Monday, May 24, 2010

Preserving the beauty of nature ~

After I freshened our antique space last Thursday,
I took a walk around the antique mall to see what treasures I can find
for my own stash!!
I did find a wonderful jar of buttons, and I fell in love with the jar just
as much as the buttons ~
I found another great old photograph that I plan on scanning for you....
But the most amazing find of all was something that I've always wanted ~
and antique herbarium!!!!

What is a herbarium?

Main Entry: her·bar·i·um
Pronunciation: \ˌ(h)ər-ˈber-ē-əm\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -ia\-ē-ə\
Date: 1776
1 : a collection of dried plant specimens usually mounted and systematically arranged for reference.

Also see THIS LINK to read a little more about herbariums.


Some may have a hard time seeing the beauty
of old dried up plants sewn to paper and then pressed
but I think that they are just wonderful!!
The date on these sheets is 1898!!!
So these specimens are one hundred and twelve years old!!!

The collection was a little pricey so at first
I only purchased five sheets
(the pages were sold separately, as they were not bound)
but after realizing that this amazing collection
should not be split up,
I called the antique mall and asked them to hold the rest for me
and my sweet husband picked the remainder up for me Friday!!

I don't plan on using the originals in my artwork
but would love to scan each page so I could use copies.
Now to find an suitable acid-free album to house them.
The pages are quite small, just 7 " tall by 5 3/4" wide, sweet huh???








I have a hard time passing up a jar of buttons ~




Here's the photograph of the woman I found,
look at the flower on her waist!!!


See how neat the jar is that held the buttons??


One tiny spool of thread was included in the jar of buttons.
I love it so ~
Wouldn't it be beautiful worn as a necklace??
Such simple things make me smile ~



We had a sweet house guest Saturday night,
our little Clara spent the night with us for the first time!!
She woke up a few times in the night but was
really such an angel....she's growing so fast!

I hope you have a great Monday precious friends ~
Thank you always for stopping by and
for your sweet comments!!!!
hugs and love,
Dawn


32 comments:

Unknown said...

Hey Dawn. Isn't being a grandma the best. I still remember my grandson's first stay with us. Those cards are wonderful. What a find, so very old. I've gotten button crazy myself and just can't find anywhere around here with the things I like. I love that picture!!!

I hope you had a good weekend and are rested up for the next busy week.
xxoo's....Tracy :)

Blessed Serendipity said...

Your pressed flowers are wonderful and so is your hubby!
-Danielle

Beth Leintz said...

Your herbarium is wonderful- what a find- I'm so glad you got the entire group, I agree, you don't want to split it up- and thanks for teaching me a new word.

Susie~From My Home To Yours said...

So, I'm so glad that you got the whole collection....but, I am quite jealous. I've been wanting one for a long time. Recently, Debra from Common Ground, posted about one she had also acquired...Maybe, I'll be next! I've always love to press plants and flowers. Lately, I've been adding them to stuff...like vintage coverless books. Check out My Etsy if you have a minute:(http://www.etsy.com/listing/46613252/stack-of-vintage-coverless-books-with).
Have a wonderful week,
Blessings,
Susie

Dorthe said...

Oh Dawn ,sweetie, -those pressed flowers belongs so much in your home.I know how you love to press ,yourself, and to use nature in your art.This buy is to save for ever, amazingly,how they stayed so beautifull for more than 100 years.
And ofcourse I so love all your buttons. -the jar, is a wow find,too.
Wishing you a happy, and great monday, sweet friend.
Love and hugs, Dorthe

Lori said...

Dawn, your herbarium is an awesome find...i'm glad you were able to get the whole collection!!!

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

WONDERFUL FINDS! I am actually making a handmade book using handmade paper and ephemera of nature. Scanned copies of these pieces would go nicely!!! Anita

Lisa said...

Oh Dawn!!!!!!!!

They are awesome! I would have been so over you if you'd not bought the rest. I can so see a CB washroom or something with them pinned to the wall They are wonderful, & I think you did okay price wise. That Dennis, he's a good boy isn't he? Sorry about last night. Lisa
PS I kept trying to zoom on them , but couldn't get as close as I wanted.

nancarts said...

Hello Dawn,
What a collection! Can you even imagine how long it took to collect all of these wonderful specimens? Always love buttons! and jars! I am also a collector.
Love the "grand-kids!"

Have a great day!
Smiles and Blessings,
Nancy

Garden Antqs Vintage said...

Wow Dawn what an amazing collection of flowers. I once passed up a collection of these and no there were very inexpensive. Still kicking myself over that. Have a great week, T

Joy Lett said...

Dawn- I'm so glad you kept the set together. What a great find. I'm so jealous.

