Your techniques are truly inspiring. One of my favorite ways to capture nature on fabric is by sunprinting. I use Pebeo Transparent paints on cotton or fabric to create my sunprints. The best items to use for sunprinting are leaves and flowers that are very flat and can be pressed down completely on the wet paint. Leaves with serrated edges are wonderful. Here's how:

1. Wet your fabric and squeeze out excess water.

2. Mix about 1 tablespoon transparent fabric paint with 1 T water.

3. Apply mixture to fabric with foam brush. You can apply more than one color at a time -- colors will blend and change.

4. Before fabric dries, quickly press down leaves, flowers, sticks, pebbles onto fabric. I press down on back of leaves and flowers with foam brush to make sure there is good contact between items and fabric. For leaves, press ribbed side down.

5. Leave out in full sun to dry. Once dry, remove leaves & flowers. Heat set fabric according to manufacturer's directions.

6. At this point, your fabric is ready for further embellishment with more fabric paint or thread. Metallics (Lumiere metallic fabric paint by Jacquard is a great choice) are a wonderful addition.

7. Sunprinting is NOT an activity for a windy day. Also, wear gloves!

Here's a sunprint I created using mimosa leaves and flowers. Mimosa flowers are extremely delicate and fluffy, but they worked beautifully and even their pollen sunprinted nicely.

http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_75x75.52730691.jpg

I'm happy to answer any questions about sunprinting users may have: sljack@jacksonfabricarts.com
Sarah Jackson