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
