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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 9, 1904)
1 i . .... a. 4 - - v, - 4 a 1 s v A . v. -.JW-. J i w - yT.-"Kisi I f t I I f&vl rr- i -in r .iff I It - - " T Jftv. . t V .eh i m n mil nu. a r-" J-- w ' )(y DKAR! Thpy werp so lovrly I couldn't fPBiat 1 thr temptation to pick them but I'm imro I 1 I don't know what to do with them, now Ie r I got them home!" This is the annual autumnaQ wnll or the flwpr and nature lover who, happily tolling all summer long to collect and press and preserve special floral treasures, tolling still further. though Ipss happily, in the task of transporting them home ward, each year Indulges dismally In the mournful plaint st!gr-sted. It is one thing to pick and press the dear wild leaves, and blossom?, and grasses, as every one who has ever performed such dollffhtfu! operations Is aware; quite another to make proper permanent disposal of these treasures. In the end the pretty things are usually packed away in a box all winter; regretfully tossed to the rubbish heap or furnace In the spring. A Chicago artist, however, Mrs. Bertha E. Jaques. and n real benefactor of her flower loving fellows, has recently evolved' a simple yet brilliant plan whereby the summer wild flowers may be not only preserved Indefinitely but put to charming uses. The plan calls for but the flowers them selves, a photographic printing frame of whatever size de sired, some sheets of blue print paper, love of the blossoms, and a Ilttle time. Fi'-tter still, the work may be done at will, as autumnal occupations and Interests allow time for the charming diversion, may be carried along steadily or In definitely deferred, the only necessity beinc care in th tem porary disposal of the flower subjects. The finished results will provide undying pleasure, enjoyed in a variety of way. Blue Print Keeps Dainty Beauty. The pretty plan of Mrs. Jaques came Into life partly as the result of an accident, partly . because of the artistic promptings that each summer impel the planner, widely known for her clever etchings, bookbinding, metal work, and other successful " handcraft " efforts and accomplish ments. Into untrodden artistic fields. She wished to pre serve the peculiarly ffmceful and elusive charm of a special thistledown darling, yet cared not to photograph it in regu lar fashion. So the fragile beauty was delicately laid on the glass plate of a small photographic printing frame, topped by a sheet of blue print paper, clamped Into secure position, and duly exposed to the sunlight. A few moments of eager waiting, a basin of cool water since blue print paper needs no other development and h miracle of beauty has been accomplished. Paintily white and fairylike, the thistledown head, with floating, half detached particles of almost Impalpable ' star dust," was reproduced on a deep blue background. The resultant picture was more than sufficiently beautiful to warrant further experiments. Many other slmilsr experiments wero Immediately tried. Nature "Prints" Show Odd Freaks. Dandelion " Wows." sweet pea blossoms and tendrils, grasses in almost incredible variety, grains, (eaves, all man ner of dainty and charming floral creations were perpetuated by means of the blue' print paper, Hie printing frame, and the cold bath. The unique' " pictures " were in many in stances composed entirely by nature, the pretty sprays being imply laid In position. In others the " ceimposition " of the picture came true in a double sense, parts of several plants or blossoms being needed to perfect the finished rep resentationso arranged as to show eemplete development i f the plant or blossom. Many interesting and little known facts. , scientific and semi-scientific, were He-quired elm ins the proe-e ss of making the beautiful repnuliictions. One of the most fascinating; side studies of iiuite accilletil'al origin was that of the varying decrees eif light reflection and resistance to be founo in llower petals of apparently identical tint and texture. A duinty shading would In many cases reveal an unexpected thickening of the flower tissues, or show minute apertures or openings In petals seemingly quite solid and opaque. An other charming and ever Increasing Interest was furnished by the inevitable uncertainty attending the- silght exudation of stem and leaf Juices that occasionally softened the print Into new and even mure dedicate' henutie-s or spoiled the whole picture. The speedily dise'ove'reel fact that certain leaves and flowers were extrenii'ly difficult to handle suc cessfully, while others betrayed a pleasingly unexiectei docility, added continual new elements of surprise and delight. J Opens New Decorative Field. Goldenrod. at first thought a trifle heavy and dense for this mode of treatment, yielded results almost Incredibly lovely, the plumy variety being especially charming. Dog fennel, woodbine', dedicate ferns, and rosette-like wood bloi sorns we're alike satisfactory. The cimnmn purple vervaine, to le found all over America, hecam" in the hands of the clever artist a dream of delight. Other colors and mediums of printing are no less successful and potent of beauty than the blue print paper, though needing more careful handling. For many purposes of artistic design , and reproduction will the photographic frame process far more desirable and rerfect. In peint of truth, celor value, reliability, and exacti tude, than regular photography be this winter used. A goldenrod eze or dado, worked out In soft browns and yellows, book cove-rs, daintily framed panels of certain leaves, and sprays, and blossoms these convey but slender hints of all that is to come. May Be Applied in Many Ways, In regard to other delicate objetcts and textures, more over, Mrs. Jaques has already proved the usefulness and be-Huty of the " wild flower printing." A simple barnyard feather, graceful In shape and outline, be-comeg a most ulur Ing design for decorative or seml-utllitarlan purposes when " worked out " In this manner. Shapes and fragments of frostlike lace, so treated, are not only transformed Into ex ipilsite designs but are also preserved indefinitely as to pat tern and mode of working. A fine lace butterfly "sun trans ferred " to a pale blue background constitutes a moet at tractive subject for fan or cover design. The artistic possi bilities of her new fancy are declared by Mrs. Jaques prac tically limitless and widely dltf.Tnified in application and order. Artistic workers will need I wit the mere basic sugges tion to divert them to still other ends. Hut best of all, perhaps, in peiint of general usefulness. Is the charming manner In which the summer spoils may be thus preserved for all the year round enjoyment. Mounted lo albums, framed In groups or panels, used as room or wall eleceeratlons a dainty Michiguu summer cottage probably will be next year decorated In this manner with the flora of the surrounding region the fairy pictures are unfailingly artistic and delightful. The small financial outlay necessary to produce the m adds still another item to the already long list of desirable attributes and qualifications. And scien tifically the pretty tilings are of Indubitable value because of the minute detail and absolute fidelity with which each line and curve and fold is reproduced. -.bs."' mML -m m -tw 1 i L I s .jtf'-i, r Jr',1 II ,1 i' -fJi, I I :r "W -. . w " V; ;.., ' .',. '; dirtf Ii 1 . ,h ir I Iirf"''... B I I I Will ':' 't, .-. r. - o f -.-V- :-v
