While I have been delightfully mad about gardening for many years, it was a wedding that sent me into the complete spiral of flower pressing.
After months of gathering knowledge and supplies, I quietly swiped a bouquet from a reception table. I wanted the project to be a surprise both for the fun of it and also because my confidence in it all coming together was not terribly high.
It was not a bouquet for a first-timer. All roses. IYKYK. But I delicately pressed each rose, petal-by-petal. The end result was the bespoke keepsake I had hoped for.
Six weeks after the event, when the wedding flowers would have long been wilted and composted, there was now framed art with a real piece of a very special day. Take that AI.
Commission Details
That wedding married me to pressing flowers. I’ve found my medium and my artistic muse in the garden. But while I delight in creating from my own bounty, nothing touches the heart like meaningful flower preservation. It could be a wedding, grandma’s garden, your garden, or flowers from any special place or season.
I now take a limited amount of keepsake commissions each year to create art from flowers you provide.
Contact me via email with the date or timing of your project to make sure that both I and my flower presses are available.
Flowers must be as fresh as possible for best results. They can be delivered to me in Sherwood.
If you are local, and it is an onsite garden project, maybe we can pick the flowers together!
Note that florist flowers have been through a lot before they even get to the event. Likely kept in a cooler, a little battered and bruised.
Pro tip: Have someone trim and place the bouquets into vases of water immediately after the ceremony. Assign someone to deliver the flowers to me the next day.
I will do my absolute best to get a beautiful pressing, but some flowers are more difficult than others. Mold, curling, and discoloration happens more on big juicy florist blooms that have been squished and, dare I say, tossed.
Results are never 100 percent or guaranteed. I recommend gathering extra flowers from table arrangements, the alter, etc.
I use the slow, traditional pressing method. The flowers will be in my presses for about 30 days. No artificial paint or pastels are used to enhance the color. No varnish or chemicals will be used. Just a dab of glue to secure the petals to the paper.
In six to eight weeks, you will receive a mock up of a design inspired by the flowers. You will have a say in general format of design (mosaic, mirror image, meadow style) and backing paper color. I’ll send a picture to approve. You can absolutely request adjustments.
The art size is flexible and will depend on the flower and how many are worthy of the art piece. Prices start at $300 for an unframed 16×20″. I will ask for $100 deposit once the flowers are out of the presses and we know we have well-preserved material to work with.
We’ll agree on a design and size. You will be responsible for selecting, purchasing, and delivering a frame at that time. The remaining fee can be paid at pick up.
As a professional photographer, I am uniquely able to offer an archival print photo of the piece for you. That high-resolution image is your backup if something tragic happens to the art.
Pressed flowers look wonderful for a long time if kept out of direct sunlight. But if you prefer the freshly pressed art to the way the colors turn vintage with age, the print will contain the original vibrancy. Most agree that the prints look “real” when framed.
My books are currently open for 2026, and I would love to work on more keepsakes this year! Contact me via email angie@kindnessroots.com
