Flowers That Print Discussion 10/28/2017

Caroline Nixon
We mostly use leaves for our printing because flowers as a rule print less well and can be very
fugitive . But there are flowers that do print- coreopsis and marigold are prime examples. Irit
Dulman recently showed beautiful bottle green prints from red hibiscus, I have had a similar
effect from pink cosmos. So I've started the list - what other flowers have you found that give
clear prints ( or maybe beautiful resists)

Suzanne Tamar Dekel Chinese Honeysuckle works fantastic for me

Margaret Moon In Australia we find grevilleas reliable, and also many of the blossoms of
flowering trees, such as golden penda and some of the eucalypts.
Sue Franklin I’ve never tried grevillea flowers, although I have managed some decent leaf prints.
I can see that my garden will continue to evolve.
Irit Dulman Hibiscus, Quisqualis indica, antigonon, Glebionis coronaria, I will try to remember
if there are more.
Sue Franklin I can see my google app will get a good workout. Hopefully there will be done I
can grow in my garden.
Elly Poldervaart (Red)Gerbera, Especially when soy is used as mordant
Suzanne Tamar Dekel Oooh I have those now
Elly Poldervaart Als ik me goed herinner doen die het ook goed op zijde. Met dip in sojamelk.
See Translation If I remember correctly, it's good on silk. With dip in soy milk.
Cathy Vigor Calendula and coriopsis.
Lidija Lazovic Schönig No success with calendula 😊
Cathy Vigor Lidija Lazovic Schönig I wonder why. I’ve printed with them many times on paper
and fabric.
Diane Keelan Rudebekia give us a lovely resist , do you find dipping in copper water or alum
improves print outcomes? I have tried both!
Caroline Nixon and what did you think when you tried it?
Diane Keelan Caroline Nixon either way the petals were subdued but the alum definitely bought
out the orange centres of the Cosmos, I only get an outline from rudbeckia, and nothing from the
Marigold. I will try and post later.
Suzanne Tamar Dekel Golden rain as a resist
Elly Poldervaart Blue grape (grape hyacint) on wool. Purple buddleja lives more a color than a
print. Good lightfast bright yellow on wool and silk. We are talking about flowers on
fabric, isnt it? On paper you got many more results with flowers.
Jackie Smithies I only do paper... so disappointed with my results yesterday... almost about to
give up
Jean Manrique Do you mean that in general you've had disappointing results on paper? If so, I
could give you some tips. I've worked a lot to figure out how to get good prints on paper
and generally have very nice results.
Dianne Strahan I would love to hear more about paper printing Jean Manrique. I am playing with
garden flowers with very mixed results at the moment.
Jackie Smithies Jean Manrique Thank you so much Jean.... I am quite new to this, however have
done quite a few experiments I have been using a big copper pot and used rusty iron in
the water with a bit of vinegar added and have had rather dark mono-tone results using...
Mina Naresh Passion flower.That's the only one I 've tried.
Justine Aldersey-Williams Dyers chamomile
Julie Friedman Morning glory
Winki Allen Wild plains and Greater Coreopsis blooms.... ( and they also make a good yellow
dye)
Chris Dobson Rodochiton
Judith Schwietzke rose, geranie, goldrute, ringelblume, arnika, rainfarn- rose, geranium,
goldenrod, marigold, arnika, rainfarn
Motria von Schreiber blue pansies are divine
Caroline Nixon are they colour fast Motria?
Motria von Schreiber Caroline Nixon not sure, have planted a few to continue my experimenting
Sue Franklin Following
Fabienne Dorsman-Rey pelargoniums
Kim Maria Cowley Gerbera, dyers chamomile, Geraniums.African daisies, marigold all print
well on cotton and silk and obviously eucalyptus buds/flowers!...ivy flowers work well as
a resist as does ground elder and allium flower. I also managed to get some nice prints
from roses this year with rust!

