Can you explain the process of flower pounding? And specifically, how do you preserve the color of the flowers?

Flower pounding is the process of transferring pigment from fresh flowers onto muslin which has been specially treated for dyeing. You will need a firm surface to work on, along with 2-inch wide masking tape, a lightweight hammer with a smooth head, plastic wrap and fresh flowers. There are many books available to give you step-by-step instructions, but the basic idea is to tape the flowers onto your fabric and tap them gently with the hammer. It is not necessary to use a lot of force. After you have the imprint that you want, colors will need to be set with a warm iron (this will preserve the color), and Pigma markers can be used to outline your flowers. Be aware that not all flower colors will come true – some may change when the flowers are pounded.