These whimsical and brightly colored ornaments are made out of polymer clay, silver leaf, and recycled sari silk. Look for them soon on my Etsy Shop. They would make a great gift by themselves, and an even better one tied on the outside of a package or around a bottle of wine. "The greatest achievements were at first, for a time, dreams. The oak sleeps in the acorn." James Allen I once told an artist friend of mine,that I couldn't draw a tree to save my life. She laughed and said that's funny, because you put leaves in all your artwork. I had never thought of it that way. I guess I thought it was easier to tackle a few leaves instead of a whole tree. That conversation took place a few years ago,but I'm still influenced by leaves and you will often find them in my artwork. I have always loved trees. As a child, one of my favorite things to draw were weeping willow trees. I remember going on a family vacation and taking a sketch pad and a box of crayons along for the ride. By the time my family had traveled back home, I had filled most of the pages. The only drawings I remember now are one of a willow tree, and one of a turquoise and lime green mushroom.What can I say? It was the 70's. I still take notice of trees while out driving, but what I really love are the individual leaves that make up those trees. They come in so many shapes, sizes, and colors, just like people. Recently, I saw an RV driving down the highway. The back of the motor home had a sign taped to the window that read, "Bill's Dream Fall Tour". I got a tear in my eye, thinking of that person setting off on a trip that he had probably been looking forward to most of his adult life. Leaves, what a small, beautiful, and detailed part of God's creation. I have loved them since my early crayon rubbings as a kid, to the whimsical ornaments you see hanging from my dinning room chandelier. It's funny, I now create polymer clay and tempered glass trees. Earlier this year, I even had one of these pieces featured on the cover of a local newspaper magazine. So one day you just might see me picking up brightly colored leaves on the side of the road or maybe you will pass an RV that is sporting a hand lettered sign that reads, "Mitch and Cindy's Dream Tour". Watch out, I might be the one driving!
