I received a new quilting book today: "Flower Pounding" by Ann Frischkorn and Amy Sandrin (two sisters).

Has anyone out there done this? If so, what were your results and what tips would you like to share?

Incidentally, this book retails at $22.95 and I purchased it from Edward R. Hamilton for $7.95. This bookseller has a web site and once on their mailing list, you receive their newspaper-like listing of books on every subject imaginable about twice a month. Their "needlecraft" page usually takes up a full page and includes also includes some sewing projects as well as knitting. The good thing is their prompt shipping is always $3.50 regardless the number of books issued.

Suzanne

Thanks for the info on the books. sounds like you got a real deal. As to the flower pounding....I saw an episode on Alex Andersons od quilt show. It looked fun and easy as well. I do know that the stamens from the lily will stain fabric...pretty if you mean to do it. Have every intention on cooking them up for a dye on some fabric here soon. I hear you need to make sure you use colored flowers (reds, purple etc.) of deep tones as they transfer better. We all know grass stains....er dyes things. :lol:

I hadn't heard that term before, but in my "back to the land" days, I used to use dyes from black walnut husks, gentian, goldenrod and such. Some herbs and plants require a mordant to make colors stay fast. Somehow, I usually ended up dyeing my hands and arms, too.

oh yeah! I forgot that part...still it is pretty.

I also seen that show by Alex A's, I'm wondering, could this be done with fern leaves, as well as bigger leaves? Not so much for the color, (altho that would be nice as well) but for the shape of each leaf that is used. Is that posible, or would it not come out as well? Would muslin be a good fabric as well for this process?

Well, now, I used to do this with my Cub Scout dens. They would choose weeds, flowers, ferns, colored fall leaves and I'd give them a 10 or 12 inch bit of unbleached muslin that I'd washed and prepared with a hem on one end to be able to hang it on the wall.

They got a lot of energy and aggression out with the hammers and the muslin. They made up their own pictures or scenes that pleased their eye and the parents that made them. I've washed mine, that I made as an example, and the dyes didn't wash out. It's still beautiful but I know there are finishing products that can be put on fabrics to keep the dyes pure......just don't remember what they are.

However, you've just put another idea in my many quilt notebooks. Will I live long enough to get to all the quilt ideas????

Sharon

Rebecca, I saw them use leaves for sun bleaching....you would lay the leaves on the fabric leave it in the sun for a time and it bleaches the rest of the fabric while leaving the leaf impression in the original color. It was really neat. 8) The amount of paleness to the fabric was determined by the time under the sun.

For those of you interested in the Hamilton book site, you will find titles written by Fons and Porter, Alex Anderson, Carol Armstrong, Lynette Jensen, Harriet Hargraves, Thimbleberries, the Quilt in a Day person to name a few. You can search by title, author or look at the entire listing under quilting. You can fill out the order form but you must print it and use the USMail. No credit cards. These are new books and if there is a ding, they will say so.

Suzanne

Suzanne, I have done flower pounding, taught classes, and created quilts and framed pics. I used pdf (prepared for dyeing) fabric which is available in white or beige and after pounding my fabric, I heat set the dye. It is a fun and simple process. You can prepare your own fabric if you want to instead of buying the already treated fabric. There is a premade solution available or there is a formula to make your own. If I can help pm me. Sheri

I'd love to see a sample of this technique. I does rather sound like something I might like to try.