A Fall Piece

When my brother said he was going to propose to his then-girlfriend on a weekend away last fall, I asked if they'd do something a little weird: would they bring me back some pretty fallen leaves? I told them I'd make something out of the leaves.They brought... a lot! I pressed them all, and then chose two for the idea I had, and tried to figure out what they were. I was totally unsuccessful at getting a specific identification beyond maple, despite asking my tree-brilliant friends.

I think they forgot about this. Or they figured I just didn't follow through.After studying maples' shapes for a while, I made a draft in January, then put the project aside on a shelf (narrowly escaping ruining the surprise when I told my brother's then-fiancée to look on that shelf for something else... thank goodness I'd set paper on top of it to protect it from dust!)I finally made the final version just in time for their wedding present opening...

They both love fall, so it seems especially appropriate. They like the piece! I so enjoyed making it, and resisting all of my impulses to make it more complex.