2010

Thank you Patty Szymkowicz

It started with Patty, who made some flower creations (here and here), then posted the link, which led to a tutorial that showed me how to make these stunning beauties.

And Thursday I stopped chasing links and got my courage up to make these. I've had NO (and I mean NO) flowers bloom in my yard this year, except the tulips that bloomed in March, so I had to use some that I pressed last year.

I know I have more pressed flowers, but I think they are hidden at the moment behind a stack of precariously balanced materials I'm using to make journal pages. At least I now know how to make them and love the look. The one on the left has a dictionary page laid underneath it to show it off better than my craft sheet that shows through under the other two. And yes, I will be sewing them to fabric or paper in the near future.

I'm going to let Lynn of Her Creative Spirit share the tutorial and directions for making these. Lynn's is my blog choice of the day. Scroll down her pages and you'll see a ton of examples of how she made her bookmarks, book covers, and tags. She uses flowers from her garden in Canada and wildflowers indigenous to her area. They are stunning and oh so precious. Please stop by and enjoy her art, or learn how to make these, like I did. And thank Patty at Magpie's Nest, too, while you're at it. Without her, I would never have found Lynn's blog. What an awesome blogging community this is.

As an update, our beautiful weather lasted one day, and yesterday, while my friend Sally and I were out and about, the temperature soared to 92 degrees F. Today's forecast is the same, again with ZERO percent chance of rain. Seems like this hot, dry summer is sticking around a bit longer in south central Kansas!

16 thoughtful remarks:

Steph said...

aah this is lovely... I'm a nature girl and anything relating to it is precious....and Dear Patty is such a special person and friend..... happy weekend dear friend...

Liverpool Lou (Anne) said...

Hi Elizabeth, these are wonderful :-) After posting fairly recently about flower pounding using a hammer someone said that a friend used her Cuttlebug to do the same job. This seemed like a great idea but unfortunately I chose a flower with a fleshy receptacle (had to Google that, anyway just in case it's the bit just below the actually flower) which produced a lot of liquid and made a terrrible mess on the paper :-/
Anne xx

Unknown said...

These are gorgeous, I can't wait to see how you incorporate them into your work! I adore Lyn's blog- so many ideas there and she's a pretty incredible person as well!

Halle said...

Beautiful flowers...hope you find the rest!

Caterina Giglio said...

just lovely and so is dear Patty! I will check out your blog links! grazie!

Terri Kahrs said...

Both Patty and Lynn are friends and two of my most favorite blogs. They always something creative and wonderful happening. Elizabeth, you're such a Sweetie for telling people about these two wonderful people! Hugs & Happy Weekend! Terri xoxoxo

Debby said...

They are beautiful!!! And you couldn't have piced two more wonderful blogs to share with us today, love both those girls.
Hugs,
Debby

Bea said...

Ah, Kansas........I visited Ellsworth once, no twice. Very wide open....very, very wide open. Too wide open for me. I ended up talking to the cattle by the side of the road when I went for a long walk. But, the night skies.....oh, beautiful. I love your pressed flowers. I like the page behind them, too. :)Bea

Unknown said...

I love pressed flowers! they are so pretty.....

~*~Patty S said...

Such a sweet and lovely surprise to see your dear post today Elizabeth!

It's all about having fun isn't it and trying new things and you are such a fine example of no fear and getting busy!

Lynn certainly IS an inspiration (as are YOU!)... this blogosphere really is a lovely place ... many thanks for the VERY sweet mention dear Elizabeth ... Love the dictionary page idea so much = brilliant!

Sounds like you all are having a summer to remember! Stay Cool!
oxo

Lynn said...

Looks like I am right behind Patty here, what a beautiful, inspiring person she is and yes I agree this blogasphere that we enjoy so much is full of the most loving, kind and caring, not to mention creative and inspiring people I have ever met.

I am so happy you got to try the technique and enjoyed it Elizabeth and thank you from the bottom of my heart for featuring my blog today.
You did AWESOME!!!!!!!!

Dianne said...

Very lovely... Yes Lynn and Patty are two of my favorites... I visit their blogs every time they post!

Miss Kitty said...

Greetings Elizabeth and Bleubeard,

Daddy tells me this brings back memories of his childhood, when he used to press flowers between the pages of Yellow Page telephone book.

Thank you for sharing Lynn's link with us as daddy already knows Patty.

Wishing you both a wonderful Sunday,
Miss Kitty and dad (Egmont)

ooglebloops said...

Love these - very nice job!!!
I was also inspired by Patty's flowers and bought a microwave press- much quicker and colors more vivid. Wrote a post about it, and also about flower "pounding"!! Which reminds me, I better finish that project and post about it!!!

Julia Dunnit said...

Gosh these are stunners - and how lovely that you have pressed flowers in stock. But what amI saying? Of course you do! I love the dictionary page - it looks like the flower belongs right there.

Marlynn said...

Holy Cow Bat Girl - these are too cool. I remember in my Kansas Days at St. John's in Winfield having to press flowers. It was fun come to think of it, just haven't done it in years and year! Hugs to you, Wendy, and Bleubeard from Harley and me...