*4.5

I regret reading this, but only because I now have a new hobby I really didn’t need. This book is lovely.

Casting Flowers is beginner-friendly guide to creating botanical bas-reliefs, or castings of plant matter. Most examples are made of plaster, but Rachel Dein, the artist, also provides a few examples in other media. Dein shares how she developed her method, creative practice, her inspiration, and numerous examples of compositions for various seasons and aesthetics. The process is explained in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step way, and the reader is presented with everything they need to know to get started creating their own works!

I was surprised by how much information there was in this book. You learn a lot about the process, the materials, ways to experiment with the craft, composition ideas, and examples of Dein’s work. But it never feels overwhelming. I walked away feeling inspired and with a few ideas of my own. Dein’s work is beautiful, too. I especially loved the Wedgwood-style pieces!

I thought the instructions were written in a straightforward and easy-to-understand way. Dein goes over materials needed, setting up your work space, the process, safety with plants, experimenting with various elements of your pieces, et cetera. The photography was clear and showcased the works well, and the design of the book felt very cohesive.

Casting Flowers would be a great book for the artist in your life, especially one who enjoys working with natural matter and/or making reliefs, as it could be a novel way to engage with either. I also think this book would be great for hobbyists, or even for interior designers, because there were a lot of pretty examples of the works being incorporated into wall and ceiling pieces.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Timber Press for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!*

Book Review: Casting Flowers by Rachel Dein

Rating: 4 Stars

I recently picked up Casting Flowers by Rachel Dein, and I have to say, it’s a wonderfully fresh and inspiring take on botanical art. The book introduces readers to an innovative technique called botanical bas-relief, which Rachel developed herself. Essentially, it’s a creative process where you press flowers and foliage into clay, create a plaster cast from the impression, and end up with a beautiful, detailed botanical relief. Whether you’re a seasoned artist, a weekend crafter, or someone who just loves plants, this method is surprisingly accessible and can be done at any time of the year.

The book walks you through everything step-by-step—from rolling out the clay to arranging the plants, pouring plaster, and finally revealing your cast. I really appreciated how clear and encouraging the instructions are; they make the process feel manageable even for beginners. Plus, the stunning photography sprinkled throughout gives a real sense of the texture and delicacy you can capture with this technique. Rachel also shares tips on choosing the best plants to work with and offers creative ideas for compositions, whether you want to immortalize a single bloom or create a whole garden scene.

One of the things I loved most about Casting Flowers is how meditative and rewarding the activity is. It’s more than just making art—it’s about connecting with nature’s fleeting beauty and preserving those special moments in time, like the first daffodils of spring or a perfect magnolia blossom. The book encourages you to explore your own garden or local green spaces, turning everyday plants into lasting keepsakes.

And can we just talk about that cover? It’s absolutely gorgeous and immediately drew me in. I’m always on the lookout for new creative outlets, and this book felt like the perfect fit. The combination of clear guidance and inspiring design ideas had me daydreaming about all the different layouts I could try. I’d definitely recommend Casting Flowers to anyone looking to stretch their artistic muscles while celebrating the natural world.

Overall, I’m giving this book four stars. It’s beautifully presented and full of inspiration, though I would have loved a few more advanced techniques or variations to experiment with once you’ve mastered the basics. Still, it’s a fantastic starting point for anyone interested in botanical art or simply wanting to try something new and calming. If you enjoy crafts that blend creativity with nature, this book is definitely worth checking out!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

This hyper-specific book is interesting for advanced artists looking to further expand their craft. It’s not as beginner-friendly as I would hope for the sake of reader’s advisory.

Beautiful and intriguing. Great pictures
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

As someone who was looking for more crafts involving flowers, Casting Flowers was a great example of how to get started. It had easy to follow steps, and was so fun to attempt my own cast! I also loved the suggestions for arrangements depending on the season.

I’m always looking for new creative pursuits to try my hand at and this book was just perfect for that. CASTING FLOWERS by Rachel Dein was full of beautiful photographs and easy to follow step by step directions. I was inspired by all the designs shown and enjoyed thinking of other layouts based on the suggestions given. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to stretch their artistic endeavors. 5 stars!

This cover of this book does not do it justice. Seems like it could be an alternative method to pressed flowers. Wonderful tutorials and showed the process well.

