On fern and Victorian button shoes

My fern finally dried and pressed nicely and was ready to be popped into a frame...

To press fern: I placed the leaves in between two sheets of wax paper before pressing them with several heavy books. That way it was easier to straighten the leaves and put them in place - they kept curling on me. I just used a knife which I slid in between the wax sheets and uncurled the fern leaf and then pressed that part with a heavy book before it curled again. It sounds more of a pain than it really was. :) After about 10 days the leaves were pretty dry and flattened nicely. For framing I used vanilla colored art paper and affixed the leaves with some museum putty (just a few bits of that here and there to keep it in place and from sliding down.)

The structure of the leaves is so striking isn't it?

I'm even thinking of getting some mixed fern for our porch. But, I have no idea if it would grow in pots (I suppose it would.) Still, I like the idea of having a compact jungle right in front of our kitchen window.

Fern Paradise in Chiang Mai - see more incredible photos here.

Hey, I just found a bunch of fern in pots {via}...

... and some Bali Fern Batik fabric...

Me love fern.

Fern aside for a moment, I've been on the lookout for a pair of antique Victorian child button shoes. (I find myself quite sentimental over these Oliver Twist kind of wearables.) And as always didn't care (nor could I afford) to spend a lot. I finally found this wee fellow and I'm very pleased about it....

It's perfectly torn and worn and quite solitary, missing its right pair. It found itself a cozy spot on our bookshelf.

xoxoxo

Comments

[Susan]

I'm a big fern person, Tina. And was going to answer your ? but you already saw the ferns...as long as you take care of them (which is not difficult) they will thrive...I love having them in the house (& out the back of my apt. bldg., too). I've never tried to dry a fern to frame as yours but now I want to. Will go back & see if you did anything special. (How/why, for instance, didn't it go all dry & crinkly?)

Cheers

Susan

[Irene]

I love the composition you made.
My mother grew ferns in pots. Oh now I recall a big, curvy, glossy green one! Funny what trigers the mind!
I like fern and I always look for it in forest walks.
Be inspired and be insliping.
Thank you.