What a terrific follow-up class we had here yesterday!  After last month’s class on concrete leaf casting, this time Jackie Flowers helped us take it to the next step with COLOR.   Here are some pictures of how fabulously us amateurs did for our first project.  Thank you Jackie, for a great class.

For those of you interested in concrete leaf casting, this Saturday we are having the second in our series on this topic.  We’ve already done the actual casting, and on Saturday Jackie Flowers will be teaching her painting techniques.  If you’ve seen her garden art here  at Farmington Gardens, you know she has a terrific color sense, layering colors and adding details that bring cold concrete to life. 

This class is suitable for everyone:  if you took her earlier class, you can paint the casting you made.  If you missed that class, you will be able to purchase a cast piece for an additional $7, so that you can practice her techniques.  Space is still available for this class; call to register and save your spot:  503-649-4568, or email us at events@farmingtongardens.com.  Class is $45, or both for $80.

A great time was had by all today during our concrete leaf casting class.  We used rhubarb leaves, which have deep veins and ruffled edges, perfect for an artful bowl.  Here is a rough outline of how these are made:

• Using a shallow box as your work space, mound up a pile of damp sand.  Place a square of plastic over the sand.
• Prepare your leaf:  select a leaf with prominent veining on the back side, and with few blemishes on it.
• Mix dry ingredients together in bowl: 2 parts sand, 1 part Type I/II Portland cement; dry oxide color if desired.
• Slowly mix 1/2 part water and 1/2 part liquid concrete fortifier into the dry mix; stir well, and knead with gloved hands, add more as needed being careful not to add too much. 
• Lay your leaf face down over the mound of sand covered with plastic.  Taking small handfuls of wet cement, place onto the back side of the leaf and pat gently into place, so that the cement will fill in all the crevices between the ribs.  Work from the top down, adding more handfuls as you go.  If the cement starts firming up, dip your gloved finger into water and rub gently – a little water goes a long way here.
• When the leaf has been covered almost to the edges, it is time to add hardware.  Insert a curved piece of wire if you want to hang your piece.
• It is done!  Tuck a sheet of plastic around your project, and leave it alone to cure for 48 hours. 
• After 48 hours, you can pick it up and remove the leaf.  It will need to continue curing for about 30 days before you paint and/or seal it.

We will have a leaf painting class on Saturday, August 29th, 10 am – noon.  Spaces are still available, and you need not have attended this first class – for an additional $7 you can purchase an unfinished cast leaf which you can use for your project for this class.  This class is $45 ($40 if you also took today’s casting class); and registration is required – call us at 503-649-4568.

We are offering a great opportunity to learn the techniques of concrete leaf casting.  Garden artist Jackie Flowers (appropriate name!) will be here this coming Saturday, July 25th.   I am really impressed with the quality of Jackie’s work – the texture of the castings themselves, and also the sophistication of the coloring she uses.   She layers on many colors, and brings out the texture of the leaves in very life-like ways.  I can’t wait to learn her secrets!

This two hour class begins at 10 AM to avoid the heat of the day.  Class size is limited to 16, so you will get lots of individual attention – and lucky for you, there are still a few spots available!  The class is $45, and you will create a beautiful leaf bird feeder mounted on a copper stand.

If you would like to learn her color techniques, we are offering a companion class on Saturday, August 29, also 10 AM to noon.  We will be painting our cast leaf bird feeders, and taking them home.  Same price for this class, $45, but we are offering a two-fer:  take both classes for $80.  Still not an inexpensive set of classes, but I really feel you will come away with some great skills to build on.   (Also, should you not be able to attend the first class, but would still like to take the second class for the color techniques, you will be able to purchase for $7 a pre-cast leaf; so don’t let that stop you!)

Pre-registration is required for both of these classes:  call 503-649-4568 to sign up.

As you’ve seen in all the gorgeous garden magazines recently, concrete leaves make beautiful garden art.   Once you’ve learned the techniques from an expert, you can make them for all your friends.  So, we are offering a two-session series of classes – you can take one or both.  During our first class July 25th, we’ll mix the concrete, select the type of leaf, and learn to cast from a live leaf.  Once it has cured for a month, on August 29th we’ll learn the leaf painting techniques.  Jackie Flowers, who will be leading these classes, really does a great job with the finishing – she uses several colors, layering them on in various ways.  Come in and see the samples in our store.

Space is limited in this class, and registration required;  please call us at 503-649-4568.  A discount of $5 for each class if you sign up for both.  For those not able to attend the first class, but still wanting to learn the painting techniques, you may purchase a pre-cast hanging leaf for $7.

We’ve just added a couple of new classes – because you’ve asked for them!  We will have garden artist Jackie Flowers here to show us how to create concrete leaf castings using real leaves.  The finished product will be a medium sized leaf, which will be attached to a copper stem – this would be perfect to use as a small bird bath or  feeder.  They will tuck nicely into the garden and last for years.

The first class, on July 25th, will cover making the casting.  They need a month to dry before the surface painting can be applied, so we’ve scheduled the companion class, Cast Leaf Painting, for Saturday, August 29th, 10 am – noon.  I am very impressed with Jackie’s color sense, and her techniques for coloring her castings – I know we will learn a lot from her.  Come in to see samples of her work here at the store.  Each class is $45, with a $5 discount for each one if you register for both.  You will come away with a great one-of-a-kind sculpture for your garden, and with the know-how to make more. 

Due to the nature of these classes, there is limited space and pre-registration is required – call us at 503-649-4568.  While I hope you can attend both, if you are unable to make the first one but would like to know her color techniques, you may purchase a pre-cast hanging leaf for $7 in order to participate in the color class in August.