You can enjoy flowers from your garden all year! You can press your flowers and then get creative and use them in projects like greeting cards, bookmarks, scrapbooks, framed prints, or candles.

Traditionally, to press flowers you placed them in heavy books and then you had to wait weeks or months for the flowers to dry out. Now you can press them in the microwave in a matter of minutes and have much more vibrant colors than the traditional method. You can pick your flowers, press and dry them and use them in a project on the same day!

I have tried several microwave methods, but the one I like the best is using the Microfleur microwave flower press. It is available from Amazon in 5″ or 9″. I have the 9″, I think the 5″ would really limit what you could do and it would take much longer to press multiple flowers.

https://www.amazon.com/Microfleur-Microwave-Max-Flower-Press/dp/B0050GWV9C

You can experiment with the flowers in your garden, some press much better than others. Drift roses and blanket flowers are my favorites. Both retain their color well. Snapdragons look creative, but they do loose some color in the microwave pressing process.

I have not had good luck with large blooms – like regular size roses, delicate flowers like begonias, or flowers with large centers like coneflowers.

After the flowers are picked, you will usually remove the stem, getting the back as flat as possible.

This kit comes with 2 platens and clips, along with pads and fabric sheets. Place one of the pads on top of a platen with the ribbed side down. Then put one of the sheets on top of the pad. Lay the flowers upside down on the fabric sheet, making sure they sit as flat as possible and do not overlap one another.

Carefully place the second sheet on top of the flowers.

Cover the sheet with the remaining pad.

Place the platen on top of all of these, with the ribbed side out. Use the clips to hold all layers together. It is now ready to put in the microwave.

I have found that times vary with the types of flowers, and of course, with the wattage of your microwave. You will have to experiment with your flowers and your microwave. I usually start out with a minute, then check the flowers. Normally it takes an additional 30-60 seconds.

The flowers should feel similar to tissue paper and feel dry. When I think they are dry, I move them to a piece of copy paper and make a note of how long they were in the microwave, so I can use the same times for the next batch.

I have found that sometimes when you think the flowers are completely dry, the centers or thicker areas may still have a bit of moisture in them. So I cover the flowers with a second sheet of paper.

Then I place them under a couple of heavy books for a day or two. If you want to use them immediately, just double check that all parts of the flower are dry.

Experiment with buds, leaves and stems.

Try a variety of flowers, remember the drying time will vary due to size, moisture content, and the wattage of the microwave being used.

Fall leaves and flower petals can also be used. Complete and more detailed instructions come in a booklet with the Microfeur press. More ideas coming!

Be creative and have fun!

What do you love most about the spring? The warmer weather? Gentle rains with opportunities to get out your galoshes and umbrellas – and splash in the puddles? Watching the birds and the bees? Seeing the flowers begin to bloom? This charming Kimberbell quilt celebrates all things spring!

Just look at the beautiful spring colors! And the embellishments just make me smile!

I took at class at Missouri Sewing Machine Company and learned so much! I am pretty new to machine embroidery, but the Kimberbell classes, patterns and kits are amazing. Their directions are so easy to follow. This pattern is one where you quilt block-by-block. Look at those cute little birds and toadstools!

You quilt each block and then stitch the blocks together in rows.

My favorite has to be the bee block! Don’t you love these little wool felt bumblebees? They look so happy buzzing around their little hive! Many of the embellishments are added once the quilt is completed. I used a hot glue gun to attach these.

Just as cute as the wool felt bees – these little appliqued bumblebees have 3-D lacy wings. So adorable!

Every class I take, I learn new tips and tricks! You make these wool felt flowers by stitching the design on the felt with your machine and then carefully cutting the strips out. You then roll up the strips, adding drop of glue to hold them together as you shape them. The cork makes perfect pots! Kimberbell also has You Tube videos and weekly tips to help with their new projects.

Everyone needs a little red wagon to help with their gardening!

And the galoshes – just makes you want to find a puddle to jump in! Iron-on vinyl is applied to the fabric before the design is cut out to make them look like real rain boots.

Everyone loves it when the birds start gathering and singing their spring songs.

The dancing umbrellas look like they are ready for our blustery rainy weather!

Isn’t the little green frog cute?

I loved all the fun background quilting options!

We all need a good puddle once in a while! This puddle has a layer of Mylar that you stitch a design onto, then it is topped with vinyl to give the illusion of a spring puddle.

And the toadstools and butterflies are such a great combination! The toadstools are made of a combination of fabric and felt. Sparkly glitter sheets were used for the butterfly wings.

The special embellishments, like the little ladybug, made the quilt so unique and extra cute!

This was such a fun learning experience! So many different fabrics, materials, stitching techniques and embellishments. I loved the opportunity to learn and be creative! Plus in a class, you get all the expertise of the teacher – and all your classmates. So much more fun and efficient than trying to do it all by yourself.

Happy Spring!

How cute are these little toadstools? Look at all the quilting and stitched details on this block – from the background filled with butterflies to the toadstool spots to the glittery butterfly wings! This block and the ones below are going to be stitched together for a Spring Showers quilt.

If you have an embroidery machine, you can purchase background designs and project patterns which include in-the-hoop designs. I have used ones from the Kimberbell company, but there are other options. This is probably not new to many of you, but I have just started sewing again, so I am learning about so many products and techniques that I have never tried before.

You can choose block-by-block quilting or all-over quilting designs for larger quilted projects from table runners to full-sized quilts. You have so many options – from lady bugs to airplanes to bunnies to seasonal designs to geometric designs. Most designs have an instant download option, so you download the files onto your computer and then move them to a thumb drive, which goes into your embroidery machine. Some machines will hook right up to your computer to access the files.

This “puddle” has a fun rain drop quilting background design, then you add a layer of Mylar that is stitched with a design, then topped with a layer of light turquoise vinyl. How creative!

I think my favorite is the bee’s wings! These are made by stitching layers of tulle and Mylar together, not really quilted, just too cute not to include! One set is stitched flat and then an extra set is added to the top to add dimension.

Here are two rows of my Spring Showers quilt stitched together. I am taking a Kimberbell class at Missouri Sewing Machine Company in Kansas City to make this quilt. Emily Buck is the instructor at the downtown store and she does an amazing job!!!! It is such a fun class – and I have learned so much from her and the other ladies in the class.

If you want to learn more about machine quilting on an embroidery machine, a good place to start is the Kimberbell website. Also check out their Clear Blue Tiles, which are used when you want to quilt a larger design and their Orange Pop Rulers, which are used to help you cut all your blocks the exact size that you want. So many “toys” – so much fun to experiment!

Happy Quilting!