Sandy said...

The botanicals were a fantastic find! I would love to create something similar with some of the flowers from our farm and mount them in frames for one of the rooms. You have sparked an idea to start collecting now. Thanks!

kathy said...

Dawn , how wonderful -- but it never ceases to amaze how we are all drawn to the smae things -- HAve been pressing things for a long tim e-- FIrst in an old phone book --as suggested in a magazine - then yrs a purchased pressfrom a thrift store -- and then between papertowels and -tiles in my microwave as suggested in a blog -- time marches on I guess --
YOurs is so lovely -- wish I had mounted mine then on old papers -- so I guess the old way is best - as it is a finished lovely moment in time -
YOu house guest was of the sweetest and best type --A Grandchild -- oh ours due in August -- can hardly wait !!!

Rock River Stitches said...

Dawn, Those pressed flower cards are just amazing! You did good getting them all. Being a grandma is the best, isn't it!!

Tammy

Ella said...

Hope you have a Happy Monday, with your Sweet Clara! I put you in my Pay It Forward on my blog. I was to mention 3 blogs my followers would
enjoy; I included you. In turn you can mention 3, but you always are introducing us to new blogs.
Anyway, you may have some newbies
dropping by ;-D

I love the treasures you found; Really beautiful~

Barbara Jean said...

What a wonderful find Dawn.

Just think, if we put some pages together now, in a 100 years someone else could be enjoying them! =)

Love the little spool. Great idea for a necklace.
That jar is very unique, and of course love the special photo.

Have a wonderful week, and thanks for another great post. =)

blessings

barbara jean

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

I just read about dear sweet Rose and the accident her daughter was in. Thanks for sharing this as I will keep them in thoughts and prayers. I just adore these pressed flowers from oh so long ago. What a lovely find and how wonderful that you realized they should be kept together. Buttons beautiful buttons as well. Wishing you a beautiful week ahead. :) Tammy

Unknown said...

What a collection! It is so beautiful...boy, am I glad to hear that you picked up the rest of them!
The buttons are always a wonderful find. I love that darling picture of that very stylish young women. So chic with the flower at her waist.
I can totally relate about enjoying the time with the little ones. It is so funny though, how much of a mess they can make in no time flat. Even with raising six, I don't remember the messes...I guess I have blocked that part out.LOL

Unknown said...

Oh Dawn, I forgot to hug you before I left.
HUGS

Anne Lorys said...

That is SO cool!

And thanks to you, I learned a new word today, too! :-)

Hugs,
Anne

Tarnished Rose said...

What an awesome find! I love the dried plants and the old coffee jar is great! I have several myself and they make wonderful holders of lace, buttons, thread, whatever.

Smiles~
Marilyn

Shabby Cottage Studio said...

The herbarium is a beautiful found treasure! I too have a problme passing up buttons.
xoxo
G

Elizabeth said...

I love those pressed plants. I see a pair of aspen leaves in the collection. I've dried those, too.

Love the buttons and the jar.

I am so happy that you are enjoying your grandbaby so much. Blessing on her and on your sweet family.

Have a lovely day!

Mosaic Magpie said...

Yes the jar for the buttons is so neat, I love the lid. That little spool of thread is something. But the collection you purchased is a real treasure. Glad you found it and kept it together.
Debbie

Sandi said...

Our little granddaughter spent the night with us too this weekend. Isn't it fun being a grandmom?

Sandi

Vee said...

What a sweet find. I'm not sure if the pressed flowers would be more intriguing or the buttons! Wearing a vintage spool of thread around one's neck would be perfect for a "think outside the box" kind of gal like you. Try it! I want to see.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Those pages are a rare treasure! I'm so glad you got them all! You NEED them! Beautiful...a perfect collection for you! ♥

Angela said...

I love your treasures. I'm amazed the plants have stayed so well preserved. They are wonderful!!

Romeo said...

WOW! Can you say SCORE?!?! Beautiful and you are sooooo lucky to have found these pages - I do believe they were waiting for you!

And buttons?! Oh yeah, hard to pass those up!

Hope you are having a great week!

Purrs.

Romeo and "her"

Mercedes said...

Wow, how lucky girl you were with that erbarium!!!!! As lover of flower and nature , I would be more than happy with something similar . Great you found it !!

The Rustic Victorian said...

Amazing find Miz Dawn!!!! Buttons are one of the best therapy's...along with friends,lace, and chocolates.
LOve
Marcie

Annette said...

Oh the pressed flowers are so sweet and to think of how old they are. The girl you wonder what she was in her best dress for and the occasion. You hit the jackpot her with pretty little jar full of buttons also. Sounded like a good place to visit and find treasures.
Enjoying your site.


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