One charming characteristic of Victorian crafts is a love of creating craft objects from elements found or gathered in nature. Dried flowers, grasses, "everlastings," pine cones, leaves, mosses, feathers, sea-shells and other natural objects were combined into a host of craft projects. Some of these might be more or less temporary - a makart bouquet of feathers, dried grasses and dried flowers, for example - while others were designed to be permanent parts of the home. This tradition carried over into the holidays, when many elements of Christmas decor were created from greenery, moss and even items like seashells and coral.

Dried Flowers (Peterson's, 1856)

A method of preserving flowers.

Mat with Border of Moss, Cherries & Leaves by Mrs. Pullan (Peterson's, 1856)

To Prepare Seaweed for Baskets (Peterson's, 1856)

To Make Pictures of Birds with Their Natural Feathers (Peterson's, 1858)

The Collection and Preservation of Plants (Godey's, 1863)

Drying Flowers (Peterson's Magazine, 1865)

Dried Flowers (Demorest, 1872)

Quick Method of Preparing Skeleton Leaves (Floral World, 1873)

Save the Leaves [Leaf-Pressing] (Godey's, 1873)

Cone, Spruce, Seed and Acorn Work, by Mrs. C.S. Jones & Henry Williams (Household Elegancies, 1875)

Creating baskets, picture and mirror frames, album covers, planters and many other items from seeds and cones.

Fancy Use for Cocoa-Nuts, by Mrs. C.S. Jones & Henry Williams (Household Elegancies, 1875)

How to convert cocoa-nut shells into hanging planters, wall-brackets and other useful items.

Fancy Work with Leaves, Flowers & Grasses, by Mrs. C.S. Jones & Henry Williams (Household Elegancies, 1875)

A 36-page chapter on a wide range of projects - baskets, picture frames, bouquets, skeletonized leaves, etc. - that can be done with natural elements.

How to Skeletonise Leaves (Girl's Own Paper, 1880)

Pressed Grasses and Ferns for Ornamental Purposes, by Dora Hope (Girl's Own Paper, 1880)

Uses for Shells and Seaweeds (Girl's Own Paper, 1881)

Coloured Leaves: How to Print Them (Girl's Own Paper, 1883)

Makart Bouquets (Demorest, 1887)

Beautiful assemblages of feathers, dried grasses and "everlasting" flowers.

Autumn Leaves as Decorations (Needle & Brush, 1889)

What to Do With Our Autumn Gatherings, by Natalie Sturges (Ingalls' Home Magazine, 1889)

A number of creative uses for autumn leaves, grasses and other gatherings.

Pleasant Work for the Autumn [Pressing Leaves] (Girl's Own Paper, 1893)

How to press leaves for attractive autumn decorations.

Souvenirs of Summer Days, by William Martin Johnson (Ladies Home Journal, 1896)

Ideas for framing summer postcards with dried and pressed flowers.