It was so much fun! She showed us everything from how to make the concrete mixture, when and how to pick the leaves, casting in sand plus all about the curing process.
My three castings rested overnight in the box I brought them home in, wrapped in plastic to keep them from drying too fast. This morning I got to peel off the leaves and use a file to clean up the edges, then back into the plastic bag for 28 more days. Once they are completely cured they can be used as-is or painted. Roberta paints hers in the most remarkable colors!
You can see some bits of leaf are still stuck but she assured us that will come off when they are dry. The Hosta leaf and the other big one each have a copper fitting embedded in the back so they can go on a stake in the garden. It doesn't show well in my photo but they are quite deep. The smaller Begonia leaf has a wire hanger embedded in it and I think I will put it up in the pergola.
Thank you Maggie for telling me about the class!
9 comments:
These are very pretty - and presumably drought- and frost-resistant! Be sure to show us when you paint them!
I love these! I'd have a hard time waiting the full 28 days to enjoy them.
I have saved at least four articles from over a ten year period on how to do these..first saw on MArtha I think..Anyway, now you've got me thinking about it again!!! Wish I had the big pretty leaves you guys have :D
Those are SO cool!! Are you going to paint them?
Your leaves turned out gorgeous!! I've been wondering if you took Roberta's class yet...it's amazing how much she shares, isn't it? My friend and I have returned to her backyard and have made scads more, plus she gave us a bunch of her "rejects" (which look perfect to me, but she is really a perfectionist about what is good enough for her to sell). I still love them in their natural state, but we also got a lesson on painting, and now it's really tough to decide which I like better. I have some pictures I'll post soon of our painting attempts.
So glad you enjoyed it and that I was able to pass the info along to you. My deep hosta leaf is on a copper post out in my garden and fills with water--the perfect tiny birdbath. Love it!
-Maggie
Ooh, a little bird bath flower...that sounds awesome! Yours turned out great!
So pretty, and looks like it was fun to make them!! Happy October! xo Heather
LOVE these! How amazing would these look out in the garden?! I'm wondering how heavy they are? They are incredible!
These are really neat! I bet the class was a lot of fun. I would love to display these in the garden right along the real leaves.
Danielle
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