Sue Franklin Amazing. Did you spray the roses with rust water?
Kim Maria Cowley No, I sprayed the cotton with vinegar and steamed around a rusty bar. Also
sprinkled with a bit of sea salt as it does seem to help the rust along!
Sue Franklin Kim Maria Cowley thank you.
Bix Nash WOw...love this
Kim Maria Cowley Sue Franklin I think that maybe the old fashioned garden roses print better
than shop ones (which have sometimes been frozen)....these are old breed scented ones
called zephirine drouhin and alec red
Elaine Beyer I have sprinkled rose petals on the silk just to get color - worked well.
Gina Studelska I’ve also had good results with roses, vinegar and rust!
Irit Dulman Wow! Just Wow!
Linda Kollofski Incredible detail. Never worked w rust but have to try this!
Sue Franklin Kim Maria Cowley they are usually packed with oils. I used a spent Peter
Frankenfeld & my sewing room smells beautiful.
Maggie Pearson Steamed Nasturtiums delivered no print for me yesterday! 😰
Caroline Nixon always worth experimenting, but I'm afraid many flowers are deeply
disappointing- or exciting but ephemeral. That's why it's great to gather this list of things
that have worked for people
Maggie Pearson Caroline Nixon it’s a really helpful idea. Thank you!
Carol Wheeler I got good prints from nasturtium on paper
Yonat Michaelov could have told you......
Monika Bingen-Hara Osteospermum Serenity purple flower gives a beautiful blue print.
Marjorie Baumgardner ..what mordant are you gals using to get colour?....thanks!
Jean Manrique Coreopsis! Also, some clematis.
Sara Burnett Black eyed Susan, yellow cosmos....so far color fast. Done in the past summer.
Sarah Kravitz geranium ...the kind you grow in the house
Linda Kollofski Orange Globeflower, marigolds, purple clematis, dark purple (almost black)
petunias, hibiscus, roses, coreopsis, red cosmos, fuchsia leaves an interesting textured
mark
Diane Keelan Do you use any mordant or modifiers to get success?
Linda Kollofski Diane Keelan yes, always alum on silk and wool. I rarely work on cellulose but
when I do I use alum acetate. I used self taught methods with flowers and eucalyptus only
for 3 years before studying with Irit in Vancouver last year, where I learned about
printing with leaves, blankets, etc. So all of my early work is predominantly
experimenting with flowers.
Sarah Kravitz Oh....pansies....they will impart color by the pounding method, but I have never
steamed with them.
Judith Schwietzke it is always depends on the mordant too.
Diane Keelan Some examples of rudbeckia and cosmosfirst one is on wool blanket
Diane Keelan On noil with copper,hence more blue.

Dianne Murphy no pictures but icelandic poppies and delphinium print well on paper
Dorothy Yuki I printed yesterday with dried hibiscus on paper (left from making the Mexican
drink jamaica)..printed reds and blues
Kit Veerkamp Talk about a brilliant red!
Pearl Taylor persicaria has been giving me a great blue - fades a bit but so far once initial fade -
seems ok.
Laura Lisa African daisies

Laura Lisa Geranium

Maggie Pearson Lovely .. What is the background dye?
Laura Lisa Sunflower

Marta Mouka Is the print on textile or paper? I had just a blank spot, rather big one, on silk.
Laura Lisa I plucked the petals from the flower and laid them on the paper. The center is too
thick to get good contact from the petals otherwise.
Marta Mouka Laura Lisa great print! Love the movement the petals suggest.
Sabine Kilb thanks a lot Caroline ... I have never trusted flowers as good printers on fabric
(difference on paper) ... thought they are all fugitive (exception: I used marygolds) ... so I
will try next time one of these here mentioned
Linda G Illumanardi I’ve been using hibiscus for a long time and get blue to violet hues. Good
luck w coreopsis, also!
Barbara Zvirzdinis Yellow flowers from my Curry plant. On cotton fabric.
Patricia Spark Caroline, should we start this list as a document in the files?
Irit Dulman Could be nice if you include samples of prints for each plant and picture of the
flower. I will be happy to provide some printed with plant from my own part of the
world.
Caroline Nixon yes, let's do that. Thanks Patricia and Irit Dulman
Caroline Nixon actually, not sure how to convert a thread to a document for files Kit Veerkamp ?
Kit VeerkampGroup Admin Caroline, someone would have to actually create a list that can be
saved. Seems like a good winter project.
Marta Mouka I had good results with Thyme, Goldenrod, Campion flower and Bird vetch. Tha
last two are an interesting resist.
Deborah Cossovel Aster

