Mastering Winter Ecoprinting: How to Store and Flatten Leaves Like a Pro
- M Theresa Brown
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
For those Ecoprint enthusiasts who live in a four season climate, the lack of winter leaves is a real problem unless you take steps to solve it ahead of time!
There are a number of ways to store your leaves for use in winter ecoprinting. You can use a manual press, store them in a freezer, in old phone books, the list is endless! But if you plan to preserve a large quantity, then efficiency and ease of application come into play!
I wrote about my "bag and re-hydrate" method for large quantities in an earlier blog.
Storage should not be a stressful task! That is one reason my earlier blog is useful to those who lack time, space, energy and the means to easily meet the storage challenge. I use a lot of leaves in both my projects and my workshops. Although I ask students to bring leaves from their own location, supplying them with known printers from my own location increases the students' opportunity for a successful print!
The new method I now embrace came about from my traveling. I used big plastic restaurant bins in which I found I could layer a large number of leaves. Upon arrival at a location, the leaves were already pressed flat and ready for use. It also turned out that the top, open bin was a good way to carry gallon containers of mordants, vinegar, or any liquid supplies and not worry about spillage.
Start with your leaves
The fun of Ecoprinting is that others, who may have no interest in personally printing, join in readily! Your leaf collectors can be your significant other, a child, a friend, a neighbor or your dogs! Who doesn't love a walk in the woods?
Choosing Leaves for Ecoprinting Storage
Select a Dry Day: Ensure the weather is dry when gathering leaves.
Source of Leaves: You can collect leaves from the ground or directly from trees.
Focus on Tannins: The color of the leaves is not important; eco-printing relies on the tannin content for creating designs..
Supplies:
Bins (https://www.amazon.com/Vababa-4-Pack-Plastic-Commercial-Utility/dp/B09F62Z59G?)
Leaves
Paper towels. You can substitute newspaper or newsprint instead of the paper towels. Remember that your leaves can be dry or fresh, but not damp. (such as after a rain)
Start Layering:
If you do not use a paper barrier between the layers, they will begin to rot and eventually become a mess! This will also happen if you add water or if the leaves are damp when layered..
It takes a little more time than dumping them all in a bag, but the flattening procedure from the compressed top bin makes it all worthwhile! It beats using a small flower press and adding a few leaves at a time.
Line the bottom of the bin with your paper towels, then scatter your leaves in a single layer on top. Add another layer of paper towels. They do not have to completely cover the entire bin. Repeat the process.
Continue layering until your leaves are gone. Leave stems on as they will print.
Once your bin is full, add a final layer of paper as the bottom of the second bin will be sitting on top and compressing your leaves.
Set the second bin on top and add a weight to compress the plants. You can also stack more bins with additional leaves, either separating by size or species of plants. It is not a bad idea to mark the outside end of a bin so you know what leaves are in there. That prevents a "salad toss" when trying to find your fern leaves vs your oak leaves!
Make it an enjoyable day! My husband and dogs accompany me on all adventures that mean a walk in Nature!
To watch a short video of this procedure, visit my Youtube Channel.
What else is happening?
A lot! I am regularly adding new workshops for 2026! AS they are confirmed, I add them to the drop-down menu under my "Workshops"
I am also updating my workshop catalogue, which describes the main ones I teach and all the information most events ask for, including supply lists and supply costs. The costs can vary or increase however, based on the worldwide economy and tariffs.
Kaleidoscope Ecoprinting
Oh wow, this class has been a huge hit with my students! It is time-consuming prep work for me, but the results have been amazing! Ecoprinting should be fun, and I strive to put simple and fun into it. What do you think? Want this class at your next event or guild meeting?
Warm Regards,
Theresa
As always I am easy to reach via email theresa@thesilkthread.com
Text or phone 919-880-7431
Located in Franklinton, North Carolina
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