Interiors: Hot off the press
For year-round colour try drying vibrant flowers such as pink rhodanthus, white statice and yellow achillea
Whether it’s an anniversary rose or a wedding bouquet, flower drying and pressing is having a moment. Interiors editor Nicole Gray visits the florist making them fashionable again
The passion for flower preservation and the desire to reconnect with nature have blossomed during lockdown. While we’re still spending a lot of time at home, doing something simple such as flower pressing is a great way to switch off, step away from the screen and relax with a hit of botanical meditation.
The Jamjar Studio in south London specialises in pressed and dried flower displays
Founder of JamJar Flowers Melissa Richardson and director Amy Fielding, who is co-founder of their sister company JamJar Edit, have seen demand for their flower-pressing workshops – run from their florist and design studio in Peacock Yard, South London – surge in popularity in the past year.
Flowers with flat petals and thin stems, such as clematis, are ideal for pressing as they are easy to tease into shape
‘The joy of flower pressing lies in its accessibility,’ explains Melissa. ‘You can create an artistic display that will last a lifetime with just a handful of simple flowers from a window box, adding in plants and foliage for extra texture.’
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Wildflowers such as cosmos, pansies and sweet peas are the easiest to press. ‘The flat petal structure and thin stems of wildflowers make them easier to tease into shape,’ says Amy. ‘More intricate flowers, such as roses, are trickier as petals retain more moisture and mould can set in.’
Jamjar’s head florist Talena Rolfe selects flowers to be pressed at the evening workshop, including ranunculus and tulips
To press flowers with larger globe-shaped bulbs, such as orchids or ranunculi, split them down the middle with scissors or a knife. This will make it easier to lie them flat on blotting paper. You will need extra blotting paper and card to ensure every part of the flower is directly pressed.
Colour will fade over time as the flowers dry, so pick something vibrant that will stand out on the page. ‘Freshly bloomed flowers are best for this,’ says Amy.
‘There is something very meditative about freeze-framing a moment in time,’ adds Melissa. ‘Flower pressing helps keep the floral stories of your life forever intact.’
For more information on flower pressing workshops, visit jamjarflowers.co.uk
The foolproof way to press flowers
You will need…
- A selection of flowers and/or plants
- Scissors or secateurs
- Flower press (to buy one go to jamjarflowers.co.uk or etsy.co.uk)
- Blotting paper
- Acid-free glue such as Mod Podge
- A glass photo frame or piece of card
1. Press your flowers: Open up your flower press and place your flowers on the blotting paper, spreading out the petals and leaves with your fingertips into the desired shape for your composition. Place another layer of blotting paper on top of the flowers, followed by a layer of card, and press down. Repeat this process until your press is full, alternating the placement of the flower heads to evenly distribute the moisture.
2. Leave to dry: Close the press and tighten the bolts. Store somewhere warm and dry. Check on your flowers every five days, peeling back each layer of paper gently. Change any damp blotting paper with a fresh sheet to help draw out any excess moisture.
3. Mount your pressings: Once your flowers are dry they are ready to be made into artworks or cards. Some fragile plants are ready in five days, larger flowers can take up to a month. Keep checking the press and change the blotting paper if damp. Using a thin paint brush, apply a water-based glue to the back of the flowers, taking care when brushing the petals.
4. Create your artwork: When making your composition think about how your flower would grow, adding any pressed leaves and buds for a natural result. When your composition is complete, it is ready to be framed.
Star vases
Fresh or dried, let your blooms take centre stage in these
Pastel glass, £32, smallable.com. Wavy glass, £165, amara.com. Dappled green glass, £45, heals.com. Glazed terracotta, £12, arket.com. Dappled blue glass, £34, insidestoreldn.com. Folded recycled glass, £20, libertylondon.com. Dripped ceramic, £95, conranshop.co.uk. Handpainted stoneware, £42, anthropologie.com. Pleated glass, £65, amara.com. Smoky glass, £6, ikea.com. Turquoise speckled glass, £49, laredoute.co.uk. Origami metal, around £26, kleveringb2b.com
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