be ART ful

The art of preserving flowers by pressing them between book pages is commonly known, but have you ever heard of flower pounding or leaf bashing? This ancient Japanese artisan technique is referred to as Tataki-Zomé. When hammering flowers and plants onto paper or fabric, the natural pigments produce unexpectedly vivid and gorgeous transfer results.

Since humans have first started to create art, they have used what was naturally around them. Flowers and plants continue to be popular when it comes to artistic endeavors; whether we are gardeners, designers, hobbyists, artists or just admirers. Are you looking for an unconventional and imaginative way to use blooms and botanicals in your own home decor and maybe even relieve a little stress at the same time? Well, I believe I’ve got you covered this month…so let’s get you pounding and bashing!

Supplies needed: flowers . plants . hammer . heavy weight paper . paper towel . pen

Step 1. Forage for flowers and plants. Look for flat and interesting shapes and sizes, ripe with color. If you are not planning to do this project immediately, choose items with stems to save in water until you are ready to use them.

Step 2. Place your paper on wood or another hard surface that you can hammer the botanicals on easily. Remove any stems from your flowers. Place one item of your choice on the paper. I used a mixed media heavy weight spiral bound notebook. Leaving the paper in the book, I laid one flower down and folded over the opposite spiral page to use on top and gently hammered until the desired results were achieved. This gives you the ability to create a mirrored effect on both sheets of paper and yes, one of the sides won’t have quite as much pigmentation as the other, but it will still look very lovely. The paper towel is to be utilized if you are not creating a reflecting image. Position your item on a single sheet of paper, then lay the paper towel on top and ham- mer. Repeat this step as many times as you like.

Step 3. Once the paper and remnants have all dried, carefully wipe off the remaining flower and leaf bits to reveal the eye catching beautiful colors and design. At this time, you can further your artistic composition and outline your shapes with an ink pen to emphasize and enhance. I have done this project both ways, but for this tutorial, I went without any additional embellishments.

Now that you have your eco-prints, turn them into bookmarks, gift tags, notecards or simply frame them as is.

Want to challenge yourself even more and go larger scale? Try this same technique on fabric. Wearable art or home decor textiles…the outcome is equally as stunning. Ohhh nature, you certainly delight and surprise us with never-ending possibilities! I truly hope you enjoy this process and have lots of creative and stress reducing fun! xo -Bridget

Email: bridgetfoxkzoo@gmail.com

Social: https://www.instagram.com/ bridgetfoxkzoo

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For book recommendations from your Kalamazoo Public Library Staff go to www.kpl.gov/blog/

Bl l Sinners Bleed eed S.A. Cosby (Flatiron Books)

As a Black sheriff in rural Virginia, Titus Crown is caught in political turmoil while a pedophile mass murderer runs amok. A brilliant perfectionist and former FBI agent, Titus ran for office to change things for the better, but can anything honestly change?

—Jill Minor, Washington County Public Library

NoveList read-alike: When Ghosts Come Home by Wiley Cash

T The First L he First Ladies adies Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray (Berkley)

An illuminating read about the unlikely friendship between Eleanor Roosevelt and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune as both overcame obstacles pursuing equal rights during the Great Depression/WWII and formed a close relationship through their personal struggles

—Debbie Lease, Hillsdale Public Library

NoveList read-alike: The Thread Collectors by Shaunna J. Edwards

Same Time Ne Next Summer xt

Annabel Monaghan (G.P. Putnam's Sons)

Sam and Wyatt have met up every summer since they were young and fall deeply in love. Even at their young age they know this love is forever This starts out as a basic romance novel, but when something terrible happens to our two lovers, the writing changes, becoming more compelling and more nuanced.

Bonus pick:

T The Brightest Star: A No he Star: Novveel l Gail Tsukiyama (HarperVia)

This moving historical novel spotlights Chinese-American icon Anna May Wong, a talented and ambitious actress caught in a film industry that denied her the roles she was born to play, even as she was expected to teach white actresses how to "act Chinese".

A Most A Agrgreeab eeablle Mur e Murder: A No der: A Novveel l Julia Seales (Knopf)

Beatrice has had enough of Regency societal rules about what is proper and loves true crime and Lord Huxley. When Huxley's former assistant shows up in her village, Beatrice immediately dislikes him. When another guest to the village is murdered, Beatrice helps the vile man solve the case. Much laughter is had on the way to personal freedom and autonomy

—Michelle Ogden, Crawfordsville District Public Library

NoveList

T The Se he Sevven Y en Year Sl ear Slip ip Ashley Poston (Berkley)

Suspend belief, forget logic and don't ask questions, just go with the love in this romance set in a magical apartment. Clementine and Iwan fall in love and then lose each other in a sevenyear time slip. Their lives are filled with good friends and family and eventually a happy ending.

Much A Ado About Nada do About Uzma Jalaluddin (Berkley) Notable Nonfiction:

See our social media for annotations!

Gemma is the only person in her powerful family not to possess magic; in fact, she’s physically sickened by it. But when a dashing man tells her of a demonic curse, Gemma engages in a quest to find her tormentor. This is a sweeping, romantic fantasy with the promise of more to come

T The Rache he Rachel Incident: A No l Novveel l Caroline O'Donoghue (Knopf)

Rachel and James meet while working at a bookshop in Cork and decide to hold a book release event for Rachel's professor. Ten years later, a pregnant Rachel reflects on this time in her life and how it led her to where she is now. Capturing university life where friendships are strong, emotions are deep and money is tight, this is a wonderful novel.

T The Whispers: A No he Novveel l Ashley Audrain (Pamela Dorman Books)

After a picnic where everyone hears the host losing her temper towards her son, that same boy is admitted to the hospital with a lifethreatening injury. Told from multiple perspectives, revealing a bit more with every chapter, this story centers around deception, envy, and despair, leaving readers rushing towards the climactic conclusion.

Better L Living T iving Thrhrough Bir ough Birding: ding: Notes fr from a Bl om a Black Man in ack Man in the Natur Natural W al Worlorld d Christian Cooper (Random House)