Create a handmade herbarium book, in which to preserve plant specimens, make botanical illustrations, and record your observations of nature. Collecting botanical specimens in books was a popular 18th and 19th century pastime, and making a personal herbarium is a valuable and enjoyable way to learn about the plants in your local environment and create a beautiful, unique collection for reference.
We will be using the Secret Belgian stitch, a versatile non-adhesive bookbinding style that includes a hard cover and spine yet allows the book to lie open flat. In addition to constructing and binding the book, we will discuss methods for pressing and preserving plants before they are stored, ethics around harvesting from the wild, and tools for botanical identification.
Supplies: $40 materials fee payable to the Teaching Artist on the day of the workshop.
