Eco Printing 101 at OPC, Rochester, MI

 A rainy, early morning turned into an afternoon of sunshine as students began unfolding or unwrapping their eco-prints. Working in the beautiful stone cottage in front of the Rochester, MI Older Persons Commission (OPC) gardens, the students were busy, busy, busy. They printed on watercolor paper, printmaking paper, and cotton fabric.  They learned about mordants and what plant materials worked, or didn't work. One of the students brought one of the "stars" of eco-printing - eucalyptus leaves -- purchased at Trader Joes. The leaves were "stars" again. All of the other flowers were graciously provided by Utica Florist, Utica, MI.

Using various methods, each person printed using leaves, flowers, red or white onion skins, cabbage, iron, alum, vinegar.  It's always fun to see the students unveil their creations......not wanting to wait 'til they cool a bit from the steam or 400 degree water containers.

Some took flowers and pounded them into water color paper. Usually people do this with one flower or petal or leaf, but one of the students took a whole bouquet she made up and pounded the whole thing. It created a beautiful pattern. She can go back into it with colored pencils, ink, etc. to sketch some flower shapes over the background pattern. 

If they weren't flower-pounding while waiting for their creations to be ready, they cut up some eco-prints sheets I provided to create backgrounds for cards. They stamped trees or a greeting on the prints before adhering them
to the card fronts.

They learned a lot even though it was a basic eco printing class.

The time flew by!

Blessings,

Candice