I love drying flowers and so when I saw a book about casting them, I had to give it a read. It's such an interesting art form and the pictures were fantastic. I'm a visual learner so I appreciated the photos not only for their beauty but as examples. I was a little overwhelmed while reading but I also consumed the whole book in a few days. I think it would be better to take your time and really let each section of information sink in. Overall, a great resource for any one who loves art and flowers.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Casting Flowers by so-so-talented Rachel Dein
Okay, I have to admit it: I’m absolutely hopeless with my hands. If there’s a way to mess up a DIY project, trust me, I’ll find it. And yet, with Casting Flowers by Rachel Dein, I somehow found myself playing around with plaster, leaves, and petals—and actually having fun! That alone says a lot about how well this book guides you through the process. It’s practical, clear, and filled with precise, easy-to-follow instructions. Like other Timber Press books, it’s packed with stunning photos and walks you through each step with a kind of calm, reassuring presence—exactly what you need when working with materials that feel intimidating at first. But what truly sets this book apart for me is its section on casting flowers in different seasons. It gives the sense that this isn’t just a one-and-done project, but a creative practice you can revisit again and again, following the rhythm of nature. And I love that idea—the book isn’t meant to sit on a shelf gathering dust after one enthusiastic weekend. It’s the kind of book that belongs somewhere close, always within reach. Maybe on your nightstand, where it tempts you to dream up your next project before falling asleep. Or better yet, right on your worktable, where it naturally becomes part of your creative space, waiting for those quiet moments when you’re inspired to press, cast, and create. Because outside, the world keeps changing—the light shifts, the flowers bloom and fade, the seasons roll on. And with this book, you get to capture a little piece of that, time and time again.

🔥 Recommended: If you love flowers and hands-on creative projects, this book is an absolute gem.

Thanks a lot to Net Galley, Rachel Dein, and Timber Press for the ARC! All opinions are my personal own.

A really detailed and well written book on making botanical plaster arrangements. I had some knowledge of the craft going into this, and I found the techniques and tips included really helpful . While I think that some areas of the book felt too wordy at parts and could've been trimmed down slightly, the passion that the author has for the craft really shines through in her words.

The instructions are both written out and given in step by step pictures, which makes them easy to follow along with. The written instructions themselves were detailed. I think my favourite parts were reading the personal anecdotes sprinkled in at the start of the sections. Hearing the authors thoughts behind certain layouts and why she chose specific plants through these introductions was really helpful

I think that this is a wonderful reference for people with some prior knowledge of the craft, but may be too intimidating a read for a complete beginner.

I've studied bas relief as an art history student, but it never occurred to me that it was something one might do as a modern art. This book was so refreshing in it's uniqueness, and I would love to try this after seeing what's possible

I'm a beginning herbalist and I found this book to be right up my alley. It was a very colorful book, with excellent instructions for completing castings. I totally believe that I can get out there and start casting my different herbs. Lots of pictures, colorful, easy to read directions...just what we need in a craft book.

This is such a well-written and well-photographed craft book. The author has done a great job at making a craft that looks like it could be overwhelming simple. Thank you!

I received this DRC from NetGalley.

I don't think I've ever come across a book about doing bas-relief before. The art looks really pretty. There seem to be a lot of ways to play with this technique, not only with different flowers, but with different methods to color the pieces. I suppose children could do the fun part of arranging and pressing the flowers in, but the rest seems pretty involved, and I think kids would just make a mess of it. It looks like it would be fun to try, but it does take a good number of materials (especially if you're making your own frame) and space to do all the work.

Not only is this book informative, it is beautiful.

I am always looking for new and unique hobbies to learn. And I never knw that casting flowers would be a hobby I would want to learn.

With step by step instructions, photos to help guide a beginner, this book is a must for any and all who are interested in this amazing hobby.

#NetGalley #CastingFlowers

Casting Flowers: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Beautiful Botanical Art by Rachel Dein is an exceptional resource for anyone interested in botanical art. As a potter who creates bas-relief embossing plates, I was particularly impressed by the author’s meticulous attention to detail in her clear, step-by-step instructions. The tips on removing plaster casts from frames and preparing them for hanging were especially helpful, offering practical insights that will make the process easier and more enjoyable. (I received an advance ready copy and all opinions are my own.) A beautifully crafted guide that combines technique and artistry with great precision!

What a fascinating and unique art form! I look forward to eventually trying the techniques described very clearly in this book. The ideas on seasonal flowers and plants to use was very helpful also.