Fun Stuff Experiments

I added a new section to the website: "More Fun Stuff." It's got some of my botanic printing and birdhouse gourd experiments. I learned the botanic printing method from Jane Dunnewold (who else?!). I took her online course and read her book by the same name: The Best of Both Worlds: Enhanced Botanical Printing. You make up bundles of leaves pressed ight against paper or fabric soaked in a mordant such as an alum acetate solution and then steam the bundles. Opening up the bundles is like opening up presents. It's always a surprise what you get. Sometimes the prints flop and you don't get anything very interesting. Then other times the prints are stunning.

Fig and Peony Leaves

Our local Kelrae Farm Food Hub has been selling birdhouse gourds and I couldn't resist getting a few. I started out planning to make birdhouses out of them so this one below has a hole cut in it and has been painted with a layer of gesso to seal it. I haven't decided if I will paint it or mosaic it next. I also have another one that I am working on that is cut into two flower shapes. I am going to make planters out of those. You can see the work in process here: Birdhouse Gourds.

Both types of projects are great fun! Hope you are having fun making stuff too!