Irit Dulman How sweet

Deborah Cossovel 😍 thank you
Deborah Cossovel Violette su lana

Chris Dobson You have started a really good thread Caroline. Food for thought and trial for all
of us new and old!
Pete Cunningham I ha e yet to do my first print and would be grateful for any advice - can I print
onto unbleached calico? if the answer is yes, is there a book you could recommend for a
beginner? I see so many incredible examples and really want to have a go!
Caroline Nixon Pete there is an excellent files section , have a browse and you will have some
good ideas for getting started. Calico is about the most challenging fabric there is- best to
start with wool or silk and 'graduate to cellulose fibres once you've had some practice
Tash Wesp I get a good print with a daisy with tannin mordant on cotton shirt
Carol Wheeler Fabulous!
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Myra Briley I am wondering. Does the yellow center come from watered down turmeric or the
daisies?
Tine Brok Wow! Process please? 😊 😊
Carol Wheeler Purple and mauve sweet peas on paper

Linda Kollofski Eucalyptus, blue clematis, orange dahlias, and yellow daylillies on alum
mordanted silk organza. No clear prints, a watercolor effect which I love.
Tash Wesp Also coreopsis dipped in alum acetate creates bright orange on alum mordant fabric,
have experimented with watered down turmeric as well.
Linda Kollofski Eucalyptus, purple petunias, yellow clematis, red cosmos, and marigolds, with
logwood. The orange flower in middle is marigold. The blues are petunias and cosmos.
Alum mordanted silk charmeuse.

Linda Kollofski Petunias, eucalyptus, dahlias, clematis, and marigolds on alum mordanted wool.
No dye.

Linda Kollofski Wool/Rayon/Silk blend dyed with Hibiscus blossoms, purple petunias, orange
dahlias, and blue clematis.
Diane Kuehn I've had good success with daisies, black eyed Susan's (rudbeckia) mums and
dahlias Also the spent flowers of geranium, coreopsis, and butterfly bush (buddelia)
which is yellow on alum mordanted silk.
Christi Carter The orange Cosmos - called C. sulphureus - prints true orange on cloth (have not
tried it on paper).
Marta Mouka Coreopsis and Dyers Chamomile on silk, alum mordant

Linda Kollofski My coreopsis prints like this...what kind do you have?

Marta Mouka I don't have any special treatment, lay them down, roll and simmer for 1 1/2 hour.
Marta Mouka Coreopsis Grandiflora
Linda Kollofski Marta Mouka yes I use same process. I’m wondering if you have a type of
coreopsis plant that I need to get 😉 because the flower and leaf shapes look so different from
mine.
Marta Mouka Leaves in the pic are chestnut.
Marta Mouka Coreopsis Grandiflora

Linda Kollofski Marta Mouka thank you!

Linda Kollofski I don't have chestnut, but do have ohio buckeye which looks similar
Pearl Taylor Must be doing something wrong with marigold not having success - using alum
dip?
Caroline Nixon alum mordanted cloth
Wendy Hardman fantastic thread - thank you all!
Nancy Gher This is an excellent thread. I love the exchange of information and ideas-very
stimulating !
Anna Strumiłło Red garden rose petals on copper pipe, silk habotai
Anna Strumiłło Red garden rose petals with iron, silk habotai

Anna Strumiłło Marigold - color modified with different amount of iron water
Sarah Kravitz What glorious color!
Deb Koesters Winter hardy maroon Hibiscus on chiffon silk. Alum mordant iron blanket
steamed two hours

Anna Strumiłło Snapdragon, common toadflax, poppy, begonia, forking larkspur, fireweed,
sweet william, carnation, peony, common mallow, Joe-Pye weeds, iris, devil's-bit
Peggy Dlugos Black hollyhock
Sue Franklin I’m looking at all of these beautiful results & realise that my flower “prints” are
just blobs of colour. 😹 Any tips on getting more definitive prints? Fabric too wet, not
rolled tightly enough??
Terri Rytlewski Shaver Darker colored snapdragons, (dark red, maroon), dark dahlias and
morning glories are my go to’s.
Sue Franklin Further to Caroline’s comment about how flowers print. Proof that it’s not just what
the flower is but how you process. Both samples premordant with soya & euc tannin dip.
Similar flowers & leaves - coriopsis & roses. One piece completely overwhelmed by the
tannin ( too strong & way too long). The other a quick dip of about 20 seconds. One
simmered with like bundles. The other in a mixed pot with a touch of iron coming from
one bundle.
But all art teachers tell us we need light & shade so the Yukky one won’t be wasted. 🙃
Linda G Illumanardi I’ve also had good prints with St Johns Worth.