Off topic a bit- Need some advice on leaves

I was asked by a local nursery if I would bring some of my concrete leaves in for Mothers Day to sell after making the owner a bird bath. I took some in today and every one that was painted sold. The plain terra cotta ones are still hanging around. The nursery owner asked if I could bring in some more and painted. EEEKKKKK. Here is where I've run into some problems. I can't paint to save my life. This is the best I could do. Do you think they are okay? Honest opinions PLEASE.. As I've said, I can't paint so any feedback is welcomed. I slapped it on and hoped for the best. Thanks-

* can you find the brug leaf? *

Another shot

I think they look GREAT!!!!

Judy

datdog...they look very pretty to me! Very natural...did you make some that are greener too?

They look great.

I'm lazy , just use a base coat and dry brush hilights on.

How did you do the blueish one ? really like that one ;-D

Thank you. I didn't make any that look green. LOL I was trying to stick to earth tones- well, except for the blue one. The ones that sold today had a antique finish that took me FOREVER to do. The above ones didn't take too long. I tried to blend very lightly. The terra cotta ones do have green in them, they just didn't show up too good in the pictures.

I love the blue one, all are nice...

I just love them so much Kristi!! How do you get that look? Looks like a bunch of muted different colors on them. I would buy them also in a second. Do you get to trade for plants? LOL.

They look great, Kristi, and there are lots of blue hostas, that one I especially like! The veins are so sharp on that one. It's hard to come up with a green color that doesn't look yucky against foliage, the earth tones look terrific!

I'm glad you guys like them. The blue one was a mistake I had to paint over. It turned out nice in the end. I've been searching and searching for a easy way to paint so I experiment a lot and make lots of mistakes.

Kell they are muted with many different layers of paint and a stain. I go VERY fast and use a sponge brush. I also try to let the concrete show through. If I try to take my time and think about what I'm doing they all look like heck. I was on a roll and did all these in about 45 minutes.

The nursery owner is a friend and he's giving me what they sell for :) This is the first time I've ever actually sold any. I've talked about it but never done it. I have them laying all over my yard and give them as gifts when people come to visit the garden. These are all last years leaves.

I think they look great. You are very talented, even if you don't think so.

Cindy

Beautiful Kristi, you have talent! Get those girls painting, fast. WTG

Those are very very pretty! I'd buy one! :-)

I think also they look wonderful!

Wow! They're great. Where did you learn it or how did you learn it - or did you think it up by yourself. All of the colors are lovely. Congratulations on a job done very well.

Now your tell me that Kristi!! I knew I should have come to visit you last year when I was in NJ!! LOL

I also think they look great!!!

Why don't you sell them to all of us who wrote to you and complimented you or is the post office thing too much of a hassle?

Concrete is H E A V Y !

I loved what Cindy said: you are talented, even if you don't think so. So, true, Cindy. I thought the same thing last year when I saw the leaves for the first time. I suppose they are so heavy to ship that they would cost so much to deliver that the profit would not be worth the effort. Of course, like is being done, they can be sold locally...too bad we aren't all local, ya know??!!

Don't forget the new flat rate postage boxes...$7.70 for anything that fits into it! I think you could fit one/some of them in the box!

About how big are they and how much do they weigh???

Margie, is that UPS or USPS??

Oh, Kristi - those are FABulous! I think I saw instructions about making those on another garden site, can't remember where now. Are you gonna post us instructions, huh? please? maybe? I'd give it a whirl. My EEs would make a could leaf. Are they good for stepping stones or planters or what?

In any case, stop beating yourself up - they look great and your very talented!

Diane Krny

USPS...Boxes are: 12"x14" X 3.5" H. and there is also one that is: 8.5x11" x 5 1/2" H.

So as long as it fits in the box, it can be any weight and go anyway in the country for $7.70 !!!

I think your leaves are beautimous!!! Clever girl!

Hi Kristi....they all look great! I would certainly stop and take a long look at them. And I'm certain I'd go home with a few too! Job well done......I bet your garden friend will be after you for many more too!

Kristi -- those are sooooooo cool! I love them all! You are very talented!!!

Gretchen

I love them!I would purchase them too!! What a great way to enhance your garden!

Kristi: you have the start of a business here: hope you realize it after all these well deserved compliments!!!! Bet you could contact your local schools and find art students and give them summer jobs painting them.

My daughter started teaching music all because of one child who asked her if she taught outside of school and now she has her own business, all within 6 months.

They're beautiful, Kristi.

Thank you all for your kind comments. It's hard to put something out there that you've done and hope for it to sell. Maybe that is why I've never tried to sell any? I thought about listening them on ebay about a million times over and then change my mind at the last minute.

Some of the leaves are HUGE and others are tiny and don't even weigh a couple of oz's. I mailed a 30 pound EE casting I did to my mom and it made it just fine. It was the largest leaf I've ever casted. Right now I'm doing skunk cabbage leaves. They are huge too. The supply of them will be over as soon as the weather warms up. They are a challenge to cast but turn out beautiful when done. Here are two that I did the other day that still need some touch up. I'm going to make a fountain. I've been slowed down the last couple days because the temps have been so cold.

Those are so pretty. I need to learn to do this someday when I get caught up. LOL

They are easy to do for the most part. The less complicated the leaf the easier it is to cast. Here is a link to get you started. Once you tweak the mix to what you like you'll find the leaves turn out much better. http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/accout/2002072754010311.html

Oh wow, those are georgous, the large one in the first picture is my favorite.
Buns

Hey dat, put my short tailed cat in the box with my leaf, lol and send away.

They are fantastic Dat! Great job I sure like the stain and paint effect. I am gonna have ta try the stain this year. Do you ever use hypertufa? I like using it because it is much lighter in weight and just as durable.
Seeing your great looking castings got me itchin to get some started...LOL I have some time to wait for my leaves to get big though. EE leaves are my favorite to use and paint. Great job selling them, they make perfect gifts for the garden.

BRUG leaf is upper Left

This message was edited May 6, 2005 10:16 PM

Your castings are wonderful!
(LOL, Ada....me too!)
Your hard work shows in the pictures, Kristi, I am so proud of you.
Thank you for the link, too. Good luck with the fountain!
Jackie

Kristi, you need to sell them, check this out

http://www.takeitorleafit.com/index.htm

((Hugs)) everyone and thank you so much. Mary I can't believe how much money they are getting for them and how expensive they are priced. I priced a skunk cabbage leaf at 45.00 and thought that was too much. I didn't even take it to the nursery.