Hair dye lol, that's kinda like acid stain.

Everything in this post was made with just a leaf as the mold. I just shape cement around a leaf, that's it. I have used plant drip saucers as molds too, for round stepping stones, and just pressed leaf patterens in the top. Make - shift is good

Are you going to start designing your beautiful gourds again, pogo? I just read this thread about how you discontinued after the ignorant shopkeeper was not interested in your amazing work.

Please don't despair, pogo. Your artwork is truly, truly special. We're not just saying this b/c we like you! Every picture I've seen of your artwork inspires awe. You have amazing talent to work with nature to create beautiful, beautiful objects.

If you're asking for advice, I'd say keep making those awesome leaf stepping stones and bird baths -- and your gourds (sorry, but your dried gourds will always be my favorites). When the time comes, you WILL find the right market for them. Have you considered selling your stepping stone leaves to professional landscapers in your region? What cities are within driving distance from you? Do you have a website yet?

I'd be happy to help you with online marketing, whenever you're ready. I think landscapers and a couple of craft shops in larger towns or towns with a large tourist trade, would be great venues for your work! One look at your garden path picture would inspire even the most frugal landscape designer! Your art is not only beautiful, it's useful, which makes it that much more marketable, IMHO.

Seriously, if you'd like to discuss working up some kind of online campaign, drop me a line on Facebook! I'd love the chance to help you get your work seen by more than us admiring OGers.

Wow, wow, wow!!!

Wow those are great. Love the detail and the veining of the leaves. How did you make them, did you press leaves into wet concrete or did you find molds for them. on some of the bigger ones did you use any reinforcement. i know i was able to pick up this fine plastic like mess for home concrete projects that you could bury in the cement to keep it together, longer.

Hi borders. I make all the leaf castings by putting the leaf down, back side up because the veination is best on the back, and patting on the cement. On the bigger ones I criss-cross strips of drywall tape at least 1 layer deep, over the whole surface, embedded in the mix.

OK--we've talked about the bowls and stepping stones--and fountains I think?? but I just saw the gourds and they are FANTASTIC! Are the ornaments painted or burned then painted? I've done some burning and it's really relaxing, but when I've tried on gourds it's like they're covered in wax or plastic so haven't pursued it. I'm turning some ornaments but I'd love to do gourds next year (gotta grow 'em first) so what variety are they?? I haven't made a bowl yet, but I think with cold weather almost here, I can finally get a good ear without getting fussed at, and hopefully at least one made in the next few days.

Thanks Wiley. I admit, gourds are my first love. I love to grow them because you never know what you'll end up with. I use egg gourds for all my ornaments. I had some volunteers show up in my corn this year. They about took over my corn but I've got another batch of eggs drying now.

I burn first then paint. I like the burner better than paint, but there's no redo's with the burner. It is a slow process for me since I use pretty low heat. I find it relaxing too. Some gourds are a little waxy, some aren't. You need to be sure all that gourd skin is well scrubbed off before you do anything with them though.

Good luck with your bowl!

I was working on bird's house gourds and if I remember it's scrubbing with steel wool or Scotchbrite. I'm gonna have to see if I can find egg gourd seeds.

Another example of your absolute talent, Pogo!
Absolutely breath-taking!

I wanted to try these too but never got to it this year. The stepping stones seem, or look too thin to walk on. How thick are they actually...hard to tell, maybe part is buried?

Also, why does page 2's replies to this thread jump from September to January to May? Is this post/subject from last year that someone booted back up?

Either way, it's fantastic and I agree with Phoebe's ideas about landscapers. Take her up on her offer for help with a website! NOW!

P.S. Can anyone suggest other large leaves that could be used? I have an obnoxious large-leafed "weed" all over here and I do my best to kill it every year, but I fail. Don't know what it is, but if I let a few grow, the leaves would work for some projects!